In Crystal, Noctowl brings 452 BST to the table. C-Tier on our list: a niche pick in Crystal's meta. Confusion with Sharpbeak is the standard set.

What is Noctowl weak to?

In Crystal, Noctowl's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric), Cloyster (Ice), and Aerodactyl (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

What role does Noctowl play in battle?

Noctowl is a physical attacker with base 50 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.

What are the best moves for Noctowl?

For Crystal, the core moveset is Confusion, Steelwing, Wingattack, and Takedown. Confusion leads at 16% usage. This set covers the balanced role with a mix of damage and utility.

What counters Noctowl?

In Crystal, the best way to handle Noctowl: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Electric, Ice, and Rock-type attackers hit hardest.

Noctowl - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Balanced

CTier

70Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Nothing fancy in Noctowl's spread. It leans special with HP out front. And you'll get 2 HP stat exp per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats

Above

HP100

Attack50

Defense50

Sp. Atk86

Sp. Def96

Speed70

Total452

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging90 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height1.6 m

Weight40.8 kg

Base XP158

Abilities

Abilities were introduced in Generation III. Shown below for reference.

Insomnia

Prevents sleep.

Keen Eye

Prevents accuracy from being lowered.

Tinted LensHA

Doubles damage inflicted with not-very-effective moves.

EV Yield

HP+2AtkDefSpASpDSpe

HP training target

Pokedex Entries

Its extremely soft feathers make no sound in flight. It silently sneaks up on prey without being detected.

Crystal

Noctowl Weakness

Noctowl is weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock. On the flip side, it's immune to Ground and Ghost-type moves entirely. Noctowl's special bulk (base 96 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Noctowl Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Ice, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Grass, Bug
0x (Immune)	Ground, Ghost

Type ChartGood

3Weak

2Resist

2Immune

Score+2

Gen II Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Ice Rock

½xResist

Grass Bug

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Ground Ghost

STAB (3)

Grass Fighting Bug

How to Beat Noctowl in Crystal (Best Counters)

Shuckle BugRock	C
TM Move Moves RolloutTM04 Damage vs Noctowl Rollout 2x 11-13% View Shuckle builds →
Sudowoodo Rock	C
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves Rock SlideLv. 28 Ice PunchTM33 Thunder PunchTM41 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Slide 2x 84-99% Ice Punch 2x 16-20% Thunder Punch 2x 16-20% Rock Throw 2x 56-67% View Sudowoodo builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock ThrowLv. 11 RolloutTM04 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 54-64% Rollout 2x 34-40% View Graveler builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 14 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 34-40% View Onix builds →
Magnemite ElectricSteel	D
Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 Thunder ShockLv. 6 RolloutTM04 Damage vs Noctowl Thunder 2x 72-86% Thunder Shock 2x 29-35% Rollout 2x 12-14% View Magnemite builds →

Crystal Evolution

Noctowl is what Hoothoot becomes. Breed it for Hoothoot eggs (quick to hatch). A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. The evolution from Hoothoot pushed Noctowl to 452 total stats. Sp.Atk saw the largest single gain at +50. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#163Hoothoot

Level 20

#164Noctowl

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Hoothoot

NormalFlying

Noctowl

NormalFlying

100+40

ATK

50+20

DEF

50+20

SP.ATK

86+50

SP.DEF

96+40

SPE

70+20

BST

262D-Tier

452C-Tier+190

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Utility

Special

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Noctowl to get Hoothoot eggs easily using 19 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Feint Attack, Mirror Move, Sky Attack and 3 more.

Egg Groups

Flying

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

15 cycles·3,855 steps

Quick~4 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

6moves

Breed With (best first)

Crystal Noctowl Best Moveset

Best Build

Experimental

Utility

Ability

Not in Gen 2

Item

Sharp Beak

Nature

Not in Gen 2

Utility Moveset

ConfusionCoverage
Steel Wing
Wing AttackSTAB
Take DownSTAB

Recommended Teammates

BayleefGood

PikachuGood

TotodileGood

Moves

Egg moves make a real difference. Noctowl gets Feint Attack and Mirror Move exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Psychic and Ground coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Hyper Beam and Sky Attack.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Foresight

——10040Normal

Lv 1

Growl

D—10040Normal

Lv 1

Peck

—3510035Flying

Lv 1

Tackle

D3510035Normal

Lv 6

Foresight

——10040Normal

Lv 11

Peck

—3510035Flying

Lv 16

Hypnosis

A—6020Psychic

Lv 25

Reflect

C——20Psychic

Lv 33

Take Down

A908520Normal

Lv 41

Confusion

S5010025Psychic

Lv 57

Dream Eater

—10010015Psychic

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

D—10015Normal

TM03

Curse

C——10Ghost

TM43

Detect+4

D——5Fighting

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Dream Eater

—10010015Psychic

TM20

Endure+4

D——10Normal

HM05

Flash

D—7020Normal

HM02

Fly

C709515Flying

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TM31

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

TM50

Nightmare

——10015Ghost

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM35

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM13

Snore

—4010015Normal

TM47

Steel Wing

A709025Steel

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM34

Swagger

C—8515Normal

TM39

Swift

C60—20Normal

TM46

Thief

D6010025Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Feint Attack

D60—20Dark

Egg

Mirror Move

D——20Flying

Egg

Sky Attack

—140905Flying

Egg

Supersonic

——5520Normal

Egg

Whirlwind-6

C——20Normal

Egg

Wing Attack

A6010035Flying

Tutor Moves

Noctowl can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Noctowl in Crystal

Noctowl's scattered across 16 spots in early-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.

Where To Catch Noctowl in Crystal

Hoothoot is your first catch on the way to Noctowl. You'll find headbutt and walking encounters from Lv. 2-32 across 60 total spots in the chain.

Step 1Catch Hoothoot
Lake of Rage
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Water
65%Early
Route 32
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
65%Early
Route 43
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
65%Early
Route 26
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
65%Early
Route 27
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
65%Early
Ilex Forest
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Forest
60%Early
Route 29
Grass Lv.2-3 Route
55%Early
Night
Route 2
Grass Lv.3-5 Route
50%Early
Night
Ilex Forest
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Forest
50%Early
Lake of Rage
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Water
50%Early
Route 29
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 29
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 30
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 30
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 31
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 31
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 32
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 34
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 34
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 35
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 35
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 36
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 36
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 37
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 37
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 38
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 38
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 39
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 39
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 43
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 26
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 27
Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route
50%Early
Route 1
Grass Lv.2-4 Route
45%Early
Night
Route 30
Grass Lv.3-4 Route
45%Early
Night
Route 36
Grass Lv.4-5 Route
45%Early
Night
National Park
Grass Lv.13-15 Facility
40%Early
Night
Route 25
Grass Lv.10 Route
30%Early
Night
Route 5
Grass Lv.13 Route
30%Early
Night
Route 35
Grass Lv.14 Route
30%Early
Night
Route 34
Grass Lv.12 Route
20%Early
Night
Route 37
Grass Lv.15 Route
20%Early
Night
Route 31
Grass Lv.5 Route
10%Early
Night
Ilex Forest
Grass Lv.7 Forest
5%Early
Night
Route 32
Grass Lv.7 Route
5%Early
Night
Train until Level 20
Step 2Noctowl ✓
Route 5
Grass Lv.15 Route
20%Early
Night
Route 2
Grass Lv.7 Route
15%Early
Night
Route 25
Grass Lv.12-14 Route
15%Early
Night
Ilex Forest
Headbutting trees Lv.10 Forest
10%Early
Route 37
Grass Lv.15 Route
5%Early
Night
Route 35
Grass Lv.14 Route
1%Early
NightSwarm active
Route 26
Grass Lv.28-32 Route
50%Mid
Night
Route 27
Grass Lv.28-32 Route
40%Mid
Night
Route 43
Grass Lv.16 Route
30%Mid
Night
Route 8
Grass Lv.20 Route
30%Mid
Night
Route 13
Grass Lv.25 Route
20%Mid
Night
Route 14
Grass Lv.25 Route
20%Mid
Night
Route 15
Grass Lv.25 Route
20%Mid
Night
Route 38
Grass Lv.16 Route
10%Mid
Night
Route 39
Grass Lv.16 Route
10%Mid
Night
Route 11
Grass Lv.16 Route
10%Mid
Night
or evolve from Hoothoot (Step 1)

Noctowl Guide

In Crystal, Noctowl brings 452 BST to the table. C-Tier on our list: a niche pick in Crystal's meta. Confusion with Sharpbeak is the standard set.
In Crystal, Noctowl's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric), Cloyster (Ice), and Aerodactyl (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.
Noctowl is a physical attacker with base 50 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.
For Crystal, the core moveset is Confusion, Steelwing, Wingattack, and Takedown. Confusion leads at 16% usage. This set covers the balanced role with a mix of damage and utility.
In Crystal, the best way to handle Noctowl: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Electric, Ice, and Rock-type attackers hit hardest.

