Physical
Balanced
DTier
65Speed · Below Avg

Vulpix Best Moveset

Fire at 50 Sp. Atk and 65 Speed with AbilityDrought setting sun. The Sp. Atk can't threaten anything, but sun support for teammates like Venusaur and Charizard is the entire purpose. The moveset is a team enabler, not a standalone threat. Evolve to Ninetales for the same sun plus real stats.

SABCDEFFFFEEEEEERed, Blue & YellowIRB/YGold, Silver & CrystalIIGS/CRuby, Sapphire & EmeraldIIIRS/EDiamond, Pearl & PlatinumIVDP/PtPEAKBlack & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2X & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPScarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AIXSV/LZACURRENT
●Gen I — Red, Blue & YellowF

Vulpix was a niche pick at best in Gen I (Red, Blue & Yellow), rarely seen in standard play. This marked Vulpix's competitive debut. A key development: had a combined Special stat of 65.

Had a combined Special stat of 65
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM38
Fire Blast
Fire110COMMONSTAB
Lv 41
Fire Spin
Fire35COMMONSTAB
Tutor
Body Slam
Normal85COMMONCoverage
Lv 21
Confuse Ray
Ghost—COMMONUtility
Lv 1
Ember
Fire40RARESTAB
Xfer
Reflect
Psychic—RAREUtility
Xfer
Swift
Normal60RARECoverage
Lv 29
Flamethrower
Fire90RARESTAB
Vulpix Red & Blue MovesVulpix Yellow Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Vulpix
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • Fire SpinSTAB
  • Body Slam
  • Confuse Ray

Recommended Teammates

Venonat
VenonatExcellent
Tentacool
TentacoolExcellent
Zubat
ZubatExcellent
→Gen II — Gold, Silver & CrystalF

Vulpix was a niche pick at best in Gen II (Gold, Silver & Crystal), rarely seen in standard play. Vulpix maintained its position from the previous generation.

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Xfer
Reflect
Psychic—POPULARUtility
TM38
Fire Blast
Fire110POPULARSTAB
TM3
Curse
Ghost—POPULARSetup
TM21
Frustration
Normal—POPULARCoverage
Vulpix Gold & Silver MovesVulpix Crystal Moves
Experimental
Screens Setter
Ability
Unknown
Item
Fire Stone
Best Nature for Vulpix
HardyNEUTRAL

Screens Setter Moveset

  • ReflectUtility
  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • CurseSetup
  • FrustrationCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Flareon
FlareonExcellent
Azumarill
AzumarillExcellent
Squirtle
SquirtleExcellent
→Gen III — Ruby, Sapphire & EmeraldF

Vulpix was a niche pick at best in Gen III (Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald), rarely seen in standard play. Vulpix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Flashfire with Silkscarf, favoring a Gentle nature.

Received Flash Fire
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM23
Iron Tail
Steel100POPULARCoverage
Tutor
Body Slam
Normal85POPULARCoverage
TM38
Fire Blast
Fire110POPULARSTAB
TM10
Hidden Power (Ice)
Ice60POPULARCoverage
Vulpix Ruby & Sapphire MovesVulpix Emerald Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Flash Fire
Item
Silk Scarf
Best Nature for Vulpix
Gentle+SPD
EVs

Utility Moveset

  • Iron Tail
  • Body Slam
  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • Hidden Power Ice

Recommended Teammates

Unown
UnownExcellent
Drowzee
DrowzeeExcellent
Wigglytuff
WigglytuffExcellent
★Gen IV — Diamond, Pearl & PlatinumE

Vulpix saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). This was Vulpix's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Flashfire with Choice Specs, favoring a Timid nature.

