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.
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)
 Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chimchar (Route 201 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Infernape builds →Focus Punch 2x179-211%KO Close Combat 2x143-168%KO Focus Blast 2x143-168%KO Brick Break 2x91-107%KO | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x208-245%KO Close Combat 2x167-197%KO Focus Blast 2x70-83% Brick Break 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x180-213%KO Focus Blast 2x122-144%KO Brick Break 2x91-107%KO Revenge 2x74-87% | ||
 Gallade PsychicFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Gallade builds →Focus Punch 2x208-245%KO Close Combat 2x167-197%KO Focus Blast 2x99-118%KO Brick Break 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Medicham FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x117-138%KO High Jump Kick 2x101-120%KO Focus Blast 2x93-109%KO Drain Punch 2x60-71% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x211-249%KO Brick Break 2x109-129%KO Rock Smash 2x58-69% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x201-238%KO Brick Break 2x102-121%KO Rock Smash 2x59-70% | ||
 Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x171-201%KO Brick Break 2x87-102%KO Vital Throw 2x80-95% Revenge 2x71-84% | ||
Medicham FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x117-139%KO Brick Break 2x62-73% Rock Smash 2x34-40% | ||
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% | ||
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 2x203-239%KO Close Combat 2x162-191%KO Focus Blast 2x71-84% Brick Break 2x103-122%KO | ||
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% | ||
 Croagunk PoisonFighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Croagunk builds →Focus Punch 2x114-135%KO Focus Blast 2x92-109%KO Brick Break 2x58-69% Revenge 2x47-56% | ||
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 | ||
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% | ||
Croagunk PoisonFighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Croagunk builds →Focus Punch 2x113-133%KO Focus Blast 2x90-107%KO Brick Break 2x58-69% Revenge 2x46-55% | ||
 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% Drain Punch 2x64-76% Brick Break 2x64-76% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x208-245%KO Close Combat 2x167-197%KO Focus Blast 2x70-83% Brick Break 2x105-124%KO | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x174-205%KO Focus Blast 2x82-97% Cross Chop 2x117-138%KO Submission 2x93-109%KO | ||
Medicham FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x117-138%KO High Jump Kick 2x101-120%KO Focus Blast 2x93-109%KO Drain Punch 2x60-71% | ||
Croagunk PoisonFighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Croagunk builds →Focus Punch 2x117-138%KO Focus Blast 2x95-111%KO Brick Break 2x60-71% Revenge 2x48-57% | ||
Riolu Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodIron Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zangoose View Riolu builds →Focus Punch 2x130-154%KO Focus Blast 2x65-77% Drain Punch 2x67-79% Brick Break 2x67-79% | ||
In Platinum, 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% | ||
Platinum 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.
Platinum 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. Last Resort and Double-Edge anchor the STAB core.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Platinum Zangoose Locations
Zangoose tops out at moderate rates across 2 locations in mid-game routes. The encounters below are sorted by rate so you can see exactly what you're working with.
Best Locations to Catch Zangoose in Platinum
Zangoose Guide
In Platinum, Zangoose works as a cannon with 458 BST behind it. C-Tier on our list: a niche pick in Platinum's meta. Close Combat with Choice Scarf is the standard set.
In Platinum, 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 Platinum, 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