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.
It circles the sky in search of prey and dives sharply to catch its target.
It circles the sky in search of prey and dives sharply to catch its target.
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 |
 Nihilego RockPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Nihilego builds →Head Smash 2x117-138%KO Thunder 2x130-153%KO Thunderbolt 2x107-126%KO Power Gem 2x141-167%KO | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Magnezone builds →Zap Cannon 2x217-256%KO Thunder 2x198-233%KO Thunderbolt 2x162-191%KO Wild Charge 2x87-102%KO | ||
 Archeops Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Archen (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Archeops builds →Stone Edge 2x170-200%KO Rock Slide 2x128-151%KO Ancient Power 2x96-113%KO Rock Tomb 2x101-120%KO | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodSeafolk Village Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Aerodactyl builds →Stone Edge 2x132-156%KO Rock Slide 2x100-118%KO Thunder Fang 2x58-68% Ice Fang 2x58-68% | ||
 Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Carbink builds →Stone Edge 2x76-89% Power Gem 2x70-82% Rock Slide 2x56-67% Ancient Power 2x53-62% | ||
In Sun & Moon, Tapu Koko can KO Swellow with Thunderbolt (234-276%). Mamoswine threatens a KO with Ice Shard (109-128%). Terrakion's Stone Edge also KOs at 283-333%.
 Tapu Koko ElectricFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityElectric Surge ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Tapu Koko builds →Thunderbolt 2x234-276%KO Volt Switch 2x182-215%KO Dazzling Gleam104-123%KO | ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Mamoswine builds →Ice Shard 2x109-128%KO Knock Off59-69% | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Terrakion builds →Close Combat169-199%KO Stone Edge 2x283-333%KO | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Weavile builds →Knock Off87-103%KO Ice Shard 2x108-128%KO Pursuit54-64% | ||
 Raikou Electric | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Raikou builds →Thunderbolt 2x179-210%KO | ||
Sun & Moon 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 58 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Boomburst, Brave Bird, Defog and 10 more.
Sun & Moon Swellow Best Moveset
The build revolves around U-turn for safe pivoting. Guts and Flame Orb support Swellow's hit-and-run approach, with max Attack and Speed EVs making sure each pivot actually threatens. The remaining moves adds versatility.
Best Build
Swellow best EVs are Attack and Speed
Doubles Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Facade
- Brave Bird
- Protect
- U Turn
Recommended Teammates
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Brave Bird
- Facade
- Protect
- Boomburst
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Without breeding, Swellow misses out on Boomburst and Brave Bird. That's 13 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Giga Impact and Hyper Beam, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Swellow in Sun & Moon
Swellow Guide
For Sun & Moon, we rate Swellow C-Tier: a niche pick in Sun & Moon'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 mixed attacker with base 85 Attack and 75 Sp. Atk. Best used as a pivot.
In Sun & Moon, run Facade, Bravebird, Protect, and U Turn on Swellow. Facade is the most common pick at 22% 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