Poochyena's stats barely vary. None sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 1 Attack EV, medium-fast 1M XP curve to max.
A Pokémon with a persistent nature, it chases its chosen prey until the prey becomes exhausted.
A Pokémon with a persistent nature, it chases its chosen prey until the prey becomes exhausted.
Fighting, Bug, and Fairy moves hit Poochyena for super-effective damage. The upside? Psychic-type moves can't touch it at all. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting, Bug, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Ghost, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
Scizor can KO Poochyena with Close Combat (417-490%). Fezandipiti threatens a KO with Moonblast (164-193%). Galvantula's Thunder also KOs at 157-185%.
 Scizor BugSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Scizor builds →Bullet Punch104-123%KO U Turn 2x364-429%KO Knock Off57-67% Close Combat 2x417-490%KO | ||
 Fezandipiti PoisonFairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityToxicchain ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Fezandipiti builds →U Turn 2x81-96% Moonblast 2x164-193%KO Heat Wave54-64% | ||
 Galvantula BugElectric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityCompoundeyes ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Galvantula builds →Thunder157-185%KO | ||
 Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySharpness ItemLum Berry NatureJolly Moves View Gallade builds →
| ||
 Lucario FightingSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Lucario builds →Extreme Speed98-115%KO Close Combat 2x440-517%KO | ||
Poochyena evolves into Mightyena. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. The evolved forms gain up to 200 total stats over Poochyena. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Poochyena easily with 278 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.
The game plan is straightforward: click Nasty Plot, then sweep. Flame Orb and Quickfeet support the setup turn. EVs go into spread so Poochyena hits hard once it's boosted.
Best Build
Poochyena best EVs are Speed and Sp. Atk
Utility Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Mud Slap
Recommended Teammates
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Without TMs, Poochyena's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 9 types on top of Foul Play and Crunch for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Without breeding, Poochyena misses out on Astonish and Covet. That's 10 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Crunch and Dark Pulse, with coverage across 10 types rounding things out.
Need something that threatens multiple types? Poochyena's movepool delivers. Coverage across 10 types plus STAB from Foul Play and Crunch gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
Without breeding, Poochyena misses out on Astonish and Covet. That's 13 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Crunch and Dark Pulse, with coverage across 9 types rounding things out.
Poochyena can't be caught in Scarlet & Violet. Bring it over from Ruby, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
A solid number of locations for Poochyena with moderate rates across endgame routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations to Catch Poochyena in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
10 walking encounters at Lv. 58-63 for Poochyena across Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. A few locations are version-exclusive, so your copy of the game affects what's available.
Poochyena can't be caught in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Bring it over from Ruby, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Get Poochyena to Mightyena at level 18. At 220 BST, Poochyena is just the starting point.
Level 18 gets you Mightyena. Quick enough that Poochyena barely slows you down.
Poochyena does the job early-game if you need a Dark type on your team. Evolve it into Mightyena before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Across 14 games, Poochyena has solid availability. First showed up in Scarlet & Violet. The latest games to include it are Ruby & Sapphire and FireRed & LeafGreen.
Poochyena first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 14 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
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