Is Espurr Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Espurr spawns on Route 5. Psychic type evolving into Meowstic at level 25. Male and female forms have different movepools. AbilityKeen Eye prevents accuracy drops. Quick evolution, modest payoff. Neither form stands out among Galar's Psychic options.
Espurr trades roughly evenly with Milo's team.
Espurr trades roughly evenly with Nessa's team.
Meowstic trades roughly evenly with Kabu's team.
Meowstic has the type edge here and should clean up Bea's team.
Meowstic has the type edge here and should clean up Opal's team.
Meowstic has the type edge here and should clean up Gordie's team.
Meowstic trades roughly evenly with Piers's team.
Meowstic has the type edge here and should clean up Raihan's team.
Meowstic trades roughly evenly with Bede's team.
Meowstic trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Catch Espurr on Route 5 (walking, Lv 16-18). All Weather.
Your Espurr should hit Level 25 before you reach Kabu, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Espurr in Sword & Shield
Easy grab on Espurr with high spawn rates across 18 locations in mid-game routes. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.
Where To Catch Espurr in SwSh
Espurr is your first catch on the way to Espurr. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 16-45 across 38 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Espurr ✓Hammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 40%Normal WeatherHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 40%Heavy FogMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28GrassRate 35%Heavy FogRoute 5Lv.16-18GrassRate 20%All WeatherHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 10%ThunderstormHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 10%OvercastHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 10%SandstormHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 10%SnowingHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 10%Intense Sun
Step 2Catch or Evolve into MeowsticRoute 7Lv.28-40GrassRate 10%SnowstormDusty BowlLv.40-45GrassRate 45%Heavy FogRoute 7Lv.36-40GrassRate 10%SandstormRoute 7Lv.36-40GrassRate 10%Intense SunRoute 7Lv.36-40GrassRate 10%ThunderstormRoute 7Lv.36-40GrassRate 10%OvercastRoute 7Lv.36-40GrassRate 10%Heavy FogRoute 7Lv.36-40GrassRate 10%SnowingRoute 7Lv.36-40GrassRate 10%Normal WeatherRoute 7Lv.36-40GrassRate 10%Rainingor evolve from Espurr (Step 1)
Espurr Weakness
Bug, Ghost, and Dark moves hit Espurr for super-effective damage. Not too many gaps in the chart, 3 weaknesses to account for.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Bug, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Psychic |
What is Espurr Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Espurr
 Stunky PoisonDark | C | |
 Nuzleaf GrassDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Nuzleaf builds →Payback 2x57-69% Astonish 2x25-30% | ||
 Golett GroundGhost | D | |
 Nickit Dark | D | |
 Drifloon Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Drifloon builds →Shadow Ball 2x74-89% Brutal Swing 2x36-43% | ||
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
 Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x85-101%KO Lick 2x25-30% Pin Missile 2x22-26% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
 Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Skuntank builds →Sucker Punch 2x88-104%KO Hex 2x42-50% | ||
 Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x151-178%KO Crunch 2x53-63% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x89-105%KO Lick 2x26-32% Pin Missile 2x22-26% | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
 Malamar DarkPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Inkay (Bridge Field Surfing) | ||
Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Skuntank builds →Sucker Punch 2x91-108%KO Hex 2x42-49% | ||
 Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x120-141%KO | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x85-100%KO Lick 2x24-29% Pin Missile 2x21-26% | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Malamar DarkPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Inkay (Bridge Field Surfing) | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x123-145%KO | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x85-101%KO Lick 2x25-30% Pin Missile 2x20-25% | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Malamar DarkPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Inkay (Bridge Field Surfing) | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x125-148%KO Shadow Claw 2x73-86% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Pangoro builds →Crunch 2x129-152%KO Shadow Claw 2x76-89% | ||
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x86-102%KO Shadow Claw 2x58-68% Pin Missile 2x21-26% | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Weavile builds →Assurance 2x94-111%KO Shadow Claw 2x73-86% | ||
 Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x149-176%KO Shadow Claw 2x73-86% | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x146-172%KO Shadow Claw 2x72-85% | ||
 Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Hydreigon builds →Crunch 2x112-132%KO U-turn 2x66-78% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x138-163%KO Shadow Claw 2x81-96% | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Weavile builds →Throat Chop 2x126-148%KO Shadow Claw 2x73-86% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x149-176%KO Leech Life 2x84-99% Shadow Claw 2x73-86% | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x120-142%KO U-turn 2x66-78% | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x146-172%KO Shadow Claw 2x72-85% | ||
Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x138-163%KO Shadow Claw 2x81-96% | ||
 Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Absol builds →Throat Chop 2x134-158%KO Shadow Claw 2x78-93% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x149-176%KO Leech Life 2x84-99% Shadow Claw 2x73-86% | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x120-142%KO U-turn 2x66-78% | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x146-172%KO Shadow Claw 2x72-85% | ||
Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x138-163%KO Shadow Claw 2x81-96% | ||
Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Absol builds →Throat Chop 2x134-158%KO Shadow Claw 2x78-93% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Dragapult can KO Espurr with Shadow Ball (99-117%). Genesect threatens a KO with U-turn (109-128%). Hydreigon's Dark Pulse also KOs at 115-136%.
 Dragapult DragonGhost | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityInfiltrator ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Dragapult builds →Draco Meteor80-94% U Turn 2x54-63% Shadow Ball 2x99-117%KO Flamethrower37-44% | ||
 Genesect BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Genesect builds →U Turn 2x109-128%KO | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Espurr View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x115-136%KO Draco Meteor93-109%KO Flamethrower43-51% | ||
Espurr Evolutions
Espurr is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Meowstic. Check the evolution method below. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 111 total stats over Espurr. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
SwSh Espurr Best Moveset
63 Sp. Atk at 68 Speed on a Psychic pre-evo with AbilityInfiltrator bypassing substitutes and defensive screens. The moveset can't compete at this level. Evolve into Meowstic for 104 Speed, 83 Sp. Atk, and AbilityPrankster priority support tools.
Best Build
Espurr best EVs are Sp. Def and HP
Wall Moveset
- Reflect
- Psychic
- Light Screen
- Thunder Wave
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Espurr's Normal and Fairy coverage and more all comes from technical machines, built on top of Psychic and Psyshock for same-type damage. Energy Ball and Iron Tail are the payoff moves.
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
Though Espurr’s expression never changes, behind that blank stare is an intense struggle to contain its devastating psychic power.
There’s enough psychic power in Espurr to send a wrestler flying, but because this power can’t be controlled, Espurr finds it troublesome.
Espurr Sword & Shield Guide
At 355 BST, Espurr is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Meowstic before bringing it to any serious fight.
In Sword & Shield, watch for Genesect (Bug), Chandelure (Ghost), and Hydreigon (Dark) when using Espurr. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Keen Eye prevents accuracy from being lowered. That's the one you want on Espurr. Own Tempo is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Infiltrator works too if your team needs something different.
Espurr is a special attacker with base 63 Sp. Atk. Speed tells the real story. At base 68 Speed, it won't be moving first often.
In Sword & Shield, For a casual playthrough, Espurr works as a placeholder. Psychic coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Meowstic. That's where the stats start mattering.
Game Availability
Since X & Y, Espurr has been obtainable in 7 games. A Generation 6 debut means a shorter history, but Espurr 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 6XYDebut
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
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