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 the power of Hydreigon, you'll first need to catch its pre-evolved forms, Deino and Zweilous. These early stages pave the way for evolving the Irate Deino into the Brutal Hydreigon. However, it's important to note that Deino and its evolutions are exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet, requiring alternative methods to obtain them in Pokémon Violet.

Updated January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: Dark/Dragon-type Deino evolves into the powerful pseudo-legendary Hydreigon. First introduced in Gen 5 with Pokémon Black/White, Deino and its evolutions have remained a staple in mainline titles, including Pokémon Scarlet/Violet. As with many new generation games, Deino and its evolutions are version-exclusives, available in the wild in Pokémon Scarlet but requiring trade to be obtained in Pokémon Violet. With numerous pseudo-legendaries to choose from in Scarlet/Violet, you might be wondering if Hydreigon is still a top choice. This guide has been updated to include detailed information on Hydreigon's stats and type effectiveness.

Where to Catch Deino in Pokémon Scarlet

Deino and Zweilous Locations

In Pokémon Scarlet, you can find Deino in Alfornada Cavern, Dalizapa Passage, Glaseado Mountain, Area Zero, and North Province (Area Two). Glaseado Mountain, Area Zero, and North Province (Area Two) are easily recognizable and accessible, whereas Alfornada Cavern and Dalizapa Passage might be less obvious. Deino in Dalizapa Passage and Alfornada Cavern are between levels 35-40.

• Alfornada Cavern: Located in the southwest corner of the Paldea map, you'll need Koraidon's high jump ability to navigate the cave.
• Dalizapa Passage: Accessible by heading east from Medali or west from Zapapico. It's the area between these two locations on the map.

Additionally, you can encounter Deino in 3-star Tera Raids, which become available after earning 3 gym badges. Deino from these raids may have a different Tera Type than those found in the wild and might possess their Hidden Ability.

Zweilous, the evolved form of Deino, can also be found in the wild at Dalizapa Passage, Area Zero, and Alfornada Cavern. Like Deino, Zweilous is available through Tera Raids, specifically 4-star Tera Raids.

Hydreigon can be obtained from 5/6-star Tera Raids.

How to Get Deino in Pokémon Violet

How to Trade and Transfer

Since the Deino-line is exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet, you'll need to trade or transfer Deino to acquire one in Pokémon Violet. Trading requires a Nintendo Switch Online Membership to access the Union Circle. If you prefer not to pay for the membership, consider using Pokémon HOME to transfer Deino from another game to Pokémon Violet.

To transfer from HOME, ensure you have the HOME app on your Switch. Deino and its evolutions can be moved from Pokémon Sword/Shield, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon Scarlet.

1. Open Pokémon HOME, select the game from which you have Deino, and move it to your Basic Box. Save and exit.
2. In Pokémon HOME, open Pokémon Violet and move 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 expedite the evolution process, have Deino or Zweilous auto-battle large groups of Pokémon to gain experience quickly. You can also use Exp. Candies or Rare Candies. Exp. Candy L and Exp. Candy XL are particularly effective due to Deino's high evolution levels.

Is Hydreigon a Good Pokémon?

Hydreigon Stats & Weaknesses

As a pseudo-legendary, Hydreigon ranks among the strongest Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Its base stat total is 600, with high Special Attack and Attack complemented by good Speed. This makes it suitable for a Timid (+Spd, -Attk) or Jolly (+Spd, -Sp.Attk) Nature.

As a Dark/Dragon-type, Hydreigon has the following type effectiveness:

Thanks to Terastallizing, Hydreigon can mitigate its double weakness to Fairy-type moves. Offensively, changing its Tera Type can grant STAB on powerful moves like Flash Cannon. Hydreigon's versatility allows it to function as both a physical and special attacker, with a diverse learnset to choose from.

However, given its significant weakness to Fairy-type moves, it's crucial to equip Hydreigon with a Steel-type move like Flash Cannon, the only Steel-type move it can learn via TM. Since it lacks physical Steel-type moves, you might lean towards a special attacker build. Other recommended moves include Nasty Plot to sharply raise Special Attack, Dragon Pulse (or Draco Meteor), and Dark Pulse.