Venonat lurks on Crystal's night routes. Venomoth drops to D-Tier in Gen 2, making this Bug/Poison line harder to recommend than in Gen 1.
305HP60Attack55Defense50Speed45Sp.Def55Sp.Atk40
Venonat
Venomoth
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
45Speed · Slow

Is Venonat Good in Crystal Playthrough?

Route 43 catch before Mahogany Town. Venomoth evolves at 31, which lines up with the Ice Path stretch. Bug/Poison is still a liability against most late-game threats, but the evolution timing is at least convenient.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTETETTGEEGSEGSTEGEGGEFalknerGym 1VenonatCatchableBugsyGym 2WhitneyGym 3MortyGym 4ChuckGym 5VenomothEvolveJasmineGym 6PryceGym 7ClairGym 8SurgeGym 9SabrinaGym 10ErikaGym 11JanineGym 12MistyGym 13BrockGym 14BlaineGym 15BlueGym 16WillE4KogaE4BrunoE4KarenE4LanceChamp*
Falkner
Gym 1
Tough

Falkner's team hits Venonat's weaknesses hard.

Even
Pidgey
Lv 7
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud Slap
Risky
Pidgeotto
Lv 9
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud SlapGust
Bugsy
Gym 2
Even

Venonat trades roughly evenly with Bugsy's team.

Even
Metapod
Lv 14
Bug
Shed Skin
TackleString ShotHarden
Even
Kakuna
Lv 14
BugPoison
Shed Skin
Poison StingString ShotHarden
Risky
Scyther
Lv 16
BugFlying
Swarm
Quick AttackLeerFury Cutter
Whitney
Gym 3
Tough

Whitney's team hits Venonat's weaknesses hard.

Even
Clefairy
Lv 18
Normal
Cute Charm
Double SlapMimicEncoreMetronome
Risky
Miltank
Lv 20
Normal
Thick Fat
RolloutAttractStompMilk Drink
Morty
Gym 4
Even

Venonat trades roughly evenly with Morty's team.

Even
Gastly
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
LickSpiteMean LookCurse
Even
Haunter
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
HypnosisMimicCurseNight Shade
Risky
Gengar
Lv 25
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
HypnosisShadow BallMean LookDream Eater
Even
Haunter
Lv 23
GhostPoison
Levitate
SpiteMean LookMimicNight Shade
Chuck
Gym 5
Tough

Chuck's typing presses Venonat's defenses.

Risky
Primeape
Lv 27
Fighting
Vital Spirit
LeerRageKarate ChopFury Swipes
Risky
Poliwrath
Lv 30
WaterFighting
Water Absorb
HypnosisMind ReaderSurfDynamic Punch
Jasmine
Gym 6
Tough

Jasmine's team hits Venomoth's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
Risky
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
Avoid
Steelix
Lv 35
SteelGround
Rock Head
ScreechSunny DayRock ThrowIron Tail
Pryce
Gym 7
Good

Venomoth has the type edge here and should clean up Pryce's team.

You Win
Seel
Lv 27
Water
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
Even
Dewgong
Lv 29
WaterIce
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
Even
Piloswine
Lv 31
IceGround
Oblivious
Icy WindFury AttackMistBlizzard
Clair
Gym 8
Even

Venomoth trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.

Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSurfSlamDragon Breath
Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveThunderboltSlamDragon Breath
Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveIce BeamSlamDragon Breath
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 40
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenSurfHyper BeamDragon Breath
Lt. Surge
Gym 9
Even

Venomoth trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Raichu
Lv 44
Electric
Static
Thunder WaveQuick AttackThunderboltThunder
Even
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
Risky
Magneton
Lv 40
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
Lock OnDouble TeamSwiftZap Cannon
Even
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
Even
Electabuzz
Lv 46
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder PunchLight ScreenThunder
Sabrina
Gym 10
Good

Venomoth has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.

You Win
Espeon
Lv 46
Psychic
Synchronize
Sand AttackQuick AttackSwiftPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 46
Psychic
Soundproof
BarrierReflectBaton PassPsychic
You Win
Alakazam
Lv 48
Psychic
Synchronize
RecoverFuture SightPsychicReflect
Erika
Gym 11
Strong

Venomoth resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Tangela
Lv 42
Grass
Chlorophyll
Vine WhipBindGiga DrainSleep Powder
Easy KO
Jumpluff
Lv 41
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Mega DrainLeech SeedCotton SporeGiga Drain
You Win
Victreebel
Lv 46
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisAcidRazor Leaf
Easy KO
Bellossom
Lv 46
Grass
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisPetal DanceSolar Beam
Janine
Gym 12
Even

Venomoth trades roughly evenly with Janine's team.

