Stats & Training
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.
As it develops, its single white tail gains color and splits into six. It is quite warm and cuddly.
If it is attacked by an enemy that is stronger than itself, it feigns injury to fool the enemy and escapes.
Vulpix Weakness
Water, Ground, and Rock moves hit Vulpix for super-effective damage. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Lapras builds →Water Pulse 2x77-91% Water Gun 2x51-63% | ||
 Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Whiscash builds →Mud Bomb 2x77-91% Rock Tomb 2x63-74% Water Gun 2x51-63% Mud-Slap 2x28-35% | ||
 Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Onix builds →Rock Tomb 2x70-84% Rock Throw 2x58-70% | ||
 Slowpoke WaterPsychic | D | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Lapras builds →Water Pulse 2x78-94% Water Gun 2x55-65% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Whiscash builds →Mud Bomb 2x78-94% Rock Tomb 2x67-78% Water Gun 2x49-59% Mud-Slap 2x29-35% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Qwilfish builds →Water Gun 2x43-53% Rollout 2x39-47% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Onix builds →Rock Tomb 2x69-82% Rock Throw 2x59-71% | ||
Slowpoke WaterPsychic | D | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Lapras builds →Surf 2x116-138%KO Water Pulse 2x79-93% Water Gun 2x54-64% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x108-128%KO Mud Bomb 2x79-93% Water Pulse 2x74-89% Rock Tomb 2x66-79% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x87-103%KO Water Gun 2x41-49% Rollout 2x41-49% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Onix builds →Dig 2x95-113%KO Rock Tomb 2x70-84% Rock Throw 2x62-74% | ||
 Buizel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Buizel builds →Surf 2x92-108%KO Dig 2x80-95% Rock Tomb 2x61-72% Water Gun 2x41-49% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Lapras builds →Surf 2x114-134%KO Water Pulse 2x76-89% Water Gun 2x51-61% Whirlpool 2x47-57% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x103-122%KO Mud Bomb 2x76-89% Water Pulse 2x69-81% Rock Tomb 2x64-76% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x82-97% Water Gun 2x38-45% Whirlpool 2x34-41% Rollout 2x38-46% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Graveler builds →Dig 2x147-174%KO Rock Tomb 2x114-134%KO Rock Throw 2x96-114%KO Rollout 2x58-69% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Onix builds →Dig 2x89-105%KO Rock Tomb 2x69-81% Rock Throw 2x58-69% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Lapras builds →Surf 2x115-135%KO Water Pulse 2x77-91% Water Gun 2x52-62% Whirlpool 2x46-55% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x105-124%KO Mud Bomb 2x77-91% Water Pulse 2x71-84% Rock Tomb 2x68-80% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x83-99% Brine 2x62-73% Water Gun 2x40-48% Whirlpool 2x34-40% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x195-230%KO Dig 2x155-183%KO Rock Tomb 2x117-139%KO Rock Throw 2x99-117%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Onix builds →Dig 2x89-106%KO Rock Tomb 2x68-80% Rock Throw 2x59-70% | ||
 Gyarados Water | A | |
Obtain MethodLake Of Rage Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x85-101%KO Whirlpool 2x35-41% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Lapras builds →Surf 2x111-131%KO Water Pulse 2x76-90% Water Gun 2x50-60% Whirlpool 2x44-53% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x101-120%KO Mud Bomb 2x76-90% Water Pulse 2x70-83% Rock Tomb 2x65-78% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x79-94% Brine 2x60-71% Water Gun 2x38-45% Whirlpool 2x35-41% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x188-221%KO Dig 2x149-176%KO Rock Tomb 2x114-135%KO Rock Throw 2x95-113%KO | ||
Gyarados Water | A | |
Obtain MethodLake Of Rage Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x218-258%KO Surf 2x88-104%KO Waterfall 2x193-228%KO Whirlpool 2x36-42% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Lapras builds →Surf 2x113-134%KO Waterfall 2x141-166%KO Brine 2x83-98% Water Pulse 2x77-91% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Whiscash builds →Aqua Tail 2x149-176%KO Surf 2x104-124%KO Waterfall 2x133-157%KO Mud Bomb 2x77-91% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x83-98% Waterfall 2x154-183%KO Brine 2x61-72% Water Gun 2x38-46% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x193-228%KO Dig 2x154-183%KO Rock Tomb 2x116-137%KO Rock Throw 2x99-117%KO | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Empoleon can KO Vulpix with Hydro Pump (232-274%). Gliscor threatens a KO with Earthquake (195-229%). Aerodactyl's Stone Edge also KOs at 264-311%.
 Empoleon WaterSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemFocus Sash NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Empoleon builds →Ice Beam31-37% Hydro Pump 2x232-274%KO Aqua Jet 2x65-77% | ||
 Gliscor Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityHypercutter ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Gliscor builds →Earthquake 2x195-229%KO Ice Fang21-25% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake 2x176-207%KO Stone Edge 2x264-311%KO | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Vulpix View Swampert builds →Earthquake 2x219-259%KO Ice Beam18-22% Waterfall 2x176-207%KO | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver 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
Breeding
Breed Vulpix easily with 131 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Disable, Energy Ball, Extrasensory and 9 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Vulpix Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Without breeding, Vulpix misses out on Disable and Energy Ball. That's 12 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Overheat and Flare Blitz, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Vulpix Locations
Vulpix's scattered across 10 spots in early-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations to Catch Vulpix in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Vulpix shows up in 10 walking spots from Lv. 13-25. Plenty of options, and the list is sorted so the highest-rate locations at each progression stage come first.
Vulpix Guide
Multiple options from Vulpix: Ninetales using a Fire Stone and Alolan Ninetales using a Ice Stone. Each branch takes the 299 BST base in a different direction.
For HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
You can find Vulpix in HeartGold & SoulSilver. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 20 other games across the series.
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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
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 7SMAlolan
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