How to Catch and Evolve Deino in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Quick Links

• Where to Catch Deino in Pokemon Scarlet

  • Deino and Zweilous Locations

• How to Get Deino in Pokemon Violet

  • How to Trade and Transfer

• How to Evolve Deino into Zweilous and Hydreigon

  • What Level Does Deino Evolve?

• Is Hydreigon a Good Pokemon?

  • Hydreigon Stats & Weaknesses

Dark/Dragon-type Hydreigon is renowned for its formidable power in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, making it a must-have for any dedicated trainer's Pokedex. To harness its strength, you'll first need to secure Hydreigon's pre-evolved forms: Deino and Zweilous. These can be evolved into the fierce Hydreigon, but keep in mind that Deino and its evolutions are exclusive to Pokemon Scarlet. If you're playing Pokemon Violet, you'll need to employ alternative methods to obtain them.

Updated January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: The Dark/Dragon-type Deino evolves into the powerful pseudo-legendary Hydreigon. Initially introduced in Generation 5 with Pokemon Black/White, the Deino line has become a staple in mainline titles, including Pokemon Scarlet/Violet. As with every new generation, Deino and its evolutions are version-exclusives. You can catch them in the wild in Pokemon Scarlet, but trading is necessary to obtain one in Pokemon Violet. With a variety of pseudo-legendaries available in Scarlet/Violet, you might wonder if Hydreigon remains a valuable asset. This updated guide now includes detailed information about Hydreigon's stats and type effectiveness.

Where to Catch Deino in Pokemon Scarlet

Deino and Zweilous Locations

In Pokemon Scarlet, you can encounter 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 straightforward to find and access, whereas Alfornada Cavern and Dalizapa Passage may be less obvious. The Deinos you'll find in Dalizapa Passage and Alfornada Cavern are typically between levels 35 and 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. On the map, it's situated between these two locations.

Additionally, you can obtain Deino from 3-star Tera Raids, which become available once you've earned 3 gym badges. Deinos from these raids may have a different Tera Type than those found in the wild and also have a chance to possess their Hidden Ability.

Zweilous, the evolved form of Deino, can also be encountered in the wild at Dalizapa Passage, Area Zero, and Alfornada Cavern. Like Deino, Zweilous can be obtained from Tera Raids, but it's exclusive to 4-star Tera Raids.

Hydreigon itself can be captured in 5/6-star Tera Raids.

How to Get Deino in Pokemon Violet

How to Trade and Transfer

Since the Deino line is exclusive to Pokemon Scarlet, acquiring one in Pokemon Violet requires trading or transferring. To trade, you'll need a Nintendo Switch Online Membership to access the Union Circle. If you prefer not to subscribe, consider using Pokemon HOME to transfer Deino from another game to Pokemon Violet.

To transfer from HOME, you'll need the HOME app on your Switch. Deino and its evolutions can be transferred from Pokemon Sword/Shield, Pokemon GO, and Pokemon Scarlet.

1. Open Pokemon HOME, select the game from which you have Deino, and move it to your Basic Box. Then, save and exit.
2. While still in HOME, open Pokemon 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 or Zweilous participate in auto-battles against groups of Pokemon. Alternatively, you can use Exp. Candies or Rare Candies. For quicker results, consider using Exp. Candy L and Exp. Candy XL due to Deino's high evolution levels.

Is Hydreigon a Good Pokemon?

Hydreigon Stats & Weaknesses

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

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

With Terastallizing, Hydreigon can mitigate its double weakness to Fairy-type moves. Offensively, changing its Tera Type can enhance its STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) with powerful moves like Flash Cannon. Hydreigon's move set includes both physical and special attacks, allowing flexibility in battle strategy.

Given Hydreigon's vulnerability to Fairy-type moves, incorporating a Steel-type move like Flash Cannon, which it learns via TM, is advisable. Unfortunately, it doesn't have access to physical Steel-type moves, suggesting a preference for a special attacker build. Recommended moves include Nasty Plot to boost Special Attack significantly, Dragon Pulse (or Draco Meteor), and Dark Pulse for a well-rounded offensive arsenal.