Even
Crobat
Lv 36
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
ScreechSupersonicConfuse RayWing Attack
Even
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
Even
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
You Win
Ariados
Lv 33
BugPoison
Swarm
Scary FaceGiga DrainString ShotNight Shade
Even
Venomoth
Lv 39
BugPoison
Shield Dust
ForesightDouble TeamGustPsychic
Misty
Gym 13
Good

Venomoth has the type edge here and should clean up Misty's team.

You Win
Golduck
Lv 42
Water
Damp
SurfDisablePsych UpPsychic
Easy KO
Quagsire
Lv 42
WaterGround
Damp
SurfAmnesiaEarthquakeRain Dance
Easy KO
Lapras
Lv 44
WaterIce
Water Absorb
SurfPerish SongBlizzardRain Dance
You Win
Starmie
Lv 47
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
SurfConfuse RayRecoverIce Beam
Brock
Gym 14
Strong

Venomoth resists most of Brock's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Graveler
Lv 41
RockGround
Rock Head
Defense CurlRock SlideRolloutEarthquake
Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 41
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackScary FaceEarthquakeHorn Drill
Easy KO
Omastar
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
BiteSurfProtectSpike Cannon
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 44
RockGround
Rock Head
BindRock SlideBideSandstorm
Easy KO
Kabutops
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
SlashSurfEndureGiga Drain
Blaine
Gym 15
Tough

Blaine's team hits Venomoth's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Magcargo
Lv 45
FireRock
Magma Armor
CurseSmogFlamethrowerRock Slide
Even
Magmar
Lv 45
Fire
Flame Body
Thunder PunchFire PunchSunny DayConfuse Ray
Risky
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
Quick AttackFire SpinFury AttackFire Blast
Blue
Gym 16
Even

Venomoth trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Risky
Pidgeot
Lv 56
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
Quick AttackWhirlwindWing AttackMirror Move
You Win
Alakazam
Lv 54
Psychic
Synchronize
DisableRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 56
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackSandstormRock SlideEarthquake
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
TwisterHydro PumpRain DanceHyper Beam
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 58
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayLeech SeedEgg BombSolar Beam
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 58
Fire
Intimidate
RoarSwiftFlamethrowerExtreme Speed
Will
Elite Four
Good

Venomoth has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.

You Win
Xatu
Lv 40
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
Easy KO
Jynx
Lv 41
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapLovely KissIce PunchPsychic
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 41
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
ReflectLeech SeedEgg BombPsychic
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 41
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
CurseAmnesiaBody SlamPsychic
You Win
Xatu
Lv 42
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
Koga
Elite Four
Even

Venomoth trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Ariados
Lv 40
BugPoison
Swarm
Double TeamSpider WebBaton PassGiga Drain
Even
Venomoth
Lv 41
BugPoison
Shield Dust
SupersonicGustPsychicToxic
Risky
Forretress
Lv 43
BugSteel
Sturdy
ProtectSwiftExplosionSpikes
You Win
Muk
Lv 42
Poison
Stench
MinimizeAcid ArmorSludge BombToxic
Even
Crobat
Lv 44
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
Double TeamQuick AttackWing AttackToxic
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Venomoth has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

You Win
Hitmontop
Lv 42
Fighting
Intimidate
PursuitQuick AttackDigDetect
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 42
Fighting
Limber
SwaggerDouble KickHigh Jump KickForesight
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 42
Fighting
Keen Eye
Thunder PunchIce PunchFire PunchMach Punch
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 43
RockGround
Rock Head
BindEarthquakeSandstormRock Slide
Even
Machamp
Lv 46
Fighting
Guts
Rock SlideForesightVital ThrowCross Chop
Karen
Elite Four
Good

Venomoth has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.

Easy KO
Umbreon
Lv 42
Dark
Synchronize
Sand AttackConfuse RayFeint AttackMean Look
You Win
Vileplume
Lv 42
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Stun SporeAcidMoonlightPetal Dance
Even
Gengar
Lv 45
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
LickSpiteCurseDestiny Bond
You Win
Murkrow
Lv 44
DarkFlying
Insomnia
Quick AttackWhirlwindPursuitFeint Attack
Even
Houndoom
Lv 47
DarkFire
Early Bird
RoarPursuitFlamethrowerCrunch
Lance
Champion
Even

Venomoth trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 44
WaterFlying
Intimidate
FlailRain DanceSurfHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterThunderHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterBlizzardHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 46
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackAncient PowerRock SlideHyper Beam
Even
Charizard
Lv 46
FireFlying
Blaze
FlamethrowerWing AttackSlashHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 50
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Fire BlastSafeguardOutrageHyper Beam

Catchable

Available after Badge 1
Type
BugPoison
Tier
E

Catch Venonat in Ilex Forest (walking, Lv 5, common).

View Venonat locations

Evolve Venonat to Venomoth

Level 31
Type
BugPoison
Tier
E

Venonat evolves into Venomoth at Level 31. Your Venonat should hit Level 31 before you reach Jasmine, at typical leveling pace.

