Stats & Training
You won't find a real weakness in Espurr's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Restraint Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 1 Speed EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Though Espurr’s expression never changes, behind that blank stare is an intense struggle to contain its devastating psychic power.
There’s enough psychic power in Espurr to send a wrestler flying, but because this power can’t be controlled, Espurr finds it troublesome.
Espurr Weakness
Bug, Ghost, and Dark moves hit Espurr for super-effective damage. Not too many gaps in the chart, 3 weaknesses to account for.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Bug, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Psychic |
 Orbeetle BugPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Orbeetle builds →Struggle Bug 2x57-69% Payback 2x30-36% | ||
 Nuzleaf GrassDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Nuzleaf builds →Payback 2x57-69% Astonish 2x25-30% | ||
 Stunky PoisonDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Stunky builds →Bite 2x62-74% Payback 2x54-64% | ||
 Purrloin Dark | D | |
 Nickit Dark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Nickit builds →Assurance 2x41-49% Snarl 2x46-54% | ||
 Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
Nuzleaf GrassDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Nuzleaf builds →Payback 2x54-63% Astonish 2x21-25% | ||
Stunky PoisonDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Stunky builds →Bite 2x56-68% Payback 2x49-59% | ||
Purrloin Dark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Purrloin builds →Assurance 2x49-59% Payback 2x42-51% | ||
Nickit Dark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Nickit builds →Sucker Punch 2x42-51% Assurance 2x35-42% Snarl 2x42-51% | ||
 Pawniard DarkSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Pawniard builds →Assurance 2x72-85% Payback 2x58-69% Fury Cutter 2x32-38% | ||
Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
Nuzleaf GrassDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Nuzleaf builds →Payback 2x51-62% Astonish 2x22-26% | ||
Stunky PoisonDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Stunky builds →Bite 2x58-69% Payback 2x49-58% | ||
Purrloin Dark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Purrloin builds →Assurance 2x49-58% Payback 2x42-50% | ||
 Thievul Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Thievul builds →Sucker Punch 2x62-74% Night Slash 2x62-74% Thief 2x52-62% Assurance 2x52-62% | ||
 Liepard Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Liepard builds →Sucker Punch 2x85-101%KO Assurance 2x72-86% Payback 2x60-71% | ||
 Sneasel DarkIce | C | |
 Vullaby Dark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Vullaby builds →Knock Off 2x55-65% Payback 2x45-53% | ||
Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
Thievul Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Thievul builds →Sucker Punch 2x64-76% Night Slash 2x64-76% U-turn 2x42-51% Thief 2x55-65% | ||
Liepard Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Liepard builds →Sucker Punch 2x86-102%KO U-turn 2x58-68% Assurance 2x75-88% Payback 2x62-74% | ||
Sneasel DarkIce | C | |
 Morgrem DarkFairy | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Morgrem builds →False Surrender 2x75-88% Dark Pulse 2x81-96% Sucker Punch 2x64-76% Bite 2x58-68% | ||
Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
 Morpeko ElectricDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Morpeko builds →Bite 2x76-90% Assurance 2x76-90% Payback 2x62-74% Power Trip 2x28-33% | ||
 Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Crawdaunt builds →Night Slash 2x106-126%KO Knock Off 2x97-115%KO Payback 2x76-90% | ||
 Drapion PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Drapion builds →Night Slash 2x85-100%KO Knock Off 2x78-92% Bite 2x72-85% Bug Bite 2x48-56% | ||
Thievul Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Thievul builds →Sucker Punch 2x61-72% Night Slash 2x61-72% U-turn 2x40-48% Thief 2x52-62% | ||
Liepard Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Liepard builds →Sucker Punch 2x82-97% U-turn 2x55-65% Assurance 2x72-85% Payback 2x61-72% | ||
Morpeko ElectricDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Morpeko builds →Bite 2x77-91% Assurance 2x77-91% Payback 2x65-76% Power Trip 2x27-32% | ||
Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Crawdaunt builds →Night Slash 2x107-125%KO Knock Off 2x100-118%KO Payback 2x77-91% | ||
