Utility
Support
310Low
50Slow
DTier

While most trainers evolve Swablu into Altaria immediately, the unevolved form has a niche with Eviolite boosting its defenses. Ground and Ghost moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Cotton Bird Pokemon.

Swablu's spread isn't flashy. Sp. Def leads, Attack trails, 0 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 Sp. Def EV, on a standard growth curve.

Base Stats
310Avg
HP45
D
Attack40
D
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def75
C
Speed50
D
Total310
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Swablu yields +1 SpD
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe
Details
Catch255GuaranteedErratic600,000 XP0.4m / 1'04"1.2kg / 2.6 lbs62Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Its wings are like cotton tufts. If it perches on someone’s head, it looks like a cotton hat.

Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

Swablu Weakness

Good

Electric, Ice, and Rock-type moves hit Swablu for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground and Ghost-type moves can't touch it at all.

4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
3Weak
2Resist
2Immune
Scorei+2
Stealth Rock25% on switch
Abilities
Natural CureCures any major status ailment upon switching out.
Cloud NineHANegates all effects of weather, but does not prevent the weather itself.

Swablu evolves into Altaria. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. No compatible partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 180 total stats over Swablu.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Swablu
NormalFlying
Altaria
DragonFlying
HP
45
75+30
ATK
40
70+30
DEF
60
90+30
SP.ATK
40
70+30
SP.DEF
75
105+30
SPE
50
80+30
BST
310D-Tier
490B-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Swablu easily from the Dragon and Flying egg groups. Pass egg moves like Agility, Astonish, Dragon Rush and 6 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
DragonFlying
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
9moves

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Without breeding, Swablu misses out on Agility and Astonish. That's 9 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Take Down and Fly, with coverage across 8 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 1
Peck
3510035Flying
Lv 4
Disarming Voice
4015Fairy
Lv 8
Mist
30Ice
Lv 12
Fury Attack
158520Normal
Lv 16
Round
6010015Normal
Lv 20
Dragon Breath
6010020Dragon
Lv 24
Safeguard
25Normal
Lv 28
Sing
5515Normal
Lv 32
Cotton Guard
10Grass
Lv 36
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 40
Moonblast
9510015Fairy
Lv 44
Perish Song
5Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM21
Dazzling Gleam
8010010Fairy
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM59
Dragon Pulse
8510010Dragon
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM58
Endure+4
10Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM54
False Swipe
4010040Normal
TM94
Fly
909515Flying
TM13
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM88
Pluck
6010020Flying
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM51
Roost
10Flying
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM82
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
TM47
Steel Wing
709025Steel
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
8515Normal
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Agility
30Psychic
Egg
Astonish
3010015Ghost
Egg
Dragon Rush
1007510Dragon
Egg
Feather Dance
10015Flying
Egg
Haze
30Ice
Egg
Hyper Voice
9010010Normal
Egg
Play Rough
909010Fairy
Egg
Power Swap
10Psychic
Egg
Tailwind
15Flying

Tutor Moves

Swablu can't learn any Tutor moves

high spawn rates in mid-game routes across 20 locations. Swablu's one of the easier catches on the list. Two different catch methods are in play here. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.

Best Locations

You can catch Swablu through 20 walking and special encounters from Lv. 16-63, but availability differs between Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Some spots are exclusive to one version.

Fountainspring Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6330%MidCaveUnique encounter
EFFORTLESS
Fountainspring Cave
Shining PearlGrassLv.16-6330%MidCaveUnique encounter
EFFORTLESS
Route 211 - East
Brilliant DiamondUsing PokeRadarLv.27-2822%MidRoute
CHALLENGING
Route 211 - East
Shining PearlUsing PokeRadarLv.27-2822%MidRoute
CHALLENGING
Glacial Cavern
Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6320%MidCaveUnique encounter
EASY
Glacial Cavern
Shining PearlGrassLv.16-6320%MidCaveUnique encounter
EASY
Icy Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6320%MidIceUnique encounter
EASY
Icy Cave
Shining PearlGrassLv.16-6320%MidIceUnique encounter
EASY
Whiteout Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6320%MidCaveUnique encounter
EASY
Whiteout Cave
Shining PearlGrassLv.16-6320%MidCaveUnique encounter
EASY
Spacious Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-6319%MidCaveUnique encounter
EASY
Spacious Cave
Shining PearlGrassLv.16-6319%MidCaveUnique encounter
EASY
Glacial Cavern
Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Glacial Cavern
Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Icy Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostIcePost-game
Icy Cave
Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostIcePost-game
Spacious Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Spacious Cave
Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Whiteout Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Whiteout Cave
Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
  • Swablu isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Altaria to unlock its full potential. At 310 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

  • Watch for Jolteon (Electric), Cloyster (Ice), and Tyranitar (Rock) when using Swablu. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.

  • Swablu evolves into Altaria at level 35. Swablu is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Run Natural Cure on Swablu. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Swablu also gets Cloud Nine, but they don't compare.

  • Swablu fills the support role. It's leaning toward the physical side (base 40 Attack). Base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.

  • Swablu appears in 16 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.

Swablu first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 16 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.