Free switch-ins on Psychic moves make Shiftry useful in any team that needs that coverage. Chlorophyll doubles its Speed in sun. Can go either physical or special depending on the set. Part of the Gen 3 roster.
Everything pushes toward mixed damage here. Shiftry's Attack does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 3 Attack EVs per KO. Tough to catch, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
By flapping its leafy fans, it can whip up gusts of 100 feet per second that can level houses.
Shiftry Weakness
FragileShiftry's Grass/Dark typing leaves it vulnerable to Bug, Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying, and Fairy moves. Bug hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Psychic-type attacks completely. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Shiftry leans offensive (base 100 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
Shiftry evolved from Seedot's chain using an evolution item. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Seedot eggs (quick to hatch). The evolution from Seedot pushed Shiftry to 480 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +60.
How to Evolve
Breed with Shiftry to get Seedot eggs easily using 278 partners from the Ground and Plant egg groups.
One guaranteed turn is all Shiftry needs. Focus Sash buys it, max Attack and Speed EVs make it count, and Windrider adds something extra. The goal: deal early damage and deal damage with Knock Off. The remaining moves gives it play beyond just the lead turn.
Best Build
Best Shiftry Moveset
- Knock Off
- Leaf Blade
- Fake Out
- Rock Slide
Recommended Teammates
STAB runs through Leaf Storm and Solar Blade for the basics, but Shiftry's real strength is the 10-type coverage spread. Flying and Normal hit common defensive types, and the movepool keeps going.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
You'll want to breed for Amnesia and Beat Up on Shiftry. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Solar Beam and Foul Play, they expand what Shiftry can actually threaten in practice.
STAB runs through Leaf Storm and Solar Blade for the basics, but Shiftry's real strength is the 10-type coverage spread. Flying and Ghost hit common defensive types, and the movepool keeps going.
STAB runs through Leaf Storm and Solar Beam for the basics, but Shiftry's real strength is the 10-type coverage spread. Flying and Fighting hit common defensive types, and the movepool keeps going.
Shiftry can't be caught in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer Seedot from Ruby, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond and evolve through the 3-stage chain to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
You're catching Seedot first, not Shiftry. Seedot appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 3-stage chain with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Shiftry in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
The path to Shiftry starts with Seedot at Lv. 58-63 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch SeedotGrassland CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Step 2Catch or Evolve NuzleafGrassland CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameor evolve from Seedot (Step 1)
Step 3Shiftry ✓
No wild encounters for Shiftry. The 3-stage chain runs through Seedot, which you can catch at solid rates from the locations below. Evolve through a special method once you've got the levels.
How to Obtain Shiftry in Sword & Shield
Seedot is your first catch on the way to Shiftry. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 4-40 across 25 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch SeedotEFFORTLESSWest Lake AxewellOverworldLv.8-1460%EarlyCaveOvercastEFFORTLESSDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1540%EarlyForestNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1535%EarlyForestHeavy FogEASYRoute 2GrassLv.4-620%EarlyRouteAll WeatherEASYDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1520%EarlyForestOvercastEASYDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1520%EarlyForestThunderstormEASYDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1520%EarlyForestRainingEASYRoute 2 - High LevelGrassLv.37-4020%LateRouteAll Weather
Step 2Catch or Evolve NuzleafEFFORTLESSRolling FieldsGrassLv.7-940%EarlyRainingMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestIntense SunMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestOvercastMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestNormal WeatherMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestSnowstormMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestThunderstormMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestSnowingMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestSandstormMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestRainingMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestHeavy FogMODERATESouth Lake MilochOverworldLv.14-165%EarlyWaterOvercastMODERATESouth Lake MilochOverworldLv.14-165%EarlyWaterNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSGiant's CapGrassLv.27-2940%MidNormal WeatherEASYRoute 5GrassLv.16-1820%MidRouteAll WeatherEASYGiant's SeatGrassLv.30-3515%MidWaterRainingEFFORTLESSGiant's SeatOverworldLv.33-3860%LateWaterRainingEASYGiant's SeatOverworldLv.33-3825%LateWaterNormal Weatheror evolve from Seedot (Step 1)
Step 3Shiftry ✓
Can't catch Shiftry directly. Start with Seedot in the wild from the locations below, then evolve through a special method. The 3-stage chain from Seedot to Shiftry is where the leveling time goes.
Shiftry looks average on paper at 480 BST. But Chlorophyll is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier attacker on our tier list.
Watch for Scizor (Bug), Blaziken (Fire), and Lapras (Ice) when using Shiftry. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Scizor is the most dangerous since Bug moves deal 4x damage. Fighting, Poison, Flying, and Fairy-type attackers are also a problem. With 7 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Shiftry gets Chlorophyll, Wind Rider, and Pickpocket. But Chlorophyll is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Shiftry is a physical attacker with base 100 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 80 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. Fits the attacker role.
Shiftry appears in 15 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Since Ruby & Sapphire, Shiftry has been in 15 games. Requiring an item-based evolution to obtain means it's consistently available but requires more effort than simply catching it in the wild.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRSDebut
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