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 3 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
Catch45ChallengingMedium Slow1.06M XP1.6m / 5'03"81.1kg / 178.8 lbs179Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Stories say those who tried to catch Zoroark were trapped in an illusion and punished.

Scarlet

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

Violet

Zoroark Weakness

Avg

Zoroark's Dark typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting, Bug, and Fairy 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.

4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
STAB (2)i
3Weak
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. No compatible partners 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
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 from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Captivate, Copycat, Counter and 6 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
9moves

Find one free turn for Nasty Plot and Zoroark can run through teams. Timid nature leans fast special, Illusion supports the sweep, and Fire coverage stops anything from walling it cleanly.

Best Build

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

Best Zoroark Moveset

  • FlamethrowerCoverage
  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Sludge Bomb
  • Nasty PlotSTAB

You'll want to breed for Captivate and Copycat 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
Imprison
10Psychic
Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Night Daze
859510Dark
Lv 1
Night Slash
7010015Dark
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
6020Dark
Lv 21
Scary Face
10010Normal
Lv 25
Taunt
10020Dark
Lv 29
Foul Play
9510015Dark
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
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM100
Confide
20Normal
TM97
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM63
Embargo
10015Dark
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM35
Flamethrower
9010015Fire
TM56
Fling
10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
10020Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM47
Low Sweep
6510020Fighting
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
20Normal
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM95
Snarl
559515Dark
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
8515Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
20Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM89
U-turn
7010020Bug

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Captivate
10020Normal
Egg
Copycat
20Normal
Egg
Counter-5
10020Fighting
Egg
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
Egg
Detect+4
5Fighting
Egg
Extrasensory
8010020Psychic
Egg
Memento
10010Dark
Egg
Snatch+4
10Dark
Egg
Sucker Punch+1
701005Dark

Tutor Moves

Zoroark can't learn any Tutor moves

Reminder Moves

Src
Rem
Fake Tears
10020Dark

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 6
Cut
509530Normal
Gen 6
Dig
8010010Ground
Gen 6
Incinerate
6010015Fire
Gen 6
Retaliate
701005Normal
Gen 6
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
Gen 6
Secret Power
7010020Normal

Zoroark can't be caught in Sun & Moon. Transfer Zorua from Black, Omega Ruby, or Scarlet and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.

How to Obtain Zoroark in Sun & Moon

  1. Zorua
    Step 1Obtain Zorua

    Catch in the wild in:

    Then trade to Sun & Moon to continue the evolution chain.

    Also found in:

  2. Zoroark
    Step 2Zoroark
  • 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), Heracross (Bug), and Clefable (Fairy) when using Zoroark. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. 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.