
Is Charjabug Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Charjabug evolves into Vikavolt with a Thunder Stone (no magnetic field needed in Gen 8). Bug/Electric with AbilityBattery boosting allies' special moves in doubles. Commit the Thunder Stone when ready for Vikavolt.
Grubbin has the type edge here and should clean up Milo's team.
Charjabug trades roughly evenly with Nessa's team.
Kabu's team hits Charjabug's weaknesses hard.
Vikavolt trades roughly evenly with Bea's team.
Vikavolt trades roughly evenly with Opal's team.
Vikavolt trades roughly evenly with Gordie's team.
Vikavolt has the type edge here and should clean up Piers's team.
Vikavolt trades roughly evenly with Raihan's team.
Vikavolt trades roughly evenly with Bede's team.
Leon's team hits Vikavolt's weaknesses hard.
Catch Grubbin on Route 1 (walking, Lv 2-5). All Weather.
Your Grubbin should hit Level 20 before you reach Nessa, at typical leveling pace.
Usually ready to evolve before you reach Bea, at typical party pace.
How to Get Charjabug in Sword & Shield
6 encounter spots for Charjabug at high spawn rates starting from mid-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Charjabug in SwSh
To get Charjabug, start by catching Grubbin through walking encounters at Lv. 2-45. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch GrubbinNorth Lake MilochLv.14-16GrassRate 40%ThunderstormDappled GroveLv.11-15GrassRate 35%RainingDappled GroveLv.11-15GrassRate 35%ThunderstormEast Lake AxewellLv.8-12CaveRate 30%RainingWatchtower RuinsLv.11-14FloorRate 30%ThunderstormNorth Lake MilochLv.14-16GrassRate 30%RainingEast Lake AxewellLv.10-15OverworldRate 15%RainingRoute 1Lv.2-5GrassRate 10%All WeatherSlumbering Weald - Low LevelLv.2-3OverworldRate 10%All WeatherSlumbering WealdLv.2-3GrassRate 5%All Weather
Step 2Charjabug ✓Hammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 25%ThunderstormAxew's EyeLv.35-40GrassRate 30%RainingDusty BowlLv.40-45GrassRate 20%Thunderstormor evolve from Grubbin (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into VikavoltBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Vikavolt egg.
Charjabug Weakness
Fire and Rock moves hit Charjabug for super-effective damage. The Bug/Electric typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. With 57 HP and balanced defenses, Charjabug can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Electric, Grass, Fighting, Steel |
What is Charjabug Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Charjabug
Growlithe Fire | C | |
Onix RockGround | C | |
Roggenrola Rock | C | |
Dwebble BugRock | C | |
Sizzlipede FireBug | C | |
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 2x116-138%KO | ||
Ninetales Fire | C | |
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Centiskorch builds →Flame Wheel 2x62-73% | ||
Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Heatmor Fire | C | |
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 2x118-140%KO | ||
Ninetales Fire | C | |
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Centiskorch builds →Flame Wheel 2x64-76% | ||
Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Heatmor Fire | C | |
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Darmanitan builds →Fire Punch 2x88-104%KO | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 2x113-134%KO | ||
Heatmor Fire | C | |
Ninetales Fire | C | |
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Centiskorch builds →Flame Wheel 2x61-72% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x141-167%KO Rock Slide 2x59-70% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 2x115-136%KO | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Heatmor Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Heatmor builds →Fire Lash 2x69-82% Rock Tomb 2x36-43% | ||
Ninetales Fire | C | |
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x143-168%KO Rock Slide 2x60-71% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 2x116-137%KO | ||
Stonjourner Rock | C | |
Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Turtonator builds →Shell Trap 2x150-177%KO Rock Tomb 2x30-35% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x144-169%KO Rock Slide 2x60-71% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 2x139-164%KO | ||
Torkoal Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Torkoal builds →Eruption 2x142-167%KO Rock Slide 2x40-48% | ||
Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Turtonator builds →Shell Trap 2x150-177%KO Rock Tomb 2x30-35% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x144-169%KO Rock Slide 2x60-71% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 2x139-164%KO | ||
Torkoal Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Torkoal builds →Eruption 2x142-167%KO Rock Slide 2x40-48% | ||
Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Turtonator builds →Shell Trap 2x150-177%KO Rock Tomb 2x30-35% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x144-169%KO Rock Slide 2x60-71% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 2x139-164%KO | ||
Torkoal Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Torkoal builds →Eruption 2x142-167%KO Rock Slide 2x40-48% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Blaziken can KO Charjabug with Flare Blitz (96-113%). Terrakion threatens a KO with Stone Edge (114-135%).
Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySpeed Boost ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Blaziken builds →Close Combat24-28% Flare Blitz 2x96-113%KO | ||
Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Charjabug View Terrakion builds →Stone Edge 2x114-135%KO Close Combat34-41% Earthquake38-45% | ||
Charjabug Evolutions
Charjabug connects Grubbin to Vikavolt in this chain. At least one evolution here needs an evolution item. So far, Defense got the biggest boost (+50 from Grubbin). The final form adds another 100 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
SwSh Charjabug Best Moveset
Bug/Electric middle evolution with AbilityBattery boosting allies' special moves by 30% in doubles, a unique support trait. 82 Attack and 95 Defense give some physical substance. The moveset has a doubles niche but E-tier in singles. One evolution from Vikavolt.
Best Build
Charjabug best EVs are HP and Defense
Wall Moveset
- Sticky Web
- Thunder Wave
- Toxic
- Mud Slap
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The level-up pool tells the story here. Charjabug learns Thunderbolt and Wild Charge naturally, plus enough variety that TMs feel like bonuses. Ground and Normal coverage and more extends the reach beyond that.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
While its durable shell protects it from attacks, Charjabug strikes at enemies with jolts of electricity discharged from the tips of its jaws.
Its digestive processes convert the leaves it eats into electricity. An electric sac in its belly stores the electricity for later use.
Charjabug Sword & Shield Guide
At 400 BST, Charjabug is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Vikavolt before bringing it to any serious fight.
In Sword & Shield, watch for Blaziken (Fire) and Golem (Rock) when using Charjabug. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. At base 36 Speed, Charjabug won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Battery ally Pokémon's moves have their power increased to 1.3×. That's the one you want on Charjabug. It's the only ability Charjabug has.
Charjabug is a special attacker with base 55 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 36 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the trick room role.
In Sword & Shield, For a casual playthrough, Charjabug works as a placeholder. Bug/Electric coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Vikavolt. That's where the stats start mattering.
Game Availability
Since Sun & Moon, Charjabug has been obtainable in 4 games. A Generation 7 debut means a shorter history, but Charjabug has appeared steadily across every generation since.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB

Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SMDebut

Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves