Dark/Dragon-type Hydreigon stands out as one of the most formidable Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, making it a must-have for any serious trainer's Pokédex. To harness its power, you'll need to start with Hydreigon's pre-evolved forms: Deino and Zweilous. While evolving Deino into the mighty Hydreigon is straightforward, you'll find that these Pokémon are exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet. If you're playing Pokémon Violet, you'll need to use alternative methods to acquire them.
Updated January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: The evolution line of Deino, which includes the powerful pseudo-legendary Hydreigon, first appeared in Generation 5's Pokémon Black and White. These Pokémon have remained a staple in mainline games, including Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. As with many games introducing new generations, Deino and its evolutions are version-exclusive, available in the wild in Pokémon Scarlet but requiring a trade to obtain in Pokémon Violet. With several pseudo-legendaries to choose from in Scarlet and Violet, you might wonder if Hydreigon is still worth your time. This guide has been updated to provide detailed information on Hydreigon, including its stats and type effectiveness.
Where to Catch Deino in Pokémon Scarlet
Deino and Zweilous Locations
In Pokémon Scarlet, you can find Deino roaming in Alfornada Cavern, Dalizapa Passage, Glaseado Mountain, Area Zero, and North Province (Area Two). The latter three locations are more accessible, but Alfornada Cavern and Dalizapa Passage might be trickier to navigate. Deinos in these areas range from level 35-40.
- Alfornada Cavern: Located in the southwest corner of the Paldea map, you'll need Koraidon's high jump ability to explore this cave.
- Dalizapa Passage: Accessible by traveling east from Medali or west from Zapapico, this passage lies between the two towns on the map.
You can also encounter Deino in 3-star Tera Raids, which become available after you've earned three gym badges. These Deinos may have a different Tera Type compared to those found in the wild and have a chance of possessing their Hidden Ability.
Zweilous, Deino's evolved form, can also be found in the wild at Dalizapa Passage, Area Zero, and Alfornada Cavern. Like Deino, Zweilous appears in Tera Raids, specifically in 4-star raids.
Hydreigon itself can be caught in 5/6-star Tera Raids.
How to Get Deino in Pokémon Violet
How to Trade and Transfer
Since Deino and its evolutions are exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet, acquiring them in Pokémon Violet requires trading or transferring. For trading, you'll need a Nintendo Switch Online Membership to access the Union Circle. If you prefer not to subscribe, consider using Pokémon HOME to transfer Deino from another game to Pokémon Violet.
To transfer using HOME, you'll need the Pokémon HOME app on your Switch. Deino and its evolutions can be transferred from Pokémon Sword/Shield, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon Scarlet.
- Open Pokémon HOME, select the game you have Deino from, and move it to your Basic Box. Then, save and exit.
- While still in HOME, open Pokémon Violet and transfer Deino from the Basic Box to a PC Box. Save and exit.
How to Evolve Deino into Zweilous and Hydreigon
What Level Does Deino Evolve?
Deino evolves into Zweilous at level 50, and Zweilous evolves into Hydreigon at level 64. To speed up this process, you can have Deino or Zweilous participate in auto-battles against large groups of Pokémon to gain experience quickly. Alternatively, you can feed them Exp. Candies or Rare Candies, with Exp. Candy L and Exp. Candy XL being particularly useful due to Deino's high evolution thresholds.
Is Hydreigon a Good Pokémon?
Hydreigon Stats & Weaknesses
As a pseudo-legendary, Hydreigon ranks among the most powerful Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Its base stat total is 600, featuring high Special Attack and Attack stats, complemented by decent Speed. This makes Hydreigon versatile, suitable for either a Timid (+Spd, -Attk) or Jolly (+Spd, -Sp.Attk) Nature.
| HP: | 92 |
|---|---|
| Attack: | 105 |
| Special Attack: | 125 |
| Defense: | 90 |
| Special Defense: | 90 |
| Speed: | 98 |
| Total: | 600 |
Being a Dark/Dragon-type, Hydreigon has the following type effectiveness:
| Super-effective against: | Dragon, Ghost, Psychic |
|---|---|
| Weaknesses: | Fairy (4x), Fighting, Bug, Dragon, Ice |
| Resistances: | Grass, Water, Fire, Electric, Ghost, Dark |
| Immunities: | Ground, Psychic |
Thanks to Terastallizing, Hydreigon can mitigate its double weakness to Fairy-type moves. By changing its Tera Type, you can also gain STAB on powerful moves like Flash Cannon. Hydreigon's move set includes both physical and special attacks, allowing you to choose its offensive role. However, given its significant vulnerability to Fairy-type moves, it's advisable to equip Hydreigon with a Steel-type move like Flash Cannon, which is the only Steel-type move it can learn via TM. Other recommended moves include Nasty Plot to boost its Special Attack, Dragon Pulse or Draco Meteor for strong Dragon-type offense, and Dark Pulse for Dark-type coverage.
