We rate Palafin C-Tier: a situational pick that fills a niche. At 457 BST, it fits the pivot role. Base 100 HP stands out.

What is Palafin weak to?

Palafin's biggest threats include Regieleki (Electric) and Rillaboom (Grass), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

What is the best ability for Palafin?

Zero To Hero is the go-to ability for Palafin. It transforms into its Hero Form when switching out. It's Palafin's only available ability.

What role does Palafin play in battle?

Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Palafin is a physical attacker with base 70 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a pivot.

What are the best moves for Palafin?

The core moveset is Flip Turn, Jetpunch, Jetpunch, and Flip Turn. Flip Turn leads at 0% usage. This set covers the pivot role with a mix of damage and utility.

Palafin - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Pivot

CTier

100Speed · Fast

Palafin Best Moveset

AbilityZero To Hero transforms Palafin into Hero Form when it switches back in after leaving the field. Hero Form has 160 Attack. Held ItemChoice Band with NatureJolly at 100 Speed fires the single hardest-hitting physical Water damage in the game. MoveJet Punch has priority. The moveset needs one switch to activate, then becomes unstoppable. S-Tier through Hero Form transformation.

★Gen IX — Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AS

Palafin reached S-Tier in Gen IX, competing at the highest level. This was Palafin's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Zerotohero with Choice Band, favoring a Jolly nature.

Terastallization became available

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE

Lv 1

Flip Turn

Water60COMMONSTAB

Lv 1

Jet Punch

Water60COMMONSTAB

Lv 1

Jet Punch

Water60COMMONSTAB

Lv 1

Flip Turn

Water60COMMONSTAB

TM69

Ice Punch

Ice75COMMONCoverage

TM167

Close Combat

Fighting120COMMONCoverage

TM73

Drain Punch

Fighting75RARECoverage

TM69

Ice Punch

Ice75COMMONCoverage

Lv 61

Wave Crash

Water120RARESTAB

Lv 61

Wave Crash

Water120COMMONSTAB

Palafin Scarlet & Violet Moves Palafin Legends Z-A Moves

Best Build

Experimental

Physical Sweeper

Palafin best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Atk

SpD

Spe

Physical Sweeper Moveset

Flip TurnSTAB
Jet PunchSTAB
Jet PunchSTAB
Flip TurnSTAB

Recommended Teammates

KyogreDecent

Zacian-CrownedDecent

View full Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A moveset →

Palafin Weakness

Palafin is weak to Electric and Grass. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. With 100 HP and balanced defenses, Palafin can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.

Palafin Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Water, Ice, Steel

What is Palafin Weak Against

Good

2Weak

4Resist

0Immune

Score0

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Grass

½xResist

Fire Water Ice Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

What is Palafin Strong Against

3Strong

3Resisted

0Immune

Score0

2xStrong

Fire Ground Rock

½xResisted

Water Grass Dragon

0xImmune

None

Best Pokemon Against Palafin

Ho-Oh	S
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureImpish Moves Sacred Fire Sacred Fire Brave Bird DefogUtility View Ho-Oh builds →
Cinderace	A
Recommended Build AbilityLibero ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves Pyro Ball U Turn Court Change Sucker Punch Damage vs Palafin U Turn 27-32% Sucker Punch 27-32% View Cinderace builds →
Cyclizar	B
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves Rapid Spin U Turn Knock Off Draco Meteor Damage vs Palafin Rapid Spin 17-20% U Turn 24-28% Knock Off 22-26% Draco Meteor 31-37% View Cyclizar builds →
Chi-Yu	B
Recommended Build AbilityBeadsofruin ItemDarkiniumz NatureTimid Moves Dark Pulse Dark Pulse FlamethrowerSTAB FlamethrowerSTAB Damage vs Palafin Dark Pulse 39-46% Dark Pulse 39-46% Flamethrower 22-26% Flamethrower 22-26% View Chi-Yu builds →
Incineroar	C
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureAdamant Moves Knock Off Flare Blitz Parting Shot Fake Out Damage vs Palafin Knock Off 28-33% Flare Blitz 25-30% View Incineroar builds →

Evolution

Evolved from Finizen. Palafin is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are takes forever to hatch. Defense grew the most through evolution (+32 over Finizen), and Palafin peaks at 457 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#963Finizen

Level 38

#964Palafin

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Finizen

Water

Palafin

Water

100+30

ATK

70+25

DEF

72+32

SP.ATK

53+8

SP.DEF

62+22

SPE

100+25

BST

315D-Tier

457C-Tier+142

ROLE

Balanced

Pivot

TYPE

Utility

Physical

Breeding

Easy

Breed with Palafin to get Finizen eggs easily using 278 partners from the Ground and Water2 egg groups.

Egg Groups

Field Water 2

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

40 cycles·10,280 steps

Slow~10 min with Flame Body

Breed With (best first)

How to Get Palafin

Showing Scarlet & Violet locations. Locations vary by game.View all games

You're catching Finizen first, not Palafin. Finizen appears at decent rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.

How to Obtain Palafin in SV

The path to Palafin starts with Finizen at Lv. 15-42 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

Step 1Catch Finizen
Casseroya Lake - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
East Paldean Sea - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
East Province (Area One) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
East Province (Area Three) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
East Province (Area Two) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
Glaseado Mountain
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
North Paldean Sea - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
North Province (Area One) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
North Province (Area Three) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
South Paldean Sea - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
South Province (Area Five) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
South Province (Area Four) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
South Province (Area One) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
South Province (Area Six) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
West Paldean Sea - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
West Province (Area One) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
West Province (Area Two) - Ocean
Lv.15-42Overworld
Rate 18%
Train until Level 38 to evolve into Palafin
Step 2Palafin ✓
BREEDING
Available
Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Palafin egg.

Base Stats

Raw HP carries Palafin's bulk more than the defenses do. Sp. Atk barely registers. But that HP pool covers for it. A tough to catch Dolphin Pokemon that yields 2 HP EVs on a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats

Above

HP100

Attack70

Defense72

Sp. Atk53

Sp. Def62

Speed100

Total457

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.3 m

Weight60.2 kg

Base XP160

Abilities

Zero To HeroHidden Ability

Transforms into its Hero Form when switching out.

EV Yield

HP+2AtkDefSpASpDSpe

HP training target

Pokedex Entry

This hero of the ocean swims at a speed of 50 knots and saves drowning people and Pokémon.

Pokemon Violet

Palafin Guide

We rate Palafin C-Tier: a situational pick that fills a niche. At 457 BST, it fits the pivot role. Base 100 HP stands out.
Palafin's biggest threats include Regieleki (Electric) and Rillaboom (Grass), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
Zero To Hero is the go-to ability for Palafin. It transforms into its Hero Form when switching out. It's Palafin's only available ability.
Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Palafin is a physical attacker with base 70 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a pivot.
The core moveset is Flip Turn, Jetpunch, Jetpunch, and Flip Turn. Flip Turn leads at 0% usage. This set covers the pivot role with a mix of damage and utility.

Game Availability

Palafin joined the series in Scarlet & Violet and has been available in 1 titles so far. With 2 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.

Click a game to view version-specific details