Stats & Training
Nothing fancy in Noctowl's spread. It leans special with HP out front. And you'll get 2 HP EVs per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Its eyes are specially developed to enable it to see clearly even in murky darkness and minimal light.
When it needs to think, it rotates its head 180 degrees to sharpen its intellectual power.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ice, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground, Ghost |
Shuckle BugRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Shuckle builds →Rock Throw 2x20-24% Rollout 2x13-16% Rock Blast 2x13-16% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Onix builds →Rock Slide 2x53-63% Rock Throw 2x37-43% Smack Down 2x37-43% Rock Blast 2x20-24% | ||
Roggenrola Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Roggenrola builds →Smack Down 2x50-59% Rock Blast 2x26-32% | ||
Dwebble BugRock | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Dwebble builds →Smack Down 2x43-51% Rock Blast 2x22-28% | ||
Rolycoly Rock | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Rolycoly builds →Ancient Power 2x26-32% Smack Down 2x33-39% Rock Blast 2x20-24% | ||
Shuckle BugRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Shuckle builds →Rock Throw 2x19-24% Rollout 2x13-17% Rock Blast 2x11-13% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Onix builds →Rock Slide 2x48-57% Rock Throw 2x34-40% Smack Down 2x34-40% Rock Blast 2x19-24% | ||
Roggenrola Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Roggenrola builds →Smack Down 2x45-54% Rock Blast 2x25-30% | ||
Dwebble BugRock | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Dwebble builds →Rock Slide 2x60-71% Smack Down 2x43-51% Rock Blast 2x22-27% | ||
Binacle RockWater | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Binacle builds →Ancient Power 2x25-30% Rock Blast 2x19-24% | ||
Shuckle BugRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Shuckle builds →Rock Throw 2x17-21% Rollout 2x12-15% Rock Blast 2x10-12% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Sudowoodo builds →Stone Edge 2x108-127%KO Rock Tomb 2x67-79% Rock Throw 2x57-67% Rock Blast 2x30-36% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Onix builds →Rock Slide 2x45-55% Rock Throw 2x33-39% Smack Down 2x33-39% Rock Blast 2x17-21% | ||
Dwebble BugRock | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Dwebble builds →Rock Slide 2x59-70% Smack Down 2x40-48% Rock Blast 2x22-27% | ||
Binacle RockWater | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Binacle builds →Ancient Power 2x22-27% Rock Blast 2x20-24% | ||
Lunatone RockPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Lunatone builds →Stone Edge 2x69-81% Rock Slide 2x53-63% Rock Throw 2x35-42% Rock Blast 2x19-23% | ||
Shuckle BugRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Shuckle builds →Rock Throw 2x17-21% Rollout 2x12-14% Rock Blast 2x9-12% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Drednaw builds →Rock Tomb 2x74-88% Rock Blast 2x33-40% | ||
Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Solrock builds →Stone Edge 2x105-123%KO Rock Slide 2x79-93% Rock Throw 2x53-63% Rock Blast 2x27-33% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Sudowoodo builds →Stone Edge 2x110-130%KO Rock Slide 2x83-98% Rock Tomb 2x67-79% Rock Throw 2x57-67% | ||
Lunatone RockPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Lunatone builds →Stone Edge 2x71-84% Rock Slide 2x54-64% Rock Throw 2x38-44% Rock Blast 2x21-24% | ||
Shuckle BugRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Shuckle builds →Rock Throw 2x16-20% Rollout 2x11-13% Rock Blast 2x9-11% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Drednaw builds →Rock Tomb 2x77-91% Rock Blast 2x33-40% | ||
Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Solrock builds →Stone Edge 2x107-127%KO Rock Slide 2x81-96% Rock Throw 2x54-64% Rock Blast 2x28-33% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Sudowoodo builds →Stone Edge 2x111-131%KO Rock Slide 2x84-100%KO Rock Tomb 2x67-80% Rock Throw 2x56-67% | ||
Lunatone RockPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Lunatone builds →Stone Edge 2x68-81% Rock Slide 2x51-60% Rock Throw 2x36-42% Rock Blast 2x19-22% | ||
Shuckle BugRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Shuckle builds →Rock Slide 2x22-26% Rock Throw 2x15-18% Rollout 2x10-12% Rock Blast 2x8-10% | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Crustle builds →Rock Slide 2x83-99% Smack Down 2x56-66% Rock Blast 2x29-34% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Drednaw builds →Rock Tomb 2x73-87% Rock Blast 2x32-38% | ||
Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Solrock builds →Stone Edge 2x103-121%KO Rock Slide 2x77-91% Rock Throw 2x53-62% Rock Blast 2x27-32% | ||
Lunatone RockPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Lunatone builds →Stone Edge 2x70-83% Rock Slide 2x52-62% Rock Tomb 2x43-50% Icy Wind 2x24-28% | ||
Shuckle BugRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Shuckle builds →Rock Slide 2x23-27% Rock Tomb 2x18-21% Rock Throw 2x16-19% Rollout 2x10-12% | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Barbaracle builds →Rock Slide 2x87-103%KO Ancient Power 2x26-31% Rock Tomb 2x69-81% Icy Wind 2x16-19% | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Crustle builds →Rock Slide 2x87-103%KO Rock Tomb 2x69-81% Smack Down 2x59-70% Rock Blast 2x31-37% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Drednaw builds →Rock Slide 2x92-108%KO Rock Tomb 2x74-87% Rock Blast 2x33-39% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Rhydon builds →Rock Slide 2x104-123%KO Rock Tomb 2x85-100%KO Avalanche 2x57-67% Icy Wind 2x14-17% | ||
Shuckle BugRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Shuckle builds →Rock Slide 2x23-27% Rock Tomb 2x18-21% Rock Throw 2x17-20% Rollout 2x10-13% | ||
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Coalossal builds →Rock Slide 2x71-84% Ancient Power 2x35-41% Rock Tomb 2x57-68% Smack Down 2x48-57% | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Barbaracle builds →Rock Slide 2x88-104%KO Ancient Power 2x26-30% Rock Tomb 2x71-84% Icy Wind 2x16-19% | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Crustle builds →Rock Slide 2x88-104%KO Rock Tomb 2x71-84% Smack Down 2x59-70% Rock Blast 2x30-36% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Weavile's Ice Shard hits Noctowl for 53-63%. Nihilego deals 63-74% with Power Gem.
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Weavile builds →Knock Off43-51% Ice Shard 2x53-63% | ||
Zeraora Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemAir Balloon NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Zeraora builds →Drain Punch32-37% | ||
Nihilego RockPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Nihilego builds →Power Gem 2x63-74% | ||
Jolteon Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Jolteon builds →Thunder 2x122-144%KO | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityHydration ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Lapras builds →Surf31-37% | ||
Sword & Shield 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
Breeding
Breed with Noctowl to get Hoothoot eggs easily using 42 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Defog, Feather Dance, Night Shade and 3 more.
