How to Catch and Evolve Deino in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Dark/Dragon-type Hydreigon is renowned as one of the most formidable Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, making it a must-have for any serious trainer looking to bolster their Pokedex. To harness the power of Hydreigon, you'll first need to capture its pre-evolved forms, Deino and Zweilous. These creatures evolve into the mighty Hydreigon, but they're only available in the wild in Pokemon Scarlet. If you're playing Pokemon Violet, you'll need to employ alternative methods to get them.

Updated on January 13, 2025, by Renri Seong: Deino, a Dark/Dragon-type Pokemon, evolves into the powerful pseudo-legendary Hydreigon. Introduced in Generation 5's Pokemon Black/White, the Deino line has remained a staple in mainline titles, including Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. As with many new generations, Deino and its evolutions are exclusive to Pokemon Scarlet, requiring a trade to obtain them in Pokemon Violet. With a selection of pseudo-legendaries available in Scarlet & Violet, you might wonder if Hydreigon is still worth using. This guide has been updated with the latest information on Hydreigon, including its stats and type effectiveness.

Where to Catch Deino in Pokemon Scarlet

Deino and Zweilous Locations

In Pokemon Scarlet, Deino can be encountered 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 more accessible, while Alfornada Cavern and Dalizapa Passage are a bit trickier to locate. The Deinos 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 explore this cave.
• Dalizapa Passage: Access this area by heading east from Medali or west from Zapapico. On the map, it's the region between these two locations.

Additionally, Deino can be obtained from 3-star Tera Raids, which become available after you've earned 3 gym badges. Deinos from these raids will have a different Tera Type compared to those found in the wild and may possess their Hidden Ability.

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

Hydreigon, the final evolution, is available 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, obtaining 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 pay for the membership, consider using Pokemon HOME to transfer Deino from another game to Pokemon Violet.

To transfer using 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 where 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 expedite this process, you can have Deino/Zweilous participate in auto-battles against large groups of Pokemon to quickly accumulate experience. Alternatively, you can use Exp. Candies or Rare Candies. Exp. Candy L and Exp. Candy XL are particularly useful due to Deino's high evolution levels.

Is Hydreigon a Good Pokemon?

Hydreigon Stats & Weaknesses

As a pseudo-legendary, Hydreigon is among the strongest Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Its base stat total is 600, with high Special Attack and Attack, and good Speed, making it versatile 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 moves like Flash Cannon, offering STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) benefits. Hydreigon can function as either a physical or special attacker, thanks to its diverse move pool. However, its significant weakness to Fairy-type moves necessitates a Steel-type move like Flash Cannon, the only Steel-type move it can learn via TM. For optimal performance, consider moves such as Nasty Plot to boost Special Attack, Dragon Pulse (or Draco Meteor), and Dark Pulse.