Physical
Pivot
475Average
95Moderate
CTier

Don't let the raw stats fool you. Chlorophyll doubles its Speed in sun, and that completely changes the math for Sawsbuck. Ghost moves can't touch it, which offsets the 6 weaknesses somewhat. Introduced in Gen 5.

Attack and Speed carry most of Sawsbuck's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Attack EVs. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
475Above
HP80
C
Attack100
B
Defense70
C
Sp. Atk60
C
Sp. Def70
C
Speed95
B
Total475
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Sawsbuck yields +2 Atk
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch75ChallengingMedium Fast1M XP1.9m / 6'03"92.5kg / 203.9 lbs166Base XP
Pokedex Entries

They migrate according to the seasons. People can tell the season by looking at Sawsbuck’s horns.

Black

The plants growing on its horns change according to the season. The leaders of the herd possess magnificent horns.

White

Sawsbuck Weakness

Vulnerable

Type-wise, Sawsbuck takes extra damage from Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying, and Bug. Ghost moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Sap Sipper grants an additional Grass immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.

Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
6Weak
4Resist
2Immune
Scorei-5
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
ChlorophyllDoubles Speed during strong sunlight.
Sap SipperAbsorbs grass moves, raising Attack one stage.
Serene GraceHADoubles the chance of moves' extra effects occurring.
Sap Sipper grants Grass immunity

Evolved from Deerling. Sawsbuck is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Attack grew the most through evolution (+40 over Deerling), and Sawsbuck peaks at 475 total stats.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Deerling
NormalGrass
Sawsbuck
NormalGrass
HP
60
80+20
ATK
60
100+40
DEF
50
70+20
SP.ATK
40
60+20
SP.DEF
50
70+20
SPE
75
95+20
BST
335C-Tier
475C-Tier+140
ROLE
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed with Sawsbuck to get Deerling eggs easily using 180 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Agility, Baton Pass, Fake Tears and 6 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
9moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy

the remaining moves is what separates a good sweep from a wasted boost. After Swords Dance, Sawsbuck threatens a wide range with max Attack and Speed EVs and Salacberry backing every hit.

Best Build

Physical Setup Sweeper
Ability
Chlorophyll
Item
SalacberryRECOVERY
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Sawsbuck Moveset

  • Horn LeechSTAB
  • Swords DanceSTAB
  • Jump Kick
  • Wild Charge

The egg pool carries weight here. Agility and Baton Pass aren't available any other way for Sawsbuck, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Giga Impact and Hyper Beam for solid options.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Camouflage
20Normal
Lv 1
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 1
Megahorn
1208510Bug
Lv 1
Sand Attack
10015Ground
Lv 1
Tackle
5010035Normal
Lv 4
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 7
Sand Attack
10015Ground
Lv 10
Double Kick
3010030Fighting
Lv 13
Leech Seed
9010Grass
Lv 16
Feint Attack
6020Dark
Lv 20
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 24
Jump Kick
1009510Fighting
Lv 28
Aromatherapy
5Grass
Lv 32
Energy Ball
8010010Grass
Lv 36
Charm
10020Normal
Lv 37
Horn Leech
7510010Grass
Lv 44
Nature Power
20Normal
Lv 52
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Lv 60
Solar Beam
12010010Grass

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM49
Echoed Voice
4010015Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
8010010Grass
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
10020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
10020Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM16
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM67
Retaliate
701005Normal
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM22
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
30Normal
TM73
Thunder Wave
10020Electric
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM93
Wild Charge
9010015Electric
TM83
Work Up
30Normal

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Agility
30Psychic
Egg
Baton Pass
40Normal
Egg
Fake Tears
10020Dark
Egg
Grass Whistle
5515Grass
Egg
Natural Gift
10015Normal
Egg
Odor Sleuth
40Normal
Egg
Sleep Talk
10Normal
Egg
Synthesis
5Grass
Egg
Worry Seed
10010Grass

Tutor Moves

Sawsbuck can't learn any Tutor moves

A handful of locations for Sawsbuck with high spawn rates across mid-game 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.

Where To Catch Sawsbuck in Black & White

To get Sawsbuck, start by catching Deerling through walking encounters at Lv. 22-36. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Deerling
    Step 1Catch Deerling
    Route 6
    WhiteGrassLv.22-24CommonMidRouteAny
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 6
    BlackGrassLv.22-24CommonMidRouteAny
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 6
    WhiteGrassLv.26-28CommonMidRouteAnyDouble grass
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 6
    BlackGrassLv.26-28CommonMidRouteAnyDouble grass
    EFFORTLESS
    Dragonspiral Tower - Outside
    BlackGrassLv.30-32CommonMidBuildingWinter
    EFFORTLESS
    Dragonspiral Tower - Outside
    WhiteGrassLv.30-32CommonMidBuildingWinter
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 7
    WhiteGrassLv.26UncommonMidRouteAny
    EASY
    Route 7
    BlackGrassLv.26UncommonMidRouteAny
    EASY
    Route 7
    WhiteGrassLv.30UncommonMidRouteAnyDouble grass
    EASY
    Route 7
    BlackGrassLv.30UncommonMidRouteAnyDouble grass
    EASY
    Dragonspiral Tower - Outside
    BlackGrassLv.31-32CommonLateBuildingSpring/summer/autumn
    EFFORTLESS
    Dragonspiral Tower - Outside
    WhiteGrassLv.31-32CommonLateBuildingSpring/summer/autumn
    EFFORTLESS
  2. Sawsbuck
    Step 2Sawsbuck
    Dragonspiral Tower - Outside
    BlackGrassLv.30-32CommonMidBuildingWinterDouble grass
    EFFORTLESS
    Dragonspiral Tower - Outside
    WhiteGrassLv.30-32CommonMidBuildingWinterDouble grass
    EFFORTLESS
    Dragonspiral Tower - Outside
    BlackGrassLv.34-36CommonLateBuildingSpring/summer/autumnDouble grass
    EFFORTLESS
    Dragonspiral Tower - Outside
    WhiteGrassLv.34-36CommonLateBuildingSpring/summer/autumnDouble grass
    EFFORTLESS
    or evolve from Deerling (Step 1)
  • Chlorophyll changes the entire equation for Sawsbuck. The 475 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a pivot.

  • Sawsbuck's biggest threats include Arcanine (Fire), Walrein (Ice), and Lucario (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Poison, Flying, and Bug-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

  • Deerling evolves into Sawsbuck at level 34. Sawsbuck is the fully evolved form. It sits at 475 BST in its evolved form.

  • Chlorophyll is what you want on Sawsbuck. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Sap Sipper, Serene Grace) work on paper but Chlorophyll is what makes Sawsbuck worth using.

  • Base 95 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Sawsbuck is a physical attacker with base 100 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a pivot.

  • Sawsbuck appears in 7 games, including Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, and X & Y.

Sawsbuck joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 7 titles so far. With 5 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.