Between Chlorophyll and Grass/Poison typing, Vileplume carves out a strong competitive niche. It doubles its Speed in sun, which gives it an edge most Pokemon in its stat range don't have. The stat spread leans into special offense.
Vileplume's spread isn't flashy. Sp. Atk leads, Speed trails, 4 stats clear the bar. Tough to catch and worth 3 Sp. Atk EVs, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
It has the world’s largest petals. With every step, the petals shake out heavy clouds of toxic pollen.
The larger its petals, the more toxic pollen it contains. Its big head is heavy and hard to hold up.
Vileplume Weakness
VulnerableFire, Ice, Flying, and Psychic-type moves hit Vileplume for super-effective damage. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. 4 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.
You get Vileplume from Gloom using a Leaf Stone. It's one of 2 possible evolutions in this branching family, each requiring its own method. Breed through Oddish to get eggs. Both Vileplume and Bellossom hit 490 total stats from Oddish. The difference is how those stats are split.
How to Evolve
Breed with Vileplume to get Oddish eggs easily using 50 partners from the Plant egg group. Notable egg moves include After You, Flail, Ingrain and 7 more.
Start with max HP and Defense EVs. Bold nature gives Vileplume the right physical wall lean, Black Sludge adds Poison-type passive recovery, and Effect Spore works in the background. Sludge Bomb is the main damage option.
Best Build
Best Vileplume Moveset
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Strength Sap
- Corrosive Gas
Recommended Teammates
Without breeding, Vileplume misses out on After You and Flail. That's 10 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Petal Dance and Solar Beam, with Fairy and Normal coverage and more rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Can't catch Vileplume directly. Start with Oddish at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve through a special method. The 3-stage chain from Oddish to Vileplume is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Vileplume in Sword & Shield
Oddish is your first catch on the way to Vileplume. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 7-40 across 60 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch OddishEFFORTLESSDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-1560%EarlyForestOvercastEFFORTLESSDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-1560%EarlyForestNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSDappled GroveSwordOverworldLv.13-1560%EarlyForestOvercastEFFORTLESSDappled GroveSwordOverworldLv.13-1560%EarlyForestNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSEast Lake AxewellSwordGrassLv.8-1245%EarlyCaveNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSEast Lake AxewellShieldGrassLv.8-1245%EarlyCaveNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSRolling FieldsSwordGrassLv.7-940%EarlyOvercastEFFORTLESSRolling FieldsShieldGrassLv.7-1040%EarlyOvercastEFFORTLESSEast Lake AxewellSwordOverworldLv.10-1535%EarlyCaveNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSEast Lake AxewellShieldOverworldLv.10-1535%EarlyCaveNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSEast Lake AxewellSwordGrassLv.8-1230%EarlyCaveOvercastEFFORTLESSEast Lake AxewellShieldGrassLv.8-1230%EarlyCaveOvercastEASYDappled GroveSwordOverworldLv.13-1525%EarlyForestRainingEASYDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-1525%EarlyForestRainingEASYEast Lake AxewellSwordGrassLv.8-1220%EarlyCaveThunderstormEASYEast Lake AxewellSwordGrassLv.8-1220%EarlyCaveRainingEASYEast Lake AxewellShieldGrassLv.8-1220%EarlyCaveThunderstormEASYEast Lake AxewellShieldGrassLv.8-1220%EarlyCaveRainingEASYEast Lake AxewellShieldOverworldLv.10-1515%EarlyCaveHeavy FogEASYEast Lake AxewellShieldOverworldLv.10-1515%EarlyCaveOvercastEASYEast Lake AxewellSwordOverworldLv.10-1515%EarlyCaveHeavy FogEASYEast Lake AxewellSwordOverworldLv.10-1515%EarlyCaveOvercastMODERATEEast Lake AxewellShieldOverworldLv.10-1510%EarlyCaveThunderstormMODERATEEast Lake AxewellSwordOverworldLv.10-1510%EarlyCaveThunderstormMODERATEDappled GroveSwordOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestThunderstormMODERATEDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestThunderstormMODERATEWatchtower RuinsSwordOverworldLv.26-2910%MidBuildingOvercastMODERATEWatchtower RuinsShieldOverworldLv.26-2910%MidBuildingOvercast
Step 2Catch or Evolve GloomEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - 3SwordOverworldLv.29-3235%MidThunderstormEFFORTLESSGiant's Cap - 3ShieldOverworldLv.29-3235%MidThunderstormEFFORTLESSNorth Lake MilochShieldOverworldLv.26-2830%MidWaterThunderstormEFFORTLESSNorth Lake MilochSwordOverworldLv.26-2830%MidWaterThunderstormEASYNorth Lake MilochSwordOverworldLv.26-2820%MidWaterNormal WeatherEASYNorth Lake MilochShieldOverworldLv.26-2820%MidWaterRainingEASYNorth Lake MilochShieldOverworldLv.26-2820%MidWaterNormal WeatherEASYNorth Lake MilochSwordOverworldLv.26-2820%MidWaterRainingMODERATENorth Lake MilochShieldOverworldLv.26-2810%MidWaterOvercastMODERATENorth Lake MilochSwordOverworldLv.26-2810%MidWaterOvercastMODERATEGiant's CapShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's CapSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's MirrorShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's MirrorShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidNormal WeatherMODERATEGiant's MirrorSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidThunderstormMODERATEGiant's MirrorSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidIntense SunMODERATEGiant's MirrorSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidRainingMODERATEGiant's MirrorSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidHeavy FogMODERATEGiant's MirrorSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's MirrorSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidNormal WeatherMODERATEGiant's MirrorShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidThunderstormMODERATEGiant's MirrorShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidIntense SunMODERATEGiant's MirrorShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidRainingMODERATEGiant's MirrorShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidHeavy FogMODERATEGiant's Cap - 3SwordOverworldLv.29-3210%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's Cap - 3ShieldOverworldLv.29-3210%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's Cap - 3SwordOverworldLv.29-325%MidRainingMODERATEGiant's Cap - 3ShieldOverworldLv.29-325%MidRainingEFFORTLESSAxew's EyeShieldGrassLv.35-4030%LateOvercastEFFORTLESSAxew's EyeSwordGrassLv.35-4030%LateOvercastor evolve from Oddish (Step 1)
Step 3Vileplume ✓
Don't let Vileplume's 490 base stat total fool you. Chlorophyll is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier as an attacker.
Watch for Arcanine (Fire), Lapras (Ice), and Aerodactyl (Flying) when using Vileplume. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Psychic-type attackers are also a problem.
Run Chlorophyll on Vileplume. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Vileplume also gets Effect Spore, but they don't compare.
Vileplume fills the attacker role. It's a special attacker with base 110 Sp. Atk. Base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Vileplume appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Vileplume has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
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