Is Swellow Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
Hoenn's best Normal/Flying, trade-only. AbilityGuts makes status conditions into power gains. If imported, Swellow outperforms every native Flying option in Kanto. Guts is the difference.
Brock's team hits Taillow's weaknesses hard.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.
Lt. Surge's team hits Taillow's weaknesses hard.
Taillow has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Taillow trades roughly evenly with Terry's team.
Swellow cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. On GBA, cross-region trading unlocks post-game after Celio's Sevii Islands Ruby & Sapphire quest. The Switch re-release supports only one-way transfers out to Pokemon HOME. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 22.
- LV 13FlyingWing Attack90100%35
- After Misty
- TM10NormalHidden Power90100%15
- After Lt. Surge
- HM02FlyingFly13595%15
- After Erika
- TM15NormalHyper Beam22590%5
- TM43NormalSecret Power105100%20
- LV 38FlyingAerial Ace90100%20
- After Giovanni
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge180100%15
- Post-Game
- TM42NormalFacade105100%20
How to Get Swellow in FireRed & LeafGreen
At level 22, a traded Taillow becomes Swellow. Since Taillow never spawns in FRLG wilds, a Hoenn trade kicks off the chain before leveling can begin.
How to Obtain Swellow in FRLG
Step 1Obtain TaillowCARTRIDGE TRADEfrom Ruby & SapphireAvailableCatch in Ruby & Sapphire via Walking · Route 115, then trade to the current game via link cable.CARTRIDGE TRADEfrom EmeraldAvailableCatch in Emerald via Walking · Route 115, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in HeartGold & SoulSilver via Headbutt special · Cherrygrove City · Post-National Dex.LATER APPEARANCELATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire via Walking · Route 115.HOME TRANSFERNot TradeablePokemon HOME on Switch FireRed & LeafGreen is permanently deposit-only — once it launches, Taillow can be sent from this game into HOME, but never transferred in.
Step 2Swellow ✓
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ice, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground, Ghost |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Swellow Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Swellow
 Pikachu Electric | C | |
 Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x122-143%KO Thunderbolt 2x80-96% | ||
Pikachu Electric | C | |
 Electrode Electric | B | |
 Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Rhyhorn builds →Rock Tomb 2x58-68% Thunderbolt 2x40-48% Ice Beam 2x40-48% | ||
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x118-139%KO Thunderbolt 2x79-93% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | A | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Move Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Aerodactyl builds →Ancient Power 2x78-92% | ||
Pikachu Electric | C | |
Electrode Electric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Electrode builds →Thunderbolt 2x112-132%KO Rollout 2x16-19% | ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodPower Plant Interact Encounter | ||
 Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Rhydon builds →Rock Tomb 2x81-96% Ice Beam 2x50-59% Thunderbolt 2x50-59% | ||
 Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter | ||
 Raikou Electric | B | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Tyranitar builds →Rock Slide 2x122-144%KO Thunderbolt 2x88-104%KO Ice Beam 2x88-104%KO | ||
Zapdos Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodPower Plant Interact Encounter | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Rhydon builds →Rock Tomb 2x79-94% Ice Beam 2x49-58% Thunderbolt 2x49-58% | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Dugtrio can KO Swellow with Rock Slide (118-139%). Celebi's Psychic hits Swellow for 45-53%. Snorlax's Self-Destruct also KOs at 110-129%.
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityArenatrap ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Dugtrio builds →Rock Slide 2x118-139%KO | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Celebi builds →Psychic45-53% Giga Drain18-22% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityImmunity ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Snorlax builds →Body Slam47-55% Self Destruct110-129%KO | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityEffect Spore ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Breloom builds →Mach Punch26-30% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPure Power ItemSalacberry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Medicham builds →Rock Slide 2x58-69% | ||
Swellow Evolutions
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
Breeding
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.
FRLG Swellow Best Moveset
125 Speed with AbilityGuts boosting 85 Attack by 50%% when statused. Normal/Flying TermStab from MoveFacade doubles in power when statused too, stacking with Guts. The moveset hits devastatingly fast from a burned or poisoned state, turning status conditions into massive damage.
Best Build
Swellow best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Aerial Ace
- Facade
- Baton Pass
- Endeavor
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
If its two tail feathers are standing at attention, it is proof of good health. It soars elegantly in the sky.
Swellow FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
Swellow isn't catchable in FireRed & LeafGreen. Catch one in Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald, then trade it to FireRed & LeafGreen.
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
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves