Every Hoenn cave has Zubat. Inner Focus prevents flinching, and A-Tier Crobat via friendship makes this the best cave encounter in Ruby & Sapphire.
Ability 1Inner FocusAbility 1Prevents flinching.
245HP40Attack45Defense35Speed55Sp.Def40Sp.Atk30
Zubat
Golbat
Crobat
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
55Speed · Slow

Is Zubat Good in Ruby & Sapphire Playthrough?

Every cave in Hoenn. The Crobat evolution through friendship still works and AbilityInner Focus prevents flinching. RS is the first game where Crobat has an ability, and it makes an already-great Pokemon slightly better. Grab one early, same strategy as Gen 2.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTEBGEETGGEGEERoxanneGym 1ZubatCatchableBrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3GolbatEvolveFlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6CrobatEvolveTate & LizaGym 7WallaceGym 8SidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4StevenChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Tough

Roxanne's team hits Zubat's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Risky
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
TackleHardenRock ThrowRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Even

Zubat trades roughly evenly with Brawly's team.

Even
Machop
Lv 17
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopSeismic TossBulk Up
Even
Makuhita
Lv 18
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustKnock OffSand AttackBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Bad

Wattson's Pokemon outpace and outclass Zubat here.

Avoid
Magnemite
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomThunder ShockThunder Wave
Avoid
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSelf DestructSparkSonic Boom
Avoid
Magneton
Lv 23
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomShock WaveThunder Wave
Flannery
Gym 4
Good

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

You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
FlamethrowerRock SlideLight ScreenSunny Day
Even
Torkoal
Lv 28
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatBody SlamFlailAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

Even
Slaking
Lv 28
Normal
Truant
EncoreFacadeYawnFeint Attack
Even
Vigoroth
Lv 30
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFeint AttackFacadeEncore
Risky
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
Focus PunchSlack OffFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

Even
Swellow
Lv 31
NormalFlying
Guts
Quick AttackAerial AceDouble TeamEndeavor
Even
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Risky
Skarmory
Lv 32
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Tough

Tate & Liza's team hits Crobat's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Even
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Wallace
Gym 8
Good

Crobat has the type edge here and should clean up Wallace's team.

You Win
Luvdisc
Lv 40
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
You Win
Whiscash
Lv 42
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 40
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
You Win
Seaking
Lv 42
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseRain DanceFury AttackHorn Drill
Even
Milotic
Lv 43
Water
Marvel Scale
Water PulseTwisterRecoverIce Beam
Sidney
Elite Four
Good

Crobat has the type edge here and should clean up Sidney's team.

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarTake DownSand AttackCrunch
You Win
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
Fake OutDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Easy KO
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
You Win
Sharpedo
Lv 48
WaterDark
Rough Skin
CrunchSwaggerSurfSlash
You Win
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceSnatchSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Even

Crobat trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.

Even
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseFuture Sight
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallSpiteWill O WispFeint Attack
Even
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallPsychicAttractFeint Attack
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicToxicSkill Swap
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamConfuse RayEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Good

Crobat has the type edge here and should clean up Glacia's team.

You Win
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchHailIce Beam
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamHailIce Ball
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDiveHailBlizzard
You Win
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallCrunchHailIce Beam
Even
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamBlizzardSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Even

Crobat trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.

Even
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectCrunch
You Win
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Take DownDragon BreathDragon DanceRefresh
Even
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
Levitate
DigDragon BreathFlySandstorm
Even
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
Levitate
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathSand Attack
Even
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawFlyCrunch
Steven
Champion
Even

Crobat trades roughly evenly with Steven's team.

Risky
Skarmory
Lv 57
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
ToxicAerial AceSpikesSteel Wing
Even
Claydol
Lv 55
GroundPsychic
Levitate
ReflectLight ScreenAncient PowerEarthquake
Risky
Aggron
Lv 56
SteelRock
Sturdy
ThunderEarthquakeSolar BeamDragon Claw
You Win
Cradily
Lv 56
RockGrass
Suction Cups
Giga DrainAncient PowerSludge BombConfuse Ray
Even
Armaldo
Lv 56
RockBug
Battle Armor
Water PulseAncient PowerAerial AceSlash
Avoid
Metagross
Lv 58
SteelPsychic
Clear Body
EarthquakePsychicMeteor MashHyper Beam

Catchable

Available after Badge 1
Type
PoisonFlying
Tier
E

Catch Zubat in Granite Cave (walking, Lv 7-8, common).

