Swinub sits at the start of its evolution line — not yet at full power, but that changes fast. Most trainers push through to Mamoswine as fast as possible. Introduced in Gen 2. Electric moves can't touch it, which offsets the 5 weaknesses somewhat.
An unusually even spread gives Swinub flexibility. HP barely edges ahead. But Sp. Atk isn't far off. Easy to catch and follows a slow 1.25M XP grind. Yields 1 Attack EV.
Swinub excels at sniffing out mushrooms buried beneath grass or snow. Since ancient times, the people of Hisui have often relied upon this skill.
Swinub Weakness
FragileSwinub is weak to Fire, Water, Grass, Fighting, and Steel-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Electric-type moves entirely. Thick Fat reduces Fire/Ice damage, further improving the defensive spread.
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.
How to Evolve
Breed Swinub easily with 195 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Ancient Power, Bite, Curse and 4 more to offspring.
The 50% bulk from Eviolite is no joke. Swinub takes hits that fully evolved Pokemon can't, especially with a spread EV build EVs pushing the physical side. Earthquake gives it offensive presence.
Best Build
Best Swinub Moveset
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Icicle Crash
Recommended Teammates
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 Fighting coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Blizzard and Earthquake.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Swinub is meant to evolve into Piloswine. At 250 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Swinub evolves into Piloswine at level 33. Swinub is the base form in a 3-stage evolutionary line.
Thick Fat is what you want on Swinub. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Oblivious, Snow Cloak) work on paper but Thick Fat is what makes Swinub worth using.
Base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Swinub is a physical attacker with base 50 Attack. Defensively? Fragile — can't afford to take many hits.
Swinub appears in 18 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Available in 18 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Swinub spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in most mainline games.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
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