What is Volbeat weak to?

In Platinum, 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 Platinum, 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 Platinum, 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.

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

Utility

Support

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

IlluminateNiche

Doubles the wild encounter rate.

SwarmTop Pick

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

PranksterHANot in game

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.

Platinum

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 IV 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 Platinum (Best Counters)

Scyther BugFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Wing AttackLv. 21 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Volbeat Wing Attack 2x 85-101%KO Aerial Ace 2x 85-101%KO View Scyther builds →
Magmar Fire	C
Available Moves Moves Fire BlastTM38 FlamethrowerTM35 Lava PlumeLv. 36 Fire PunchLv. 28 Damage vs Volbeat Fire Blast 2x 104-122%KO Flamethrower 2x 85-101%KO Lava Plume 2x 76-90% Fire Punch 2x 94-111%KO View Magmar builds →
Noctowl NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Sky AttackLv. 1 FlyHM02 Air SlashLv. 32 PluckTM88 Damage vs Volbeat Sky Attack 2x 107-126%KO Fly 2x 69-81% Air Slash 2x 64-75% Pluck 2x 47-56% View Noctowl builds →
Pelipper WaterFlying	C
Obtain MethodIron Island Surfing Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Wing AttackLv. 11 PluckTM88 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Volbeat Fly 2x 69-81% Wing Attack 2x 47-56% Pluck 2x 47-56% Aerial Ace 2x 47-56% View Pelipper builds →
Golbat PoisonFlying	D
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Wing AttackLv. 17 Air CutterLv. 27 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Volbeat Fly 2x 98-116%KO Wing Attack 2x 67-79% Air Cutter 2x 41-49% Aerial Ace 2x 67-79% View Golbat builds →

Platinum 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

No Evolution

#313VolbeatDoes not evolve

Breeding

Moderate

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.

Egg Groups

BugHumanshape

Gender

♂100.0%

Hatch Time

15 cycles·3,855 steps

Quick~4 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

5moves

Breed With (best first)

