What does Poochyena evolve into?

Get Poochyena to Mightyena at level 18. At 220 BST, Poochyena is just the starting point.

At what level does Poochyena evolve?

Level 18 gets you Mightyena . Quick enough that Poochyena barely slows you down.

Should I use Poochyena?

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.

Where can you catch Poochyena?

You can find Poochyena in HeartGold & SoulSilver. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 13 other games across the series.

Poochyena - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Balanced

DTier

35Speed · Very Slow

Stats & Training

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.

Base Stats

Below

HP35

Attack55

Defense35

Sp. Atk30

Sp. Def30

Speed35

Total220

Details

Catch Rate

Guaranteed255 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height0.5 m

Weight13.6 kg

Base XP56

Abilities

Run Away

Ensures success fleeing from wild battles.

Quick Feet

Increases Speed to 1.5× with a major status ailment.

RattledHANot in game

Raises Speed one stage upon being hit by a dark, ghost, or bug move.

EV Yield

HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training source

Pokedex Entries

It chases its prey until the victim becomes exhausted. However, it turns tail if the prey strikes back.

Poochyena Weakness

Fighting and Bug moves hit Poochyena for super-effective damage. The upside? Psychic-type moves can't touch it at all. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Poochyena Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Fighting, Bug
0.5x (Resist)	Ghost, Dark
0x (Immune)	Psychic

Type ChartGood

2Weak

2Resist

1Immune

Score+1

Gen IV Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Fighting Bug

½xResist

Ghost Dark

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Psychic

STAB (2)

Psychic Ghost

How to Beat Poochyena in HeartGold & SoulSilver (Best Counters)

Machoke Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 Cross ChopLv. 40 SubmissionLv. 32 Damage vs Poochyena Focus Punch 2x 333-393%KO Focus Blast 2x 176-207%KO Cross Chop 2x 223-263%KO Submission 2x 181-213%KO View Machoke builds →
Mankey Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 Cross ChopLv. 37 Brick BreakTM31 Damage vs Poochyena Focus Punch 2x 280-330%KO Focus Blast 2x 138-163%KO Cross Chop 2x 187-220%KO Brick Break 2x 141-167%KO View Mankey builds →
Meditite FightingPsychic	D
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 High Jump KickLv. 32 Focus BlastTM52 Brick BreakTM31 Damage vs Poochyena Focus Punch 2x 170-200%KO High Jump Kick 2x 147-173%KO Focus Blast 2x 150-177%KO Brick Break 2x 88-103%KO View Meditite builds →
Makuhita Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Close CombatLv. 40 Focus BlastTM52 Brick BreakTM31 Damage vs Poochyena Focus Punch 2x 227-267%KO Close Combat 2x 181-213%KO Focus Blast 2x 101-120%KO Brick Break 2x 116-137%KO View Makuhita builds →
Tyrogue Fighting	D
Obtain MethodMt Mortar Gift Available Moves Moves Brick BreakTM31 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Poochyena Brick Break 2x 81-97% Rock Smash 2x 44-53% View Tyrogue builds →

HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution

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

2 Forms

#261Poochyena

Level 18

#262Mightyena

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Poochyena

Dark

Mightyena

Dark

70+35

ATK

90+35

DEF

70+35

SP.ATK

60+30

SP.DEF

60+30

SPE

70+35

BST

220D-Tier

420C-Tier+200

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Poochyena easily with 131 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Astonish, Covet, Fire Fang and 7 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Ground

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

15 cycles·3,855 steps

Quick~4 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

10moves

Breed With (best first)

HeartGold & SoulSilver Poochyena Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

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 9 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Tackle

—3510035Normal

Lv 5

Howl

———40Normal

Lv 9

Sand Attack

D—10015Ground

Lv 13

Bite

D6010025Dark

Lv 17

Odor Sleuth

———40Normal

Lv 21

Roar-6

C——20Normal

Lv 25

Swagger

——9015Normal

Lv 29

Assurance

—5010010Dark

Lv 33

Scary Face

D—9010Normal

Lv 37

Taunt

C—10020Dark

Lv 41

Embargo

——10015Dark

Lv 45

Take Down

—908520Normal

Lv 49

Sucker Punch+1

D801005Dark

Lv 53

Crunch

C8010015Dark

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM78

Captivate

——10020Normal

TM79

Dark Pulse

D8010015Dark

TM28

Dig

D8010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM63

Embargo

——10015Dark

TM58

Endure+4

———10Normal

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM23

Iron Tail

D1007515Steel

TM83

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

TM66

Payback

D5010010Dark

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

C——20Normal

HM06

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM30

Shadow Ball

D8010015Ghost

TM82

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM49

Snatch+4

———10Dark

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM12

Taunt

C—10020Dark

TM46

Thief

—6010025Dark

TM41

Torment

——10015Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Astonish

—3010015Ghost

Egg

Covet

—6010025Normal

Egg

Fire Fang

D659515Fire

Egg

Ice Fang

D659515Ice

Egg

Leer

——10030Normal

Egg

Me First

———20Normal

Egg

Poison Fang

D5010015Poison

Egg

Sucker Punch+1

D801005Dark

Egg

Thunder Fang

D659515Electric

Egg

Yawn

D——10Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Headbutt

D7010015Normal

Tutor

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Tutor

Snore

D4010015Normal

Tutor

Spite

——10010Ghost

Tutor

Sucker Punch+1

D801005Dark

Tutor

Super Fang

D—9010Normal

Tutor

Uproar

—9010010Normal

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 3

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

Gen 3

Counter-5

D—10020Fighting

Gen 3

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

Gen 3

Psych Up

———10Normal

HeartGold & SoulSilver Poochyena Locations

Poochyena is available from early-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 2 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.