Thievul Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Thievul builds →Sucker Punch 2x60-71% Night Slash 2x60-71% U-turn 2x40-48% Thief 2x52-61% | ||
Liepard Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Liepard builds →Sucker Punch 2x84-98% U-turn 2x56-66% Assurance 2x73-86% Payback 2x60-71% | ||
Sneasel DarkIce | C | |
 Skuntank PoisonDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Skuntank builds →Sucker Punch 2x90-107%KO Night Slash 2x90-107%KO Shadow Claw 2x60-71% Hex 2x42-50% | ||
Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Crawdaunt builds →Crunch 2x125-148%KO Night Slash 2x110-130%KO Knock Off 2x102-120%KO Snarl 2x64-75% | ||
 Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x86-102%KO Shadow Claw 2x58-68% Assurance 2x75-89% Snarl 2x48-57% | ||
 Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x125-148%KO Dark Pulse 2x96-114%KO Sucker Punch 2x110-130%KO Shadow Claw 2x73-86% | ||
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Pangoro builds →Crunch 2x129-152%KO Night Slash 2x114-134%KO Shadow Claw 2x76-89% Snarl 2x52-61% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Dragapult can KO Espurr with Shadow Ball (99-117%). Zarude deals 73-86% with U-turn.
 Dragapult DragonGhost | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityInfiltrator ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Dragapult builds →Draco Meteor80-94% U Turn 2x54-63% Shadow Ball 2x99-117%KO Flamethrower37-44% | ||
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Volcarona builds →Psychic17-20% | ||
 Zarude DarkGrass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLeafguard ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Zarude builds →U Turn 2x73-86% Close Combat31-36% | ||
 Blacephalon FireGhost | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Blacephalon builds →Shadow Ball 2x89-105%KO Flamethrower50-59% Overheat72-84% | ||
 Genesect BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Genesect builds →U Turn 2x102-120%KO Flamethrower26-31% Ice Beam26-31% | ||
Sword & Shield Evolution
Espurr is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Meowstic. Check the evolution method below. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 111 total stats over Espurr. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Espurr easily with 152 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Tickle, Yawn to offspring.
Sword & Shield Espurr Best Moveset
Start with max HP and Sp. Def EVs. Calm nature gives Espurr the right special wall lean, Lightclay adds extra utility, and Owntempo works in the background. Psychic is the main damage option.
Best Build
Espurr best EVs are Sp. Def and HP
Wall Moveset
- Reflect
- Psychic
- Light Screen
- Thunder Wave
Recommended Teammates
Moves
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Espurr's Normal and Fairy coverage and more all comes from technical machines, built on top of Psychic and Psyshock for same-type damage. Energy Ball and Iron Tail are the payoff moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Sword & Shield Espurr Locations
Easy grab on Espurr with high spawn rates across 18 locations in mid-game routes. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.
Best Locations to Catch Espurr in Sword & Shield
Before you go hunting for Espurr, check which of the 18 spots belong to your version. Shield and Sword each have different walking encounters at Lv. 16-30.
Espurr Guide
At 355 BST, Espurr is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Meowstic before bringing it to any serious fight.
In Sword & Shield, watch for Genesect (Bug), Chandelure (Ghost), and Hydreigon (Dark) when using Espurr. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Keen Eye prevents accuracy from being lowered. That's the one you want on Espurr. Own Tempo is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Infiltrator works too if your team needs something different.
Espurr is a special attacker with base 63 Sp. Atk. Speed tells the real story. At base 68 Speed, it won't be moving first often.
In Sword & Shield, For a casual playthrough, Espurr works as a placeholder. Psychic coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Meowstic. That's where the stats start mattering.
Game Availability
Since X & Y, Espurr has been obtainable in 7 games. A Generation 6 debut means a shorter history, but Espurr 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 6XYDebut
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