Mid-stage Pokemon like Pidgeotto rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Pidgeot, which is where the real potential kicks in. Ground and Ghost moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Bird Pokemon.
You won't find a real weakness in Pidgeotto's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Bird Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 2 Speed EVs, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
It has outstanding vision. However high it flies, it is able to distinguish the movements of its prey.
It renders its prey immobile using well-developed claws, then carries the prey more than 60 miles to its nest.
Pidgeotto Weakness
GoodElectric, Ice, and Rock-type moves hit Pidgeotto for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground and Ghost-type moves can't touch it at all.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Pidgeotto sits between Pidgey and Pidgeot in this three-stage line. Not the final form yet. For breeding, quick to hatch with a decent partner pool via one egg group. So far, HP got the biggest boost (+23 from Pidgey). The final form adds another 130 stats on top.
How to Evolve
Breed with Pidgeotto to get Pidgey eggs easily using 31 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Air Cutter, Air Slash, Brave Bird and 5 more.
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Don't skip the egg moves. Pidgeotto picks up Air Cutter and Air Slash only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Brave Bird and Double-Edge while coverage across 7 types adds range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Easy grab on Pidgeotto with high spawn rates across 24 locations in early-game routes. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.
Where To Catch Pidgeotto in HeartGold & SoulSilver
To get Pidgeotto, start by catching Pidgey through walking encounters at Lv. 2-25. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch PidgeyEFFORTLESSRoute 29SoulSilverGrassLv.2-4CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 29HeartGoldGrassLv.2-4CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 30HeartGoldGrassLv.2-4CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 1HeartGoldGrassLv.2-4CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 1SoulSilverGrassLv.2-4CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 30SoulSilverGrassLv.3-4CommonEarlyRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 30HeartGoldGrassLv.3-4CommonEarlyRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 31HeartGoldGrassLv.3CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 2 - NorthHeartGoldGrassLv.3-8CommonEarlyRouteDayEFFORTLESSRoute 2 - NorthSoulSilverGrassLv.3-7CommonEarlyRouteDayEFFORTLESSRoute 2 - NorthHeartGoldGrassLv.3CommonEarlyRouteMorningEFFORTLESSRoute 2 - SouthHeartGoldGrassLv.3CommonEarlyRouteMorningEFFORTLESSRoute 2 - SouthHeartGoldGrassLv.3-8CommonEarlyRouteDayEFFORTLESSRoute 2 - SouthSoulSilverGrassLv.3-7CommonEarlyRouteDayEFFORTLESSRoute 31SoulSilverGrassLv.4CommonEarlyRouteDayEFFORTLESSRoute 25HeartGoldGrassLv.8CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 25SoulSilverGrassLv.8CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 36SoulSilverGrassLv.12-15CommonEarlyRouteMorningEFFORTLESSRoute 36HeartGoldGrassLv.13-15CommonEarlyRouteMorningEFFORTLESSRoute 37HeartGoldGrassLv.13-15CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 37SoulSilverGrassLv.13-15CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 5HeartGoldGrassLv.13-15CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 5SoulSilverGrassLv.13-15CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 