Stats & Training
Everything pushes toward physical damage here. Archen's Attack does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 1 Attack EV per KO. Tough to catch, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It is the ancestor of all bird Pokémon. Archen itself could not actually fly but moved by hopping from treetop to treetop.
To all appearances flightless, it was able to glide down from tall treetops to snag its prey.
Archen Weakness
Type-wise, Archen takes extra damage from Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, and Steel. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. The Rock/Flying typing picks up 5 resistances to work with.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Magnezone builds →Zap Cannon 2x241-284%KO Flash Cannon 2x162-192%KO Discharge 2x162-192%KO Spark 2x80-95% | ||
 Klefki SteelFairy | B | |
 Xurkitree Electric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Xurkitree builds →Zap Cannon 2x309-365%KO Thunderbolt 2x233-275%KO Discharge 2x208-245%KO Thunder Punch 2x112-132%KO | ||
 Bastiodon RockSteel | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Shieldon (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Bastiodon builds →Iron Head 2x78-92% Rock Slide 2x74-88% Ancient Power 2x56-67% Rock Tomb 2x61-72% | ||
 Luxray Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Luxray builds →Wild Charge 2x170-201%KO Discharge 2x125-148%KO Spark 2x123-145%KO Thunder Fang 2x123-145%KO | ||
In Sun & Moon, Cobalion can KO Archen with Stone Edge (127-150%). Volcanion threatens a KO with Fire Blast (100-118%). Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt also KOs at 265-312%.
 Cobalion SteelFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemFightiniumz NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Archen View Cobalion builds →Close Combat114-134%KO Stone Edge 2x127-150%KO | ||
 Volcanion FireWater | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Archen View Volcanion builds →Sludge Bomb55-65% Fire Blast100-118%KO | ||
 Tapu Koko ElectricFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityElectric Surge ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Archen View Tapu Koko builds →Thunderbolt 2x265-312%KO Volt Switch 2x207-244%KO Dazzling Gleam118-139%KO | ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Archen View Mamoswine builds →Ice Shard 2x141-166%KO Knock Off76-89% | ||
 Starmie WaterPsychic | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityAnalytic ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Archen View Starmie builds →Rapid Spin12-15% Ice Beam 2x159-187%KO Thunderbolt 2x159-187%KO Hydro Pump 2x292-343%KO | ||
Sun & Moon Evolution
Archen is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Archeops. Check the evolution method below. Plenty of partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are slow to hatch. Evolving adds up to 166 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Archen with 58 breeding partners from the Flying and Water3 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Ally Switch, Bite, Defog and 6 more to offspring.
Sun & Moon Archen Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Breeding's the move. Ally Switch and Bite give Archen options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 8 types already covers a decent range on top of Head Smash and Stone Edge. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Archen in Sun & Moon
No searching required for Archen. You receive it at Route 8 from an NPC. No wild encounters exist in this game, so just head to the right spot when you're ready and it's yours.
Best Locations to Catch Archen in Sun & Moon
Archen Guide
At 401 BST, Archen is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Archeops before bringing it to any serious fight.
Defeatist is the go-to ability for Archen. It halves Attack and Special Attack at 50% max HP or less. It's Archen's only ability.
Archen is a physical attacker with base 112 Attack. Fragile, can't afford to take many hits, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the attacker role.
In Sun & Moon, For a casual playthrough, Archen works as a placeholder. Rock/Flying coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Archeops. That's where the stats start mattering.
Game Availability
Since Black & White, Archen has been obtainable in 7 games. A Generation 5 debut means a shorter history, but Archen has appeared steadily across every generation since.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BWDebut
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves