How to Catch and Evolve Deino in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

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 first need to capture its pre-evolved forms, Deino and Zweilous. These can be evolved into the fearsome Hydreigon, but there's a catch: Deino and its evolutions are exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet. If you're playing Pokémon Violet, you'll need to explore alternative methods to add this powerhouse to your team.

Updated January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: The Dark/Dragon-type Deino evolves into the mighty pseudo-legendary Hydreigon. Introduced in Generation 5 with Pokémon Black/White, the Deino line has become a staple in mainline games, including Pokémon Scarlet/Violet. As with many 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 a range of pseudo-legendaries to choose from in Scarlet/Violet, you might wonder if Hydreigon is still a top pick. This guide has been updated to include the latest information on Hydreigon, covering its stats and type effectiveness.

Where to Catch Deino in Pokémon Scarlet

Deino and Zweilous Locations

In Pokémon Scarlet, you can find Deino in several locations: Alfornada Cavern, Dalizapa Passage, Glaseado Mountain, Area Zero, and North Province (Area Two). Glaseado Mountain, Area Zero, and North Province (Area Two) are easily accessible, while Alfornada Cavern and Dalizapa Passage are a bit more hidden. Deino in Dalizapa Passage and Alfornada Cavern range from levels 35 to 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, Deino can be obtained from 3-star Tera Raids, which become available after earning 3 gym badges. These Deino have different Tera Types than those found in the wild and may possess their Hidden Ability.

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

Hydreigon can be captured in 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, acquiring one 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 HOME app on your Switch. Deino and its evolutions can be transferred 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. 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 the leveling process, you can have Deino/Zweilous auto-battle large groups of Pokémon. Alternatively, you can 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 stats complemented by good Speed. This makes Hydreigon versatile, suitable for both physical and special attack strategies. A Timid (+Spd, -Attk) or Jolly (+Spd, -Sp.Attk) Nature can enhance its performance.

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 provide STAB on powerful moves like Flash Cannon. Hydreigon's move set includes both physical and special attacks, allowing for flexibility in battle strategy.

Given its vulnerability to Fairy-type moves, it's wise to equip Hydreigon with a Steel-type move. Flash Cannon, learned via TM, is the only Steel-type move available to it. Since it can't learn any physical Steel-type moves, a special attacker build might be more effective. Recommended moves include Nasty Plot to boost Special Attack, Dragon Pulse (or Draco Meteor), and Dark Pulse.