No. 0041 · Generation I · Bat Pokémon
ズバットZubatto · From 'bat' and ずばっと zubatto ('piercingly'); also the name of the masked hero of the 1977 tokusatsu series Kaiketsu Zubat.
The Bat Pokémon · Poison/Flying type · first seen in Pokémon Red & Green (1996)
01Overview
Meet Zubat
Everything you need to know about the Bat Pokémon — the creature behind the number.
Meet Zubat, the Bat Pokémon: a small, blue Poison- and Flying-type with purple-lined wings, tall pointed ears and a mouth bristling with fangs – but no eyes whatsoever. Its wings stretch between two long fingers and its spindly legs end without any feet, so this is a creature built for hanging about and flying rather than walking. Look closely and you can even tell the sexes apart: males have the bigger fangs.
What Zubat lacks in sight it makes up for in sound. As it flits about, it pours ultrasonic cries from its mouth and listens for the echoes with those big ears, mapping every wall, ledge and target in total darkness – a living sonar. Generations of life in pitch-black caverns are said to have sealed its eyes shut for good, and the pitch of its cries even varies slightly from one colony to the next, like a little bat accent.
“Forms colonies in perpetually dark places. Uses ultrasonic waves to identify and approach targets.”
Pokédex · Pokémon Blue (Japan), Red & Blue · 1996
This is a creature of the night. By day Zubat roost upside down in caves, deep forests and under the eaves of old buildings, keeping well away from sunlight, which makes them feel poorly and can burn their thin skin. When it turns cold, a colony huddles together for warmth; once the sun goes down, they stream out in a squeaking cloud to look for prey.
Zubat has been fluttering out of the gloom since Pokémon Red and Green in 1996, where it haunted Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Victory Road. Since then it has moved into almost every cave going, from Union Cave and Granite Cave to Oreburgh Gate and Alola's Verdant Cavern. Its family is the only Poison/Flying line in existence: Zubat becomes Golbat at level 22 and, since Gold and Silver, Golbat turns into Crobat through friendship – the very evolution that shows rival Silver learning to care for his team.
Ask players about Zubat and plenty will laugh and groan about cave trips spent shooing away one Zubat after another while Supersonic sends their team into a confused spin. Yet that running joke is a kind of affection: the pesky little bat of Mt. Moon is the same loyal flyer that, raised with care, grows into the lightning-quick Crobat.
How big is Zubat?
At 0.8 m (2′07″) Zubat is a little shorter than a kitchen worktop, and at 7.5 kg (16.5 lb) it weighs about the same as a heavy bowling ball – wings and fangs included.
02In the Pokédex's words
Zubat's Pokédex entries
27 different entries across 44 games, from 1996 to 2025. Here is how the Pokédex has described Zubat over the years, in the order the games came out.
Generation I
Forms colonies in perpetually dark places. Uses ultrasonic waves to identify and approach targets.
Kanto Pokédex
Emits ultrasonic cries while it flies. They act as a sonar used to check for objects in its way.
Kanto Pokédex
It has neither eyes nor a nose. It emits ultrasonic cries that bounce back to its large ears, enabling it to fly safely.
Kanto Pokédex
Generation II
While flying, it constantly emits ultrasonic waves from its mouth to check its surroundings.
Johto Pokédex
Capable of flying safely in dark places, it emits ultrasonic cries to check for any obstacles.
Johto Pokédex
During the day, it gathers with others and hangs from the ceilings of old buildings and caves.
Johto Pokédex
Generation III
Zubat remains quietly unmoving in a dark spot during the bright daylight hours. It does so because prolonged exposure to the sun causes its body to become slightly burned.
Hoenn Pokédex
Zubat avoids sunlight because exposure causes it to become unhealthy. During the daytime, it stays in caves or under the eaves of old houses, sleeping while hanging upside down.
Hoenn Pokédex
It has no eyes. Instead, it relies on its ultrasonic cries for echo location to flit about in darkness.
FireRed & LeafGreen Pokédex
It forms colonies in perpetually dark places and uses ultrasonic waves to identify and approach targets.
FireRed & LeafGreen Pokédex
While living in pitch-black caverns, their eyes gradually grew shut and deprived them of vision. They use ultrasonic waves to detect obstacles.
Hoenn Pokédex
Zubat prefers dark places like caves. It uses ultrasonic waves to attack.
Capture Styler (Pokémon Ranger series)
Generation IV
Even though it has no eyes, it can sense obstacles using ultrasonic waves it emits from its mouth.
Sinnoh Pokédex
Disliking sunlight, it sleeps deep in forests and caves until sundown.
Sinnoh Pokédex
It checks its surroundings and location using reflections of the ultrasonic waves from its mouth.
Sinnoh Pokédex
It flits around and releases supersonic waves to attack.
Capture Styler (Pokémon Ranger series)
It attacks by scattering poison gas that makes Pokémon Tired.
Capture Styler (Pokémon Ranger series)
Generation V
It does not need eyes, because it emits ultrasonic waves to check its surroundings while it flies.
Unova Pokédex
Generation VI
It has no eyes. Instead, it relies on its ultrasonic cries for echolocation to flit about in darkness.
Kalos Pokédex
Generation VII
It sleeps in caves during the day. It has no eyes, so to check its surroundings while flying, it emits ultrasonic waves.
Rotom Pokédex
When exposed to sunlight, they suffer burns. The frequency of their ultrasonic waves can differ slightly from colony to colony.
Rotom Pokédex
It has no eyeballs, so it can't see. It checks its surroundings via the ultrasonic waves it emits from its mouth.
Rotom Pokédex
Their skin is so thin that they'll be burned if sunlight hits them. When it gets cold out, they gather together to warm one another's bodies.
Rotom Pokédex
Generation VIII
It emits ultrasonic waves from its mouth to check its surroundings. Even in tight caves, Zubat flies around with skill.
Rotom Phone (Sword & Shield)
Zubat live in caves, down where the sun's light won't reach. In the morning, they gather together to keep each other warm as they sleep.
Rotom Phone (Sword & Shield)
Makes its home in gloomy caves. Atrophied eyes have left this Pokémon blind, so it scans its surroundings via sound waves that it emits from its mouth as it flies.
Hisui Pokédex
Generation IX
It sleeps in caves during the day. It has no eyes, so it emits ultrasonic waves to check its surroundings while flying.
Rotom Phone (Legends: Z-A)
03Stats, moves & where to find it
Zubat in the video games
Base stat total 245 · 24 core-series games · 31 spin-offs · every move it learns, generation by generation.
Base stats
Base stats have never changed: 40/45/35/30/40/55, a total of 245. In Generation I Zubat had a single Special stat of 40; when Gold and Silver split Special in two, Sp. Def kept the 40 while Sp. Atk dropped to 30. Base experience yield was 54 in Generations I–IV and has been 49 since Generation V. Base friendship was 70 in Generations II–VII and has been 50 since Generation VIII. Medium Fast growth: 1,000,000 Exp. to reach level 100. In HeartGold and SoulSilver's Pokéathlon, Zubat can reach the full five stars in Jump (Speed 4/5, Power 1/3, Technique 1/4, Stamina 1/3).
Abilities
- Inner Focussince Gen III
Zubat's concentration stops it from flinching, and since Generation VIII it also shrugs off Intimidate. - InfiltratorHidden abilitysince Gen V
Zubat's moves slip straight past the target's protective barriers, such as Reflect, Light Screen and Substitute.
Type matchups
How hard each attacking type hits a Poison/Flying Pokémon.
Generation I: Bug-type moves were only neutral (1×), because Bug was then super effective against Poison; from Generation II onwards Bug is ¼×. The Fairy resistance applies from Generation VI, when the Fairy type arrived. If Zubat is grounded – by Gravity or an Iron Ball, for example – Ground-type moves can hit it, and for 2× thanks to its Poison type.
Training & breeding
- Catch rate
- 255
- Base friendship
- 50
- Base experience
- 49
- Growth rate
- Medium Fast
- EV yield
- 1 Speed
- Egg groups
- Flying
- Egg cycles
- 15
- Colour
- Purple
- Gender ratio
- 50% male
- Body shape
- wings
Where to find Zubat
| Game | Year | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Green | 1996 | Wild in Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Victory Road |
| Blue (Japan) | 1996 | Wild in Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Victory Road |
| Red & Blue | 1998 | Wild in Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Victory RoadMt. Moon is the first of those caves on the road through Kanto. |
| Yellow | 1998 | Wild in Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Victory Road |
| Gold & Silver | 1999 | Wild in Union Cave, Slowpoke Well, Ilex Forest, Burned Tower, Dark Cave, Mt. Mortar, Ice Path, Whirl Islands, Tohjo Falls, Mt. Moon and Rock TunnelAlso on Routes 3, 4, 32, 33 and 42 at night. |
| Crystal | 2000 | Wild in Union Cave, Slowpoke Well, Burned Tower, Dark Cave, Mt. Mortar, Ice Path, Whirl Islands, Tohjo Falls, Mt. Moon and Rock TunnelAlso on Routes 3, 4, 9, 10, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 42 at night. |
| Ruby & Sapphire | 2002 | Wild in Granite Cave, Meteor Falls, Shoal Cave, Seafloor Cavern, Cave of Origin and Victory Road |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | 2004 | Wild in Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Victory Road, plus Icefall Cave, Lost Cave and Altering Cave in the Sevii IslandsGolbat can't evolve into Crobat until you have the National Pokédex. |
| Emerald | 2004 | Wild in Granite Cave, Meteor Falls, Shoal Cave, Seafloor Cavern, Cave of Origin, Victory Road and Altering Cave |
| Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | Wild in Oreburgh Gate, Oreburgh Mine, Ravaged Path, Wayward Cave, Mt. Coronet, Iron Island and Lost TowerAlso on Routes 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 209, 211, 216 and 217 and at Acuity Lakefront at night. |
| Platinum | 2008 | Wild in Oreburgh Gate, Oreburgh Mine, Ravaged Path, Wayward Cave, Mt. Coronet, Iron Island and Lost TowerAlso on Routes 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 209, 211, 214 and 216 at night. |
| HeartGold & SoulSilver | 2009 | Wild in Union Cave, Slowpoke Well, Ilex Forest, Burned Tower, Dark Cave, Mt. Mortar, Ice Path, Whirl Islands, Tohjo Falls, Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel and Seafoam IslandsAlso on Routes 3, 4, 32, 33 and 42 and in Cliff Cave at night, in the Safari Zone, and on the Pokéwalker's Dim Cave and Night Sky's Edge courses. |
