What is Volbeat weak to?

In Black 2 & White 2, watch for Arcanine (Fire), Salamence (Flying), and Golem (Rock) when using Volbeat. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.

Should I use Volbeat?

For Black 2 & White 2, it depends on your team. Volbeat at 410 BST isn't a powerhouse, but the Bug coverage might be exactly what you're missing.

In Black 2 & White 2, Prankster changes the entire equation for Volbeat. The 410 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier. Encore with Focus Sash is the standard set.

What is the best ability for Volbeat?

Prankster is what you want on Volbeat. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Illuminate, Swarm) work on paper but Prankster is what makes Volbeat worth using.

What are Volbeat's strengths?

Volbeat's best stat is Sp. Def at base 85. Bug gives decent defensive coverage with 3 resistances.

Volbeat - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Balanced

CTier

85Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

Sp. Def and Speed carry most of Volbeat's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Speed EV. Follows a standard growth curve.

Base Stats

Above

HP65

Attack73

Defense55

Sp. Atk47

Sp. Def85

Speed85

Total410

Details

Catch Rate

Moderate150 / 255

Growth Rate

Erratic600,000 XP

Height0.7 m

Weight17.7 kg

Base XP151

Abilities

Illuminate

Doubles the wild encounter rate.

Swarm

Strengthens bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.

PranksterHATop Pick

Raises non-damaging moves' priority by one stage.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1

Speed training source

Pokedex Entries

It communicates with others by lighting up its rear at night. It loves Illumise’s sweet aroma.

Volbeat Weakness

Fire, Flying, and Rock moves hit Volbeat for super-effective damage. Volbeat's special bulk (base 85 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Volbeat Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Fire, Flying, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Grass, Fighting, Ground

Type ChartAvg

3Weak

3Resist

0Immune

Score-3

Gen V Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Fire Flying Rock

½xResist

Grass Fighting Ground

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (3)

Grass Psychic Dark

How to Beat Volbeat in Black 2 & White 2 (Best Counters)

In Black 2 & White 2, Dragonite can KO Volbeat with Outrage (106-125%). Volcarona threatens a KO with Fire Blast (89-105%). Terrakion's Stone Edge also KOs at 157-185%.

Dragonite DragonFlying	A
Recommended Build AbilityMultiscale ItemLum Berry NatureAdamant Moves Dragon Dance Extreme Speed OutrageSTAB Fire Punch Damage vs Volbeat Extreme Speed 47-56% Outrage 106-125%KO View Dragonite builds →
Volcarona BugFire	A
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureTimid Moves Quiver Dance Bug Buzz Giga Drain Fire Blast Damage vs Volbeat Giga Drain 10-12% Fire Blast 2x 89-105%KO View Volcarona builds →
Terrakion RockFighting	A
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves Close Combat Stone Edge Quick Attack X Scissor Damage vs Volbeat Close Combat 47-55% Stone Edge 2x 157-185%KO View Terrakion builds →
Staraptor NormalFlying	C
Recommended Build AbilityReckless ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves Brave Bird Close Combat U Turn Double Edge Damage vs Volbeat Close Combat 30-35% U Turn 35-41% Double Edge 89-105%KO View Staraptor builds →
Rhyperior GroundRock	C
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves EarthquakeSTAB Stone Edge Megahorn Stealth Rock Damage vs Volbeat Earthquake 68-80% Stone Edge 2x 273-322%KO Megahorn 109-128%KO View Rhyperior builds →

Black 2 & White 2 Evolution

Breeding is the whole story for Volbeat. Plenty of partners through two egg groups, eggs are quick to hatch, and you won't need to evolve anything. It's got 7 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution

#313VolbeatDoes not evolve

Breeding

Moderate

Breed Volbeat with 65 breeding partners from the Bug and Humanshape egg groups. Pass egg moves like Baton Pass, Bug Buzz, Dizzy Punch and 4 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

BugHumanshape

Gender

♂100.0%

Hatch Time

15 cycles·3,855 steps

Quick~4 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

7moves

Breed With (best first)

Black 2 & White 2 Volbeat Best Moveset

Prankster gives Volbeat passive value while it walls. Calm nature boosts Sp. Def, max HP and Sp. Def EVs maximize the special wall profile, and Focus Sash keeps it in the game.