Physical/Special split overhauled move damage

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Energy Ball
Grass90COMMONCoverage
Lv 47
Fire Blast
Fire110COMMONSTAB
TM79
Dark Pulse
Dark80COMMONCoverage
Egg
Heat Wave
Fire95COMMONSTAB
Vulpix Diamond & Pearl MovesVulpix Platinum Moves

Best Build

Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Flash Fire
Item
Choice SpecsPOWER
Best Nature for Vulpix
Timid+SPE

Vulpix best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Energy Ball
  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • Dark Pulse
  • Heat WaveSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Voltorb
VoltorbGood
Eevee
EeveeGood
Aipom
AipomGood
→Gen V — Black & White / B2W2E

Vulpix saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). Vulpix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Flashfire with Heatrock, favoring a Careful nature.

Gained Drought as hidden abilityHidden Abilities became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Tutor
Pain Split
Normal—POPULARUtility
TM17
Protect
Normal—POPULARPriority
TM11
Sunny Day
Fire—POPULARSTAB
Lv 26
Will-O-Wisp
Fire—POPULARSTAB
Vulpix Black & White MovesVulpix Black 2 & White 2 Moves
Experimental
Wall
Ability
Flash Fire
Item
Heat Rock
Best Nature for Vulpix
Careful+SPD
EVs

Wall Moveset

  • Pain Split
  • ProtectFAST +4
  • Sunny DaySTAB
  • Will O WispSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Walrein
WalreinExcellent
Torterra
TorterraExcellent
Lairon
LaironExcellent
→Gen VI — X & Y / ORASE

Vulpix saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Vulpix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Drought with Heatrock, favoring a Timid nature.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM53
Energy Ball
Grass90POPULARCoverage
TM50
Overheat
Fire130POPULARSTAB
Lv 10
Quick Attack
Normal40POPULARCoverage
Lv 20
Will-O-Wisp
Fire—POPULARSTAB
Vulpix X & Y MovesVulpix ORAS Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Drought
Item
Heat Rock
Best Nature for Vulpix
Timid+SPE
EVs

Utility Moveset

  • Energy Ball
  • OverheatSTAB
  • Quick Attack
  • Will O WispSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Drilbur
DrilburExcellent
Munchlax
MunchlaxExcellent
Bellsprout
BellsproutExcellent
→Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUME

Vulpix saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Vulpix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Flashfire with Eviolite, favoring a Calm nature.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 20
Will-O-Wisp
Fire—COMMONSTAB
TM53
Energy Ball
Grass90COMMONCoverage
Lv 42
Fire Blast
Fire110RARESTAB
TM17
Protect
Normal—RAREPriority
TM50
Overheat
Fire130RARESTAB
Egg
Power Swap
Psychic—RAREUtility
TM97
Dark Pulse
Dark80RARECoverage
Tutor
Pain Split
Normal—RAREUtility
Vulpix Sun & Moon MovesVulpix Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Moves
Experimental
Wall
Ability
Flash Fire
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Vulpix
Calm+SPD
EVs

Wall Moveset

  • Will O WispSTAB
  • Energy Ball
  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • ProtectFAST +4

Recommended Teammates

Carvanha
CarvanhaGood
Gourgeist-Small
Gourgeist-SmallGood
Whirlipede
WhirlipedeGood
→Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPE

Vulpix saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Vulpix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Drought with Eviolite, favoring a Bold nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TR65
Energy Ball
Grass90POPULARCoverage
Lv 32
Flamethrower
Fire90POPULARSTAB
Xfer
Toxic
Poison—POPULARUtility
TM25
Protect
Normal—POPULARPriority
Vulpix Sword & Shield MovesVulpix BDSP Moves
Experimental
Bulky Support
Ability
Drought
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Vulpix
Bold+DEF
EVs

Bulky Support Moveset

  • Energy Ball
  • FlamethrowerSTAB
  • ToxicUtility
  • ProtectFAST +4

Recommended Teammates

Volcanion
VolcanionExcellent
Dragapult
DragapultExcellent
Kartana
KartanaExcellent
→Gen IX — Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AE

Vulpix saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Vulpix maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Drought with Ejectbutton, favoring a Careful nature.

