Is Lugia Good in Gold & Silver Playthrough?
Whirl Islands in Silver (level 40) or Pewter City in Gold (level 70, postgame). Lugia is a defensive powerhouse with incredible special bulk. In Silver, catching it before the E4 gives you one of the strongest team members available. In Gold, it's postgame only.
Lugia resists most of Falkner's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Bugsy's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Whitney's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Morty's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Chuck's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia has the type edge here and should clean up Jasmine's team.
Lugia resists most of Pryce's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia has the type edge here and should clean up Clair's team.
Lugia has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.
Lugia has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Lugia resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Janine's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Misty's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Brock's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Blue's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.
Lugia resists most of Koga's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Bruno's coverage and hits back hard.
Lugia resists most of Karen's coverage and hits back hard.
Catch Lugia on Whirl Islands (interact, Lv 70, limited). Silver Wing. Deep inside the Whirl Islands. Requires the Silver Wing obtained from an old man in Pewter City
- STARTING (Lv 70)
- LV 70FlyingAeroblast15095%5
- LV 70WaterHydro Pump11080%5
- After Whitney
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- After Morty
- HM03WaterSurf90100%15
- TM30GhostShadow Ball80100%15
- After Chuck
- HM02FlyingFly13595%15
- After Pryce
- HM07WaterWaterfall80100%15
- LV 99PsychicFuture Sight180100%10
How to Get Lugia in Gold & Silver
Lugia is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Whirl Islands when your team is ready for the fight.
How to Get Lugia in Gold & Silver
Lugia Weakness
Electric, Ice, Rock, Ghost, and Dark moves hit Lugia for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground-type moves can't touch it at all. Lugia's overall bulk (106/130/154) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ice, Rock, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Psychic |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
What is Lugia Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Lugia
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Lapras builds →Blizzard 2x55-65% Thunder 2x36-44% | ||
 Flaaffy Electric | C | |
 Gastly GhostPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Gastly builds →Thunder 2x41-49% Lick 2x9-12% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Lapras builds →Blizzard 2x49-59% Thunder 2x33-39% | ||
 Magnemite ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x52-62% Rollout 2x7-9% | ||
Flaaffy Electric | C | |
Gastly GhostPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Gastly builds →Thunder 2x37-43% Shadow Ball 2x22-26% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Sudowoodo builds →Rock Throw 2x27-33% Thunder Punch 2x11-13% Ice Punch 2x11-13% | ||
 Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Magneton builds →Thunder 2x63-75% Rollout 2x9-10% | ||
 Ampharos Electric | C | |
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Lapras builds →Blizzard 2x48-57% Thunder 2x32-38% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Sudowoodo builds →Rock Slide 2x39-47% Thunder Punch 2x11-14% Ice Punch 2x11-14% Thief 2x7-9% | ||
 Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Haunter builds →Thunder 2x39-47% Shadow Ball 2x26-31% Thief 2x15-17% | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Magneton builds →Thunder 2x61-73% Rollout 2x8-10% | ||
Ampharos Electric | C | |
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Lapras builds →Blizzard 2x47-55% Thunder 2x31-37% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Sudowoodo builds →Rock Slide 2x38-45% Thunder Punch 2x11-13% Ice Punch 2x11-13% Thief 2x7-8% | ||
Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Haunter builds →Thunder 2x39-47% Shadow Ball 2x25-30% Thief 2x14-17% | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Magneton builds →Thunder 2x61-73% Rollout 2x8-10% | ||
Ampharos Electric | C | |
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Lapras builds →Blizzard 2x47-55% Thunder 2x31-37% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Sudowoodo builds →Rock Slide 2x38-45% Thunder Punch 2x11-13% Ice Punch 2x11-13% Thief 2x7-8% | ||
Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Haunter builds →Thunder 2x39-47% Shadow Ball 2x25-30% Thief 2x14-17% | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Magneton builds →Thunder 2x61-73% Rollout 2x8-10% | ||
Ampharos Electric | C | |
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Lapras builds →Blizzard 2x47-55% Thunder 2x31-37% | ||
 Jynx IcePsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Jynx builds →Blizzard 2x60-71% Thief 2x14-17% Shadow Ball 2x17-20% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Sudowoodo builds →Rock Slide 2x38-45% Thunder Punch 2x11-13% Ice Punch 2x11-13% Thief 2x7-8% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Tyranitar builds →Rock Slide 2x49-58% Crunch 2x34-40% | ||
 Raikou Electric | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Raikou builds →Thunder 2x58-68% Crunch 2x26-31% | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Magneton builds →Thunder 2x60-71% Rollout 2x7-9% | ||
Ampharos Electric | C | |
 Electabuzz Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Electabuzz builds →Thunderbolt 2x40-47% Ice Punch 2x21-25% Thief 2x11-14% | ||
In Gold & Silver, Raikou's Thunder hits Lugia for 53-62%. Tyranitar's Rock Slide hits Lugia for 48-56%.
Raikou Electric | S | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Raikou builds →Thunder 2x53-62% | ||
Tyranitar RockDark | S | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Tyranitar builds →Rock Slide 2x48-56% Fire Blast15-18% | ||
 Gengar GhostPoison | S | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Lugia View Gengar builds →Explosion29-34% Thunderbolt 2x32-38% | ||
Lugia Evolutions
A Psychic/Flying-type legendary, Lugia doesn't evolve or breed. At 680 total stats, it's meant to stand on its own. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
GS Lugia Best Moveset
154 Sp. Def and 130 Defense create the bulkiest defensive profile in the game alongside 106 Speed. MoveAeroblast for Flying TermStab, MoveIce Beam for coverage, and MoveRecover for indefinite sustain. Held ItemLeftovers adds passive recovery. Blocks everything and outlasts it. Near-unbreakable.
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Psychic
- Future Sight
- Aeroblast
- Dream Eater
Moves List
Coverage runs deep. Lugia can hit 11 types beyond STAB, including Water and Normal. The offense anchors on Future Sight and Aeroblast while TMs handle everything else.
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
It is said that it quietly spends its time deep at the bottom of the sea because its powers are too strong.
It is said to be the guardian of the seas. It is rumored to have been seen on the night of a storm.
Lugia Gold & Silver Guide
For the Gold & Silver meta, At 680 BST, Lugia is built different. We rank it S-Tier. As a Legendary Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a pivot. Psychic with Leftovers is the standard set.
Lugia is a static encounter at Johto Whirl Islands in Gold & Silver. Lugia appears at level 40. Prerequisite: Silver Wing. Save before the encounter. These one-shot Pokemon don't respawn if you knock them out or run out of Poke Balls.
In Gold & Silver, watch for Raikou (Electric), Lapras (Ice), and Tyranitar (Rock) when using Lugia. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Ghost and Dark-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. Lugia has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
In Gold & Silver, Lugia fills the pivot role. It's a mixed attacker with base 90 Attack and 90 Sp. Atk. Base 110 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.
For Gold & Silver, Lugia has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Electric, Ice, and Rock-type attackers hit hardest.
Game Availability
Lugia has appeared in 17 games since Gold & Silver, spanning 9 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
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 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