Introduced in generation two, with the Pokemon Gold and Silver games, Swinumb is a dual type ice and ground Pokemon. It is the base evolution of Mamoswine and evolves into Piloswine once it reaches the level threshold. Swinumb is classified by the Pokedex as the “Pig Pokemon” which indicates its general design. This guide will showcase Swinub’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in battle, as well as other general facts about Swinub.
About Swinub
As a generation two Pokemon, Swinub first appeared in the original series in the episode Spring Fever. They were used by Peggy and her father in this episode to sniff out hot springs, indicating Swinub’s powerful smelling capabilities. Swinub will evolve into Piloswine when it reaches level 33, and Piloswine will evolve into Mamoswine when it is leveled up once it knows the move. The Pokedex mentions Swinub’s capability to scavenge for food by using its snout.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: Spring Fever |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Gold and Silver |
| Region | Johto |
| Evolution | Base evolution of Mamoswine, evolves into Piloswine |
| 1st Evo level | 33 |
| 2nd Evo level | Evolves into Mamoswine when leveled up with the Ancient Power move |
| Pokedex Entry | Swinub roots for food by rubbing its snout against the ground. Its favorite food is a mushroom that grows under the cover of dead grass. This Pokémon occasionally roots out hot springs. |
Swinub Base Stats
| HP | 50 |
| ATTACK | 50 |
| DEFENCE | 40 |
| SP. ATTACK | 30 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 30 |
| SPEED | 50 |
| TOTAL | 250 |
Appearance
Swinub is a small, brown, and hairy pig-like Pokemon. It is well adapted to cold climates which means that its fur is long enough to cover its stubby legs. While it is rare to see a Swinub from underneath, there are four little patches of fur where its legs would be. It has two tired eyes, a large pink pig snout and a small mouth with small brown stripes along its body. Swinub is a small Pokemon at only 1 foot and 4 inches, or 0.4 meters, tall.
Behavior
Swinub tend to move in groups and will work together to find food. Its snout is constantly sniffing at the ground and they are occasionally found near hot springs to keep their body temperature up. While its nose is constantly pressed to the ground it is well protected from the cold.Swinub are often found in frigid climates like icy caves, mountainous regions, and the frozen tundra. The Pokedex mentions that one of Swinub’s favorite foods are mushrooms that can grow under dead grass.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As a base evolution Pokemon there are not many strengths to mention regarding Swinub. None of its stats are significant but it is leaning more towards an offensive build rather than a defensive one. Its ability Oblivious can help prevent any disruption towards Swinub in setting up hazards or status inflicting moves. As a dual type ice and ground Pokemon, Swinub takes 2x damage from fighting, steel, fire, water, and grass type moves. It is immune to electric types and is only resistant against poison type moves.
Best Moveset
As a base evolution Pokemon, Swinub is exclusively limited to the LC (Little Cup) bracket of competitive play. In this format it only has to face other base evolution Pokemon which makes it more impactful in battle. Swinub is typically used as a disruptive Pokemon along with a Focus Sash, as a held item, to enable the Endeavor move. Consider running Stealth Rock, Ice Shard, Earthquake, and Endeavor. The chip damage from Stealth Rock can add up quickly, Ice Shard gives you a priority move, Earthquake benefits from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), and Endeavor is used in conjunction with the Focus Sash to deal significant damage.
| Stealth Rock | Ice Shard |
| Earthquake | Endeavor |
How to Catch Swinub in Pokemon Go
If you would like to obtain a Swinub in Pokemon Go, there are a few ways of doing so. You can find Swinub spawning in the wild, at a boosted rate, near bodies of water, ski resorts, glaciers, and rocky areas. It can also be hatched from 2 and 5 km eggs, and has also appeared as a tier one raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. To evolve your Swinub into Piloswine you will need 25 candies and another 100 with a Sinnoh Stone to evolve Piloswine into Mamoswine. There are many different ways to obtain Swinub in Pokemon Go, you will just need to take the first opportunity that comes your way.
Trivia
- Swinub is tied with Snom for the lowest base special defense stat of all ice type Pokemon.
- The inspiration for Swinub’s design is based on the Peruvian guinea pig.
- The name Swinub is a combination of the words swine and nub.
Explainer Video
FAQ
Is Swinub a good Pokemon?
Swinub is not a particularly powerful Pokemon on its own, it requires a decent amount of investment in order to get it to reach Mamoswine. While Swinub can provide a niche amount of support thanks to its ability Oblivious which can prevent Swinub from being disrupted by moves like Taunt. However, it is best to rely on Swinub once you have leveled it enough.
How do you evolve Swinub?
Swinub will evolve into Piloswine once it reaches level 33. This step does not require any special conditions and once you have reached level 33 your Swinub will begin to evolve into Piloswine. To evolve Piloswine, you will need to have the Ancient Power move learned to have it evolve. Once Piloswine knows Ancient Power and it levels up, it will evolve into Mamoswine.
What Egg Group is Swinub?
Swinub is in the Field Egg Group which means that it can be bred with other Pokemon in this group. They tend to be mammalian or terrestrial Pokemon and include Pokemon like Rattata, Sandshrew, Vulpix, Diglett, Tauros, Eevee, etc. This is the largest egg group and makes it easy to find a good Pokemon to breed egg moves or perfect IVs.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Pig Pokemon”. While Swinub is not the most powerful Pokemon at this stage in evolution, it gets much stronger with a good range of type coverage. Unfortunately, being an ice and ground type Pokemon, it can suffer from many weaknesses and is not the best defensive Pokemon. However, you can utilize this evolution line as a glass cannon. Reserve a slot on your team for Swinub if you want an offensive ice and ground type Pokemon.