Sword & Shield Noctowl Best Moveset
Tintedlens helps Noctowl stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, max HP and Sp. Atk EVs for the right balance, and Air Slash as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Noctowl best EVs are Sp. Atk and HP
Doubles Special Tank Moveset
- Hypnosis
- Dream Eater
- Shadow Ball
- Air Slash
Recommended Teammates
Bulky Support Moveset
- Nasty Plot
- Agility
- Recycle
- Air Slash
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Noctowl gets Defog and Feather Dance exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Psychic and Fairy coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Giga Impact and Hyper Beam.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Noctowl in Sword & Shield
Plenty of locations for Noctowl with high spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Noctowl in Sword & Shield
To get Noctowl, start by catching Hoothoot through walking encounters at Lv. 2-30. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch HoothootDappled GroveShieldOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest28%EarlyOvercastDappled GroveSwordOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest28%EarlyOvercastDappled GroveShieldOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest25%EarlyNormal WeatherDappled GroveSwordOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest25%EarlyNormal WeatherSlumbering WealdSwordGrass Lv.2-3 Forest15%EarlyAll WeatherSlumbering WealdShieldGrass Lv.2-3 Forest15%EarlyAll WeatherDappled GroveSwordOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest10%EarlySnowingDappled GroveSwordOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest10%EarlySandstormDappled GroveSwordOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest10%EarlyHeavy FogDappled GroveShieldOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest10%EarlySnowingDappled GroveShieldOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest10%EarlySandstormDappled GroveShieldOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest10%EarlyHeavy FogRoute 1SwordGrass Lv.2-5 Route5%EarlyAll WeatherRoute 1ShieldGrass Lv.2-5 Route5%EarlyAll WeatherRoute 2SwordGrass Lv.4-6 Route5%EarlyAll WeatherRoute 2ShieldGrass Lv.4-6 Route5%EarlyAll WeatherGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidNormal WeatherGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidSandstormGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidRainingGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidNormal WeatherGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidSandstormGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidRainingGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworld Lv.28-305%MidOvercastGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidIntense SunGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidSnowingGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidHeavy FogGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworld Lv.28-305%MidThunderstormGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidOvercastGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworld Lv.28-305%MidIntense SunGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworld Lv.28-305%MidSnowingGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworld Lv.28-305%MidHeavy FogGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidThunderstorm
Step 2Noctowl ✓Motostoke OutskirtsSwordOverworld Lv.22-2640%MidAll WeatherGiant's CapShieldOverworld Lv.28-3040%MidNormal WeatherGiant's CapSwordOverworld Lv.28-3040%MidNormal WeatherMotostoke OutskirtsShieldOverworld Lv.22-2635%MidAll WeatherMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrass Lv.26-2830%MidNormal WeatherMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrass Lv.26-2830%MidNormal WeatherMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrass Lv.26-2820%MidOvercastMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrass Lv.26-2820%MidSandstormMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrass Lv.26-2820%MidOvercastMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrass Lv.26-2820%MidSandstormMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrass Lv.26-2810%MidHeavy FogMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrass Lv.26-2810%MidIntense SunMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrass Lv.26-2810%MidSnowingMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrass Lv.26-2810%MidHeavy FogMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrass Lv.26-2810%MidIntense SunMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrass Lv.26-2810%MidSnowingGiant's CapSwordOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidSandstormGiant's CapSwordOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidRainingGiant's CapSwordOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidHeavy FogGiant's CapShieldOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidSandstormGiant's CapShieldOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidRainingGiant's CapShieldOverworld Lv.28-3010%MidHeavy FogGiant's CapShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidOvercastGiant's CapSwordOverworld Lv.28-305%MidThunderstormGiant's CapSwordOverworld Lv.28-305%MidIntense SunGiant's CapSwordOverworld Lv.28-305%MidSnowingGiant's CapShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidThunderstormGiant's CapShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidIntense SunGiant's CapSwordOverworld Lv.28-305%MidOvercastGiant's CapShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidSnowingor evolve from Hoothoot (Step 1)
Noctowl Guide
In Sword & Shield, Noctowl looks average on paper at 452 BST. But Tinted Lens is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier on our tier list. Air Slash with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Sword & Shield, Noctowl's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric), Cloyster (Ice), and Aerodactyl (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.
Noctowl gets Tinted Lens, Insomnia, and Keen Eye. But Tinted Lens is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Noctowl is leaning toward the special side (base 86 Sp. Atk). 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 Sword & Shield, the core moveset is Air Slash, Roost, Hypervoice, and Heat Wave. Air Slash leads at 20% usage. This set covers the balanced role with a mix of damage and utility.
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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB

Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut

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 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves
