Stats & Training
Rayquaza's built around mixed offense. Attack leads the charge, Defense pays for it. Tough to catch, worth 3 Attack and Sp. Atk EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It lives in the ozone layer far above the clouds and cannot be seen from the ground.
It lives in the ozone layer far above the clouds and cannot be seen from the ground.
Rayquaza Weakness
Rayquaza is weak to Ice, Rock, Dragon, and Fairy. Watch out for Ice attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Ground-type moves entirely. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Rayquaza's overall bulk (105/90/90) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Ice |
| 2x (Weak) | Rock, Dragon, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Fighting, Bug |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
In Sword & Shield, Weavile's Ice Shard hits Rayquaza for 78-92%. Clefable deals 62-73% with Moonblast.
 Garchomp DragonGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves View Garchomp builds →
| ||
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Rayquaza View Weavile builds →Knock Off31-37% Ice Shard 4x78-92% | ||
 Clefable Fairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Rayquaza View Clefable builds →Moonblast 2x62-73% Knock Off10-12% | ||
 Nihilego RockPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Rayquaza View Nihilego builds →Power Gem 2x76-90% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityHydration ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Rayquaza View Lapras builds →Surf19-22% | ||
Sword & Shield Evolution
Rayquaza is a powerhouse with 680 total stats as a Dragon/Flying legendary. Can't breed it, so you're locked to whatever you catch or receive. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Sword & Shield Rayquaza Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 12 types means almost nothing walls Rayquaza cleanly, with Dragon Ascent and Outrage anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Rayquaza in Sword & Shield
No wild encounters for Rayquaza in Sword & Shield. It's available in Ruby, Emerald, or Ultra Sun and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Rayquaza is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also found in:
Rayquaza Guide
In Sword & Shield, Rayquaza is a Legendary Pokemon rated S-Tier. At 680 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a wallbreaker. Base 150 Attack is where it shines.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Sword & Shield, but Rayquaza does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Rayquaza hits 780 BST.
Air Lock is the go-to ability for Rayquaza. It negates all effects of weather, but does not prevent the weather itself. It's Rayquaza's only ability.
In Sword & Shield, Rayquaza fills the wallbreaker role. It's a mixed attacker with base 150 Attack and 150 Sp. Atk. Base 95 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.
Game Availability
Rayquaza has appeared in 16 games since Ruby & Sapphire, spanning 8 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.
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 6ORASMega
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