Ground and Ghost moves don't affect Swellow at all — that's the advantage of Normal/Flying typing. It comfortably outruns most offensive threats. Comfortably outruns most offensive threats. Known as the Swallow Pokemon.
The stat budget goes to damage. Speed and Attack carry the offense, Sp. Def doesn't even come close. A Swallow Pokemon on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve, worth 2 Speed EVs per KO.
If its two tail feathers are standing at attention, it is proof of good health. It soars elegantly in the sky.
Swellow Weakness
GoodElectric, Ice, and Rock-type moves hit Swellow for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground and Ghost-type moves can't touch it at all. At base 125 Speed, Swellow outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Evolved from Taillow. Swellow is the final form in this two-stage line. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. Sp.Atk grew the most through evolution (+45 over Taillow), and Swellow peaks at 455 total stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Swellow to get Taillow eggs easily using 25 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Mirror Move, Pursuit, Rage and 3 more.
Prediction matters here. Choice Band means Swellow can't change moves after clicking, but the payoff is raw power at the cost of move flexibility. Max Attack and Speed EVs with Guts back that up. Double STAB prevents free switches.
Best Build
Best Swellow Moveset
- Aerial Ace
- Facade
- Baton Pass
- Endeavor
Recommended Teammates
Without breeding, Swellow misses out on Mirror Move and Pursuit. That's 6 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Hyper Beam and Sky Attack, with Steel and Dark coverage rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Swellow can't be caught in FireRed & LeafGreen. Transfer Taillow from Ruby, Emerald, or Omega Ruby and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Swellow in FireRed & LeafGreen
Step 1Obtain TaillowCatch in the wild in:
Then trade to FireRed & LeafGreen to continue the evolution chain.
Also found in:
Step 2Swellow ✓
We rate Swellow C-Tier — a situational pick that fills a niche. At 455 BST, it fits the pivot role. Base 125 Speed stands out.
Taillow evolves into Swellow at level 22. Swellow is the fully evolved form. It sits at 455 BST in its evolved form.
Guts increases Attack to 1.5× with a major status ailment — that's the one you want on Swellow. Scrappy is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Base 125 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Swellow is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Best used as a pivot.
Swellow appears in 13 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Available in 13 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Swellow spans 7 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in a solid number of games.
- 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