Deino Evolution Guide: Catching and Evolving in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

The Dark/Dragon-type Hydreigon stands out as one of the most formidable Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, making it a must-have in any trainer's Pokédex. To harness its power, you'll first need to capture Hydreigon's pre-evolved forms, Deino and Zweilous. While Deino evolves into the fearsome Hydreigon, you'll find that these Pokémon are exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet. For those playing Pokémon Violet, acquiring them requires alternative strategies.

Updated on January 13, 2025 by Renri Seong: Deino, a Dark/Dragon-type, evolves into the powerful pseudo-legendary Hydreigon. Introduced in Generation 5 with Pokémon Black/White, Deino and its evolutions have become a staple in mainline games, including Pokémon Scarlet/Violet. As with other new generations, Deino and its line are version exclusives. While you can encounter them in the wild in Pokémon Scarlet, trading is necessary to obtain one in Pokémon Violet. With a range of pseudo-legendaries available in Scarlet/Violet, you might be wondering if Hydreigon remains a worthwhile choice. This updated guide now includes detailed information on Hydreigon's stats and type effectiveness.

Where to Catch Deino in Pokémon Scarlet

Deino and Zweilous Locations

In Pokémon Scarlet, Deino can be found in various locations including Alfornada Cavern, Dalizapa Passage, Glaseado Mountain, Area Zero, and North Province (Area Two). While Glaseado Mountain, Area Zero, and North Province (Area Two) are straightforward to locate and access, Alfornada Cavern and Dalizapa Passage require a bit more exploration. The Deino you'll encounter in Dalizapa Passage and Alfornada Cavern are between levels 35 and 40.

• Alfornada Cavern: Situated in the southwest corner of the Paldea map, you'll need Koraidon's high jump ability to navigate this 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 you've earned 3 gym badges. These raid Deino may have different Tera Types than their wild counterparts and could possess 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 can be encountered in Tera Raids, but only in 4-star 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 Deino in Pokémon Violet involves trading or transferring. To trade, a Nintendo Switch Online Membership is required for access to the Union Circle. If you're looking to avoid the membership cost, 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 moved from Pokémon Sword/Shield, Pokémon GO, or Pokémon Scarlet.

1. Open Pokémon HOME, select the game you have Deino from, and move it to your Basic Box. Save and exit.
2. While 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 expedite the leveling process, you can have Deino or Zweilous auto-battle large groups of Pokémon. Alternatively, using Exp. Candies or Rare Candies can help; Exp. Candy L and Exp. Candy XL are particularly effective due to Deino's high evolution thresholds.

Is Hydreigon a Good Pokémon?

Hydreigon Stats & Weaknesses

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

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

Thanks to Terastallizing, Hydreigon can overcome its double weakness to Fairy-type moves. Offensively, changing its Tera Type can provide STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) for powerful moves like Flash Cannon. Hydreigon's learnset includes both physical and special moves, allowing you to choose your preferred attacking style.

However, given its vulnerability to Fairy-type attacks, equipping Hydreigon with a Steel-type move like Flash Cannon (the only Steel-type move it can learn via TM) is advisable. Other recommended moves include Nasty Plot to sharply boost Special Attack, Dragon Pulse (or Draco Meteor), and Dark Pulse.