| Black & White | 2010 | Not in the wild – breed a Golbat or Crobat |
| Black 2 & White 2 | 2012 | Wild in the Castelia Sewers |
| X & Y | 2013 | Wild in Connecting Cave |
| Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire | 2014 | Wild in Granite Cave, Meteor Falls, the Sealed Chamber and Scorched SlabTurns up in Horde Encounters in Cave of Origin, Seafloor Cavern, Shoal Cave, Victory Road and Scorched Slab. |
| Sun & Moon | 2016 | Wild in Verdant Cavern, Hau'oli Cemetery, Diglett's Tunnel, Memorial Hill, the Lush Jungle's cave, Ten Carat Hill and Seaward CaveAlso visits Poké Pelago. |
| Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon | 2017 | Wild in Verdant Cavern, Hau'oli Cemetery, Diglett's Tunnel, Memorial Hill, Ten Carat Hill, Seaward Cave and Sandy CaveAlso visits Poké Pelago. |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! | 2018 | Wild in Mt. Moon, Diglett's Cave, Rock Tunnel, Pokémon Tower, Seafoam Islands, Victory Road and Cerulean CaveCrobat isn't in these games, so Golbat can't evolve. |
| Sword & Shield | 2019 | The Crown Tundra (2020): wild in the Tunnel to the Top, Roaring-Sea Caves and Lakeside CaveAlso in Max Raid Battles at Frostpoint Field, Dyna Tree Hill, Giant's Bed, Frigid Sea and Ballimere Lake; the base game takes it by trade (Version 1.3.0 onwards). |
| Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl | 2021 | Wild in Oreburgh Gate, Oreburgh Mine, Ravaged Path, Wayward Cave, Mt. Coronet, Iron Island and Lost TowerAlso on Routes 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 209, 211, 216 and 217 and at Acuity Lakefront, and in the Grand Underground's Spacious Cave, Grassland Cave, Swampy Cave, Sunlit Cavern and Bogsunk Cavern. |
| Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Wild across the Obsidian Fieldlands (including Oreburrow Tunnel and the Heartwood), the Crimson Mirelands and the Coronet Highlands (including Wayward Cave)Also inside Snowpoint Temple in the Alabaster Icelands, and in massive mass outbreaks. |
| Scarlet & Violet | 2022 | Unobtainable |
| Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Mega Dimension expansion: Hyperspace LumioseCan also be traded in from Version 2.0.0. |
Sprites through the ages
Spin-offs & cameos
Pokémon GO
Zubat has been flapping around Pokémon GO since the game launched in July 2016. As a buddy it earns a Candy every single kilometre – the shortest buddy distance there is – and evolving it into Golbat takes 25 Candy, down from 50 before the Johto update of 16 February 2017, which also brought Crobat to the game and swapped Sludge Bomb for Swift among its moves. Shiny Zubat, green just like in the main series, arrived on 25 July 2019 as Team GO Rocket began disrupting PokéStops. Zubat can also be rescued from the grunts as a Shadow Pokémon, and it is one of the very few Shadows without glowing red eyes – it has none to glow (Shadow Steelix is the other exception). A Shiny Shadow Zubat followed on 27 January 2024.
Zubat's Fossil card is part of the game's Laboratory set, ready to Supersonic its way through your duels.
Zubat lurks along the Tunnel course, so keep your camera ready in the gloom.
Bag one at Mt. Moon on the Blue Field or Seafoam Islands on the Red Field – and at Rock Mountain or Indigo Plateau on either table.
Takes to the 3D arena with its own Stadium Pokédex entry: no eyes, no nose, just cries that bounce back to its large ears.
Its Pokédex text depends on which Game Boy cartridge is plugged in – Gold's wording with Red, Silver or Crystal, Silver's with Blue, Gold or Yellow.
The Japan-only sequel brings Zubat's Fossil card back in its Island of Fossil set.
A Zubat can be found in the Ruins of Truth on Mt. Snowfall, an area you can only reach once you own the Snowfall Pass.
No wild Zubat on these tables – this one only hatches from an Egg.
One of the wild Pokémon that can turn up at the Cave Poké Spot.
A common piece on the Phobos Drill stage, in Endless Level 19, Trozei Battle and Mr. Who's Den.
Flaps about Lapis Cave and Murky Cave, and recruits settle in the Echo Cave Friend Area, boasting, 'My ultrasonic radar makes me fearless!'
Fiore Browser #058 hides out in Krokka Tunnel and fires ultrasonic waves at Rangers.
A henchman of Skuntank's Team Skull alongside Koffing, Zubat is the very first boss of the adventure; wild ones roost in Aegis Cave.
Almia Browser #014 flits around the Ranger School and Marine Cave, attacking with supersonic waves.
Team Skull's Zubat is back to make mischief in the expanded Explorers story, and wild Zubat still haunt Aegis Cave.
Zubat are always flying around the Cavern Zone, and they love Salamence's Air Ace more than any other attraction.
In Rasp Cavern and the Fire Temple it scatters poison gas that leaves Pokémon Tired.
A Wing Attack user that evolves into Golbat once its Speed stat reaches 55; it turns up in Ignis, Cragspur, Viperia, Avia, Nixtorm and Dragnor.
Its Paralyze skill leaves the foe paralysed; meet it on Main Stage 651 and in Pokémon Safari events.
Lives in the Bewildering Cave on the Silver Isles, where it even guards the entrance as a boss.
Noivern introduces it to your team – and when it's hurt it wails, 'My eyes… My vision's becoming blurry… Wait! I don't have eyes…'
A familiar sight since launch, with a 1 km buddy distance, a green Shiny since 2019 and a Shadow form rescued from Team GO Rocket.
As one of the original 151, Zubat can join your expedition team in chunky cube form on Tumblecube Island.
Turns up in several seas, from the Charizard Sea and Dragonite Sea to the Mimikyu, Rowlet, Lugia and Bulbasaur Seas.
Can hatch from an Egg to battle alongside your own player character.
Back in Lapis Cave, and also lurking in Oddity Cave, Remains Island, Marvelous Sea, Fantasy Strait and deep in Buried Relic.
Listed as #081 in Pokopia's own Pokédex, which borrows its echolocation entry from Pokémon Y word for word.
Moves
Back in Red and Green, Zubat travelled light: six level-up moves, opening with a feeble 20-power Leech Life and closing with Haze at level 36, with the infamous Supersonic and Confuse Ray in between to make every trip through Mt. Moon a dizzy one. Gold and Silver turned Bite Dark-type, powered up Wing Attack and added Mean Look and the first egg moves, and Ruby and Sapphire finally gave the Poison-type bat a Poison-type attack of its own, Poison Fang.
Diamond and Pearl brought Air Slash and, at long last, the chance to learn Fly, and later games layered on Acrobatics, Venoshock and Quick Guard. Sun and Moon then flipped the script, swapping the opening Leech Life for Absorb and turning Leech Life itself into a hard-hitting 80-power drain at level 31. Let's Go, Sword and Shield, Legends: Arceus (with Cross Poison) and Legends: Z-A have each reshuffled the list since, but Leech Life and Bite have been there in every single game. Once a vampire bat, always a vampire bat.
Signature moves
The vampire bat's signature nip, and Zubat's very first move in every game from Red and Green to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Sun and Moon beefed it up from 20 to 80 power and moved it to level 31, and it is the level-55 finale in Sword and Shield. Along with Bite, it is in Zubat's level-up list in every single game.
Ultrasonic waves fit for a cave-dwelling bat, and a dizzying nuisance for anyone crossing Mt. Moon: level 10 in Red and Blue, level 1 from Let's Go and Sword and Shield onwards. Only Legends: Arceus leaves it out.
The eerie light that makes wild Zubat such hard work, learned at level 21 in Red and Blue and present in every level-up list since apart from Legends: Arceus, as late as level 45 in Sword and Shield.
A Normal-type nip at level 15 in Red and Blue that turned Dark-type in Gold and Silver. It has never left the level-up list, landing anywhere from level 8 in Legends: Z-A to level 30 in Sword and Shield.
Just 35 power at level 28 in Red and Blue, boosted to 60 in Gold and Silver and learned ever earlier until Let's Go handed it out at level 4. Sword and Shield dropped it from the level-up list in favour of an Egg Move, before Legends: Z-A brought it back at level 12.
Zubat's first Poison-type attack, arriving at level 41 in Ruby and Sapphire. These days it comes much sooner, at level 25 from Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and level 15 in Sword and Shield, and it is also TM123 in Legends: Z-A.
The big finale of Diamond and Pearl (level 41), Black and White and X and Y (level 45) and Let's Go (level 33), and part of every Zubat level-up list since Diamond and Pearl, both Legends games included.
Complete learnsets
Generation I · Red, Green, Blue & Yellow6 level-up · 13 TM/HM
Zubat is the bat that launched a thousand Repels: in Red, Blue and Yellow it swarms through Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Victory Road. All four games share one short level-up list of six moves, from Leech Life at level 1 to Haze at 36, with Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray and a 35-power Wing Attack in between. Bite is still a Normal-type move here, and because a move's category follows its type in the first three generations, Leech Life, Bite and Wing Attack are all physical. Its 13 TMs include Razor Wind, Whirlwind, Mega Drain and Swift, but there are no HMs at all, so this Zubat cannot even learn Fly. Gust and Quick Attack, egg moves from Gold, Silver and Crystal, can be carried back through the Time Capsule.
By level-up
| RGBY | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 10 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 15 | Bite | Normal | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 21 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Wing Attack | Physical | 35 | 100 | 35 | |
| 36 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM02 | Razor Wind | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 10 |
| TM04 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 20 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM09 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| TM10 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM20 | Rage | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| TM21 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Mimic | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM34 | Bide | Normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| TM39 | Swift | Normal | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM50 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Gust | Gen II (breeding) |
| Quick Attack | Gen II (breeding) |
Generation II · Gold, Silver & Crystal7 level-up · 19 TM/HM · 5 egg · 1 event
Gold, Silver and Crystal fill Johto's caves with Zubat, from Union Cave, Dark Cave and Slowpoke Well to the Burned Tower, Ice Path and Whirl Islands, and it flutters over several routes after dark too. Bite turns Dark-type, Wing Attack jumps from 35 to 60 power, most moves arrive a little earlier, and Mean Look joins at level 36, pushing Haze back to 46. Breeding brings five egg moves borrowed from other fliers: Gust, Quick Attack and Whirlwind from the Pidgey family, Pursuit from Spearow, Doduo or Murkrow, and Faint Attack from Murkrow. Categories still follow type, so Bite, Faint Attack, Pursuit and Thief are special, and Curse is the mysterious ???-type. There are still no HMs and no tutor moves. A Zubat handed out in the United States in December 2002 came with Flail, and eight old TM moves from Red, Blue and Yellow can come forward through the Time Capsule.
