Base Stats
Abilities
Type Matchups
View full type chart →Damage multipliers vs. grass / flying typing. Ability-based immunities (e.g. Levitate) are not included.
Evolution Line
Battle & Lore Hub
Battle Strategy
Rowlet is best utilized as a bulky offensive pivot in Little Cup, leveraging its rare access to Roost and Defog. It functions as an Eviolite-holding check to Fighting and Ground-types while chipping away at opponents with STAB-boosted moves.
Best Used In
Rowlet is primarily used in the LC (Little Cup) tier of competitive singles, specifically Gen 7 and Gen 8, where its unique utility moves distinguish it from other Grass-types.
Strengths
- ›Reliable recovery via Roost
- ›Effective utility with Defog and Knock Off
- ›Overgrow-boosted Leaf Storm for late-game nuking
- ›Resistant to common Ground and Fighting coverage
Weaknesses
- ›4x weakness to Ice-type moves
- ›Low base Speed makes it susceptible to being revenge-killed
- ›Reliance on Eviolite for bulk makes it vulnerable to Knock Off
- ›Passive damage from Stealth Rock if Defog is not used
Competitive Tips
- ›Equip Eviolite to maximize its 68/55/50 defensive profile for survival against Mienfoo High Jump Kicks.
- ›Use Knock Off on predicted switches to remove Berry Juice or Eviolite from incoming counters like Pawniard.
- ›Run Brave Bird over Air Slash to hit specially defensive walls like Munchlax harder, despite the recoil.
- ›Utilize Tera Steel in Gen 9 formats to flip its weaknesses to Ice, Rock, and Poison into resistances.
- ›Pair with a 'Slow Momentum' user to bring Rowlet in safely against passive walls it can trap or stall out.
Recommended Teammates
Mienfoo
Forms a core defensive pivot duo and deals with the Steel-types that resist Rowlet's STABs.
Pawniard
Checks the Ice and Poison-types that threaten Rowlet while providing offensive pressure.
Mareanie
Sets Toxic Spikes and resists the Fire and Ice moves targeted at Rowlet.
Chinchou
Absorbs Ice and Flying-type attacks and provides slow Volt Switch support.
Mudbray
Appreciates Rowlet removing Grass and Ground-types and provides a switch-in for Rock-type moves.
Game History
Introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon as the Grass-type starter of the Alola region, Rowlet quickly became a fan favorite. It is unique for being one of the few starters to begin with a dual-typing and regained prominence as a starter in the Hisui region in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Trivia
- ◆Rowlet is the only non-Flying-type starter base form to possess the Flying type.
- ◆Its design is based on the barn owl and the pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owl).
- ◆In the anime, Ash's Rowlet famously refused to evolve and learned to use Seed Bomb by swallowing a Stone Everstone.
- ◆It is capable of turning its head 180 degrees, a trait referenced in its battle animations.
- ◆Rowlet's signature move upon evolution, Spirit Shackle, makes it the only Grass starter to eventually gain the Ghost typing.
- ◆It is one of the few Pokémon capable of using the move Leafage, which was introduced specifically for it in Gen 7.