Stats & Training
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.
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.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Dragon, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire, Water |
In Sword & Shield, Garchomp's Earthquake hits Palkia for 51-60%. Clefable's Moonblast hits Palkia for 53-63%.
 Garchomp DragonGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Palkia View Garchomp builds →Earthquake51-60% | ||
 Clefable Fairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Palkia View Clefable builds →Moonblast 2x53-63% Knock Off10-12% | ||
 Togekiss Fairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySerenegrace ItemWeakness Policy NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Palkia View Togekiss builds →Air Slash29-35% Heat Wave6-7% | ||
Sword & Shield 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
Breeding
Sword & Shield Palkia Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Aqua Tail and Earth Power bring the raw damage. But Palkia also picks up coverage across 11 types from TMs, making it tough to find a safe switch. You're not locked into one angle here.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Palkia in Sword & Shield
Palkia doesn't appear in Sword & Shield. Transfer it from 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.
Special encounter in:
Then trade to Sword & Shield.
Also found in:
Palkia Guide
In Sword & Shield, 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.
In Sword & Shield, 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.
In Sword & Shield, the 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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves