Stats & Training
The stat budget goes to damage. Speed and Attack carry the offense, Sp. Def doesn't even come close. A Swallow Pokemon on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve, worth 2 Speed EVs per KO.
Swellow flies high above our heads, making graceful arcs in the sky. This Pokémon dives at a steep angle as soon as it spots its prey. The hapless prey is tightly grasped by Swellow’s clawed feet, preventing escape.
Swellow is very conscientious about the upkeep of its glossy wings. Once two Swellow are gathered, they diligently take care of cleaning each other’s wings.
Swellow Weakness
Electric, Ice, and Rock moves hit Swellow for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground and Ghost-type moves can't touch it at all. At base 125 Speed, Swellow outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ice, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground, Ghost |
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Weavile can KO Swellow with Ice Shard (108-128%). Zapdos threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (155-183%). Tyranitar's Stone Edge also KOs at 241-284%.
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Weavile builds →Knock Off87-103%KO Ice Shard 2x108-128%KO Pursuit54-64% | ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemSitrus Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave54-64% Thunderbolt 2x155-183%KO | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Tyranitar builds →Stone Edge 2x241-284%KO Pursuit49-57% Crunch97-114%KO Superpower96-113%KO | ||
 Raikou Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Raikou builds →Volt Switch 2x139-164%KO Thunderbolt 2x179-210%KO | ||
 Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Rhyperior builds →Rock Slide 2x216-254%KO | ||
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Evolution
Evolved from Taillow. Swellow is the final form in this two-stage line. Plenty of partners for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. Sp.Atk grew the most through evolution (+45 over Taillow), and Swellow peaks at 455 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Swellow to get Taillow eggs easily using 51 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Boomburst, Brave Bird, Defog and 9 more.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Swellow Best Moveset
Start with max Attack and Speed EVs. Jolly nature gives Swellow the right fast physical lean, Flame Orb adds self-burn for Guts activation, and Guts works in the background. Facade is the main damage option.
Best Build
Swellow best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Facade
- Brave Bird
- Steel Wing
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Facade
- Steel Wing
- Roost
- Brave Bird
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Without breeding, Swellow misses out on Boomburst and Brave Bird. That's 12 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Giga Impact and Hyper Beam, with coverage across 8 types rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Swellow in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Swellow doesn't appear wild. Catch Taillow instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it at level 22 to get Swellow. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Swellow in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
To get Swellow, start by catching Taillow through walking encounters at Lv. 3-20. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch TaillowRoute 104 - Area 1Alpha SapphireGrass Lv.5-7 Route8%EarlyRoute 104 - Area 1Omega RubyGrass Lv.5-7 Route8%EarlyRoute 116Omega RubyGrass Lv.6-8 Route8%EarlyRoute 116Alpha SapphireGrass Lv.6-8 Route8%EarlyRoute 104 - Area 1Omega RubyGrass Lv.3 Route5%EarlyHorde battleRoute 104 - Area 1Alpha SapphireGrass Lv.3 Route5%EarlyHorde battlePetalburg WoodsAlpha SapphireGrass Lv.5 Forest4%EarlyPetalburg WoodsOmega RubyGrass Lv.5 Forest4%EarlyRoute 104 - Area 2Omega RubyGrass Lv.3-5 Route2%EarlyRoute 104 - Area 2Alpha SapphireGrass Lv.3-5 Route2%EarlyRoute 115Omega RubyGrass Lv.17-20 Route30%MidRoute 115Alpha SapphireGrass Lv.17-20 Route30%Mid
Step 2Swellow ✓
Swellow Guide
For Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, we rate Swellow C-Tier: a niche pick in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire's meta. At 455 BST, it fits the pivot role. Facade with Flame Orb is the standard set.
Guts increases Attack to 1.5× with a major status ailment. That's the one you want on Swellow. Scrappy is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Base 125 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Swellow is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Best used as a pivot.
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, run Facade, Bravebird, Steelwing, and Protect on Swellow. Facade is the most common pick at 23% usage. Facade provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Available in 14 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Swellow spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in a solid number of games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
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