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.
It emits light from its tail to communicate. It loves the sweet aroma given off by ILLUMISE.
It emits light from its tail to communicate. It loves the sweet aroma given off by ILLUMISE.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Flying, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Golbat Poison | D | |
 Chatot Normal | D | |
 Natu Psychic | D | |
 Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Cyndaquil builds →Fire Blast 2x77-92% Flamethrower 2x65-77% Flame Wheel 2x53-63% Ember 2x32-39% | ||
 Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Numel builds →Fire Blast 2x82-97% Flamethrower 2x65-77% Rock Tomb 2x37-45% Ember 2x32-39% | ||
 Scyther Bug | C | |
 Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x105-124%KO Flamethrower 2x88-104%KO Ember 2x40-48% Fire Spin 2x37-44% | ||
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Chatot builds →Chatter 2x60-72% Peck 2x37-44% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x84-100%KO Aerial Ace 2x84-100%KO | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x101-120%KO Flamethrower 2x84-100%KO Fire Punch 2x93-110%KO Ember 2x39-47% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Butterfree builds →Aerial Ace 2x44-53% Gust 2x37-43% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Golbat builds →Fly 2x99-117%KO Wing Attack 2x68-80% Air Cutter 2x42-50% Aerial Ace 2x68-80% | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Chatot builds →Fly 2x84-100%KO Chatter 2x59-70% Pluck 2x57-67% Aerial Ace 2x57-67% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x85-101%KO Aerial Ace 2x85-101%KO | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x103-122%KO Flamethrower 2x85-101%KO Fire Punch 2x95-113%KO Ember 2x40-48% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Butterfree builds →Aerial Ace 2x45-53% Gust 2x38-45% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Golbat builds →Fly 2x98-116%KO Wing Attack 2x67-80% Air Cutter 2x43-50% Aerial Ace 2x67-80% | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Chatot builds →Fly 2x85-101%KO Chatter 2x60-71% Pluck 2x57-68% Aerial Ace 2x57-68% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x86-101%KO Aerial Ace 2x86-101%KO | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x101-119%KO Flamethrower 2x83-98% Fire Punch 2x93-110%KO Ember 2x39-46% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x106-126%KO Fly 2x69-83% Air Slash 2x62-73% Aerial Ace 2x46-55% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Golbat builds →Fly 2x96-113%KO Wing Attack 2x64-77% Air Cutter 2x41-49% Aerial Ace 2x64-77% | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Chatot builds →Fly 2x83-98% Chatter 2x57-67% Pluck 2x57-67% Aerial Ace 2x57-67% | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x100-118%KO Air Slash 2x38-45% Air Cutter 2x31-37% Aerial Ace 2x67-79% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x87-103%KO Aerial Ace 2x87-103%KO | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x104-124%KO Flamethrower 2x84-100%KO Lava Plume 2x75-89% Fire Punch 2x96-113%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x109-129%KO Fly 2x71-84% Air Slash 2x64-76% Aerial Ace 2x49-58% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Golbat builds →Fly 2x100-118%KO Wing Attack 2x67-79% Air Cutter 2x42-50% Aerial Ace 2x67-79% | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Infernape's Fire Blast hits Volbeat for 69-82%. Dragonite threatens a KO with Outrage (97-114%). Aerodactyl's Stone Edge also KOs at 96-113%.
 Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Infernape builds →Close Combat28-34% U Turn22-26% Fire Blast 2x69-82% | ||
 Dragonite Dragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Dragonite builds →Extreme Speed43-51% Outrage97-114%KO | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake16-19% Stone Edge 2x96-113%KO | ||
 Staraptor Normal | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Staraptor builds →Close Combat21-25% U Turn25-29% Double Edge63-74% | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
Breeding is the whole story for Volbeat. A decent partner pool through two egg groups, eggs are quick to hatch, and you won't need to evolve anything. It's got 5 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Volbeat with 48 breeding partners from the Bug and Humanshape egg groups. Pass egg moves like Baton Pass, Bug Buzz, Encore and 2 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Volbeat Best Moveset
Swarm gives Volbeat passive value while it walls. Careful nature boosts Sp. Def, max HP and Defense EVs maximize the special wall profile, and Leftovers keeps it in the game.
Best Build
Volbeat best EVs are HP and Defense
Wall Moveset
- Encore
- Roost
- Bug Bite
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
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
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Volbeat Locations
A few locations for Volbeat with decent spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations to Catch Volbeat in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Volbeat Guide
For HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, Prankster changes the entire equation for Volbeat. The 410 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a support. Encore with Leftovers 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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves