Stats & Training
Everything pushes toward physical damage here. Zangoose's Attack does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 2 Attack EVs per KO. Moderately hard to find, on a standard growth curve.
It has feuded with SEVIPER for many generations. Its sharp claws are its biggest weapons.
It has feuded with SEVIPER for many generations. Its sharp claws are its biggest weapons.
Zangoose Weakness
Zangoose's Normal typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting. It shrugs off Ghost-type attacks completely. Zangoose leans offensive (base 115 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ghost |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x196-231%KO Brick Break 2x100-119%KO Rock Smash 2x58-69% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x196-231%KO Brick Break 2x101-120%KO Rock Smash 2x54-64% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x208-245%KO Focus Blast 2x73-87% Brick Break 2x106-126%KO Rock Smash 2x57-68% | ||
 Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x175-206%KO Focus Blast 2x85-100%KO Brick Break 2x90-106%KO Vital Throw 2x85-100%KO | ||
 Medicham FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x120-142%KO Focus Blast 2x96-113%KO Drain Punch 2x62-74% Brick Break 2x62-74% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x208-245%KO Focus Blast 2x73-87% Brick Break 2x106-126%KO Rock Smash 2x57-68% | ||
 Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x181-213%KO Focus Blast 2x123-145%KO Brick Break 2x92-110%KO Revenge 2x73-87% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x175-206%KO Focus Blast 2x85-100%KO Brick Break 2x90-106%KO Vital Throw 2x85-100%KO | ||
Medicham FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x120-142%KO Focus Blast 2x96-113%KO Drain Punch 2x62-74% Brick Break 2x62-74% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x206-242%KO Focus Blast 2x70-83% Brick Break 2x105-124%KO Rock Smash 2x56-66% | ||
Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x177-209%KO Focus Blast 2x121-143%KO Brick Break 2x91-107%KO Revenge 2x72-85% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x171-201%KO Focus Blast 2x82-96% Submission 2x94-110%KO Brick Break 2x86-102%KO | ||
Medicham FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x117-138%KO High Jump Kick 2x100-118%KO Focus Blast 2x94-110%KO Drain Punch 2x61-72% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x203-239%KO Close Combat 2x162-191%KO Focus Blast 2x71-84% Brick Break 2x103-122%KO | ||
Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x177-208%KO Focus Blast 2x120-142%KO Brick Break 2x91-107%KO Revenge 2x73-86% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x168-198%KO Focus Blast 2x81-97% Submission 2x92-109%KO Brick Break 2x86-102%KO | ||
Medicham FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x114-135%KO High Jump Kick 2x99-117%KO Focus Blast 2x91-107%KO Drain Punch 2x58-69% | ||
 Riolu Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodIron Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Riolu builds →Focus Punch 2x127-150%KO Focus Blast 2x64-76% Brick Break 2x64-76% Drain Punch 2x64-76% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x200-236%KO Close Combat 2x162-190%KO Focus Blast 2x68-81% Brick Break 2x101-119%KO | ||
Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x174-205%KO Focus Blast 2x119-140%KO Brick Break 2x89-105%KO Revenge 2x71-83% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x167-198%KO Focus Blast 2x81-95% Cross Chop 2x113-133%KO Submission 2x90-107%KO | ||
Medicham FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x113-133%KO High Jump Kick 2x97-114%KO Focus Blast 2x90-107%KO Drain Punch 2x58-69% | ||
Riolu Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodIron Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Riolu builds →Focus Punch 2x125-148%KO Focus Blast 2x63-74% Brick Break 2x64-76% Drain Punch 2x64-76% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x206-243%KO Close Combat 2x165-194%KO Focus Blast 2x70-82% Brick Break 2x104-123%KO | ||
Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x181-213%KO Focus Blast 2x122-144%KO Brick Break 2x92-108%KO Revenge 2x73-87% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x172-203%KO Focus Blast 2x80-95% Cross Chop 2x115-135%KO Submission 2x93-110%KO | ||
Medicham FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x116-137%KO High Jump Kick 2x100-118%KO Focus Blast 2x93-110%KO Drain Punch 2x59-70% | ||
Riolu Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodIron Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Riolu builds →Focus Punch 2x131-154%KO Focus Blast 2x64-76% Brick Break 2x66-78% Drain Punch 2x66-78% | ||
In Diamond & Pearl, Infernape can KO Zangoose with Close Combat (159-187%).
 Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Infernape builds →Close Combat 2x159-187%KO U Turn31-37% Fire Blast58-68% | ||
Diamond & Pearl Evolution
Zangoose doesn't evolve, so breeding's where the action is. You'll find a massive partner pool across one egg group, and eggs are average hatch time. It's got 10 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Zangoose easily with 131 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Counter, Curse, Double Hit and 7 more to offspring.
Diamond & Pearl Zangoose Best Moveset
Zangoose's locked into one move per switch-in with Choice Scarf, trading flexibility for speed patching through item lock. Close Combat is the go-to spam option, with the remaining moves keeping switch-ins honest.
Best Build
Zangoose best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Close Combat
- Thunder Punch
- Ice Punch
- Night Slash
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breadth over depth defines this movepool. Zangoose won't stack one type's damage ceiling, but coverage across 14 types means it always has an effective option. Double-Edge and Mega Kick anchor the STAB core.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Diamond & Pearl Zangoose Locations
Finding Zangoose at moderate rates takes patience. 4 spots are available in mid-game routes, but the rate difference between them matters. Lock in the top one from the sorted list below.
Best Locations to Catch Zangoose in Diamond & Pearl
4 walking encounters at Lv. 18-26 for Zangoose across Diamond and Pearl. A few locations are version-exclusive, so your copy of the game affects what's available.
Zangoose Guide
In Diamond & Pearl, Zangoose works as a cannon with 458 BST behind it. C-Tier on our list: a niche pick in Diamond & Pearl's meta. Close Combat with Choice Scarf is the standard set.
In Diamond & Pearl, watch for Blaziken (Fighting) when using Zangoose. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
Immunity prevents poison. That's the one you want on Zangoose. Toxic Boost is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Zangoose is a physical attacker with base 115 Attack. Speed tells the real story. Base 90 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the cannon role.
In Diamond & Pearl, run Close Combat, Thunderpunch, Icepunch, and Nightslash on Zangoose. Close Combat is the most common pick at 25% usage. This set covers the cannon role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Zangoose appears in 15 games across 8 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 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