This guide details how to obtain and utilize Hydreigon, a powerful Dark/Dragon-type Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Hydreigon's pre-evolutions, Deino and Zweilous, are exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet, requiring trading or transferring to obtain them in Pokémon Violet.
Acquiring Deino and Zweilous:
Deino can be found in several locations within Pokémon Scarlet: Alfornada Cavern, Dalizapa Passage, Glaseado Mountain, Area Zero, and North Province (Area Two). Higher-level Deino (levels 35-40) reside in Alfornada Cavern and Dalizapa Passage. Alternatively, 3-star Tera Raids offer Deino encounters with varying Tera Types and a chance for its Hidden Ability. Zweilous, Deino's evolution, appears in 4-star Tera Raids and some wild locations.
To obtain Deino in Pokémon Violet, trading via the Union Circle (requires Nintendo Switch Online) or transferring from Pokémon HOME (compatible with Pokémon Sword/Shield, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon Scarlet) is necessary. The HOME transfer process involves moving Deino from a source game's Basic Box to your Pokémon Violet PC Box.
- Open Pokémon HOME.
- Select the game containing Deino and move it to your Basic Box. Save and exit.
- In HOME, open Pokémon Violet and transfer Deino from the Basic Box to a PC Box. Save and exit.
Evolving Deino:
Deino evolves into Zweilous at level 50, and Zweilous evolves into Hydreigon at level 64. Utilize auto-battling, Exp. Candies (L and XL recommended), or Rare Candies to expedite the leveling process.
Hydreigon's Strengths and Weaknesses:
Hydreigon, a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, boasts a base stat total of 600, excelling in Special Attack and Attack with good Speed. A Timid (+Speed, -Attack) or Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack) Nature is recommended.
| Stat | Base Stat |
|---|---|
| HP | 92 |
| Attack | 105 |
| Special Attack | 125 |
| Defense | 90 |
| Special Defense | 90 |
| Speed | 98 |
| Total | 600 |
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
Terastallizing mitigates Hydreigon's 4x weakness to Fairy-type moves. Offensively, consider Tera Types that provide STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) for powerful moves like Flash Cannon (learned via TM). Hydreigon's movepool includes both physical and special attacks, allowing for versatile build customization. However, its vulnerability to Fairy-type moves necessitates a Steel-type move in its moveset, with Flash Cannon being the primary option. Other suggested moves include Nasty Plot, Dragon Pulse (or Draco Meteor), and Dark Pulse.
