Is Swinub Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
Route 217 encounter, same as DP. The payoff is Mamoswine, which is one of the best Pokemon for the endgame in BDSP. Worth the investment.
Swinub has the type edge here and should clean up Roark's team.
Swinub has the type edge here and should clean up Gardenia's team.
Swinub trades roughly evenly with Maylene's team.
Crasher Wake's team hits Swinub's weaknesses hard.
Swinub trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Swinub trades roughly evenly with Byron's team.
Piloswine trades roughly evenly with Candice's team.
Mamoswine trades roughly evenly with Volkner's team.
Mamoswine has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.
Mamoswine has the type edge here and should clean up Bertha's team.
Mamoswine has the type edge here and should clean up Flint's team.
Mamoswine trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.
Mamoswine trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Catch Swinub on Route 217 (walking, Lv 34, common). Swarm.
Your Swinub should hit Level 33 before you reach Candice, at typical leveling pace.
Usually ready to evolve before you reach Volkner, at typical party pace.
How to Get Swinub in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Swinub is available from mid-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 12 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.
Where To Catch Swinub in BDSP
To get Swinub, start by catching Swinub through walking encounters at Lv. 16-63. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Swinub ✓Bogsunk CavernLv.16-63GrassShining PearlRate 50%Unique encounterSwampy CaveLv.16-63GrassShining PearlRate 50%Unique encounterBogsunk CavernLv.16-63GrassBrilliant DiamondRate 40%Unique encounterSwampy CaveLv.16-63GrassBrilliant DiamondRate 40%Unique encounterRoute 217Lv.34GrassRate 40%Swarm activeGlacial CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameIcy CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameWhiteout CaveLv.58-63CavePost-game
Step 2Evolve into Piloswine
Step 3Evolve into Mamoswine
Swinub Weakness
Swinub is weak to Fire, Water, Grass, Fighting, and Steel. On the flip side, it's immune to Electric-type moves entirely. Thick Fat reduces Fire/Ice damage, further improving the defensive spread.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Water, Grass, Fighting, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
What is Swinub Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Swinub
 Machop Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machop builds →Focus Punch 2x205-243%KO Fire Blast 2x76-90% | ||
 Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Psyduck builds →Surf 2x133-157%KO Focus Punch 2x105-124%KO Iron Tail 2x71-86% | ||
 Surskit BugWater | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Surskit builds →Scald 2x102-121%KO Giga Drain 2x64-76% | ||
 Budew GrassPoison | D | |
Machop Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machop builds →Focus Punch 2x225-266%KO Fire Blast 2x80-95% | ||
 Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Bibarel builds →Focus Punch 2x161-191%KO Waterfall 2x132-157%KO Iron Tail 2x107-127%KO | ||
 Buizel Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Buizel builds →Focus Punch 2x134-159%KO Surf 2x132-157%KO Iron Tail 2x91-109%KO | ||
Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Psyduck builds →Surf 2x143-170%KO Focus Punch 2x116-136%KO Iron Tail 2x80-95% | ||
 Shellos Water | C | |
 Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x267-315%KO Fire Blast 2x94-111%KO | ||
 Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Floatzel builds →Focus Punch 2x186-220%KO Waterfall 2x151-178%KO Iron Tail 2x124-147%KO | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Bibarel builds →Focus Punch 2x157-185%KO Waterfall 2x129-152%KO Iron Tail 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Gastrodon builds →Surf 2x180-213%KO Rock Smash 2x43-51% | ||
 Bronzor SteelPsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Bronzor builds →Solar Beam 2x66-78% Flash Cannon 2x67-80% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x267-315%KO Fire Blast 2x94-111%KO | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Floatzel builds →Focus Punch 2x186-220%KO Waterfall 2x151-178%KO Iron Tail 2x124-147%KO | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Bibarel builds →Focus Punch 2x157-185%KO Waterfall 2x129-152%KO Iron Tail 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodGreat Marsh Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Quagsire builds →Focus Punch 2x157-185%KO Aqua Tail 2x144-171%KO Iron Tail 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x132-156%KO Focus Punch 2x108-127%KO Iron Tail 2x72-86% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x268-316%KO Fire Blast 2x92-110%KO | ||
 Bronzong SteelPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Bronzong builds →Solar Beam 2x140-166%KO Flash Cannon 2x142-168%KO Rock Smash 2x45-54% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Floatzel builds →Focus Punch 2x184-217%KO Waterfall 2x147-174%KO Iron Tail 2x124-146%KO | ||
 Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Golduck builds →Surf 2x183-216%KO Focus Punch 2x152-178%KO Iron Tail 2x102-120%KO | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Bibarel builds →Focus Punch 2x157-185%KO Waterfall 2x126-148%KO Iron Tail 2x105-125%KO | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x260-306%KO Fire Blast 2x91-108%KO | ||
Bronzong SteelPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Bronzong builds →Solar Beam 2x137-162%KO Flash Cannon 2x140-165%KO Rock Smash 2x44-52% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Floatzel builds →Focus Punch 2x180-212%KO Waterfall 2x145-171%KO Iron Tail 2x120-142%KO | ||
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Golduck builds →Surf 2x181-213%KO Focus Punch 2x149-176%KO Iron Tail 2x100-118%KO | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x262-308%KO Fire Blast 2x90-107%KO | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Abomasnow builds →Solar Beam 2x231-272%KO Focus Punch 2x162-191%KO Iron Tail 2x109-129%KO Water Pulse 2x78-92% | ||
Bronzong SteelPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Bronzong builds →Solar Beam 2x136-161%KO Flash Cannon 2x137-163%KO Rock Smash 2x42-50% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Floatzel builds →Focus Punch 2x180-213%KO Waterfall 2x145-171%KO Iron Tail 2x121-142%KO | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x262-308%KO Fire Blast 2x90-107%KO | ||
Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Abomasnow builds →Solar Beam 2x231-272%KO Focus Punch 2x162-191%KO Iron Tail 2x109-129%KO Water Pulse 2x78-92% | ||
Bronzong SteelPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Bronzong builds →Solar Beam 2x136-161%KO Flash Cannon 2x137-163%KO Rock Smash 2x42-50% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Floatzel builds →Focus Punch 2x180-213%KO Waterfall 2x145-171%KO Iron Tail 2x121-142%KO | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Hariyama builds →Focus Punch 2x313-369%KO Surf 2x65-77% | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x269-317%KO Fire Blast 2x92-109%KO | ||
 Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x225-265%KO Hammer Arm 2x150-177%KO Metal Claw 2x75-89% | ||
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Vileplume builds →Petal Dance 2x278-328%KO Drain Punch 2x75-89% | ||
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Charizard can KO Swinub with Flamethrower (266-312%). Gyarados threatens a KO with Waterfall (216-254%). Machamp's Close Combat also KOs at 364-428%.
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Charizard builds →Flamethrower 2x266-312%KO Air Slash111-131%KO Dragon Pulse83-98% | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemWacanberry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x216-254%KO Earthquake89-105%KO Crunch72-85% | ||
 Machamp Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityGuts ItemFlame Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Machamp builds →Bullet Punch 2x82-96% Knock Off66-78% Close Combat 2x364-428%KO | ||
 Metagross SteelPsychic | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemAssault Vest NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Metagross builds →Earthquake104-122%KO | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemLife Orb NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Swinub View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x298-351%KO | ||
Swinub Evolutions
Three stages ahead. Swinub grows into Piloswine, then pushes on to Mamoswine. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with a massive partner pool via one egg group. Evolving adds up to 280 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
BDSP Swinub Best Moveset
Ice/Ground pre-evo with hidden AbilityThick Fat halving Fire and Ice damage. 50/50 across both offenses at 50 Speed. The moveset can't compete. Two evolutions from Mamoswine where 130 Attack and Ice/Ground TermStab reach competitive power.
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Endeavor
- Ice Shard
- Avalanche
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Egg moves make a real difference. Swinub gets Ancient Power and Bite exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Rock coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Blizzard and Earthquake.
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
It loves eating mushrooms that grow under dead grass. It also finds hot springs while foraging.
Swinub Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, you can run Swinub through the first few routes without issues. 250 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Piloswine as fast as you can.
Game Availability
Available in 18 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Swinub spans 9 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in most mainline games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
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