View Zubat locations

Evolve Zubat to Golbat

Level 22
Type
PoisonFlying
Tier
C

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

View Golbat locations

Recommended Moves

  • STARTING (Lv 22)
    • LV 22FlyingWing AttackPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 35
  • After Norman
  • After Winona
    • LV 35FlyingAir CutterPower 83Accuracy 95%PP 25
    • LV 49PoisonPoison FangPower 75Accuracy 100%PP 15

Evolve Golbat to Crobat

High Friendship
Type
PoisonFlying
Tier
A

Golbat evolves into Crobat with high friendship. Friendship is usually high enough before you reach Tate & Liza.

Recommended Moves

  • STARTING (Lv 33)
    • LV 33FlyingWing AttackPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 35
  • After Norman
  • After Winona
    • LV 35FlyingAir CutterPower 83Accuracy 95%PP 25
    • LV 49PoisonPoison FangPower 75Accuracy 100%PP 15

How to Get Zubat in Ruby & Sapphire

Zubat floods the Hoenn cave system, with 44 encounters spread across six caves from Granite Cave to Shoal Cave. It is common in every one, walking and surfing both, and levels climb the deeper you go.

6 locations to catch Zubat

Encountered via Surfing, tall grass encounters

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

Where To Catch Zubat in RS

Zubat is where the line starts, caught through walking and surfing encounters at Lv. 5-36. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Zubat
    Step 1Zubat ✓
    Meteor Falls - 1F Room 1
    Lv.5-35Surfing on water
    Rate 90%
    Meteor Falls - 1F Room 1
    Lv.14-20Grass
    Rate 80%
    Seafloor Cavern - Entrance
    Lv.5-35Surfing on water
    Rate 35%
    Seafloor Cavern - Room 6
    Lv.5-35Surfing on water
    Rate 35%
  2. Golbat
    Step 2Catch or Evolve into Golbat
    Victory Road - B2F
    Lv.25-40Surfing on water
    Rate 100%
    Meteor Falls - 1F Room 2
    Lv.30-35Surfing on water
    Rate 90%
    Meteor Falls - B1F Room 1
    Lv.30-35Surfing on water
    Rate 90%
    Meteor Falls - B1F Room 2
    Lv.30-35Surfing on water
    Rate 90%
    or evolve from Zubat (Step 1)
  3. Crobat
    Step 3Evolve into Crobat
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Zubat egg.

Bring the right balls: check Zubat catch odds in the Ruby & Sapphire Catch Rate Calculator before you throw.

How to Get Shiny Zubat in Ruby & Sapphire

Zubat swarms the caves of Granite Cave, Cave of Origin, and Meteor Falls, so its abundance underground makes for steady shiny hunting. Compare Shiny Zubat odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Zubat in Ruby & SapphireNormal
Shiny Zubat in Ruby & Sapphire Shiny
Color ShiftPurpletoGreen
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Zubat Evolution

3 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Ruby & Sapphire Shiny Zubat Calculator

2 Methods
Shiny Odds

Both methods here share the same odds, about 1 in 8,192 on each try. Pick whichever fits how you play.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Ruby & Sapphire

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breeding: Hatch eggs of this line; each egg rolls at the base shiny rate (no Masuda before Gen IV).

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 8,192Full Odds
Chance By Now50.0%at 5,678 encountersAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few864----
25%one in four2,357----
50%coin flip5,678----
90%very likely18,862----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Planning a longer hunt? Set up Zubat in the Ruby & Sapphire Shiny Odds Calculator to compare every method side by side.

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. The Poison/Flying typing picks up 4 resistances to work with.

