You'll run into Zubat in every Kanto cave. It evolves into Golbat at level 22, but Crobat doesn't exist yet so this is the end of the line.
255HP40Attack45Defense35Speed55Sp.Def40Sp.Atk40
Zubat
Golbat
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
55Speed · Slow

Is Zubat Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Every cave in Red and Blue is crawling with Zubat, and none of them are worth catching at this stage. The stats are terrible early on, and Golbat doesn't improve things enough to justify the grind. Most players associate Zubat with annoyance, not team building.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTEGGGEGEGEEEBrockGym 1ZubatCatchableMistyGym 2GolbatEvolveSurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Zubat's defenses.

Even
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Risky
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Zubat's defenses.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
Even
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Good

Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

Easy KO
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
You Win
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
You Win
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Good

Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.

Even
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Even
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

You Win
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

You Win
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

You Win
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Even
Gyarados
Lv 61
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Arcanine
Lv 63
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberLeerTake Down
You Win
Venusaur
Lv 65
GrassPoison
Overgrow
Razor LeafGrowthMega DrainSolar Beam

Catchable

Available after Badge 1
Type
PoisonFlying
Tier
E

Catch Zubat in Mt. Moon (walking, Lv 6-11, common).

View Zubat locations

Evolve Zubat to Golbat

Level 22
Type
PoisonFlying
Tier
E

Zubat evolves into Golbat at Level 22. Your Zubat should hit Level 22 before you reach Lt. Surge, at typical leveling pace.

View Golbat locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Zubat in Red & Blue

Zubat floods the Kanto caves, 18 spots across Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Victory Road, and Seafoam. Common in both versions, it is the cave Pokemon you cannot avoid.

4 locations to catch Zubat

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8

Zubat Weakness

Electric, Ice, Psychic, and Rock moves hit Zubat for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground-type moves can't touch it at all.

Zubat Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Ice, Psychic, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Poison
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Fighting
0x (Immune)Ground
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Zubat Weak Against

Good
4Weak
3Resist
1Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
0xImmune

What is Zubat Strong Against

3Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+2
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Zubat

Kadabra
Kadabra
Psychic
B
Pikachu
Pikachu
Electric
C
Geodude
Geodude
RockGround
C

Zubat Evolutions

You'll evolve Zubat into Golbat the traditional way. This Poison/Flying type doesn't breed despite having a chain ahead. The evolved forms gain up to 200 total stats over Zubat. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Zubat
PoisonFlying
Golbat
PoisonFlying
HP
40
75+35
ATK
45
80+35
DEF
35
70+35
SP.ATK
30
65+35
SP.DEF
40
75+35
SPE
55
90+35
BST
245E-Tier
455E-Tier+210
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Zubat Best Moveset

Poison/Flying pre-evolution with stats in the 40s everywhere. No competitive moves, no role. Evolve toward Golbat.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Zubat
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Confuse Ray
  • Double Edge
  • Mega Drain
  • ToxicUtility

Moves List

The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Zubat's Bug and Dark coverage and more all comes from technical machines, built on top of Wing Attack for same-type damage. Double-Edge and Take Down are the payoff moves.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leech Life
D2010010Bug
Lv 10
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Lv 15
Bite
D6010025Normal
Lv 21
Confuse Ray
S—10010Ghost
Lv 28
Wing Attack
D5210035Flying
Lv 36
Haze
———30Ice

TM Moves

All 13 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B12010015Normal
TM21B4010010Grass
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM02
Razor WindCeladon Department Storebadge 3
—8010010Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM06B—9010Poison
TM04
Whirlwind-6Route 4badge 1
———20Normal

Tutor Moves

Zubat can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP40
D
Attack45
D
Defense35
F
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def40
D
Speed55
D
Total255
Details
Catch Rate
Guaranteed255 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.8 m
Weight7.5 kg
Base XP49
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

Forms colonies in perpetually dark places. Uses ultrasonic waves to identify and approach targets.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Zubat Red & Blue Guide

  • In Red & Blue, for a casual playthrough, Zubat works as a placeholder. Poison/Flying coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Golbat. That's where the stats start mattering.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Zubat appears in 21 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Zubat have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Explore

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