Game Availability

Debuting in Gold & Silver, Noctowl appears in 17 games across 9 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through wild encounters.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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Onix RockGround	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 14 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 32-38% View Onix builds →
Sudowoodo Rock	C
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves Rock SlideLv. 28 Ice PunchTM33 Thunder PunchTM41 Rock ThrowLv. 1 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Slide 2x 84-99% Ice Punch 2x 15-18% Thunder Punch 2x 15-18% Rock Throw 2x 57-67% View Sudowoodo builds →
Shuckle BugRock	C
TM Move Moves RolloutTM04 Damage vs Noctowl Rollout 2x 10-12% View Shuckle builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock ThrowLv. 11 RolloutTM04 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 55-65% Rollout 2x 33-39% View Graveler builds →
Magneton ElectricSteel	C
Available Moves Moves Zap CannonLv. 53 ThunderTM25 Thunder ShockLv. 6 RolloutTM04 Damage vs Noctowl Zap Cannon 2x 94-111%KO Thunder 2x 87-103%KO Thunder Shock 2x 33-39% Rollout 2x 16-19% View Magneton builds →

Onix RockGround	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 14 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 35-44% View Onix builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 11 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 53-63% View Geodude builds →
Elekid Electric	D
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Move Moves Thunder PunchLv. 9 Damage vs Noctowl Thunder Punch 2x 45-53% View Elekid builds →
Pichu Electric	D
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Move Moves Thunder ShockLv. 1 Damage vs Noctowl Thunder Shock 2x 19-24% View Pichu builds →
Smoochum IcePsychic	D
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Move Moves Powder SnowLv. 13 Damage vs Noctowl Powder Snow 2x 27-34% View Smoochum builds →

Onix RockGround	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 14 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 37-43% View Onix builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 11 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 50-59% View Geodude builds →
Lapras WaterIce	C
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves BlizzardTM14 ThunderTM25 Damage vs Noctowl Blizzard 2x 74-87% Thunder 2x 49-58% View Lapras builds →
Elekid Electric	D
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 Thunder PunchTM41 Ice PunchTM33 Damage vs Noctowl Thunder 2x 59-71% Thunder Punch 2x 43-51% Ice Punch 2x 29-34% View Elekid builds →
Pichu Electric	D
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 Thunder ShockLv. 1 Damage vs Noctowl Thunder 2x 43-51% Thunder Shock 2x 20-24% View Pichu builds →

Onix RockGround	C
Available Move Moves Rock ThrowLv. 14 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 36-42% View Onix builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves Rock ThrowLv. 11 RolloutTM04 Damage vs Noctowl Rock Throw 2x 49-59% Rollout 2x 33-39% View Geodude builds →
Sudowoodo Rock	C
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves Ice PunchTM33 Thunder PunchTM41 Rock ThrowLv. 1 RolloutTM04 Damage vs Noctowl Ice Punch 2x 18-22% Thunder Punch 2x 18-22% Rock Throw 2x 61-72% Rollout 2x 38-46% View Sudowoodo builds →
Magnemite ElectricSteel	D
Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 Thunder ShockLv. 6 RolloutTM04 Damage vs Noctowl Thunder 2x 77-91% Thunder Shock 2x 30-36% Rollout 2x 12-15% View Magnemite builds →
Elekid Electric	D
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 Thunder PunchTM41 Ice PunchTM33 Damage vs Noctowl Thunder 2x 58-68% Thunder Punch 2x 41-49% Ice Punch 2x 27-33% View Elekid builds →

Golem RockGround	A
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves EarthquakeSTAB Explosion Rapid Spin RoarUtility Damage vs Noctowl Explosion 106-126%KO Rapid Spin 21-26% View Golem builds →
Jolteon Electric	A
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves ThunderboltSTAB Baton Pass Thunder Wave GrowthSetup Damage vs Noctowl Thunderbolt 2x 64-76% View Jolteon builds →
Jynx IcePsychic	B
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves Ice Beam Lovely Kiss PsychicSTAB Thief Damage vs Noctowl Ice Beam 2x 67-79% Psychic 33-40% Thief 15-18% View Jynx builds →
Lapras WaterIce	C
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves Ice Beam Confuse Ray SurfSTAB Thunder Damage vs Noctowl Ice Beam 2x 52-62% Surf 26-31% Thunder 2x 42-50% View Lapras builds →