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.
It is said to arrive on chilly, wintry winds. Feared from long ago as the guardian of forests, this POKéMON lives in a deep forest where people do not venture.
Shiftry Weakness
VulnerableShiftry's Grass/Dark typing leaves it vulnerable to Bug, Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, and Flying 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.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
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 102 partners from the Ground and Plant egg groups. Notable egg moves include Amnesia, False Swipe, Leech Seed and 3 more.
Shiftry doesn't rely on pure speed. Leftovers gives it passive recovery each turn to stay healthy, and Jolly nature still pushes offense. Explosion and Normal coverage keep the pressure on while flexible EVs EVs balance power and survivability.
Best Build
Best Shiftry Moveset
- Explosion
- Shadow Ball
- Brick Break
- Sunny Day
Recommended Teammates
You'll want to breed for Amnesia and False Swipe on Shiftry. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Solar Beam and Giga Drain, they expand what Shiftry can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Shiftry doesn't appear wild. Catch Seedot instead, it shows up at moderate rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Shiftry. The 3-stage chain is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Shiftry in Emerald
The path to Shiftry starts with Seedot at Lv. 3-25 via walking and trade encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch SeedotCHALLENGINGRoute 102GrassLv.3RareEarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 117GrassLv.13RareEarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 120GrassLv.25RareMidRouteLEGENDARYRustboro City - HouseIn-game tradeLimitedCityTrade for (give Ralts)
Step 2Catch or Evolve NuzleafCHALLENGINGRoute 114GrassLv.15RareEarlyRouteor evolve from Seedot (Step 1)- Step 3Shiftry ✓
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, and Flying-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 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 special attacker with base 90 Sp. Atk. 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