By level-up
| GSC | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 6 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 12 | Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 19 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 27 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 36 | Mean Look | Normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 46 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM03 | Curse | ??? | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM13 | Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| TM20 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM34 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM35 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM39 | Swift | Normal | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| TM43 | Detect | Fighting | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM47 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faint Attack | Dark | Special | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Gust | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot | |
| Pursuit | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow |
| Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot |
| Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Flail | Gotta Catch 'Em All Station! Flail Zubat (New York City Pokémon Center, 13–19 December 2002) |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Razor Wind | Gen I (TM) |
| Substitute | Gen I (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
Generation III · Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed & LeafGreen (tutor data also covers XD)10 level-up · 21 TM/HM · 6 egg · 8 tutor
Hoenn's caves are Zubat country in Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, from Granite Cave and Meteor Falls to Shoal Cave, Seafloor Cavern, the Cave of Origin and Victory Road, with Emerald adding Altering Cave. FireRed and LeafGreen keep it in Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Victory Road, plus the Sevii Islands' Icefall Cave, Lost Cave and Altering Cave, and Pokémon XD has it at the Cave Poké Spot. Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald teach Supersonic at level 6 and the new Astonish at 11, while FireRed and LeafGreen swap the two round. Air Cutter arrives at 31, and Zubat finally gets a Poison-type attack of its own: Poison Fang at level 41. Taunt, Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, Aerial Ace and Snatch are among the new TMs, but there is still no Fly. Farfetch'd can pass on Curse through chain breeding, and the tutors of FireRed and LeafGreen, Emerald and XD teach up to eight moves, from Double-Edge to Swift. Categories still follow type, so Air Cutter and Poison Fang are physical while Bite is special.
By level-up
| RSE | FRLG | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 6 | 11 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 11 | 6 | Astonish | Ghost | Physical | 30 | 100 | 15 |
| 16 | 16 | Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 21 | 21 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 26 | 26 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 31 | 31 | Air Cutter | Physical | 55 | 95 | 25 | |
| 36 | 36 | Mean Look | Normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 41 | 41 | Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| 46 | 46 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM12 | Taunt | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM30 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Physical | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM47 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 |
| TM49 | Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curse | ??? | Status | — | — | 10 | Farfetch'd (chain breeding needed) |
| Faint Attack | Dark | Special | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Gust | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot | |
| Pursuit | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Wingull |
| Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Taillow, Swellow, Wingull |
| Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Mimic | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | Emerald |
| Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | Emerald, XD |
| Swift | Normal | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Emerald |
Generation IV · Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver11 level-up · 33 TM/HM · 10 egg · 10 tutor
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum hide Zubat in Oreburgh Gate and Oreburgh Mine, Mt. Coronet, Wayward Cave, Iron Island and the Lost Tower, and on many routes after dark, while HeartGold and SoulSilver bring back the Johto and Kanto caves, Cliff Cave and the Johto Safari Zone. The whole list speeds up, and Air Slash becomes the new level-41 finale. From this generation each move has its own physical or special category, so Air Cutter and Air Slash are special. HM02 at last lets Zubat learn Fly, Roost, Pluck, U-turn and Payback join the TMs, and HM05 Defog can only be taught in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. Brave Bird, Hypnosis, Nasty Plot and Zen Headbutt become egg moves. The tutors of Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver teach Air Cutter, Heat Wave, Ominous Wind, Twister and more, with Super Fang and Tailwind tutored only in HeartGold and SoulSilver. Double-Edge and Mimic have to come from Generation III tutors.
By level-up
| DPPt/HGSS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 5 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 9 | Astonish | Ghost | Physical | 30 | 100 | 15 |
| 13 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 17 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 21 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 25 | Air Cutter | Special | 55 | 95 | 25 | |
| 29 | Mean Look | Normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 33 | Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| 37 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 41 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 20 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 | |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM12 | Taunt | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM30 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | ||
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM47 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | |
| TM49 | Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM51 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | ||
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM78 | Captivate | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM83 | Natural Gift | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | |
| TM88 | Pluck | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | ||
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| HM02 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 | ||
| HM05 | Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | DPPt |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Starly, Staravia, Staraptor | |
| Curse | ??? | Status | — | — | 10 | Farfetch'd, Aerodactyl, Skarmory (chain breeding needed) |
| Faint Attack | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow, Honchkrow |
| Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot | |
| Hypnosis | Psychic | Status | — | 60 | 20 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
| Nasty Plot | Dark | Status | — | — | 20 | Honchkrow |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Wingull, Pelipper |
| Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Doduo, Dodrio, Taillow, Swellow, Wingull and 4 more |
| Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Special | 55 | 95 | 25 | Pt, HGSS | |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 100 | 90 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
| Ominous Wind | Ghost | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 | Pt, HGSS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
| Super Fang | Normal | Physical | — | 90 | 10 | HGSS |
| Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 | Pt, HGSS |
| Tailwind | Status | — | — | 30 | HGSS | |
| Twister | Dragon | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Pt, HGSS |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
Generation V · Black, White, Black 2 & White 213 level-up · 26 TM/HM · 13 egg · 10 tutor · 2 event
Black and White have no wild Zubat at all, so there it has to hatch from an Egg with a Golbat or Crobat as parent. Black 2 and White 2 put it in the Castelia Sewers, and the Dream World's Windswept Sky offers a Zubat that can know Hypnosis or Super Fang. Acrobatics arrives both by level-up and as TM62, alongside the new Venoshock and Round TMs. Black 2 and White 2 rework the level-up list, adding Swift at 23 and moving Acrobatics ahead of Mean Look. Steel Wing and Defog become egg moves, and so does Giga Drain, though only from a parent that learned it in an earlier generation. Black 2 and White 2's tutors teach ten moves, including Roost, Super Fang, Tailwind and Zen Headbutt; Black and White have no tutor moves for Zubat.
