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.
At first sight, POOCHYENA takes a bite at anything that moves. This POKéMON chases after prey until the victim becomes exhausted. However, it may turn tail if the prey strikes back.
POOCHYENA is an omnivore - it will eat anything. A distinguishing feature is how large its fangs are compared to its body. This POKéMON tries to intimidate its foes by making the hair on its tail bristle out.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting, Bug |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Ghost, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
 Makuhita Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Makuhita builds →Vital Throw 2x100-119%KO Arm Thrust 2x25-31% | ||
 Nincada BugGround | D | |
 Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
Makuhita Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Makuhita builds →Vital Throw 2x104-123%KO Arm Thrust 2x27-32% | ||
Nincada BugGround | D | |
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Volbeat builds →Focus Punch 2x165-194%KO Signal Beam 2x126-150%KO | ||
 Illumise Bug | C | |
 Machop Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Machop builds →Focus Punch 2x262-309%KO Revenge 2x107-128%KO Karate Chop 2x90-106%KO Rock Smash 2x75-88% | ||
Makuhita Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Makuhita builds →Focus Punch 2x213-251%KO Vital Throw 2x100-119%KO Rock Smash 2x59-71% Arm Thrust 2x25-31% | ||
Nincada BugGround | D | |
Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Volbeat builds →Focus Punch 2x165-194%KO Signal Beam 2x126-150%KO | ||
Illumise Bug | C | |
Machop Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Machop builds →Focus Punch 2x268-317%KO Vital Throw 2x126-150%KO Revenge 2x110-129%KO Karate Chop 2x92-108%KO | ||
Makuhita Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Makuhita builds →Focus Punch 2x215-254%KO Vital Throw 2x101-121%KO Rock Smash 2x60-71% Arm Thrust 2x24-29% | ||
Nincada BugGround | D | |
Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Volbeat builds →Focus Punch 2x170-200%KO Signal Beam 2x130-154%KO | ||
Illumise Bug | C | |
Machop Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Machop builds →Focus Punch 2x275-324%KO Vital Throw 2x130-154%KO Revenge 2x113-134%KO Karate Chop 2x93-111%KO | ||
Makuhita Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Makuhita builds →Focus Punch 2x217-257%KO Vital Throw 2x104-122%KO Rock Smash 2x63-75% Arm Thrust 2x26-32% | ||
Nincada BugGround | D | |
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x402-473%KO Brick Break 2x203-240%KO Rock Smash 2x110-130%KO | ||
Machop Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Machop builds →Focus Punch 2x280-330%KO Cross Chop 2x187-220%KO Submission 2x150-177%KO Vital Throw 2x132-157%KO | ||
 Meditite FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Meditite builds →Focus Punch 2x170-200%KO High Jump Kick 2x147-173%KO Rock Smash 2x48-57% | ||
Makuhita Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Makuhita builds →Focus Punch 2x227-267%KO Vital Throw 2x107-127%KO Rock Smash 2x62-73% Arm Thrust 2x24-30% | ||
Nincada BugGround | D | |
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x398-469%KO Brick Break 2x201-238%KO Rock Smash 2x108-128%KO | ||
Machop Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Machop builds →Focus Punch 2x278-328%KO Cross Chop 2x185-219%KO Submission 2x151-178%KO Brick Break 2x141-166%KO | ||
Meditite FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Meditite builds →Focus Punch 2x167-197%KO High Jump Kick 2x146-172%KO Brick Break 2x84-100%KO Rock Smash 2x47-56% | ||
Makuhita Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Makuhita builds →Focus Punch 2x220-259%KO Brick Break 2x111-131%KO Vital Throw 2x106-125%KO Rock Smash 2x60-72% | ||
Nincada BugGround | D | |
In Ruby & Sapphire, Forretress can KO Poochyena with Explosion (173-203%). Medicham's Rock Slide hits Poochyena for 53-63%.
 Forretress BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin35-41% Explosion173-203%KO Earthquake70-82% | ||
 Medicham FightingPsychic | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityPure Power ItemSalacberry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Poochyena View Medicham builds →Shadow Ball28-33% Rock Slide53-63% | ||
 Scizor BugSteel | C | |
Recommended Build AbilitySwarm ItemSalacberry NatureJolly Moves View Scizor builds →
| ||
Ruby & Sapphire 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
Breeding
Breed Poochyena easily with 102 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Astonish, Covet, Leer and 2 more to offspring.
Ruby & Sapphire Poochyena Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 3.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Without breeding, Poochyena misses out on Astonish and Covet. That's 5 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Crunch and Bite, with Normal and Ground coverage and more rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Ruby & Sapphire Poochyena Locations
high spawn rates in early-game routes across 6 locations. Poochyena's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Best Locations to Catch Poochyena in Ruby & Sapphire
You can catch Poochyena through 6 walking encounters from Lv. 2-4, but availability differs between Sapphire and Ruby. Some spots are exclusive to one version.
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 Ruby & Sapphire, 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 Ruby & Sapphire. 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
- 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