Is Thwackey Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Thwackey carries through Nessa's gym and Route 5 comfortably. 85 Attack already hits harder than most midgame wild Pokemon. Quick evolution at level 35 into Rillaboom. The Grass starter experience improves steadily from here.
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 Thwackey in Sword & Shield
No wild encounters for Thwackey 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 Thwackey 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 2Thwackey ✓
Step 3Evolve into Rillaboom
Thwackey Weakness
Thwackey's Grass typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. 5 weaknesses means you'll want teammates that can handle the coverage gaps.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Water, Electric, Grass, Ground |
What is Thwackey Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Thwackey
 Glaceon Ice | B | |
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Butterfree builds →Gust 2x47-56% Bug Bite 2x39-47% | ||
 Sizzlipede FireBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Sizzlipede builds →Flame Wheel 2x52-61% Bug Bite 2x52-61% | ||
 Growlithe Fire | C | |
 Oddish GrassPoison | C | |
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 2x81-96% Bug Bite 2x37-44% | ||
 Vespiquen Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Vespiquen builds →Bug Bite 2x53-64% Gust 2x40-48% Poison Sting 2x11-13% | ||
Glaceon Ice | B | |
 Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
 Ribombee BugFairy | B | |
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Vespiquen Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Vespiquen builds →Bug Bite 2x52-61% Gust 2x40-47% Poison Sting 2x10-12% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 2x80-94% Bug Bite 2x36-43% | ||
Glaceon Ice | B | |
 Arcanine Fire | B | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x143-168%KO Fly 2x48-56% | ||
 Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Centiskorch builds →Flame Wheel 2x71-84% Bug Bite 2x71-84% Venoshock 2x48-56% | ||
 Durant BugSteel | B | |
 Toxtricity ElectricPoison | C | |
 Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x86-102%KO U-turn 2x46-54% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x146-171%KO Fly 2x48-57% | ||
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Centiskorch builds →Flame Wheel 2x72-86% Bug Bite 2x72-86% Venoshock 2x48-57% | ||
Toxtricity ElectricPoison | C | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x83-98% U-turn 2x44-52% | ||
 Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Darmanitan builds →Fire Punch 2x101-120%KO U-turn 2x63-75% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Golisopod builds →First Impression 2x111-132%KO Venoshock 2x34-41% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x141-166%KO Air Slash 2x78-93% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x162-191%KO U-turn 2x63-74% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x83-98% U-turn 2x43-51% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Durant BugSteel | B | |
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Centiskorch builds →Flame Wheel 2x69-81% Bug Bite 2x69-81% Venoshock 2x46-54% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x166-195%KO U-turn 2x65-77% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x84-99% U-turn 2x44-51% | ||
 Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Chandelure builds →Overheat 2x207-244%KO Smog 2x34-40% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Durant BugSteel | B | |
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x166-196%KO U-turn 2x65-77% | ||
 Eternatus PoisonDragon | S | |
Obtain MethodEnergy Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Eternatus builds →Venoshock 2x106-125%KO Flamethrower 2x97-115%KO Fly 2x55-65% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Chandelure builds →Overheat 2x210-247%KO Smog 2x33-39% | ||
 Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Turtonator builds →Shell Trap 2x164-193%KO Venoshock 2x48-56% | ||
 Braviary Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Braviary builds →Sky Attack 2x174-205%KO U-turn 2x59-69% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x166-196%KO U-turn 2x65-77% | ||
Eternatus PoisonDragon | S | |
Obtain MethodEnergy Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Eternatus builds →Venoshock 2x106-125%KO Flamethrower 2x97-115%KO Fly 2x55-65% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Chandelure builds →Overheat 2x210-247%KO Smog 2x33-39% | ||
Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Turtonator builds →Shell Trap 2x164-193%KO Venoshock 2x48-56% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Braviary builds →Sky Attack 2x174-205%KO U-turn 2x59-69% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x166-196%KO U-turn 2x65-77% | ||
Eternatus PoisonDragon | S | |
Obtain MethodEnergy Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Eternatus builds →Venoshock 2x106-125%KO Flamethrower 2x97-115%KO Fly 2x55-65% | ||
Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Chandelure builds →Overheat 2x210-247%KO Smog 2x33-39% | ||
Turtonator FireDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Turtonator builds →Shell Trap 2x164-193%KO Venoshock 2x48-56% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Braviary builds →Sky Attack 2x174-205%KO U-turn 2x59-69% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Volcarona's Psychic hits Thwackey for 59-70%. Arcanine threatens a KO with Flare Blitz (167-196%). Nidoking's Ice Beam also KOs at 103-121%.
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Volcarona builds →Psychic59-70% | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemRocky Helmet NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Arcanine builds →Extreme Speed37-44% Flare Blitz 2x167-196%KO Flamethrower 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySheerforce ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Thwackey View Nidoking builds →Ice Beam 2x103-121%KO Flamethrower 2x103-121%KO | ||
Thwackey Evolutions
Partway through Grookey's chain. Thwackey still has another evolution ahead before reaching Rillaboom. For breeding, average hatch time with a massive partner pool via two egg groups. So far, HP got the biggest boost (+20 from Grookey). The final form adds another 110 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Thwackey 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 Thwackey Best Moveset
Better stats than Grookey at 85 Attack and 80 Speed with AbilityGrassy Surge hidden for terrain setting. The moveset has physical Grass TermStab presence but can't compete. One evolution from Rillaboom's S-tier Grassy Terrain and priority offense.
Best Build
Thwackey best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- U Turn
- Grassy Glide
- Taunt
- Knock Off
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
You'll want to breed for Fake Out and Growth on Thwackey. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Solar Blade and Wood Hammer, they expand what Thwackey can actually threaten in practice.
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
The faster a Thwackey can beat out a rhythm with its two sticks, the more respect it wins from its peers.
When it’s drumming out rapid beats in battle, it gets so caught up in the rhythm that it won’t even notice that it’s already knocked out its opponent.
Thwackey Sword & Shield Guide
Thwackey is meant to evolve into Rillaboom. At 420 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Overgrow strengthens grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. That's the one you want on Thwackey. Grassy Surge is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Base 80 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Thwackey is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
For Sword & Shield, you can run Thwackey through the first few routes without issues. 420 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Rillaboom as fast as you can.
Game Availability
Thwackey joined the series in Sword & Shield and has been available in 2 titles so far. With 3 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.
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 8SwShDebut
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