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.
A SWELLOW dives upon prey from far above. It never misses its targets. It takes to the skies in search of lands with a warm climate.
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 |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
 Regice Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 105 Interact Encounter | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x67-79% Rock Throw 2x58-68% | ||
 Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Aron SteelRock | D | |
 Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Regirock Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 111 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Regirock builds →Thunderbolt 2x51-61% Rock Tomb 2x77-91% Shock Wave 2x34-41% Rock Throw 2x65-77% | ||
 Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Solrock builds →Rock Tomb 2x74-88% Rock Throw 2x62-73% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x65-77% Rock Throw 2x55-66% Rollout 2x34-40% | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Plusle builds →Thunderbolt 2x115-135%KO Spark 2x83-99% Shock Wave 2x77-91% | ||
 Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Magneton builds →Thunderbolt 2x149-176%KO Spark 2x108-128%KO Shock Wave 2x102-121%KO Thunder Shock 2x70-83% | ||
Regirock Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 111 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Regirock builds →Thunderbolt 2x52-62% Rock Tomb 2x78-93% Shock Wave 2x34-41% Rock Throw 2x64-76% | ||
Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Solrock builds →Rock Tomb 2x76-90% Rock Throw 2x64-76% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x67-79% Rock Throw 2x55-66% Rollout 2x34-41% Rock Blast 2x29-34% | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Magneton builds →Thunderbolt 2x149-176%KO Spark 2x111-130%KO Shock Wave 2x102-121%KO Thunder Shock 2x68-82% | ||
Regirock Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 111 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Regirock builds →Thunderbolt 2x53-63% Ancient Power 2x79-95% Rock Tomb 2x79-95% Shock Wave 2x37-43% | ||
Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Solrock builds →Rock Tomb 2x74-88% Rock Throw 2x63-75% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x66-78% Rock Throw 2x55-65% Rollout 2x36-42% Rock Blast 2x30-36% | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Magneton builds →Thunder 2x185-218%KO Thunderbolt 2x153-180%KO Spark 2x111-131%KO Shock Wave 2x102-120%KO | ||
Regirock Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 111 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Regirock builds →Thunder 2x63-75% Thunderbolt 2x52-62% Ancient Power 2x78-93% Rock Tomb 2x78-93% | ||
Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Solrock builds →Rock Slide 2x93-109%KO Rock Tomb 2x74-87% Rock Throw 2x62-74% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x65-76% Rock Throw 2x55-65% Rollout 2x35-41% Rock Blast 2x30-35% | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Anorith builds →Ancient Power 2x74-87% Rock Tomb 2x74-87% | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Magneton builds →Thunder 2x185-218%KO Thunderbolt 2x153-180%KO Spark 2x111-131%KO Shock Wave 2x102-120%KO | ||
Regirock Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 111 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Regirock builds →Thunder 2x63-75% Thunderbolt 2x52-62% Ancient Power 2x78-93% Rock Tomb 2x78-93% | ||
Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Solrock builds →Rock Slide 2x93-109%KO Rock Tomb 2x74-87% Rock Throw 2x62-74% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x65-76% Rock Throw 2x55-65% Rollout 2x35-41% Rock Blast 2x30-35% | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Anorith builds →Ancient Power 2x74-87% Rock Tomb 2x74-87% | ||
In Emerald, Magneton can KO Swellow with Thunderbolt (202-238%). Breloom's Mach Punch hits Swellow for 38-45%. Regice's Ice Beam also KOs at 164-194%.
Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemMagnet NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Magneton builds →Thunderbolt 2x202-238%KO | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityEffect Spore ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Breloom builds →Mach Punch38-45% | ||
Regice Ice | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Regice builds →Ice Beam 2x164-194%KO Thunderbolt 2x110-129%KO Explosion71-84% | ||
 Raikou Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Raikou builds →Thunderbolt 2x179-211%KO | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityPure Power ItemSalacberry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Swellow View Medicham builds →Rock Slide 2x58-69% | ||
Emerald Evolution
Evolved from Taillow. Swellow is the final form in this two-stage line. A decent partner pool 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 25 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Mirror Move, Pursuit, Rage and 3 more.
Emerald Swellow Best Moveset
Prediction matters here. Choice Band means Swellow can't change moves after clicking, but the payoff is raw power at the cost of move flexibility. Max Attack and Speed EVs with Guts back that up. Double STAB prevents free switches.
Best Build
Swellow best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Aerial Ace
- Facade
- Baton Pass
- Endeavor
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Without breeding, Swellow misses out on Mirror Move and Pursuit. That's 6 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Hyper Beam and Sky Attack, with Steel and Dark coverage and more rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Swellow in Emerald
Swellow starts showing up in mid-game routes at moderate rates across 1 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Swellow in Emerald
Taillow is your first catch on the way to Swellow. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 4-25 across 5 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch TaillowRoute 116Grass Lv.6-8 Route20%EarlyRoute 104Grass Lv.4-5 Route10%EarlyPetalburg WoodsGrass Lv.5-6 Forest5%EarlyRoute 115Grass Lv.23-25 Route40%Mid
Step 2Swellow ✓Route 115Grass Lv.25 Route10%Midor evolve from Taillow (Step 1)
Swellow Guide
For Emerald, we rate Swellow C-Tier: a niche pick in Emerald's meta. At 455 BST, it fits the pivot role. Aerialace with Choice Band 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 Emerald, run Aerialace, Facade, Baton Pass, and Endeavor on Swellow. Aerialace is the most common pick at 16% 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