Zubat Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Ice, Psychic, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Poison
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Fighting, Bug
0x (Immune)Ground
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Zubat Weak Against

Good
4Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Score+2
4xCritical
None
½xResist
0xImmune

What is Zubat Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Zubat

Gardevoir
Gardevoir
Psychic
B
Magneton
Magneton
ElectricSteel
A
Kadabra
Kadabra
Psychic
C
Manectric
Manectric
Electric
C
Lairon
Lairon
SteelRock
B

Zubat Evolutions

Zubat kicks off a three-stage evolution line through Golbat all the way to Crobat. For breeding, quick to hatch with a decent partner pool via one egg group. The evolved forms gain up to 290 total stats over Zubat. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Zubat
#041Zubat
22
Level 22
Golbat
#042Golbat
High Friendship
Crobat
#169Crobat
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Zubat
PoisonFlying
Golbat
PoisonFlying
Crobat
PoisonFlying
HP
40
75+35
85+10
ATK
45
80+35
90+10
DEF
35
70+35
80+10
SP.ATK
30
65+35
70+5
SP.DEF
40
75+35
80+5
SPE
55
90+35
130+40
BST
245E-Tier
455C-Tier+210
535A-Tier+80
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Zubat easily with 25 breeding partners from the Flying egg group. Pass egg moves like Curse, Feint Attack, Gust and 3 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Flying
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
15 cycles·3,855 steps
Quick~4 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves
Breed With (best first)
togeticaltariapelipperfarfetchdswabluwingullcrobatpidgeotdodrioxatufearowgolbat

RS Zubat Best Moveset

Poison/Flying pre-evolution with AbilityInner Focus preventing flinch. Two evolutions from Crobat's competitive Speed tier. Nothing useful at this stage.

Best Build

Experimental
Physical Sweeper
Ability
Inner Focus
Item
Choice BandPOWER
Best Nature for Zubat

Zubat best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Sweeper Moveset

  • Sludge BombSTAB
  • Shadow Ball
  • Hidden Power FlyingSTAB
  • Quick Attack

Moves List

Don't skip the egg moves. Zubat picks up Curse and Feint Attack only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Sludge Bomb and Wing Attack while Bug and Ghost coverage and more adds range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leech Life
—2010010Bug
Lv 6
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Lv 11
Astonish
D3010015Ghost
Lv 16
Bite
D6010025Dark
Lv 21
Wing Attack
—9010035Flying
Lv 26
Confuse Ray
D—10010Ghost
Lv 31
Air Cutter
—829525Flying
Lv 36
Mean Look
D——5Normal
Lv 41
Poison Fang
—7510015Poison
Lv 46
Haze
C——30Ice

TM Moves

20 of 21 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM40D90—20Flying
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D7010020Normal
TM19
Giga DrainRoute 123badge 5
D751005Grass
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM17C——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow BallMt. Pyrebadge 5
S8010015Ghost
TM36
Sludge BombDewford Townbadge 5
S13510010Poison
TM49
Snatch+4S.S. Tidal
———10Dark
TM47
Steel WingGranite Cavebadge 1
D709025Steel
TM11
Sunny DayScorched Slabbadge 5
C——5Fire
TM46
ThiefSlateport Citybadge 1
D6010025Dark
TM41
TormentSlateport Citybadge 1
D—10015Dark
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Curse
C——10Ghost
Egg
Feint Attack
—60—20Dark
Egg
Gust
D6010035Flying
Egg
Pursuit
D4010020Dark
Egg
Quick Attack+1
S4010030Normal
Egg
Whirlwind-6
C——20Normal

Tutor Moves

Zubat can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP40
D
Attack45
D
Defense35
F
Sp. Atk30
F
Sp. Def40
D
Speed55
D
Total245
Details
Catch Rate
Guaranteed255 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.8 m
Weight7.5 kg
Base XP49
Abilities
Inner Focus
Prevents flinching.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

ZUBAT remains quietly unmoving in a dark spot during the bright daylight hours. It does so because prolonged exposure to the sun causes its body to become slightly burned.

ZUBAT avoids sunlight because exposure causes it to become unhealthy. During the daytime, it stays in caves or under the eaves of old houses, sleeping while hanging upside down.

Zubat Ruby & Sapphire Guide

  • Zubat can be caught in the wild at Hoenn Meteor Falls, Hoenn Seafloor Cavern, Hoenn Shoal Cave, and Hoenn Granite Cave in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire.

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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