In Sword & Shield, Cresselia is a Legendary Pokemon rated B-Tier. At 590 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a wall. Psychic with Figyberry is the standard set.

What is Cresselia weak to?

In Sword & Shield, Cresselia's biggest threats include Scyther (Bug), Gengar (Ghost), and Absol (Dark), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Cresselia has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.

What is the best ability for Cresselia?

Cresselia gets Levitate. But Levitate is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that. On wall sets, Levitate pairs with Cresselia's base 120 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.

What role does Cresselia play in battle?

Cresselia is a special attacker with base 75 Sp. Atk. Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the wall role.

What counters Cresselia?

In Sword & Shield, the best way to handle Cresselia: Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Physical attackers can break through.

Cresselia - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Wall

BTier

85Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

Cresselia's built to absorb hits, not race for knockouts. Balanced defenses with HP doing the heavy lifting. And the slow 1.25M XP grind means it won't take forever to bring up, worth 3 Sp. Def EVs.

Base Stats

Pseudo

HP120

Attack70

Defense120

Sp. Atk75

Sp. Def120

Speed85

Total590

Details

Catch Rate

Legendary3 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.5 m

Weight85.6 kg

Base XP290

Abilities

LevitateTop Pick

Evades ground moves.

Levitate grants Ground immunity

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpD+3Spe

Strong Special Defense training target

Pokedex Entries

No Sword Shield entries available

Cresselia is reminiscent of the crescent moon. It leaves a brilliant line of light in its wake as it flies across the night sky. I daresay it resembles the heavenly maiden who created the Milky Way.

Legends: Arceus

Cresselia Weakness

Cresselia is weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark. Levitate grants an additional Ground immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Cresselia's overall bulk (120/120/120) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.

Cresselia Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Bug, Ghost, Dark
0.5x (Resist)	Fighting, Psychic

Type ChartVulnerable

3Weak

2Resist

1Immune

Score-4

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Bug Ghost Dark

½xResist

Fighting Psychic

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Ground

STAB (2)

Fighting Poison

How to Beat Cresselia in Sword & Shield (Best Counters)

In Sword & Shield, Runerigus's Poltergeist hits Cresselia for 44-52%. Dragapult's Shadow Ball hits Cresselia for 47-55%. Incineroar deals 42-49% with Knock Off.

Runerigus GroundGhost	S
Recommended Build AbilityWanderingspirit ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves Stealth Rock PoltergeistSTAB HazeUtility Will O Wisp Damage vs Cresselia Poltergeist 2x 44-52% View Runerigus builds →
Dragapult DragonGhost	S
Recommended Build AbilityInfiltrator ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves Draco Meteor U Turn Shadow Ball Flamethrower Damage vs Cresselia Draco Meteor 38-45% U Turn 2x 20-24% Shadow Ball 2x 47-55% Flamethrower 18-21% View Dragapult builds →
Incineroar FireDark	A
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemSitrus Berry NatureAdamant Moves Fake Out Parting Shot Knock Off Flare Blitz Damage vs Cresselia Knock Off 2x 42-49% Flare Blitz 38-45% View Incineroar builds →
Orbeetle BugPsychic	A
Recommended Build AbilityFrisk ItemWeakness Policy NatureBold Moves AgilitySetup Calm Mind Bug Buzz Stored Power View Orbeetle builds →
Genesect BugSteel	B
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureHasty Moves Iron Head U Turn Flamethrower Ice Beam Damage vs Cresselia U Turn 2x 39-47% Flamethrower 13-15% Ice Beam 13-15% View Genesect builds →

Sword & Shield Evolution

Cresselia is strong overall with 590 total stats as a Psychic legendary. Can't breed it, so you're locked to whatever you catch or receive. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution

#488CresseliaDoes not evolve

Breeding

Unavailable

Undiscovered egg group

Sword & Shield Cresselia Best Moveset

Levitate gives Cresselia passive value while it walls. Sassy nature boosts Sp. Def, max HP and Sp. Def EVs maximize the slow wall profile, and Figyberry keeps it in the game.