Terastallization became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM202
Pain Split
Normal—COMMONUtility
Lv 8
Quick Attack
Normal40COMMONCoverage
TM172
Roar
Normal—COMMONUtility
Lv 24
Will-O-Wisp
Fire—COMMONSTAB
Vulpix Scarlet & Violet MovesVulpix Legends Z-A Moves
Experimental
Support
Ability
Drought
Item
Eject Button
Best Nature for Vulpix
Careful+SPD
EVs

Support Moveset

  • Pain Split
  • Quick Attack
  • RoarSLOW -6Utility
  • Will O WispSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Incineroar
IncineroarGood
Gyarados
GyaradosGood
Sunflora
SunfloraGood

Vulpix Weakness

Water, Ground, and Rock moves hit Vulpix for super-effective damage. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Vulpix's special bulk (base 65 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Vulpix Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy

What is Vulpix Weak Against

Avg
3Weak
6Resist
1Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
WaterGroundRock
½xResist
FireGrassIceBugSteelFairy
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
Fire

What is Vulpix Strong Against

4Strong
4Resisted
0Immune
Score0
2xStrong
GrassIceBugSteel
½xResisted
FireWaterRockDragon
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Vulpix

Swampert can KO Vulpix with Earthquake (297-350%). Excadrill threatens a KO with Earthquake (343-404%). Rhyperior's Earthquake also KOs at 353-415%.

Evolution

Vulpix doesn't evolve by leveling. You'll need an evolution item to push it forward to Ninetales. The evolved forms gain up to 206 total stats over Vulpix. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Evolutions
Vulpix
#037Vulpix
Ninetales
#038NinetalesFire Stone
Alola NinetalesAlola
#038Alola NinetalesIce Stone
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Vulpix
Fire
Ninetales
Fire
Alola Ninetales
Fire
HP
38
73+35
73+35
ATK
41
76+35
76+35
DEF
40
75+35
75+35
SP.ATK
50
81+31
81+31
SP.DEF
65
100+35
100+35
SPE
65
100+35
100+35
BST
299D-Tier
505C-Tier+206
505C-Tier+206
ROLE
Balanced
Pivot
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Mixed

Breeding

Easy

Breed Vulpix easily with 278 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.

Egg Groups
Field
Gender
♂25.0%♀75.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy
12 of 278·

How to Get Vulpix

All 21 games

Vulpix appears at moderate rates across 30 spots in early-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.

Scarlet Exclusive — Trade with Violet for Sandshrew

Where To Catch Vulpix in SV

Vulpix is your first catch on the way to Vulpix. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 7-80 across 30 total spots in the chain.

  1. Vulpix
    Step 1Vulpix ✓
    Apple Hills
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Chilling Waterhead
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Crystal Pool
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Fellhorn Gorge
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Infernal Pass
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Kitakami Hall
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Kitakami Wilds
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Mossfell Confluence
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Oni Mountain
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Onis Maw
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Paradise Barrens
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Revelers Road
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Timeless Woods
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Wistful Fields
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Polar Biome
    Lv.50-80Overworld
    Scarlet
    Polar Biome
    Lv.64Overworld
    Scarlet

Base Stats

Sp. Def and Speed carry most of Vulpix's stat budget. HP's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Speed EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
Below
HP38
F
Attack41
D
Defense40
D
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def65
C
Speed65
C
Total299
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.6 m
2'00"Small
Weight9.9 kg
21.8 lbsFeather
Base XP60
Low Yield
Abilities
Flash Fire
Protects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
DroughtHidden Ability
Summons strong sunlight that lasts indefinitely upon entering battle.
Flash Fire grants Fire immunity
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

After long years in the ever-snowcapped mountains of Alola, this Vulpix has gained power over ice.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Vulpix Guide

  • You can run Vulpix through the first few routes without issues. 299 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Ninetales as fast as you can.

  • Vulpix has an Alolan form that swaps the typing and reshuffles the stats. Introduced in Gen 7. Worth checking if the original version doesn't fit your team.

Game Availability

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Vulpix has appeared in 21 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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