Special
Sweeper
STier
100Speed · Fast

Palkia Best Moveset

Water/Dragon at 150 Sp. Atk and 100 Speed with only Dragon and Fairy hitting super-effectively. Held ItemLustrous Orb boosts Water and Dragon damage by 20%. NatureTimid outspeeds the tier. The moveset fires special dual TermStab at absurd power. Water/Dragon coverage hits nearly everything for at least neutral damage. S-Tier through offensive supremacy.

SABCDEFSSSSSSDiamond, Pearl & PlatinumIVDP/PtPEAKBlack & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2X & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPScarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AIXSV/LZACURRENT
★Gen IV — Diamond, Pearl & PlatinumS

Water/Dragon with Spacial Rend in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Only weak to Dragon in a format full of Dragon-types. 150 Sp. Atk demolished anything that didn't resist both STABs.

Physical/Special split overhauled move damage

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 40
Spacial Rend
Dragon100COMMONSTAB
TM25
Thunder
Electric110COMMONCoverage
HM3
Surf
Water90COMMONSTAB
Xfer
Hydro Pump
Water110RARESTAB
TM38
Fire Blast
Fire110RARECoverage
Tutor
Outrage
Dragon120RARESTAB
Palkia Diamond & Pearl MovesPalkia Platinum Moves

Best Build

Experimental
Special Revenge Killer
Ability
Pressure
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Best Nature for Palkia
Hasty+SPE

Palkia best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Revenge Killer Moveset

  • Spacial RendSTAB
  • ThunderCoverage
  • SurfSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Kyogre
KyogreGood
Dialga
DialgaDecent
Giratina-Origin
Giratina-OriginDecent
→Gen V — Black & White / B2W2S

Choice Specs Spacial Rend hit nearly everything neutrally in Gen V (Black & White). Water/Dragon coverage had almost no safe switch-ins across the restricted format.

Gained Telepathy as hidden abilityHidden Abilities became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 46
Spacial Rend
Dragon100COMMONSTAB
TM25
Thunder
Electric110COMMONCoverage
TM38
Fire Blast
Fire110COMMONCoverage
HM3
Surf
Water90COMMONSTAB
Lv 50
Hydro Pump
Water110COMMONSTAB
Tutor
Draco Meteor
Dragon130RARESTAB
Palkia Black & White MovesPalkia Black 2 & White 2 Moves
Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Pressure
Item
Lustrous Orb
Best Nature for Palkia
Timid+SPE
EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Spacial RendSTAB
  • ThunderCoverage
  • Fire Blast
  • SurfSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Kyogre
KyogreGood
Giratina-Origin
Giratina-OriginDecent
Arceus
ArceusDecent
→Gen VI — X & Y / ORASS

Primal Kyogre overshadowed Palkia in Gen VI (X & Y). Both were Water-type restricted-format Pokemon, but Kyogre's Primal form hit 180 Sp. Atk with permanent rain.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 46
Spacial Rend
Dragon100COMMONSTAB
Lv 50
Hydro Pump
Water110RARESTAB
HM3
Surf
Water90RARESTAB
Lv 37
Aura Sphere
Fighting80RARECoverage
TM14
Blizzard
Ice110RARECoverage
Tutor
Dragon Pulse
Dragon85RARESTAB
Palkia X & Y MovesPalkia ORAS Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Pressure
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Palkia
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Spacial RendSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • SurfSTAB
  • Aura Sphere
→Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUMS

Palkia checked Primal Kyogre in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Water resistance plus Dragon STAB let it handle the most dominant Pokemon in the restricted format.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 46
Spacial Rend
Dragon100COMMONSTAB
Lv 50
Hydro Pump
Water110COMMONSTAB
TM38
Fire Blast
Fire110RARECoverage
TM94
Surf
Water90RARESTAB
TM13
Ice Beam
Ice90RARECoverage
Tutor
Draco Meteor
Dragon130RARESTAB
Palkia Sun & Moon MovesPalkia Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Moves
Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Pressure
Item
Lustrous Orb
Best Nature for Palkia
Timid+SPE
EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Spacial RendSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • Fire Blast
  • SurfSTAB
→Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPS

Five gens in the restricted format in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Dynamax boosted Water and Dragon moves while giving bulk. Consistent but never the top restricted pick.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 80
Spacial Rend
Dragon100COMMONSTAB
Lv 88
Hydro Pump
Water110COMMONSTAB
TR9
Thunder
Electric110COMMONCoverage
TR15
Fire Blast
Fire110RARECoverage
TR4
Surf
Water90RARESTAB
Palkia Sword & Shield MovesPalkia BDSP Moves
Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Pressure
Item
Lustrous Orb
Best Nature for Palkia
Timid+SPE
EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Spacial RendSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • ThunderCoverage
  • Fire Blast

Recommended Teammates

Yveltal
YveltalDecent
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
Necrozma-Dusk-ManeDecent
Calyrex-Shadow
Calyrex-ShadowDecent
→Gen IX — Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AS

Six gens restricted in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Fairy-types hit the Dragon typing harder than ever, but Water/Dragon coverage was still too good for standard play.

Terastallization became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 80
Spacial Rend
Dragon100COMMONSTAB
Lv 80
Spacial Rend
Dragon100COMMONSTAB
Lv 88
Hydro Pump
Water110COMMONSTAB
Lv 88
Hydro Pump
Water110COMMONSTAB
TM123
Surf
Water90RARESTAB
TM123
Surf
Water90RARESTAB
TM166
Thunder
Electric110RARECoverage
Lv 72
Earth Power
Ground90RARECoverage
TM161
Trick Room
Psychic—RAREUtility
TM141
Fire Blast
Fire110RARECoverage
Palkia Scarlet & Violet MovesPalkia Legends Z-A Moves
Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Pressure
Item
Lustrous Orb
Best Nature for Palkia
Timid+SPE
EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Spacial RendSTAB
  • Spacial RendSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Kyogre
KyogreDecent
Groudon-Primal
Groudon-PrimalDecent
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
Necrozma-Dusk-ManeDecent

Palkia Weakness

Palkia is weak to Dragon and Fairy. Few weaknesses and 3 resistances make the typing clean. Palkia's overall bulk (90/100/120) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.

Palkia Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Dragon, Fairy
0.5x (Resist)Steel
0.25x (Resist)Fire, Water

What is Palkia Weak Against

Good
2Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
DragonFairy
½xResist
Steel
¼xResist
FireWater
0xImmune
None

What is Palkia Strong Against

4Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+4
2xStrong
FireGroundRockDragon
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Palkia

Evolution

Palkia is a powerhouse with 680 total stats as a Water/Dragon legendary. Can't breed it, so you're locked to whatever you catch or receive. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Palkia
#484PalkiaDoes not evolve

Breeding

Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

How to Get Palkia

All 13 games

Palkia doesn't appear in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer it from Diamond & Pearl, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Palkia is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also Obtainable In:

Diamond & PearlSpecial encounter · Spear PillarPlatinumSpecial encounter · Spear PillarHeartGold & SoulSilverGift · Sinjoh Ruins · Event: ArceusUltra Sun & Ultra MoonSpecial encounter · Ultra Space WildsLegends: ArceusSpecial encounter · Temple of Sinnoh · Story battle

Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.

Base Stats

The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Attack carry the offense, HP doesn't even come close. A Spatial Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 3 Sp. Atk EVs per KO.

Base Stats
Legend
HP90
B
Attack120
A
Defense100
B
Sp. Atk150
S
Sp. Def120
A
Speed100
B
Total680
Details
Catch Rate
Legendary3 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height4.2 m
13'09"Tall
Weight336.0 kg
740.8 lbsColossal
Base XP340
Elite Yield
Abilities
Pressure
Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
TelepathyHidden Ability
Protects against friendly Pokémon's damaging moves.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Strong Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

It soars across the sky in a form that greatly resembles the creator of all things. Perhaps this imitation of appearance is Palkia’s strategy for gaining Arceus’s powers.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Palkia Guide

  • Palkia is a Legendary Pokemon rated S-Tier. At 680 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a sweeper. Base 150 Sp. Atk stands out.

  • Palkia's biggest threats include Dragonite (Dragon) and Togekiss (Fairy), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. Palkia has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.

  • Pressure is the go-to ability for Palkia. It increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one. Its hidden ability Telepathy can work in specific setups.

  • Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Palkia is a special attacker with base 150 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a sweeper.

  • Best way to handle Palkia: Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

Game Availability

First obtainable in Diamond & Pearl, Palkia has been featured in 13 titles across 7 generations. Legendary status means a single encounter per playthrough in most games.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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