Best Build

Experimental

Ability

Levitate

Item

Figy BerryRECOVERY

Best Nature for Cresselia

Sassy+SPD

Cresselia best EVs are HP and Sp. Def

EVs

Def

SpD

Doubles Wall Moveset

PsychicSTAB
MoonlightRecovery
Trick RoomSTAB
Calm MindSTAB

Recommended Teammates

ShuckleDecent

ChanseyDecent

ScraftyDecent

Moves

Most of Cresselia's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Future Sight and Psychic, but Ice and Normal and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Confusion

—5010025Psychic

Lv 1

Double Team

———15Normal

Lv 6

Mist

D——30Ice

Lv 12

Aurora Beam

D6510020Ice

Lv 18

Psybeam

C6510020Psychic

Lv 24

Psycho Shift

D—10010Psychic

Lv 30

Slash

D7010020Normal

Lv 36

Psycho Cut

C7010020Psychic

Lv 42

Moonlight

S——5Fairy

Lv 48

Safeguard

C——25Normal

Lv 54

Psychic

S9010010Psychic

Lv 60

Moonblast

A9510015Fairy

Lv 66

Future Sight

B12010010Psychic

Lv 72

Lunar Dance

S——10Psychic

TM Moves

TR83

Ally Switch+2

C——15Psychic

TM31

Attract

C—10015Normal

TR01

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

TR49

Calm Mind

A——20Psychic

TR26

Endure+4

C——10Normal

TR65

Energy Ball

C9010010Grass

TM39

Facade

D7010020Normal

TR34

Future Sight

B12010010Psychic

TM09

Giga Impact

C150905Normal

TR77

Grass Knot

D—10020Grass

TM61

Guard Swap

D——10Psychic

TM41

Helping Hand+5

C——20Normal

TM08

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TR05

Ice Beam

A9010010Ice

TM27

Icy Wind

D559515Ice

TM17

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM72

Magic Room

D——10Psychic

TM60

Power Swap

———10Psychic

TM25

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TR11

Psychic

S9010010Psychic

TM69

Psycho Cut

C7010020Psychic

TR25

Psyshock

C8010010Psychic

TM33

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM18

Reflect

C——20Psychic

TM21

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM76

Round

D6010015Normal

TM19

Safeguard

C——25Normal

TR33

Shadow Ball

C8010015Ghost

TR40

Skill Swap

C——10Psychic

TR27

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM24

Snore

—5010015Normal

TM11

Solar Beam

C12010010Grass

TR82

Stored Power

B2010010Psychic

TR20

Substitute

B——10Normal

TM34

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM40

Swift

D60—20Normal

TM14

Thunder Wave

C—9020Electric

TR38

Trick

C—10010Psychic

TM70

Trick Room-7

S——5Psychic

TR69

Zen Headbutt

C809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Cresselia doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Expanding Force

C8010010Psychic

How to Get Cresselia in Sword & Shield

Cresselia can't be caught in Sword & Shield. Bring it over from Diamond, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.

Cresselia is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Special encounter in:

Legends: ArceusSpecial encounter · Moonview Arena · Mission: The Plate of Moonview Arena

Then trade to Sword & Shield.

Also found in:

Diamond Platinum Black 2 Omega Ruby Ultra Sun

Cresselia Guide

In Sword & Shield, Cresselia is a Legendary Pokemon rated B-Tier. At 590 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a wall. Psychic with Figyberry is the standard set.
In Sword & Shield, Cresselia's biggest threats include Scyther (Bug), Gengar (Ghost), and Absol (Dark), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Cresselia has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
Cresselia gets Levitate. But Levitate is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that. On wall sets, Levitate pairs with Cresselia's base 120 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.
Cresselia is a special attacker with base 75 Sp. Atk. Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the wall role.
In Sword & Shield, the best way to handle Cresselia: Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Physical attackers can break through.

Game Availability

Since Diamond & Pearl, Cresselia has appeared in 13 games. Legendary Pokemon like Cresselia are usually found through story events or special post-game areas rather than random encounters.

Click a game to view version-specific details

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Want to tell us more?

What was most useful?

About:

What could be improved?

About:

Thanks for your feedback