Platinum 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

Experimental

Wall

Ability

Swarm

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Volbeat

Careful+SPD

Volbeat best EVs are HP and Defense

EVs

Def

SpD

Wall Moveset

EncoreUtility
RoostRecovery
Bug BiteSTAB
ToxicUtility

Recommended Teammates

UmbreonGood

HitmonchanGood

DusknoirDecent

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

—3510035Normal

Lv 5

Double Team

———15Normal

Lv 9

Confuse Ray

D—10010Ghost

Lv 13

Moonlight

———5Normal

Lv 17

Quick Attack+1

D4010030Normal

Lv 21

Tail Glow

———20Bug

Lv 25

Signal Beam

D7510015Bug

Lv 29

Protect+4

C——10Normal

Lv 33

Helping Hand+5

———20Normal

Lv 37

Zen Headbutt

D809015Psychic

Lv 41

Bug Buzz

A9010010Bug

Lv 45

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

TM Moves

TM40

Aerial Ace

D60—20Flying

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM31

Brick Break

D7510015Fighting

TM78

Captivate

——10020Normal

TM57

Charge Beam

D509010Electric

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM58

Endure+4

———10Normal

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM70

Flash

D—10020Normal

TM56

Fling

——10010Dark

TM01

Focus Punch-3

C15010020Fighting

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM19

Giga Drain

D6010010Grass

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM16

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM83

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM77

Psych Up

———10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM51

Roost

A——10Flying

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM30

Shadow Ball

D8010015Ghost

TM34

Shock Wave

D60—20Electric

TM62

Silver Wind

D601005Bug

TM82

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM22

Solar Beam

D12010010Grass

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM46

Thief

—6010025Dark

TM25

Thunder

D1207010Electric

TM73

Thunder Wave

B—10020Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

D9510015Electric

TM06

Toxic

A—8510Poison

TM89

U-turn

B7010020Bug

TM03

Water Pulse

D6010020Water

Egg Moves

Egg

Baton Pass

D——40Normal

Egg

Bug Buzz

A9010010Bug

Egg

Encore

S—1005Normal

Egg

Silver Wind

D601005Bug

Egg

Trick

C—10010Psychic

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Air Cutter

D559525Flying

Tutor

Helping Hand+5

———20Normal

Tutor

Ice Punch

D7510015Ice

Tutor

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Tutor

Ominous Wind

D601005Ghost

Tutor

Signal Beam

D7510015Bug

Tutor

Snore

D4010015Normal

Tutor

Swift

—60—20Normal

Tutor

Thunder Punch

D7510015Electric

Tutor

Zen Headbutt

D809015Psychic

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 3

Body Slam

C8510015Normal

Gen 3

Counter-5

D—10020Fighting

Gen 3

Dynamic Punch

D100505Fighting

Gen 3

Mega Kick

—120755Normal

Gen 3

Mega Punch

—808520Normal

Gen 3

Metronome

———10Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

Gen 3

Seismic Toss

D—10020Fighting

Platinum Volbeat Locations

Volbeat appears at decent spawn rates across 1 spots in endgame routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.

Best Locations to Catch Volbeat in Platinum

Route 229

Grass Lv.49 Route

UncommonPost

Volbeat Guide

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

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Aerodactyl RockFlying	B
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Fire BlastTM38 Fire FangLv. 1 Wing AttackLv. 1 Damage vs Volbeat Fire Blast 2x 50-61% Fire Fang 2x 59-70% Wing Attack 2x 83-98% View Aerodactyl builds →
Growlithe Fire	D
Available Moves Moves Fire BlastTM38 EmberLv. 6 Damage vs Volbeat Fire Blast 2x 83-98% Ember 2x 33-39% View Growlithe builds →
Doduo NormalFlying	D
Available Move Moves PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Volbeat Peck 2x 43-52% View Doduo builds →
Chimchar Fire	D
Obtain MethodRoute 201 Gift Available Moves Moves Fire BlastTM38 EmberLv. 7 Damage vs Volbeat Fire Blast 2x 72-85% Ember 2x 33-39% View Chimchar builds →
Starly NormalFlying	D
Available Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 9 Damage vs Volbeat Wing Attack 2x 54-65% View Starly builds →

Golbat PoisonFlying	D
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves Wing AttackLv. 17 PluckTM88 Damage vs Volbeat Wing Attack 2x 69-82% Pluck 2x 69-82% View Golbat builds →
Beautifly BugFlying	D
Available Move Moves GustLv. 13 Damage vs Volbeat Gust 2x 45-53% View Beautifly builds →
Growlithe Fire	D
Available Moves Moves Fire BlastTM38 Flame WheelLv. 20 EmberLv. 6 Damage vs Volbeat Fire Blast 2x 85-102%KO Flame Wheel 2x 65-77% Ember 2x 32-39% View Growlithe builds →
Drifloon GhostFlying	D
Obtain MethodValley Windworks Interact Encounter Available Move Moves GustLv. 11 Damage vs Volbeat Gust 2x 32-39% View Drifloon builds →
Doduo NormalFlying	D
Available Moves Moves PluckTM88 PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Volbeat Pluck 2x 73-87% Peck 2x 45-53% View Doduo builds →

Noctowl NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Sky AttackLv. 1 PluckTM88 PeckLv. 9 Damage vs Volbeat Sky Attack 2x 109-129%KO Pluck 2x 49-58% Peck 2x 29-35% View Noctowl builds →
Golbat PoisonFlying	D
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves Wing AttackLv. 17 PluckTM88 Damage vs Volbeat Wing Attack 2x 66-78% Pluck 2x 66-78% View Golbat builds →
Ponyta Fire	D
Available Moves Moves Fire BlastTM38 Flame WheelLv. 15 EmberLv. 10 Fire SpinLv. 24 Damage vs Volbeat Fire Blast 2x 75-90% Flame Wheel 2x 73-86% Ember 2x 29-35% Fire Spin 2x 26-31% View Ponyta builds →
Beautifly BugFlying	D
Available Move Moves GustLv. 13 Damage vs Volbeat Gust 2x 39-47% View Beautifly builds →
Growlithe Fire	D
Available Moves Moves Fire BlastTM38 Flame WheelLv. 20 EmberLv. 6 Damage vs Volbeat Fire Blast 2x 79-94% Flame Wheel 2x 62-74% Ember 2x 32-39% View Growlithe builds →

