Stats & Training
The stat line revolves around HP. Percentage recovery gets extra mileage here. Defense backs it up, though Speed doesn't pull its weight. Worth 3 HP EVs on a slow 1.25M XP grind to max out.
This Pokémon is a glutton, but it’s bad at getting food. It teams up with a Tatsugiri to catch prey.
It treats Tatsugiri like its boss and follows it loyally. Though powerful, Dondozo is apparently not very smart.
Dondozo Weakness
Electric and Grass moves hit Dondozo for super-effective damage. The Water typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. Dondozo's physical bulk (base 115 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
 Rillaboom Grass | S | |
Grass is super effective against DondozoView Rillaboom → | ||
 Raging Bolt ElectricDragon | S | |
Electric is super effective against DondozoView Raging Bolt → | ||
 Raikou Electric | A | |
Electric is super effective against DondozoView Raikou → | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Grass is super effective against DondozoView Breloom → | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLibero ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Dondozo View Cinderace builds →U Turn9-11% Sucker Punch9-11% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Blissey builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySlushrush ItemSitrus Berry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Dondozo View Cetitan builds →Earthquake14-17% Ice Shard4-5% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityQuarkdrive ItemBooster Energy NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Dondozo View Iron Boulder builds →Close Combat16-19% Earthquake13-16% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySlushrush ItemLoaded Dice NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Dondozo View Beartic builds →Close Combat19-22% Earthquake16-18% Icicle Spear3-4% | ||
Legends: Z-A Evolution
Dondozo is what you get. No evolutions, but it breeds through one egg group with a small partner pool. Hatching is takes forever to hatch. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Legends: Z-A Dondozo Best Moveset
max HP and Defense EVs and Impish nature turn Dondozo into a wall that doesn't fold easily. Leftovers brings passive recovery each turn for the long game, and Rest handles sustain. Unaware fills in the gaps.
Best Build
Dondozo best EVs are HP and Defense
Doubles Wall Moveset
- Fissure
- Wave Crash
- Rest
- Protect
Doubles Physical Tank Moveset
- Protect
- Wave Crash
- Order Up
- Earthquake
Recommended Teammates
Wall Moveset
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Curse
- Body Press
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Protect
- Wave Crash
- Order Up
- Earthquake
Recommended Teammates
Moves
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Dondozo's coverage across 9 types all comes from technical machines, built on top of Hydro Pump and Muddy Water for same-type damage. Take Down and Double-Edge are the payoff moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Dondozo in Legends: Z-A
Dondozo doesn't appear in Legends: Z-A. Transfer it from Scarlet to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Dondozo is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Catch in the wild in:
Then trade to Legends: Z-A.
Dondozo Guide
In Legends: Z-A, Dondozo looks average on paper at 530 BST. But Unaware is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. A-Tier tank on our tier list. Fissure with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Legends: Z-A, watch for Miraidon (Electric) and Venusaur (Grass) when using Dondozo. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. At base 35 Speed, Dondozo won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Dondozo gets Unaware, Oblivious, and Water Veil. But Unaware is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Dondozo is leaning toward the physical side (base 100 Attack). Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 35 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the tank role.
For Legends: Z-A, Dondozo has answers, but so do you. Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Special attackers bypass its physical bulk.
Game Availability
Since Scarlet & Violet, Dondozo has been obtainable in 2 games. A Generation 9 debut means a shorter history, but Dondozo 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 5BW
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 9SVDebut
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves