Is Sneasel Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Sneasel shows up on Route 8 and the Wild Area. Dark/Ice with 95 Speed evolves into Weavile with a Razor Claw at night. The evolution payoff is one of the best in the game. Catch one before Circhester and have Weavile ready for Raihan's Dragon gym.
Sneasel resists most of Milo's coverage and hits back hard.
Sneasel has the type edge here and should clean up Nessa's team.
Sneasel trades roughly evenly with Kabu's team.
Weavile trades roughly evenly with Bea's team.
Weavile trades roughly evenly with Opal's team.
Weavile trades roughly evenly with Gordie's team.
Weavile has the type edge here and should clean up Piers's team.
Weavile has the type edge here and should clean up Raihan's team.
Weavile trades roughly evenly with Bede's team.
Weavile trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Catch Sneasel on Bridge Field (walking, Lv 26-28). Snowstorm.
Usually ready to evolve before you reach Bea, at typical party pace.
How to Get Sneasel in Sword & Shield
Sneasel starts showing up in mid-game routes at high spawn rates across 80 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Sneasel in SwSh
Sneasel is your first catch on the way to Sneasel. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 26-65 across 80 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Sneasel ✓Giant's Cap - 2Lv.28-30OverworldRate 50%SnowstormStony Wilderness - 3Lv.28-30OverworldRate 50%SnowstormGiant's Cap - 3Lv.29-32OverworldRate 50%SnowstormStony Wilderness - 2Lv.28-30OverworldRate 45%SnowstormMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28OverworldSwordRate 40%SnowstormMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28OverworldSwordRate 40%SnowingStony WildernessLv.26-28GrassRate 40%SnowstormBridge FieldLv.27-29OverworldRate 40%SnowstormGiant's CapLv.28-30OverworldRate 40%SnowstormMotostoke RiverbankLv.28-30OverworldShieldRate 40%SnowingMotostoke RiverbankLv.28-30OverworldShieldRate 40%SnowstormHammerlocke HillsLv.29-31OverworldRate 40%SnowstormMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28GrassRate 35%SnowingGiant's CapLv.28-30OverworldRate 35%SnowingStony WildernessLv.28-30OverworldRate 35%SnowstormBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 30%SnowstormBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 30%SnowingMotostoke RiverbankLv.26-28GrassRate 30%SnowstormStony WildernessLv.26-28GrassRate 30%SnowingStony WildernessLv.28-30OverworldRate 15%SnowingStony Wilderness - 2Lv.28-30OverworldRate 15%SnowingStony Wilderness - 3Lv.28-30OverworldRate 15%SnowingBridge FieldLv.27-29OverworldRate 10%SnowingGiant's Cap - 2Lv.28-30OverworldRate 10%SnowingGiant's Cap - 3Lv.29-32OverworldRate 10%SnowingHammerlocke HillsLv.29-31OverworldRate 10%SnowingDusty BowlLv.42-47OverworldRate 35%SnowingRoute 8 - on Steamdrift WayLv.38-41GrassRate 25%All WeatherRoute 8 - on Steamdrift WayLv.39-43OverworldRate 20%All WeatherRoute 10Lv.45-48OverworldRate 14%OvercastRoute 10Lv.45-48OverworldRate 14%SandstormRoute 10Lv.45-48OverworldRate 14%SnowstormRoute 10Lv.45-48OverworldRate 14%ThunderstormRoute 10Lv.45-48OverworldRate 14%Heavy FogRoute 10Lv.45-48OverworldRate 14%SnowingRoute 10Lv.45-48OverworldRate 14%Normal WeatherRoute 10Lv.45-48OverworldRate 14%RainingRoute 10Lv.45-48OverworldRate 14%Intense SunFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 15%OvercastFrostpoint FieldLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%OvercastSlippery SlopeLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%OvercastSnowslide SlopeLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Overcast
Step 2Evolve into WeavileBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Weavile egg.