Scyther BugFlying	C
Available Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 21 Damage vs Volbeat Wing Attack 2x 86-102%KO View Scyther builds →
Noctowl NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Sky AttackLv. 1 FlyHM02 PluckTM88 PeckLv. 9 Damage vs Volbeat Sky Attack 2x 109-130%KO Fly 2x 72-85% Pluck 2x 49-58% Peck 2x 32-38% View Noctowl builds →
Golbat PoisonFlying	D
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Wing AttackLv. 17 Air CutterLv. 27 PluckTM88 Damage vs Volbeat Fly 2x 101-119%KO Wing Attack 2x 69-82% Air Cutter 2x 43-51% Pluck 2x 69-82% View Golbat builds →
Ponyta Fire	D
Available Moves Moves Fire BlastTM38 FlamethrowerTM35 Flame WheelLv. 15 EmberLv. 10 Damage vs Volbeat Fire Blast 2x 77-92% Flamethrower 2x 64-75% Flame Wheel 2x 72-85% Ember 2x 32-38% View Ponyta builds →
Beautifly BugFlying	D
Available Move Moves GustLv. 13 Damage vs Volbeat Gust 2x 40-48% View Beautifly builds →

Scyther BugFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Wing AttackLv. 21 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Volbeat Wing Attack 2x 86-102%KO Aerial Ace 2x 86-102%KO View Scyther builds →
Noctowl NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Sky AttackLv. 1 FlyHM02 PluckTM88 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Volbeat Sky Attack 2x 109-130%KO Fly 2x 72-85% Pluck 2x 49-58% Aerial Ace 2x 49-58% View Noctowl builds →
Golbat PoisonFlying	D
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 Wing AttackLv. 17 Air CutterLv. 27 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Volbeat Fly 2x 101-119%KO Wing Attack 2x 69-82% Air Cutter 2x 43-51% Aerial Ace 2x 69-82% View Golbat builds →
Chatot NormalFlying	D
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 ChatterLv. 21 PluckTM88 Aerial AceTM40 Damage vs Volbeat Fly 2x 86-102%KO Chatter 2x 60-72% Pluck 2x 58-68% Aerial Ace 2x 58-68% View Chatot builds →
Ponyta Fire	D
Available Moves Moves Fire BlastTM38 FlamethrowerTM35 Flame WheelLv. 15 EmberLv. 10 Damage vs Volbeat Fire Blast 2x 77-92% Flamethrower 2x 64-75% Flame Wheel 2x 72-85% Ember 2x 32-38% View Ponyta builds →

Infernape FireFighting	A
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves Close Combat U Turn Grass Knot Fire Blast Damage vs Volbeat Close Combat 28-34% U Turn 22-26% Fire Blast 2x 69-82% View Infernape builds →
Dragonite DragonFlying	A
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves Extreme Speed OutrageSTAB Dragon Dance Fire Punch Damage vs Volbeat Extreme Speed 43-51% Outrage 97-114%KO View Dragonite builds →
Aerodactyl RockFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves Earthquake Stealth Rock TauntUtility Stone Edge Damage vs Volbeat Earthquake 16-19% Stone Edge 2x 96-113%KO View Aerodactyl builds →
Staraptor NormalFlying	C
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves Brave Bird Close Combat U Turn Double Edge Damage vs Volbeat Close Combat 21-25% U Turn 25-29% Double Edge 63-74% View Staraptor builds →