By level-up
| BW | B2W2 | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 5 | 4 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 9 | 8 | Astonish | Ghost | Physical | 30 | 100 | 15 |
| 13 | 12 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 17 | 15 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 21 | 19 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| N/A | 23 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| 25 | 26 | Air Cutter | Special | 55 | 95 | 25 | |
| 33 | 30 | Acrobatics | Physical | 55 | 100 | 15 | |
| 29 | 34 | Mean Look | Normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 37 | 37 | Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| 41 | 41 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 45 | 45 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 20 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM12 | Taunt | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM30 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM62 | Acrobatics | Physical | 55 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM88 | Pluck | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM02 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Farfetch'd, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary | |
| Curse | Ghost | Status | — | — | 10 | Farfetch'd, Aerodactyl, Skarmory (chain breeding needed) |
| Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary | |
| Faint Attack | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Natu, Xatu (only from a parent that learned it in an earlier generation) |
| Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Pidove, Tranquill, Unfezant, Woobat, Swoobat and 1 more | |
| Hypnosis | Psychic | Status | — | 60 | 20 | Hoothoot, Noctowl, Sigilyph |
| Nasty Plot | Dark | Status | — | — | 20 | Honchkrow |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Wingull |
| Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Doduo, Dodrio, Taillow, Swellow, Wingull and 9 more |
| Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | Skarmory |
| Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Sigilyph, Rufflet and 1 more |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 100 | 90 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 | |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 |
| Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Super Fang | Normal | Physical | — | 90 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Tailwind | Status | — | — | 30 | B2W2 | |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | B2W2 |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Hypnosis | Dream World: Windswept Sky |
| Super Fang | Dream World: Windswept Sky |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Ominous Wind | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Secret Power | Gen III–IV (TM) |
| Twister | Gen IV (tutor) |
Generation VI · X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire15 level-up · 30 TM/HM · 14 egg · 8 tutor
X and Y keep Zubat in Connecting Cave, while Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire fill Hoenn's caves with it again, often in Horde Encounters, from Granite Cave, Meteor Falls and the Scorched Slab to Shoal Cave and Victory Road. X and Y keep the Black 2 and White 2 level-up list, but Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire reshuffle it and add Venoshock at 37 and Quick Guard at 43. Air Cutter rises to 60 power and Air Slash drops to 15 PP. Roost and Steel Wing return as TMs, Confide is new, and Secret Power is TM94 only in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, whose tutors also teach Giga Drain, Heat Wave, Super Fang, Tailwind and more; X and Y have no tutor moves for Zubat. Woobat can now pass on Venom Drench through chain breeding, and Noibat, Noivern and the Fletchling family join the breeding parents.
By level-up
| XY | ORAS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 4 | 5 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 8 | 7 | Astonish | Ghost | Physical | 30 | 100 | 15 |
| 12 | 11 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 15 | 13 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 19 | 17 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 26 | 19 | Air Cutter | Special | 60 | 95 | 25 | |
| 23 | 23 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| 37 | 25 | Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| 34 | 29 | Mean Look | Normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 30 | 31 | Acrobatics | Physical | 55 | 100 | 15 | |
| 41 | 35 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| N/A | 37 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 45 | 41 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | |
| N/A | 43 | Quick Guard | Fighting | Status | — | — | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 | |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM12 | Taunt | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM19 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | ||
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM30 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | ||
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM51 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | |
| TM62 | Acrobatics | Physical | 55 | 100 | 15 | ||
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM94 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| HM02 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Farfetch'd, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary and 1 more | |
| Curse | Ghost | Status | — | — | 10 | Farfetch'd (chain breeding needed) |
| Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary | |
| Feint Attack | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Natu, Xatu, Woobat, Swoobat (only from a parent that learned it in an earlier generation) |
| Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Pidove, Tranquill, Unfezant, Woobat, Swoobat and 3 more | |
| Hypnosis | Psychic | Status | — | 60 | 20 | Hoothoot, Noctowl, Sigilyph |
| Nasty Plot | Dark | Status | — | — | 20 | Honchkrow |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Wingull |
| Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Doduo, Dodrio, Taillow, Swellow, Wingull and 12 more |
| Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | Skarmory, Fletchling, Fletchinder, Talonflame |
| Venom Drench | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Woobat (chain breeding needed) |
| Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Sigilyph, Rufflet and 3 more |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 | ORAS |
| Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | ORAS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
| Super Fang | Normal | Physical | — | 90 | 10 | ORAS |
| Tailwind | Status | — | — | 15 | ORAS | |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | ORAS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Ominous Wind | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Pluck | Gen IV–V (TM) |
| Twister | Gen IV (tutor) |
Generation VII · Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon15 level-up · 30 TM/HM · 14 egg · 9 tutor
Alola's caves are full of Zubat in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, from Verdant Cavern and Diglett's Tunnel to Ten Carat Hill and Seaward Cave, with Hau'oli Cemetery and Memorial Hill thrown in. One level-up list covers all four games and follows Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire's, with one big twist: Absorb takes over the level-1 slot, and Leech Life, now an 80-power, 10-PP attack, waits until level 31, where Acrobatics used to be. Leech Life is also TM28, and with HMs gone Fly becomes TM76. Rowlet and its evolutions join the breeding parents for Brave Bird, Curse and Nasty Plot. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's tutors teach Defog plus the eight moves of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire's tutors; Sun and Moon have none for Zubat. Fifteen older moves can be transferred, reaching back to Red and Blue's Bide, Rage and Take Down.
By level-up
| SM/USUM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Absorb | Grass | Special | 20 | 100 | 25 |
| 5 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 7 | Astonish | Ghost | Physical | 30 | 100 | 15 |
| 11 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 13 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 17 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 19 | Air Cutter | Special | 60 | 95 | 25 | |
| 23 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| 25 | Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| 29 | Mean Look | Normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 31 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| 35 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 37 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 41 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | |
| 43 | Quick Guard | Fighting | Status | — | — | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM12 | Taunt | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM19 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM30 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM51 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 |
| TM62 | Acrobatics | Physical | 55 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| TM76 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 | |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Farfetch'd, Taillow, Swellow, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Ducklett, Swanna and 6 more | |
| Curse | Ghost | Status | — | — | 10 | Farfetch'd, Aerodactyl, Skarmory, Rowlet (chain breeding needed) |
| Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary | |
| Feint Attack | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Natu, Xatu, Woobat, Swoobat (only from a parent that learned it in an earlier generation) |
| Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Pidove, Tranquill, Unfezant, Woobat, Swoobat and 3 more | |
| Hypnosis | Psychic | Status | — | 60 | 20 | Hoothoot, Noctowl, Sigilyph |
| Nasty Plot | Dark | Status | — | — | 20 | Honchkrow, Rowlet, Dartrix, Decidueye |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Wingull |
| Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Doduo, Dodrio, Taillow, Swellow, Wingull and 11 more |
| Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | Skarmory, Fletchling, Fletchinder, Talonflame |
| Venom Drench | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Woobat (chain breeding needed) |
| Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Sigilyph, Rufflet and 3 more |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | USUM | |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | USUM |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 | USUM |
| Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | USUM |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
| Super Fang | Normal | Physical | — | 90 | 10 | USUM |
| Tailwind | Status | — | — | 15 | USUM | |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | USUM |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | USUM |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Detect | Gen II (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Ominous Wind | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Pluck | Gen IV–V (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Razor Wind | Gen I (TM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III–IV (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
| Twister | Gen IV (tutor) |
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!10 level-up · 13 TM/HM
Zubat is back in its old Kanto haunts in Let's Go: Mt. Moon, Diglett's Cave, Rock Tunnel, the Pokémon Tower, Seafoam Islands, Victory Road and Cerulean Cave. The level-up list is trimmed to ten moves and hurried along, with Wing Attack at level 4, Swift at 12, Leech Life at 25 and Toxic at 28 before Air Slash closes things at 33. Absorb is a 40-power, 15-PP move and Mega Drain hits for 75 in these games. Its 13 TMs include Fly, U-turn, Roost and Sludge Bomb. There is no breeding, and Zubat has no tutor moves.
By level-up
| LGPE | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Absorb | Grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 4 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 9 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 12 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| 17 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 20 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 25 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| 33 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM02 | Taunt | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM05 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM07 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM08 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM12 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM14 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 | |
| TM18 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM43 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM50 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM52 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM53 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
Generation VIII · Sword & Shield (Version 1.3.0+ / The Crown Tundra), Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl13 level-up · 60 TM/HM · 16 egg · 1 tutor
Zubat can be traded into Sword and Shield from Version 1.3.0, and The Crown Tundra has it in Tunnel to the Top, the Roaring-Sea Caves and Lakeside Cave, plus Max Raid Battles around Frostpoint Field, Giant's Bed and Ballimere Lake. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl bring back its Sinnoh haunts and add the Grand Underground's caves. One level-up list covers both pairs of games, rebuilt in steps of five: Absorb and Supersonic at the start, Mean Look at 10, Poison Fang at 15, Quick Guard at 20 and Leech Life as the level-55 finale. Wing Attack and Swift drop out of the level-up list, though Wing Attack can now be inherited as an egg move. The TM, TR and Egg Move tables are split between Sword and Shield and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Sword and Shield's TRs add Agility, Crunch, Brave Bird and Venom Drench, and the Expansion Pass move tutor teaches Dual Wingbeat. Many older moves can come along from earlier games, though some, such as Pursuit, Feint Attack and Hidden Power, cannot be used in Sword and Shield.
