If Zangoose goes down before it attacks, it contributed nothing. If it doesn't, something on the other side is going down. It sits at a decent but contested Speed tier. Part of the Gen 3 roster.
Everything pushes toward physical damage here. Zangoose's Attack does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 2 Attack EVs per KO. Moderately hard to find, on a standard growth curve.
It has feuded with SEVIPER for many generations. Its sharp claws are its biggest weapons.
Zangoose Weakness
GoodZangoose's Normal typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting moves. It shrugs off Ghost-type attacks completely. Zangoose leans offensive (base 115 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Zangoose doesn't evolve, so breeding's where the action is. You'll find a massive partner pool across one egg group, and eggs are average hatch time. It's got 10 egg moves worth looking into.
How to Evolve
Breed Zangoose easily with 131 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Counter, Curse, Double Hit and 7 more to offspring.
Zangoose's locked into one move per switch-in with Choice Scarf, trading flexibility for speed patching through item lock. Close Combat is the go-to spam option, with the remaining moves keeping switch-ins honest.
Best Build
Best Zangoose Moveset
- Close Combat
- Thunder Punch
- Ice Punch
- Night Slash
Recommended Teammates
Breadth over depth defines this movepool. Zangoose won't stack one type's damage ceiling, but coverage across 14 types means it always has an effective option. Last Resort and Double-Edge anchor the STAB core.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Zangoose tops out at moderate rates across 2 locations in mid-game routes. The encounters below are sorted by rate so you can see exactly what you're working with.
Best Locations
Zangoose works as a cannon with 458 BST behind it. C-Tier on our list — a situational pick that fills a niche. That 115 base Attack does the heavy lifting.
Watch for Blaziken (Fighting) when using Zangoose. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
Zangoose doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Normal-type Pokemon with a 458 base stat total.
Immunity prevents poison — that's the one you want on Zangoose. Toxic Boost is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Zangoose is a physical attacker with base 115 Attack. But the speed tells the real story — base 90 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. Fits the cannon role.
Zangoose appears in 15 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Zangoose appears in 15 games across 7 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through wild encounters.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A