Special
Sweeper
510High
105Fast
CTier

High risk, high reward with Zoroark. The offense is outstanding but the bulk won't survive much — 60 base HP is the weak link. Psychic moves can't touch it, and only 2 types hit it super-effectively. Introduced in Gen 5.

The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Attack carry the offense, HP doesn't even come close. An Illusion Fox Pokemon on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve, worth 2 Sp. Atk EVs per KO.

Base Stats
510High
HP60
C
Attack105
B
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk120
A
Sp. Def60
C
Speed105
B
Total510
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Zoroark yields +2 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Details
Catch45Challenging•Medium Slow1.06M XP•1.6m / 5'03"•81.1kg / 178.8 lbs•179Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Bonds between these Pokémon are very strong. It protects the safety of its pack by tricking its opponents.

Black

Each has the ability to fool a large group of people simultaneously. They protect their lair with illusory scenery.

White

Zoroark Weakness

Good

Zoroark's Dark typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting and Bug moves. It shrugs off Psychic-type attacks completely. At base 105 Speed, Zoroark outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.

Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
FightingBug
½xResisti
GhostDark
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
Psychic
STAB (2)i
PsychicGhost
2Weak
2Resist
1Immune
Scorei+1
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
IllusionTakes the appearance of the last conscious party Pokémon upon being sent out until hit by a damaging move.

Evolved from Zorua. Zoroark is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Attack grew the most through evolution (+40 over Zorua), and Zoroark peaks at 510 total stats.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Zorua
#570Zorua
30
Level 30
Zoroark
#571Zoroark
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Zorua
Dark
Zoroark
Dark
HP
40
60+20
ATK
65
105+40
DEF
40
60+20
SP.ATK
80
120+40
SP.DEF
40
60+20
SPE
65
105+40
BST
330D-Tier
510B-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Special
Mixed
Breeding
Moderate

Breed with Zoroark to get Zorua eggs using 180 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Captivate, Counter, Dark Pulse and 5 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy
12 of 180·

One guaranteed turn is all Zoroark needs. Focus Sash buys it, max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs make it count, and Illusion adds something extra. The goal: deal early damage and deal damage with Flamethrower. Fire coverage gives it play beyond just the lead turn.

Best Build

Special Sweeper
Ability
Illusion
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Nature
Timid+SPE
EVs

Best Zoroark Moveset

  • FlamethrowerCoverage
  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Focus Blast
  • Hidden Power Ice

Recommended Teammates

Ferrothorn
FerrothornDecent

You'll want to breed for Captivate and Counter on Zoroark. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Foul Play and Night Daze, they expand what Zoroark can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Hone Claws
——15Dark
Lv 1
Leer
—10030Normal
Lv 1
Pursuit
4010020Dark
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 1
U-turn
7010020Bug
Lv 5
Pursuit
4010020Dark
Lv 9
Hone Claws
——15Dark
Lv 13
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 17
Feint Attack
60—20Dark
Lv 21
Scary Face
—10010Normal
Lv 25
Taunt
—10020Dark
Lv 29
Foul Play
9510015Dark
Lv 30
Night Slash
7010015Dark
Lv 34
Torment
—10015Dark
Lv 39
Agility
——30Psychic
Lv 44
Embargo
—10015Dark
Lv 49
Punishment
—1005Dark
Lv 54
Nasty Plot
——20Dark
Lv 59
Imprison
——10Psychic
Lv 64
Night Daze
859510Dark

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
60—20Flying
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM04
Calm Mind
——20Psychic
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM28
Dig
8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM63
Embargo
—10015Dark
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM35
Flamethrower
9510015Fire
TM56
Fling
—10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
—10020Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM01
Hone Claws
——15Dark
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM59
Incinerate
3010015Fire
TM47
Low Sweep
6010020Fighting
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM67
Retaliate
701005Normal
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
—10020Normal
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM95
Snarl
559515Dark
TM90
Substitute
——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
—9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
——30Normal
TM12
Taunt
—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010010Dark
TM41
Torment
—10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison
TM89
U-turn
7010020Bug

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Captivate
—10020Normal
Egg
Counter-5
—10020Fighting
Egg
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
Egg
Detect+4
——5Fighting
Egg
Extrasensory
8010030Psychic
Egg
Memento
—10010Dark
Egg
Snatch+4
——10Dark
Egg
Sucker Punch+1
801005Dark

Tutor Moves

Zoroark can't learn any Tutor moves

Reminder Moves

Src
Rem
Fake Tears
—10020Dark

Zoroark is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Lostlorn Forest when your team is ready for the fight.

How to Obtain Zoroark in Black & White

The path to Zoroark starts with Zorua at Lv. 10-25 via gift encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Zorua
    Step 1Catch Zorua
    Castelia City - Castelia Street
    WhiteGift from NPCLv.10LimitedEarlyCityAnyEvent: Celebi
    MODERATE
    Castelia City - Castelia Street
    BlackGift from NPCLv.10LimitedEarlyCityAnyEvent: Celebi
    MODERATE
  2. Zoroark
    Step 2Zoroark ✓
    Lostlorn Forest
    WhiteInteract with PokemonLv.25LimitedMidForestAnyEvent: Raikou, Entei or Suicune
    HARD
    Lostlorn Forest
    BlackInteract with PokemonLv.25LimitedMidForestAnyEvent: Raikou, Entei or Suicune
    HARD
    or evolve from Zorua (Step 1)

  • We rate Zoroark C-Tier — a situational pick that fills a niche. At 510 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Base 120 Sp. Atk stands out.

  • Watch for Hitmonlee (Fighting) and Heracross (Bug) when using Zoroark. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. Zoroark's base 105 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.

  • Zorua evolves into Zoroark at level 30. Zoroark is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Zorua. At 510 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Illusion takes the appearance of the last conscious party Pokémon upon being sent out until hit by a damaging move — that's the one you want on Zoroark. It's the only ability Zoroark has.

  • Base 105 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Zoroark is a special attacker with base 120 Sp. Atk. Best used as a sweeper.

  • Zoroark appears in 9 games, including Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, and X & Y.

Since debuting in Black & White, Zoroark has appeared in 9 titles over 5 generations. Along the way, it received a Hisuian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.