6HeartGoldGrassLv.13-15CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 6SoulSilverGrassLv.13CommonEarlyRouteMorning/dayEASYRoute 2 - NorthSoulSilverGrassLv.3UncommonEarlyRouteMorningEASYRoute 2 - SouthSoulSilverGrassLv.3UncommonEarlyRouteMorningEASYViridian ForestHeartGoldGrassLv.3UncommonEarlyForestMorningEASYViridian ForestHeartGoldGrassLv.3-7UncommonEarlyForestDayEASYViridian ForestSoulSilverGrassLv.3UncommonEarlyForestMorningEASYViridian ForestSoulSilverGrassLv.3-7UncommonEarlyForestDayEASYRoute 30SoulSilverGrassLv.4UncommonEarlyRouteMorningEASYRoute 31SoulSilverGrassLv.5UncommonEarlyRouteMorningEASYNational ParkHeartGoldGrassLv.10-14UncommonEarlyFacilityMorningEASYNational ParkSoulSilverGrassLv.10-14UncommonEarlyFacilityMorningEASYNational ParkHeartGoldGrassLv.12-14UncommonEarlyFacilityDayEASYNational ParkSoulSilverGrassLv.12-14UncommonEarlyFacilityDayEASYRoute 36SoulSilverGrassLv.12-13UncommonEarlyRouteDayEASYRoute 36HeartGoldGrassLv.13UncommonEarlyRouteDayEASYRoute 37SoulSilverGrassLv.15UncommonEarlyRouteMorningCHALLENGINGRoute 35HeartGoldGrassLv.14RareEarlyRouteMorning/dayCHALLENGINGRoute 35SoulSilverGrassLv.14RareEarlyRouteMorning/day
Step 2Pidgeotto ✓CHALLENGINGRoute 2 - NorthSoulSilverGrassLv.7RareEarlyRouteMorning/dayCHALLENGINGRoute 2 - NorthHeartGoldGrassLv.7RareEarlyRouteMorning/dayCHALLENGINGRoute 2 - NorthHeartGoldGrassLv.7-10RareEarlyRouteDayCHALLENGINGRoute 2 - SouthSoulSilverGrassLv.7RareEarlyRouteMorning/dayCHALLENGINGRoute 2 - SouthHeartGoldGrassLv.7RareEarlyRouteMorning/dayCHALLENGINGRoute 2 - SouthHeartGoldGrassLv.7-10RareEarlyRouteDayCHALLENGINGViridian ForestSoulSilverGrassLv.7RareEarlyForestMorning/dayCHALLENGINGViridian ForestHeartGoldGrassLv.7RareEarlyForestMorning/dayCHALLENGINGRoute 25SoulSilverGrassLv.10RareEarlyRouteMorning/dayCHALLENGINGRoute 25HeartGoldGrassLv.10RareEarlyRouteMorning/dayCHALLENGINGRoute 37SoulSilverGrassLv.15RareEarlyRouteDayCHALLENGINGRoute 37HeartGoldGrassLv.15RareEarlyRouteDayEFFORTLESSRoute 43SoulSilverGrassLv.17CommonMidRouteMorningEFFORTLESSRoute 43HeartGoldGrassLv.17CommonMidRouteMorningEFFORTLESSRoute 8SoulSilverGrassLv.17-19CommonMidRouteMorning/dayEFFORTLESSRoute 8HeartGoldGrassLv.17-19CommonMidRouteMorning/dayEASYRoute 43SoulSilverGrassLv.17UncommonMidRouteDayEASYRoute 43HeartGoldGrassLv.17UncommonMidRouteDayEASYRoute 13HeartGoldGrassLv.25UncommonMidRouteMorning/dayEASYRoute 13SoulSilverGrassLv.25UncommonMidRouteMorning/dayEASYRoute 14HeartGoldGrassLv.25UncommonMidRouteMorning/dayEASYRoute 14SoulSilverGrassLv.25UncommonMidRouteMorning/dayEASYRoute 15SoulSilverGrassLv.25UncommonMidRouteMorning/dayEASYRoute 15HeartGoldGrassLv.25UncommonMidRouteMorning/dayor evolve from Pidgey (Step 1)
At 349 BST, Pidgeotto is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Pidgeot before bringing it to any serious fight.
Watch for Raikou (Electric), Lapras (Ice), and Aerodactyl (Rock) when using Pidgeotto. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Keen Eye prevents accuracy from being lowered — that's the one you want on Pidgeotto. Big Pecks is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Tangled Feet works too if your team needs something different.
Pidgeotto is leaning toward the physical side (base 60 Attack). Fragile — can't afford to take many hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 71 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many.
Pidgeotto appears in 19 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Present since Red & Blue, Pidgeotto appears in 19 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Pidgeotto have the longest track record of availability in the series.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A