Best Build

Experimental

Wall

Ability

Prankster

Item

Focus SashSURVIVAL

Best Nature for Volbeat

Calm+SPD

Volbeat best EVs are HP and Sp. Def

EVs

Def

SpD

Wall Moveset

EncoreUtility
Thunder Wave
ToxicUtility
TrickUtility

Recommended Teammates

ForretressGood

VolcaronaDecent

ScizorDecent

Moves

Coverage runs deep. Volbeat can hit 11 types beyond STAB, including Normal and Psychic. The offense anchors on Bug Buzz and Signal Beam while TMs handle everything else.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Flash

D—10020Normal

Lv 1

Tackle

D5010035Normal

Lv 5

Double Team

———15Normal

Lv 9

Confuse Ray

D—10010Ghost

Lv 13

Moonlight

D——5Normal

Lv 17

Quick Attack+1

D4010030Normal

Lv 21

Tail Glow

———20Bug

Lv 25

Signal Beam

D7510015Bug

Lv 29

Protect+4

B——10Normal

Lv 33

Helping Hand+5

———20Normal

Lv 37

Zen Headbutt

D809015Psychic

Lv 41

Bug Buzz

C9010010Bug

Lv 45

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

TM Moves

TM62

Acrobatics

B5510015Flying

TM40

Aerial Ace

D60—20Flying

TM45

Attract

C—10015Normal

TM31

Brick Break

D7510015Fighting

TM57

Charge Beam

D509010Electric

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM70

Flash

D—10020Normal

TM56

Fling

——10010Dark

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM16

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM17

Protect+4

B——10Normal

TM77

Psych Up

———10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM48

Round

—6010015Normal

TM30

Shadow Ball

D8010015Ghost

TM22

Solar Beam

D12010010Grass

TM76

Struggle Bug

—3010020Bug

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM46

Thief

—6010010Dark

TM25

Thunder

D1207010Electric

TM73

Thunder Wave

S—10020Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

D9510015Electric

TM06

Toxic

A—9010Poison

TM89

U-turn

B7010020Bug

Egg Moves

Egg

Baton Pass

D——40Normal

Egg

Bug Buzz

C9010010Bug

Egg

Dizzy Punch

—7010010Normal

Egg

Encore

S—1005Normal

Egg

Seismic Toss

D—10020Fighting

Egg

Silver Wind

D601005Bug

Egg

Trick

A—10010Psychic

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Bug Bite

C6010020Bug

Tutor

Giga Drain

D7510010Grass

Tutor

Helping Hand+5

———20Normal

Tutor

Ice Punch

D7510015Ice

Tutor

Roost

C——10Flying

Tutor

Signal Beam

D7510015Bug

Tutor

Sleep Talk

D——10Normal

Tutor

Snore

—4010015Normal

Tutor

Tailwind

C——30Flying

Tutor

Thunder Punch

D7510015Electric

Tutor

Trick

A—10010Psychic

Tutor

Zen Headbutt

D809015Psychic

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 4

Air Cutter

D559525Flying

Gen 3

Body Slam

C8510015Normal

Gen 4

Captivate

——10020Normal

Gen 3

Counter-5

D—10020Fighting

Gen 3

Dynamic Punch

D100505Fighting

Gen 4

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Gen 4

Focus Punch-3

C15010020Fighting

Gen 3

Mega Kick

—120755Normal

Gen 3

Mega Punch

—808520Normal

Gen 3

Metronome

———10Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

Gen 4

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Gen 4

Natural Gift

——10015Normal

Gen 4

Ominous Wind

—601005Ghost

Gen 4

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

Gen 4

Shock Wave

—60—20Electric

Gen 4

String Shot

——9540Bug

Gen 4

Swift

—60—20Normal

Gen 4

Water Pulse

D6010020Water

How to Get Volbeat in Black 2 & White 2

Volbeat doesn't appear in Black 2 & White 2. Transfer it from Ruby, Emerald, or Brilliant Diamond to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Volbeat is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Catch in the wild in:

BlackWalking · Route 3 · Swarm active

Then trade to Black 2 & White 2.

Also found in:

Ruby Emerald Diamond Platinum HeartGold X

Volbeat Guide

In Black 2 & White 2, watch for Arcanine (Fire), Salamence (Flying), and Golem (Rock) when using Volbeat. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
For Black 2 & White 2, it depends on your team. Volbeat at 410 BST isn't a powerhouse, but the Bug coverage might be exactly what you're missing.
In Black 2 & White 2, Prankster changes the entire equation for Volbeat. The 410 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier. Encore with Focus Sash is the standard set.
Prankster is what you want on Volbeat. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Illuminate, Swarm) work on paper but Prankster is what makes Volbeat worth using.
Volbeat's best stat is Sp. Def at base 85. Bug gives decent defensive coverage with 3 resistances.

Game Availability

Available in 14 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Volbeat 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

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