Best Locations to Catch Poochyena in HeartGold & SoulSilver

Route 1

SoulSilverGrass Lv.2 Route

CommonEarly

Swarm active

Route 1

HeartGoldGrass Lv.2 Route

CommonEarly

Swarm active

Poochyena Guide

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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
You can find Poochyena in HeartGold & SoulSilver. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 13 other games across the series.

Game Availability

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

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Meditite FightingPsychic	D
Upcoming Move Moves Force PalmLv. 29 Learns Force Palm at Level 29 View Meditite builds →
Spinarak BugPoison	D
Upcoming Move Moves Leech LifeLv. 12 Learns Leech Life at Level 12 View Spinarak builds →
Caterpie Bug	D
Upcoming Move Moves Bug BiteLv. 15 Learns Bug Bite at Level 15 View Caterpie builds →
Weedle BugPoison	D
Upcoming Move Moves Bug BiteLv. 15 Learns Bug Bite at Level 15 View Weedle builds →
Ledyba BugFlying	D
Upcoming Move Moves Mach PunchLv. 17 Learns Mach Punch at Level 17 View Ledyba builds →

Makuhita Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Vital ThrowLv. 10 Arm ThrustLv. 7 Damage vs Poochyena Vital Throw 2x 102-121%KO Arm Thrust 2x 29-36% View Makuhita builds →
Paras BugGrass	D
Available Move Moves Leech LifeLv. 11 Damage vs Poochyena Leech Life 2x 126-150%KO View Paras builds →
Ledyba BugFlying	D
TM Move Moves U-turnTM89 Damage vs Poochyena U-turn 2x 60-71% View Ledyba builds →
Spinarak BugPoison	D
Available Move Moves Leech LifeLv. 12 Damage vs Poochyena Leech Life 2x 114-136%KO View Spinarak builds →
Caterpie Bug	D
Available Move Moves Bug BiteLv. 15 Damage vs Poochyena Bug Bite 2x 60-71% View Caterpie builds →

Meditite FightingPsychic	D
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Brick BreakTM31 Drain PunchTM60 Damage vs Poochyena Focus Blast 2x 152-180%KO Brick Break 2x 90-108%KO Drain Punch 2x 90-108%KO View Meditite builds →
Makuhita Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Brick BreakTM31 Vital ThrowLv. 10 Arm ThrustLv. 7 Damage vs Poochyena Focus Blast 2x 106-126%KO Brick Break 2x 116-138%KO Vital Throw 2x 106-126%KO Arm Thrust 2x 30-36% View Makuhita builds →
Paras BugGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Leech LifeLv. 11 X-ScissorTM81 Brick BreakTM31 Damage vs Poochyena Leech Life 2x 132-156%KO X-Scissor 2x 132-156%KO Brick Break 2x 84-100%KO View Paras builds →
Spinarak BugPoison	D
Available Move Moves Leech LifeLv. 12 Damage vs Poochyena Leech Life 2x 122-144%KO View Spinarak builds →
Caterpie Bug	D
Available Move Moves Bug BiteLv. 15 Damage vs Poochyena Bug Bite 2x 66-78% View Caterpie builds →

Scyther BugFlying	C
Available Moves Moves X-ScissorTM81 Brick BreakTM31 U-turnTM89 Silver WindTM62 Damage vs Poochyena X-Scissor 2x 187-220%KO Brick Break 2x 118-140%KO U-turn 2x 165-195%KO Silver Wind 2x 97-115%KO View Scyther builds →
Volbeat Bug	C
Available Moves Moves Signal BeamLv. 25 Brick BreakTM31 U-turnTM89 Silver WindTM62 Damage vs Poochyena Signal Beam 2x 110-130%KO Brick Break 2x 87-103%KO U-turn 2x 122-145%KO Silver Wind 2x 88-105%KO View Volbeat builds →
Butterfree BugFlying	C
Available Moves Moves U-turnTM89 Silver WindTM62 Damage vs Poochyena U-turn 2x 88-105%KO Silver Wind 2x 135-160%KO View Butterfree builds →
Meditite FightingPsychic	D
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Brick BreakTM31 Drain PunchTM60 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Poochyena Focus Blast 2x 152-180%KO Brick Break 2x 88-105%KO Drain Punch 2x 88-105%KO Rock Smash 2x 50-60% View Meditite builds →
Makuhita Fighting	D
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Brick BreakTM31 Vital ThrowLv. 10 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Poochyena Focus Blast 2x 105-125%KO Brick Break 2x 113-135%KO Vital Throw 2x 105-125%KO Rock Smash 2x 63-75% View Makuhita builds →

Scizor BugSteel	A
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves Bullet Punch Superpower U Turn Pursuit Damage vs Poochyena Bullet Punch 114-134%KO Superpower 2x 454-535%KO U Turn 2x 397-468%KO Pursuit 38-45% View Scizor builds →
Forretress BugSteel	B
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves Rapid Spin SpikesHazard Explosion Payback Damage vs Poochyena Rapid Spin 35-41% Explosion 173-204%KO Payback 17-20% View Forretress builds →
Lucario FightingSteel	B
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves Close Combat Extreme Speed Swords Dance Bullet Punch Damage vs Poochyena Close Combat 2x 525-617%KO Extreme Speed 117-137%KO Bullet Punch 88-103%KO View Lucario builds →
Gallade PsychicFighting	C
Recommended Build AbilitySteadfast ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves Close Combat Ice Punch Shadow Sneak Leaf Blade Damage vs Poochyena Close Combat 2x 523-615%KO Shadow Sneak 29-34% View Gallade builds →