For Platinum, we rate Swellow C-Tier: a niche pick in Platinum's meta. At 455 BST, it fits the pivot role. Facade with Flame Orb is the standard set.

What is Swellow weak to?

In Platinum, watch for Raikou (Electric), Walrein (Ice), and Golem (Rock) when using Swellow. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Swellow's base 125 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.

What is the best ability for Swellow?

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.

What role does Swellow play in battle?

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.

What counters Swellow?

For Platinum, Swellow has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Electric, Ice, and Rock-type attackers hit hardest.

Swellow - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Pivot

CTier

125Speed · Very Fast

Stats & Training

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.

Base Stats

Above

HP60

Attack85

Defense60

Sp. Atk75

Sp. Def50

Speed125

Total455

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Slow1.06M XP

Height0.7 m

Weight19.8 kg

Base XP159

Abilities

GutsTop Pick

Increases Attack to 1.5× with a major status ailment.

ScrappyHANot in game

Lets the Pokémon's normal and fighting moves hit ghost Pokémon.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2

Speed training target

Pokedex Entries

It circles the sky in search of prey. When it spots one, it dives steeply to catch the prey.

Platinum

Swellow Weakness

Electric, Ice, and Rock 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.

Swellow Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Ice, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Grass, Bug
0x (Immune)	Ground, Ghost

Type ChartGood

3Weak

2Resist

2Immune

Score+2

Gen IV Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Ice Rock

½xResist

Grass Bug

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Ground Ghost

STAB (3)

Grass Fighting Bug

How to Beat Swellow in Platinum (Best Counters)

Aerodactyl RockFlying	B
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Thunder FangLv. 1 Ice FangLv. 1 Ancient PowerLv. 25 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 101-120%KO Thunder Fang 2x 60-71% Ice Fang 2x 60-71% Ancient Power 2x 62-74% View Aerodactyl builds →
Rotom ElectricGhost	C
Obtain MethodOld Chateau Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 ThunderboltTM24 Shock WaveTM34 Thunder ShockLv. 1 Damage vs Swellow Thunder 2x 153-180%KO Thunderbolt 2x 126-148%KO Shock Wave 2x 86-102%KO Thunder Shock 2x 60-71% View Rotom builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 93-109%KO Rock Tomb 2x 74-88% Rock Throw 2x 62-74% View Solrock builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 11 RolloutLv. 22 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 93-109%KO Rock Tomb 2x 74-88% Rock Throw 2x 62-74% Rollout 2x 39-46% View Graveler builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 56-67% Rock Tomb 2x 45-53% Rock Throw 2x 39-46% View Onix builds →

Platinum Evolution

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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#276Taillow

Level 22

#277Swellow

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Taillow

NormalFlying

Swellow

NormalFlying

60+20

ATK

85+30

DEF

60+30

SP.ATK

75+45

SP.DEF

50+20

SPE

125+40

BST

270D-Tier

455C-Tier+185

ROLE

Balanced

Pivot

TYPE

Physical

Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Swellow to get Taillow eggs easily using 31 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Brave Bird, Mirror Move, Pursuit and 5 more.

Egg Groups

Flying

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

15 cycles·3,855 steps

Quick~4 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

8moves

Breed With (best first)

Platinum Swellow Best Moveset

The build revolves around U-turn for safe pivoting. Guts and Flame Orb support Swellow's hit-and-run approach, with max Attack and Speed EVs making sure each pivot actually threatens. The remaining moves adds versatility.

Best Build

Experimental

Physical Sweeper

Ability

Guts

Item

Flame Orb

Best Nature for Swellow

Jolly+SPE

Swellow best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Atk

SpD

Spe

Physical Sweeper Moveset

FacadeSTAB
Brave BirdSTAB
U Turn
Quick AttackSTAB

Recommended Teammates

InfernapeGood

MagnezoneGood

GengarGood

Moves

Without breeding, Swellow misses out on Brave Bird and Mirror Move. That's 8 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Giga Impact and Hyper Beam, with coverage across 8 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Focus Energy

