Is Rillaboom Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Rillaboom's 125 Attack with AbilityGrassy Surge hidden ability (setting Grassy Terrain) or AbilityOvergrow boosting Grass at low HP makes it one of the strongest physical starters. G-Max Drum Solo ignores abilities. Handles Nessa, Gordie, and Leon's Seismitoad and Rhyperior. Leon counters with Mr. Rime if you chose Grookey. Strong through the entire story with one obvious Charizard weakness at the end.
Thwackey trades roughly evenly with Milo's team.
Thwackey resists most of Nessa's coverage and hits back hard.
Kabu's team hits Thwackey's weaknesses hard.
Thwackey trades roughly evenly with Bea's team.
Rillaboom trades roughly evenly with Opal's team.
Rillaboom has the type edge here and should clean up Gordie's team.
Rillaboom has the type edge here and should clean up Piers's team.
Rillaboom has the type edge here and should clean up Raihan's team.
Rillaboom trades roughly evenly with Bede's team.
Rillaboom trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Grookey is available as a starter.
Your Thwackey should hit Level 35 before you reach Opal, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Rillaboom in Sword & Shield
No wild encounters for Rillaboom in Sword & Shield. Bring Grookey over from Scarlet & Violet, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
How to Obtain Rillaboom in SwSh
Step 1Obtain GrookeyBREEDINGAvailableLeave Thwackey with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Grookey egg.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Scarlet & VioletNot TradeableAppears in Scarlet & Violet via Overworld · Coastal Biome. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Evolve into Thwackey
Step 3Rillaboom ✓
Rillaboom Weakness
Rillaboom is weak to Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug. The Grass typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. That's a lot of weak spots to cover so team support is important.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Water, Electric, Grass, Ground |
What is Rillaboom Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Rillaboom
 Glaceon Ice | B | |
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Butterfree builds →Gust 2x37-43% Bug Bite 2x29-36% | ||
 Sizzlipede FireBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Sizzlipede builds →Flame Wheel 2x37-43% Bug Bite 2x37-43% | ||
 Growlithe Fire | C | |
 Oddish GrassPoison | C | |
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 2x60-71% Bug Bite 2x28-34% | ||
 Vespiquen Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Vespiquen builds →Bug Bite 2x39-47% Gust 2x31-37% Poison Sting 2x9-11% | ||
Glaceon Ice | B | |
 Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
 Ribombee BugFairy | B | |
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Vespiquen Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Vespiquen builds →Bug Bite 2x38-45% Gust 2x30-36% Poison Sting 2x8-10% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 2x59-70% Bug Bite 2x25-30% | ||
Glaceon Ice | B | |
 Arcanine Fire | B | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x106-126%KO Fly 2x33-39% | ||
 Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Centiskorch builds →Flame Wheel 2x49-58% Bug Bite 2x49-58% Venoshock 2x35-42% | ||
 Durant BugSteel | B | |
 Toxtricity ElectricPoison | C | |
 Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x59-69% U-turn 2x30-36% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x107-127%KO Fly 2x33-39% | ||
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Centiskorch builds →Flame Wheel 2x49-58% Bug Bite 2x49-58% Venoshock 2x36-43% | ||
Toxtricity ElectricPoison | C | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x56-66% U-turn 2x30-35% | ||
 Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Darmanitan builds →Fire Punch 2x70-83% U-turn 2x43-51% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Golisopod builds →First Impression 2x75-89% Venoshock 2x25-30% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x104-123%KO Air Slash 2x58-68% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x112-132%KO U-turn 2x44-52% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x57-68% U-turn 2x30-36% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Durant BugSteel | B | |
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Centiskorch builds →Flame Wheel 2x47-56% Bug Bite 2x47-56% Venoshock 2x34-40% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x114-134%KO U-turn 2x44-52% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x57-68% U-turn 2x30-36% | ||
 Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Chandelure builds →Overheat 2x153-180%KO Smog 2x25-30% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Durant BugSteel | B | |
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x113-133%KO U-turn 2x44-52% | ||
 Eternatus PoisonDragon | S | |
Obtain MethodEnergy Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Eternatus builds →Venoshock 2x78-92% Flamethrower 2x71-84% Fly 2x37-44% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Chandelure builds →Overheat 2x154-182%KO Smog 2x24-29% | ||
 Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Turtonator builds →Shell Trap 2x120-141%KO Venoshock 2x35-41% | ||
 Braviary Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Braviary builds →Sky Attack 2x117-138%KO U-turn 2x39-46% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x113-133%KO U-turn 2x44-52% | ||
Eternatus PoisonDragon | S | |
Obtain MethodEnergy Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Eternatus builds →Venoshock 2x78-92% Flamethrower 2x71-84% Fly 2x37-44% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Chandelure builds →Overheat 2x154-182%KO Smog 2x24-29% | ||
Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Turtonator builds →Shell Trap 2x120-141%KO Venoshock 2x35-41% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Braviary builds →Sky Attack 2x117-138%KO U-turn 2x39-46% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x113-133%KO U-turn 2x44-52% | ||
Eternatus PoisonDragon | S | |
Obtain MethodEnergy Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Eternatus builds →Venoshock 2x78-92% Flamethrower 2x71-84% Fly 2x37-44% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Chandelure builds →Overheat 2x154-182%KO Smog 2x24-29% | ||
Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Turtonator builds →Shell Trap 2x120-141%KO Venoshock 2x35-41% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Braviary builds →Sky Attack 2x117-138%KO U-turn 2x39-46% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Slowbro builds →Scald11-13% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Slowking builds →Scald16-18% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake13-15% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Quagsire builds →Earthquake10-12% Scald8-9% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityStormdrain ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Rillaboom View Gastrodon builds →Scald11-12% | ||
Rillaboom Evolutions
The three-stage chain from Grookey through Thwackey ends here at Rillaboom. Want more? Breed for Grookey eggs. A massive partner pool available via two egg groups. The evolution from Grookey pushed Rillaboom to 530 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +60. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Rillaboom to get Grookey eggs easily using 152 partners from the Ground and Plant egg groups. Notable egg moves include Fake Out, Growth, Hammer Arm and 4 more.
SwSh Rillaboom Best Moveset
AbilityGrassy Surge sets Grassy Terrain on entry, and MoveGrassy Glide becomes a Grass-type priority move in Grassy Terrain. 125 Attack behind priority Grass TermStab that goes first regardless of Speed is devastating. The moveset heals allies through terrain and hits first. S-tier because the priority-plus-power combination reshapes how opponents play.
Best Build
Rillaboom best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Grassy Glide
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance
- U Turn
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Egg moves make a real difference. Rillaboom gets Fake Out and Growth exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Dark coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Leaf Storm and Solar Blade.
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
Gigantamax energy has caused Rillaboom’s stump to grow into a drum set that resembles a forest.
Rillaboom has become one with its forest of drums and continues to lay down beats that shake all of Galar.
Rillaboom Sword & Shield Guide
In Sword & Shield, Rillaboom works as a wallbreaker with 530 BST behind it. A-Tier on our list: a strong pick in Sword & Shield's competitive scene. Grassyglide with Choice Band is the standard set.
Overgrow is the go-to ability for Rillaboom. It strengthens grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. Its hidden ability Grassy Surge can work in specific setups.
Rillaboom is a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the wallbreaker role.
In Sword & Shield, the best way to handle Rillaboom: Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Special attackers bypass its physical bulk.
Game Availability
Available since Sword & Shield, Rillaboom appears in 2 games spanning 3 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Gigantamax form in Generation 8.
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 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShDebutGigantamax
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