Yellow's most annoying cave encounter. Zubat evolves into Golbat at level 22, but without Crobat in Gen 1, the line hits a dead end.
255HP40Attack45Defense35Speed55Sp.Def40Sp.Atk40
Zubat
Golbat
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
55Speed · Slow

Is Zubat Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Mt. Moon is full of them, same as Red and Blue. Zubat's stats are too low to justify catching one this early. If you really want a Golbat, at least wait for a higher-level cave encounter later.

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

Brock's typing presses Zubat's defenses.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
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 GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's team hits Golbat's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Good

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

You Win
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Easy KO
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Easy KO
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

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

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Even
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Even
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Even
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
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 SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream 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
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Avoid
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Even
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

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 Yellow

Zubat floods the caves. 12 encounter spots pack into just a handful of underground areas, common at every one. Levels climb from a tame 6 near the surface to 45 in the deepest tunnels, so where you catch one matters.

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

Hypno
Hypno
Psychic
C
Magneton
Magneton
Electric
C
Jolteon
Jolteon
Electric
A
Graveler
Graveler
RockGround
C
Raichu
Raichu
Electric
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

Y Zubat Best Moveset

Stats in the 40s everywhere with Poison/Flying typing that provides no offensive or defensive advantage. The moves don't matter because nothing behind them threatens any target. Golbat offers marginal improvement at best.

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
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

Emits ultrasonic cries while it flies. They act as a sonar used to check for objects in its way.

Pokemon Yellow

Zubat Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, 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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