Stats & Training
Sp. Def and Speed carry most of Volbeat's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Speed EV. Follows a standard growth curve.
It communicates with others by lighting up its rear at night. It loves Illumise’s sweet aroma.
It lives around clean ponds. At night, its rear lights up. It converses with others by flashing its light.
Volbeat Weakness
Fire, Flying, and Rock moves hit Volbeat for super-effective damage. Volbeat's special bulk (base 85 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Flying, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground |
 Fennekin Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodAquacorde Town Gift | ||
 Combee Bug | D | |
 Pansear Fire | D | |
 Fletchling Normal | D | |
 Pidgey Normal | D | |
 Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x90-106%KO Pluck 2x90-106%KO Ancient Power 2x48-58% Aerial Ace 2x90-106%KO | ||
 Shieldon RockSteel | D | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift | ||
 Drifloon Ghost | D | |
 Woobat Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Woobat builds →Aerial Ace 2x48-58% Gust 2x27-34% | ||
Pansear Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Pansear builds →Incinerate 2x40-48% Rock Tomb 2x35-42% Flame Charge 2x45-53% | ||
 Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Hawlucha builds →Bounce 2x98-116%KO Wing Attack 2x71-84% Aerial Ace 2x71-84% Rock Tomb 2x47-56% | ||
 Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Carbink builds →Ancient Power 2x35-42% Rock Tomb 2x46-55% Rock Throw 2x38-45% Smack Down 2x38-45% | ||
 Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Sigilyph builds →Air Cutter 2x57-68% Aerial Ace 2x52-61% Gust 2x38-45% | ||
 Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x60-71% Acrobatics 2x57-68% | ||
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x82-97% Pluck 2x82-97% Ancient Power 2x46-55% Aerial Ace 2x82-97% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x117-139%KO Fire Fang 2x56-67% Wing Attack 2x78-94% Ancient Power 2x38-45% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x103-123%KO Bounce 2x98-116%KO Wing Attack 2x71-84% Aerial Ace 2x71-84% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Carbink builds →Ancient Power 2x35-42% Rock Tomb 2x46-55% Rock Throw 2x38-45% Smack Down 2x38-45% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x76-90% Air Cutter 2x57-68% Aerial Ace 2x52-61% Gust 2x38-45% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x60-71% Acrobatics 2x57-68% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x117-139%KO Fire Fang 2x56-67% Wing Attack 2x78-94% Ancient Power 2x38-45% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x103-123%KO Bounce 2x98-116%KO Wing Attack 2x71-84% Aerial Ace 2x71-84% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Carbink builds →Ancient Power 2x35-42% Rock Tomb 2x46-55% Rock Throw 2x38-45% Smack Down 2x38-45% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x76-90% Air Cutter 2x57-68% Aerial Ace 2x52-61% Gust 2x38-45% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x60-71% Acrobatics 2x57-68% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x121-143%KO Fire Fang 2x59-70% Wing Attack 2x82-96% Ancient Power 2x39-47% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x109-129%KO Bounce 2x103-121%KO Wing Attack 2x74-88% Aerial Ace 2x74-88% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Carbink builds →Ancient Power 2x35-41% Rock Tomb 2x47-55% Rock Throw 2x39-47% Smack Down 2x39-47% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x77-91% Air Cutter 2x58-69% Aerial Ace 2x53-63% Gust 2x39-47% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x62-74% Acrobatics 2x58-69% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Aerodactyl builds →Stone Edge 2x136-161%KO Fly 2x123-145%KO Fire Fang 2x60-70% Wing Attack 2x82-97% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Carbink builds →Stone Edge 2x78-92% Ancient Power 2x35-42% Rock Tomb 2x49-58% Rock Throw 2x39-47% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x78-92% Air Cutter 2x60-71% Aerial Ace 2x54-63% Gust 2x39-47% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x64-76% Acrobatics 2x58-68% | ||
 Chatot Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Chatot builds →Fly 2x84-100%KO Chatter 2x60-71% Aerial Ace 2x58-68% Peck 2x35-42% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Hawlucha builds →Sky Attack 2x169-199%KO Stone Edge 2x81-96% Fly 2x111-131%KO Bounce 2x104-122%KO | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Carbink builds →Stone Edge 2x78-92% Power Gem 2x45-54% Rock Slide 2x58-69% Ancient Power 2x34-41% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Sigilyph builds →Sky Attack 2x120-141%KO Fly 2x78-92% Air Slash 2x73-86% Air Cutter 2x58-69% | ||
 Heatmor Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Heatmor builds →Fire Blast 2x107-126%KO Flamethrower 2x89-105%KO Flame Burst 2x69-81% Incinerate 2x60-71% | ||
 Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Torkoal builds →Fire Blast 2x91-107%KO Stone Edge 2x76-90% Flamethrower 2x74-88% Lava Plume 2x67-79% | ||
In X & Y, Zapdos's Heat Wave hits Volbeat for 40-47%. Tyranitar's Stone Edge also KOs at 200-235%.
 Heatran FireSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemSitrus Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave 2x40-47% Thunderbolt28-34% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Tyranitar builds →Stone Edge 2x200-235%KO Pursuit40-48% Crunch80-94% Superpower40-47% | ||
 Volcarona BugFire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain11-13% Flamethrower 2x80-94% | ||
 Staraptor Normal | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityReckless ItemChoice Scarf NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Volbeat View Staraptor builds →Close Combat33-38% Double Edge98-115%KO U Turn38-45% | ||
X & Y Evolution
Breeding is the whole story for Volbeat. Plenty of partners through two egg groups, eggs are quick to hatch, and you won't need to evolve anything. It's got 7 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Volbeat with 68 breeding partners from the Bug and Humanshape egg groups. Pass egg moves like Baton Pass, Bug Buzz, Dizzy Punch and 4 more to offspring.
X & Y Volbeat Best Moveset
Prankster gives Volbeat passive value while it walls. Careful nature boosts Sp. Def, max HP and Sp. Def EVs maximize the special wall profile, and Leftovers keeps it in the game.
Best Build
Volbeat best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Doubles Wall Moveset
- U Turn
- Thunder Wave
- Tailwind
- Roost
Recommended Teammates
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- U Turn
- Trick
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Coverage runs deep. Volbeat can hit 10 types beyond STAB, including Normal and Psychic. The offense anchors on Bug Buzz and Signal Beam while TMs handle everything else.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
X & Y Volbeat Locations
Volbeat appears at decent spawn rates across 8 spots in early-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Best Locations to Catch Volbeat in X & Y
Volbeat's encounter pool splits between X and Y. You've got 8 walking spots at Lv. 13-15 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.
Volbeat Guide
For X & Y, it depends on your team. Volbeat at 410 BST isn't a powerhouse, but the Bug coverage might be exactly what you're missing.
In X & Y, Prankster changes the entire equation for Volbeat. The 410 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a support. U Turn with Leftovers is the standard set.
Prankster is what you want on Volbeat. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Illuminate, Swarm) work on paper but Prankster is what makes Volbeat worth using.
Volbeat's best stat is Sp. Def at base 85. Bug gives decent defensive coverage with 3 resistances.
Game Availability
Available in 14 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Volbeat 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