View Venomoth locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Venonat in Crystal

Across 13 spots, Venonat shows up common on Kanto routes at night and in a few Headbutt trees too. The night gating is the main thing to track, since daytime grass mostly comes up empty.

11 locations to catch Venonat

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Headbutt
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

How to Get Shiny Venonat in Crystal

Venonat comes out at night in National Park and on Route 43, and it also drops from Headbutt trees at the Lake of Rage; night grass is the reliable core. Compare Shiny Venonat odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Venonat in CrystalNormal
Shiny Venonat in Crystal Shiny
Color ShiftPurpletoBlue
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Venonat Evolution

2 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Crystal Shiny Venonat Calculator

2 Methods
Fastest Path

The best route is Breed w/ Shiny Parent, about 1 in 64 on each try.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Crystal

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breed w/ Shiny Parent: Eggs inherit stats from a shiny parent, so about 1 in 64 hatch shiny. A shiny Ditto helps every egg, and any other shiny parent (the red Gyarados works) helps only eggs of the opposite gender.

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 64Breed w/ Shiny Parent
Chance By Now50.8%at 45 eggs hatchedAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few7----
25%one in four19----
50%coin flip45----
90%very likely147----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

For time estimates and charm math, open the Crystal shiny odds calculator with Venonat already selected.

Venonat Weakness

Venonat is weak to Fire, Flying, Psychic, and Rock. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. 4 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.

Venonat Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fire, Flying, Psychic, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Poison, Bug
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Fighting
Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def

What is Venonat Weak Against

Avg
4Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score-2
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
0xImmune
None

What is Venonat Strong Against

3Strong
3Resisted
0Immune
Score0
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Venonat

B
B
C
Kadabra
Kadabra
Psychic
C
Magby
Magby
Fire
C

Venonat Evolutions

Venonat evolves into Venomoth. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs take an average time to hatch. Evolving adds up to 145 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Venonat
BugPoison
Venomoth
BugPoison
HP
60
70+10
ATK
55
65+10
DEF
50
60+10
SP.ATK
40
90+50
SP.DEF
55
75+20
SPE
45
90+45
BST
305E-Tier
450E-Tier+145
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Special

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Venonat easily with 23 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Baton Pass, Giga Drain, Screech to offspring.

Egg Groups
Bug
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
3moves
Breed With (best first)
parasectparasshuckleforretressvenomothgligarariadosbutterfreebeedrillledianyanmascyther

C Venonat Best Moveset

Bug/Poison at stats too low for competitive play. MoveSleep Powder works but nothing follows up. Venomoth provides Speed and Sp. Atk improvements that at least approach relevance.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Venonat
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Sludge BombSTAB
  • Leech LifeSTAB
  • Poison PowderSetup
  • ToxicSTAB

Moves List

Breeding opens up real options for Venonat. Baton Pass and Giga Drain come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Sludge Bomb and Leech Life and Normal and Psychic coverage and more.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Disable
D—5520Normal
Lv 1
Foresight
——10040Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 9
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Lv 17
Confusion
D5010025Psychic
Lv 20
Poison Powder
S—7535Poison
Lv 25
Leech Life
S3010010Bug
Lv 28
Stun Spore
C—7530Grass
Lv 33
Psybeam
—6510020Psychic
Lv 36
Sleep Powder
C—7515Grass
Lv 41
Psychic
D9010010Psychic

TM Moves

15 of 21 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45D—10015Normal
TM32———15Normal
TM20
Endure+4Burned Towerbadge 4
D——10Normal
TM19D751005Grass
TM10D6010015Normal
TM17C——10Normal
TM29D9010010Psychic
TM44
RestIce Pathnot until badge 7
C——10Psychic
TM36S13510010Poison
TM13
SnoreMoomoo Farmbadge 3
—4010015Normal
TM22
Solar BeamRoute 27not until badge 8
D12010010Grass
TM11C——5Fire
TM34
SwaggerOlivine Lighthousebadge 4
C—8515Normal
TM12——10020Normal
TM39
SwiftUnion Cavebadge 1
D60—20Normal
TM46D6010025Dark
TM06S—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Baton Pass
C——40Normal
Egg
Giga Drain
D751005Grass
Egg
Screech
D—8540Normal

Tutor Moves

Venonat can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP60
C
Attack55
D
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def55
D
Speed45
D
Total305
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.0 m
Weight30.0 kg
Base XP61
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe
Special Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

The small bugs it eats appear only at night, so it sleeps in a hole in a tree until night falls.

Pokemon Crystal

Venonat Crystal Guide

  • In Crystal, Venonat does the job early-game if you need a Bug/Poison type on your team. Evolve it into Venomoth before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Venonat has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 19 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Explore

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