———30Normal

Lv 1

Growl

——10040Normal

Lv 1

Peck

—3510035Flying

Lv 1

Pluck

—6010020Flying

Lv 1

Quick Attack+1

A4010030Normal

Lv 4

Focus Energy

———30Normal

Lv 8

Quick Attack+1

A4010030Normal

Lv 13

Wing Attack

C6010035Flying

Lv 19

Double Team

———15Normal

Lv 28

Endeavor

D—1005Normal

Lv 38

Aerial Ace

B60—20Flying

Lv 49

Agility

C——30Psychic

Lv 61

Air Slash

C759520Flying

TM Moves

TM40

Aerial Ace

B60—20Flying

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM78

Captivate

——10020Normal

HM05

Defog

———15Flying

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM58

Endure+4

———10Normal

TM42

Facade

S7010020Normal

HM02

Fly

C909515Flying

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM68

Giga Impact

B150905Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TM83

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

TM88

Pluck

—6010020Flying

TM17

Protect+4

B——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM51

Roost

C——10Flying

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM82

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM47

Steel Wing

B709025Steel

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM46

Thief

—6010025Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

TM89

U-turn

A7010020Bug

Egg Moves

Egg

Brave Bird

S12010015Flying

Egg

Mirror Move

———20Flying

Egg

Pursuit

D4010020Dark

Egg

Rage

D2010020Normal

Egg

Refresh

D——20Normal

Egg

Sky Attack

B140905Flying

Egg

Supersonic

——5520Normal

Egg

Whirlwind-6

D——20Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Air Cutter

C559525Flying

Tutor

Endeavor

D—1005Normal

Tutor

Heat Wave

C1009010Fire

Tutor

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Tutor

Ominous Wind

D601005Ghost

Tutor

Snore

D4010015Normal

Tutor

Swift

—60—20Normal

Tutor

Twister

—4010020Dragon

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 3

Counter-5

D—10020Fighting

Gen 3

Double-Edge

B12010015Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

How to Get Swellow in Platinum

the PokeRadar is the only way to find Swellow in this game. 1 locations host these encounters, and each one has its own conditions. These become available in mid-game encounter areas. Sort below to compare them.

Where To Catch Swellow in Platinum

Step 1Obtain Taillow
Train until Level 22
Step 2Swellow ✓
Route 213
Using PokeRadar Lv.21-24 Route
UncommonMid
or evolve from Taillow (Step 1)

Swellow Guide

For Platinum, we rate Swellow C-Tier: a niche pick in Platinum's meta. At 455 BST, it fits the pivot role. Facade with Flame Orb is the standard set.
In Platinum, watch for Raikou (Electric), Walrein (Ice), and Golem (Rock) when using Swellow. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Swellow's base 125 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.
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.
For Platinum, Swellow has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Electric, Ice, and Rock-type attackers hit hardest.

Game Availability

Available in 14 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Swellow spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in a solid number of games.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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Aerodactyl RockFlying	B
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Thunder FangLv. 1 Ice FangLv. 1 Damage vs Swellow Thunder Fang 2x 56-67% Ice Fang 2x 56-67% View Aerodactyl builds →
Lunatone RockPsychic	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Throw 2x 44-53% View Lunatone builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Throw 2x 62-73% View Solrock builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Throw 2x 38-47% View Onix builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 11 Damage vs Swellow Rock Throw 2x 56-67% View Geodude builds →

Lunatone RockPsychic	C
Available Moves Moves Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Tomb 2x 55-65% Rock Throw 2x 47-55% View Lunatone builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Available Moves Moves Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Tomb 2x 75-90% Rock Throw 2x 67-80% View Solrock builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Tomb 2x 47-55% Rock Throw 2x 42-50% View Onix builds →
Omanyte RockWater	D
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Rock TombTM39 RolloutLv. 16 Damage vs Swellow Rock Tomb 2x 47-55% Rollout 2x 25-30% View Omanyte builds →
Kabuto RockWater	D
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift TM Move Moves Rock TombTM39 Damage vs Swellow Rock Tomb 2x 67-80% View Kabuto builds →