Sneasel Weakness
Sneasel's Dark/Ice typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting, Fire, Bug, Rock, Steel, and Fairy. Fighting hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Psychic-type attacks completely. At base 115 Speed, Sneasel outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Fighting |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Bug, Rock, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Ice, Ghost, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
What is Sneasel Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Sneasel
 Pancham Fighting | D | |
 Machop Fighting | C | |
 Timburr Fighting | C | |
 Dwebble BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Dwebble builds →Bug Bite 2x66-78% Smack Down 2x57-67% | ||
 Roggenrola Rock | C | |
 Sawk Fighting | C | |
 Throh Fighting | C | |
 Hitmonchan Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Hitmonchan builds →Drain Punch 4x211-248%KO Fire Punch 2x69-83% Bullet Punch 2x37-45% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Sudowoodo builds →Hammer Arm 4x176-208%KO Stone Edge 2x132-156%KO | ||
Pancham Fighting | D | |
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Pangoro builds →Vital Throw 4x233-275%KO Bullet Punch 2x46-54% | ||
Sawk Fighting | C | |
 Hitmonlee Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Hitmonlee builds →Close Combat 4x388-456%KO Blaze Kick 2x92-108%KO | ||
 Bewear NormalFighting | C | |
 Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gallade builds →Low Sweep 4x223-263%KO Fury Cutter 2x46-54% Draining Kiss 2x28-33% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Pangoro builds →Vital Throw 4x237-279%KO Bullet Punch 2x47-55% | ||
Sawk Fighting | C | |
Hitmonlee Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Hitmonlee builds →Close Combat 4x388-457%KO Blaze Kick 2x92-109%KO | ||
Bewear NormalFighting | C | |
 Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Passimian builds →Low Sweep 4x212-250%KO U-turn 2x75-89% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Pangoro builds →Brick Break 4x243-286%KO Bullet Punch 2x44-52% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Passimian builds →Brick Break 4x234-276%KO U-turn 2x73-86% | ||
Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gallade builds →Brick Break 4x243-286%KO Fury Cutter 2x44-52% Draining Kiss 2x27-32% | ||
 Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gurdurr builds →Hammer Arm 4x280-330%KO Rock Slide 2x70-83% | ||
Sawk Fighting | C | |
Hitmonchan Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Hitmonchan builds →Focus Punch 4x422-497%KO Fire Punch 2x72-84% Rock Slide 2x72-84% Bullet Punch 2x39-47% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Pangoro builds →Brick Break 4x246-290%KO Rock Slide 2x82-97% Bullet Punch 2x44-52% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Passimian builds →Brick Break 4x237-279%KO U-turn 2x74-88% Rock Slide 2x78-93% | ||
Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gallade builds →Brick Break 4x246-290%KO Rock Slide 2x82-97% Fury Cutter 2x45-53% Draining Kiss 2x26-31% | ||
Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gurdurr builds →Hammer Arm 4x281-331%KO Rock Slide 2x72-84% | ||
Hitmonchan Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Hitmonchan builds →Focus Punch 4x436-514%KO Fire Punch 2x73-86% Rock Slide 2x73-86% Bullet Punch 2x41-48% | ||
Timburr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Timburr builds →Focus Punch 4x350-413%KO Stone Edge 2x78-93% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Pangoro builds →Brick Break 4x253-298%KO Rock Slide 2x84-99% Bullet Punch 2x46-54% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Passimian builds →Brick Break 4x249-293%KO U-turn 2x77-91% Rock Slide 2x82-98% | ||
 Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Hawlucha builds →High Jump Kick 4x338-398%KO U-turn 2x62-74% Rock Slide 2x66-78% Steel Wing 2x62-74% | ||
Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gurdurr builds →Focus Punch 4x438-516%KO Stone Edge 2x97-115%KO Fire Punch 2x73-87% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Passimian builds →Close Combat 4x392-462%KO U-turn 2x77-91% Rock Slide 2x82-97% | ||
Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gallade builds →Close Combat 4x407-479%KO Fire Punch 2x85-100%KO Rock Slide 2x85-100%KO Fury Cutter 2x46-54% | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Heracross builds →Close Combat 4x407-479%KO Megahorn 2x203-239%KO Smart Strike 2x79-93% Rock Slide 2x85-100%KO | ||
Sawk Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Sawk builds →Close Combat 4x407-479%KO Fire Punch 2x85-100%KO Rock Slide 2x85-100%KO | ||
 Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Poliwrath builds →Close Combat 4x324-381%KO Rock Slide 2x67-80% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Pangoro builds →Close Combat 4x404-475%KO Fire Punch 2x85-100%KO Rock Slide 2x85-100%KO Bullet Punch 2x46-54% | ||
Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gurdurr builds →Focus Punch 4x438-516%KO Stone Edge 2x97-115%KO Fire Punch 2x73-87% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Passimian builds →Close Combat 4x392-462%KO U-turn 2x77-91% Rock Slide 2x82-97% | ||
Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gallade builds →Close Combat 4x407-479%KO Fire Punch 2x85-100%KO Rock Slide 2x85-100%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x42-49% | ||
Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Poliwrath builds →Close Combat 4x324-381%KO Rock Slide 2x67-80% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Pangoro builds →Close Combat 4x404-475%KO Fire Punch 2x85-100%KO Rock Slide 2x85-100%KO Bullet Punch 2x46-54% | ||
Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gurdurr builds →Focus Punch 4x438-516%KO Stone Edge 2x97-115%KO Fire Punch 2x73-87% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Passimian builds →Close Combat 4x392-462%KO U-turn 2x77-91% Rock Slide 2x82-97% | ||
Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Gallade builds →Close Combat 4x407-479%KO Fire Punch 2x85-100%KO Rock Slide 2x85-100%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x42-49% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Urshifu threatens a KO with Close Combat (758-892%). Charizard's Flamethrower also KOs at 132-155%.
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Ferrothorn builds →Knock Off14-17% | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Urshifu builds →Close Combat 4x758-892%KO Sucker Punch55-65% U Turn 2x147-174%KO | ||
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Charizard builds →Flamethrower 2x132-155%KO Air Slash55-65% Dragon Pulse41-49% | ||
 Genesect BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Genesect builds →U Turn 2x140-165%KO | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Sneasel View Terrakion builds →Stone Edge 2x314-369%KO Close Combat 4x754-887%KO Earthquake104-123%KO | ||
Sneasel Evolutions
To get Weavile from Sneasel, you need a held item. The evolution method matters here. The evolved forms gain up to 80 total stats over Sneasel. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
SwSh Sneasel Best Moveset
Dark/Ice at 115 Speed hits fast and covers Ghost, Psychic, Dragon, and Ground types for super-effective damage. 95 Attack behind that TermStab gives the moveset real punch, but 55 HP and 55 Defense fold to any return hit. E-tier because the offensive tools are close but the fragility undercuts them.
Best Build
Sneasel best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard
- Poison Jab
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The natural movepool does the job, but Bite and Counter from the egg pool give Sneasel something extra. Pair those with Blizzard and Foul Play for STAB and coverage across 9 types for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.
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
Its paws conceal sharp claws. If attacked, it suddenly extends the claws and startles its enemy.
It has a cunning yet savage disposition. It waits for parents to leave their nests, and then it sneaks in to steal their eggs.
Sneasel Sword & Shield Guide
At 430 BST, Sneasel is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Weavile before bringing it to any serious fight.
In Sword & Shield, watch for Hitmonlee (Fighting), Arcanine (Fire), and Scyther (Bug) when using Sneasel. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Hitmonlee is the most dangerous since Fighting moves deal 4x damage. Rock, Steel, and Fairy-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. Sneasel's base 115 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.
Inner Focus prevents flinching. That's the one you want on Sneasel. Pickpocket is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Keen Eye works too if your team needs something different.
Sneasel is a physical attacker with base 95 Attack. Speed tells the real story. Base 115 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the pivot role.
In Sword & Shield, For a casual playthrough, Sneasel works as a placeholder. Dark/Ice coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Weavile. That's where the stats start mattering.
Game Availability
Available since Gold & Silver, Sneasel appears in 18 games spanning 9 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Hisuian form in Generation 8.
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 8PLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves