Introduced in generation five, with the Pokemon Black and White games, Herdier is a monotype normal Pokemon. It is the second stage evolution of its three stage evolution line and evolves from Lillipup and into Stoutland once it reaches the level thresholds. Herdier is classified by the Pokedex as the “Loyal Dog Pokemon” which is likely a reference to its general design. This guide will showcase Herdier’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Herdier.
About Herdier
As a generation five Pokemon, Herdier first made an appearance in the Black and White season of the anime in the episode Rematch at the Nacrene Gym!. In this episode, Gym Leader Lenora’s Herdier is used against Ash in battle. As a generation five Pokemon, it comes from Unova and is part of a three stage evolution line that starts with Lillipup which evolves into Herdier at level 16 and subsequently into Stoutland at level 32. The Pokedex mentions that Herdier will slide across the ground as if it is sliding.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Black and White Rematch at the Nacrene Gym! |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Black and White |
| Region | Unova |
| Evolution | Evolves from Lillipup, evolves into Stoutland |
| 1st Evo level | 16 |
| 2nd Evo level | 32 |
| Pokedex Entry | This Pokémon obeys its master's orders faithfully. However, it refuses to listen to anything said by a person it doesn't respect. |
Herdier Base Stats
| HP | 65 |
| ATTACK | 80 |
| DEFENCE | 65 |
| SP. ATTACK | 35 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 65 |
| SPEED | 30 |
| TOTAL | 370 |
Appearance
Herdier is a brown and blue canine Pokemon. Its base layer of fur is brown, while the overcoat on its back is a dark blue, and the tufts covering its face are cream colored. It walks on four legs and has a pronged tail. The fur around its face and edges of its overcoat are rounded triangles, giving it a shaggy but soft appearance. The cream colored tufts of fur on its face is almost star shaped while its blue overcoat is very hard, decreasing the damage it receives in battle. Herdier’s eyes and nose are black. Herdier is a small Pokemon at only 2 feet and 11 inches, or 0.9 meters, tall.
Behavior
Herdier is an intensely loyal Pokemon as it often helps trainers and even other Pokemon. However, Herdier refuses to listen to those that it does not respect. Due to its smart and friendly nature, some theorize that Herdier was the first Pokemon to partner with people. Its blue overcoat grows continuously and requires frequent, costly grooming.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Unfortunately, Herdier is not a particularly strong Pokemon. Its biggest selling point is its defensive stats, although it does have a decent attack stat. Herdier can come with the abilities Intimidate, Sand Rush, and Scrappy, which each can be very useful on the right team. As a monotype normal Pokemon, Herdier is only weak to fighting type moves, taking twice the normal damage against them. It has no resistances but it is completely immune to ghost type moves.
Best Moveset
In competitive play, Herdier is typically reserved for the NFE (Not Fully Evolved) format. There is little reason to consider Herdier in other formats and Stoutland can often function as a more powerful Herdier. Nevertheless, Herdier can utilize its bulk to tank multiple attacks while dishing out its own damage. Consider running Return, Crunch, Toxic, and Play Rough. This set is aimed to give Herdier a good amount of coverage for your opponent’s types of Pokemon. It comes with Toxic to whittle down bulky Pokemon or to force offensive Pokemon to abandon their setup. Try to keep Herdier alive as long as possible to see success with it in battle.
| Return | Crunch |
| Toxic | Play Rough |
How to Catch Herdier in Pokemon Go?
If you want to obtain a Herdier in Pokemon Go, the easiest way to do so would be to obtain a Lillipup and eventually evolve it into a Herdier. Like most middle evolution Pokemon, its base evolution is a common spawn as compared to its final evolution. Lillipup can be found spawning in the wild, at a boosted rate, near towns and cities. Lillipup has also previously been hatched from 2 and 5 km eggs. Lillipup, Herdier, and Stoutland have all appeared as Raid Bosses at Tiers 1, 3, and 4 respectively. To evolve a Lillipup into a Herdier you will need 25 candies. You will need another 100 candies to evolve a Herdier into a Stoutland.
Trivia
- Herdier is the favorite Pokemon of Mana Ibe, a graphic designer for both the Pokemon trading card game and video games. She has also designed Victini, Darumaka, and Axew.
- Herdier is likely based on the Yorkshire Terrier, with its short snout and dark overcoat.
- Herdier’s name is a combination of herd and terrier, though Yorkshire Terriers were likely bred as rat hunters instead of herding dogs.
FAQ
What kind of dog is Herdier?
Herdier appears to be a Yorkshire Terrier. It has the distinctive brown and steel blue coat with long fur and a short snout. Herdier is also a very loyal and smart Pokemon. Yorkshire Terriers are a traditionally smart dog breed, and they can develop separation anxiety when apart from their owners.
What level does Herdier evolve at?
Herdier evolves from Lillipup at level 16, and Herdier evolves into Stoutland at level 32. Herdier is part of the Medium-Slow leveling group, meaning that it may level up more slowly than your other Pokemon.
Is Herdier a good Pokemon?
Unfortunately, Herdier is not a particularly strong Pokemon. While it has access to many useful tools, such as the Intimidate and Scrappy abilities, other normal type Pokemon often do its job better. However, in a casual setting, Herdier can hold its own with its natural bulkiness and access to powerful physical moves.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Loyal Dog Pokemon”. Since Herdier’s introduction in generation five, it has managed to represent a bulky defensive threat that can dish out strong physical attacks. It is a loyal Pokemon that is very smart and eager to plus, and thus if you reserve a slot on your team for Herdier, you’ll get a solid and consistent Pokemon.
