Mid-stage Pokemon like Pupitar rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Tyranitar, which is where the real potential kicks in. Relies on priority moves or Scarf to keep up. Electric moves can't touch it, which offsets the 6 weaknesses somewhat.
Attack and HP carry most of Pupitar's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 2 Attack EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Its body is as hard as bedrock. By venting pressurized gas, it can launch itself like a rocket.
Pupitar Weakness
FragilePupitar's Rock/Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground, and Steel moves. Water and Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Partway through Larvitar's chain. Pupitar still has another evolution ahead before reaching Tyranitar. For breeding, takes forever to hatch with plenty of partners via one egg group. So far, HP got the biggest boost (+20 from Larvitar). The final form adds another 190 stats on top.
How to Evolve
Breed with Pupitar to get Larvitar eggs using 63 partners from the Monster egg group. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Assurance, Curse and 7 more.
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
The natural movepool does the job, but Ancient Power and Assurance from the egg pool give Pupitar something extra.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
You're catching Larvitar first, not Pupitar. Larvitar appears at solid rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Pupitar in Platinum
Step 1Catch LarvitarEFFORTLESSRoute 206GrassLv.5-7CommonEarlyRouteSwarm active
Step 2Pupitar ✓
Pupitar is meant to evolve into Tyranitar. At 410 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Watch for Starmie (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Cloyster (Ice) when using Pupitar. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Starmie is the most dangerous since Water moves deal 4x damage. Fighting, Ground, and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Shed Skin has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn — that's the one you want on Pupitar. It's the only ability Pupitar has.
At base 51 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Pupitar is a physical attacker with base 84 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Pupitar appears in 18 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Available in 18 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Pupitar spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in most mainline games.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
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