Aerodactyl RockFlying	B
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Thunder FangLv. 1 Ice FangLv. 1 Ancient PowerLv. 25 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 97-116%KO Thunder Fang 2x 56-67% Ice Fang 2x 56-67% Ancient Power 2x 60-72% View Aerodactyl builds →
Rotom ElectricGhost	C
Obtain MethodOld Chateau Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves ThunderboltTM24 Shock WaveLv. 22 Thunder ShockLv. 1 Damage vs Swellow Thunderbolt 2x 121-144%KO Shock Wave 2x 81-96% Thunder Shock 2x 57-68% View Rotom builds →
Lunatone RockPsychic	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 60-72% Rock Tomb 2x 51-60% Rock Throw 2x 44-52% View Lunatone builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 91-108%KO Rock Tomb 2x 75-88% Rock Throw 2x 60-72% View Solrock builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 11 RolloutLv. 22 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 91-108%KO Rock Tomb 2x 75-88% Rock Throw 2x 60-72% Rollout 2x 40-48% View Graveler builds →

Aerodactyl RockFlying	B
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Thunder FangLv. 1 Ice FangLv. 1 Ancient PowerLv. 25 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 97-115%KO Thunder Fang 2x 57-67% Ice Fang 2x 57-67% Ancient Power 2x 57-67% View Aerodactyl builds →
Rotom ElectricGhost	C
Obtain MethodOld Chateau Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 ThunderboltTM24 Shock WaveTM34 Thunder ShockLv. 1 Damage vs Swellow Thunder 2x 148-174%KO Thunderbolt 2x 121-143%KO Shock Wave 2x 83-98% Thunder Shock 2x 57-67% View Rotom builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 90-107%KO Rock Tomb 2x 74-87% Rock Throw 2x 62-73% View Solrock builds →
Sudowoodo Rock	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 14 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 95-112%KO Rock Tomb 2x 76-90% Rock Throw 2x 64-76% View Sudowoodo builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 11 RolloutLv. 22 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 90-107%KO Rock Tomb 2x 74-87% Rock Throw 2x 62-73% Rollout 2x 37-45% View Graveler builds →

Aerodactyl RockFlying	B
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Thunder FangLv. 1 Ice FangLv. 1 Ancient PowerLv. 25 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 97-115%KO Thunder Fang 2x 56-66% Ice Fang 2x 56-66% Ancient Power 2x 57-68% View Aerodactyl builds →
Rotom ElectricGhost	C
Obtain MethodOld Chateau Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 ThunderboltTM24 Shock WaveTM34 Thunder ShockLv. 1 Damage vs Swellow Thunder 2x 146-172%KO Thunderbolt 2x 119-141%KO Shock Wave 2x 79-94% Thunder Shock 2x 55-65% View Rotom builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 9 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 89-104%KO Rock Tomb 2x 70-83% Rock Throw 2x 59-70% View Solrock builds →
Sudowoodo Rock	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 14 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 93-110%KO Rock Tomb 2x 75-89% Rock Throw 2x 63-76% View Sudowoodo builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock SlideTM80 Rock TombTM39 Rock ThrowLv. 11 RolloutLv. 22 Damage vs Swellow Rock Slide 2x 89-104%KO Rock Tomb 2x 70-83% Rock Throw 2x 59-70% Rollout 2x 37-44% View Graveler builds →

Zapdos ElectricFlying	A
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves ThunderboltSTAB RoostRecovery Hidden Power Ice Heat Wave Damage vs Swellow Thunderbolt 2x 155-183%KO Heat Wave 54-64% View Zapdos builds →
Aerodactyl RockFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves Earthquake Stealth Rock TauntUtility Stone Edge Damage vs Swellow Stone Edge 2x 164-193%KO View Aerodactyl builds →
Weavile DarkIce	B
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves Ice Shard Night Slash Low Kick PursuitSTAB Damage vs Swellow Ice Shard 2x 73-86% Pursuit 36-43% View Weavile builds →
Raikou Electric	B
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureRash Moves ThunderboltSTAB Hidden Power Ice Aura Sphere Calm Mind Damage vs Swellow Thunderbolt 2x 196-231%KO Aura Sphere 58-69% View Raikou builds →
Rhyperior GroundRock	B
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemLeftovers NatureBrave Moves EarthquakeSTAB Stone Edge Fire Punch Megahorn Damage vs Swellow Stone Edge 2x 221-260%KO Megahorn 44-52% View Rhyperior builds →