By level-up
| SwSh/BDSP | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Absorb | Grass | Special | 20 | 100 | 25 |
| 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 5 | Astonish | Ghost | Physical | 30 | 100 | 15 |
| 10 | Mean Look | Normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 15 | Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| 20 | Quick Guard | Fighting | Status | — | — | 15 |
| 25 | Air Cutter | Special | 60 | 95 | 25 | |
| 30 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 35 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 40 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 45 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 50 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | |
| 55 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 | SwSh | |
| TM21 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TM23 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | SwSh |
| TM24 | Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM25 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TM28 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM30 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | SwSh |
| TM31 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM33 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | SwSh |
| TM34 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | SwSh |
| TM39 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | SwSh |
| TM40 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 | SwSh |
| TM56 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | SwSh |
| TM57 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM58 | Assurance | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM74 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM76 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM78 | Acrobatics | Physical | 55 | 100 | 15 | SwSh | |
| TM95 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | SwSh | |
| TR12 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | SwSh |
| TR18 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR20 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TR22 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR26 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TR27 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TR32 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR33 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR35 | Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR36 | Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR37 | Taunt | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 | SwSh |
| TR66 | Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | SwSh | |
| TR68 | Nasty Plot | Dark | Status | — | — | 20 | SwSh |
| TR69 | Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR91 | Venom Drench | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 20 | SwSh |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | BDSP |
| TM12 | Taunt | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 | BDSP |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | BDSP |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM30 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | BDSP |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | BDSP | |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | BDSP |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | BDSP |
| TM47 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | BDSP |
| TM51 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP | |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM63 | Nasty Plot | Dark | Status | — | — | 20 | BDSP |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM88 | Pluck | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | BDSP | |
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | BDSP |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM94 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 | BDSP | |
| TM97 | Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | BDSP |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curse | Ghost | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh | Farfetch'd, Galarian Farfetch'd, Sirfetch'd (chain breeding needed) |
| Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | SwSh | Galarian Farfetch'd, Sirfetch'd, Rufflet, Braviary | |
| Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | SwSh | Pidove, Tranquill, Unfezant, Woobat, Swoobat, Sigilyph, Noibat, Noivern | |
| Hypnosis | Psychic | Status | — | 60 | 20 | SwSh | Hoothoot, Noctowl, Sigilyph |
| Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 | SwSh | Wingull, Pelipper, Pidove, Tranquill, Unfezant, Archen, Archeops, Fletchling and 2 more |
| Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | SwSh | Sigilyph, Rufflet, Braviary, Noibat, Noivern |
| Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | SwSh | Aerodactyl, Skarmory, Wingull, Pelipper, Archen, Archeops, Rufflet, Braviary and 3 more | |
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | BDSP | Farfetch'd, Skarmory, Taillow, Swellow, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor | |
| Curse | Ghost | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP | Farfetch'd (chain breeding needed) |
| Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | BDSP | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Murkrow, Honchkrow | |
| Hypnosis | Psychic | Status | — | 60 | 20 | BDSP | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
| Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 | BDSP | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Doduo, Dodrio, Taillow, Swellow, Wingull and 4 more |
| Venom Drench | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 20 | BDSP | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat (the first one has to be a Zubat, Golbat or Crobat caught in the Grand Underground, where wild Pokémon can already know Egg Moves) |
| Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | BDSP | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor |
| Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | BDSP | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Aerodactyl and 10 more | |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 | BDSP | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual Wingbeat | Physical | 40 | 90 | 10 | Expansion Pass |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Confide | Gen VI–VII (TM) |
| Detect | Gen II (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Feint Attack | Gen II–VII (breeding) |
| Frustration | Gen II–VII (TM) |
| Headbutt | Gen VII (TM) |
| Hidden Power | Gen II–VII (TM) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM), Gen VII (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Ominous Wind | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Pursuit | Gen II–VII (breeding) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Razor Wind | Gen I (TM) |
| Return | Gen II–VII (TM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III–IV (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Snatch | Gen III–IV (TM), Gen V–VII (tutor) |
| Super Fang | Gen IV (tutor), Gen V (tutor, Dream World), Gen VI–VII (tutor) |
| Tailwind | Gen IV–VII (tutor) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
| Toxic | Gen I–VI (TM), Gen VII (level-up, TM) |
| Twister | Gen IV (tutor) |
Pokémon Legends: Arceus7 level-up · 8 tutor
Zubat flits through much of Hisui in Legends: Arceus: the Obsidian Fieldlands (Oreburrow Tunnel, the Heartwood and Tidewater Dam among them, plus massive mass outbreaks), the Crimson Mirelands, the Coronet Highlands' Wayward Cave and even Snowpoint Temple in the Alabaster Icelands. Moves work differently here: each has a level at which it is learned and a higher level at which it is mastered, after which it can be used in strong or agile style. Power is listed for normal, strong and agile style, and accuracy for normal and strong style. The slimmed-down seven-move list opens with Gust and Hypnosis, brings in Cross Poison at 25 and ends with Leech Life at 43. There are no TMs or breeding; the move tutor teaches eight moves, including Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb and Ominous Wind.
By level-up
| Learn | Master | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. normal / strong / agile |
Acc. normal / strong |
PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Gust | Special | 40 / 50 / 30 | 100 | 25 | |
| 6 | 15 | Hypnosis | Psychic | Status | — | 70 / 90 | 20 |
| 11 | 20 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 / 75 / 45 | 100 | 20 |
| 18 | 28 | Air Cutter | Special | 60 / 75 / 45 | 95 / 100 | 15 | |
| 25 | 35 | Cross Poison | Poison | Physical | 70 / 85 / 55 | 100 | 15 |
| 34 | 45 | Air Slash | Special | 75 / 90 / 60 | 95 / 100 | 10 | |
| 43 | 54 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 75 / 90 / 60 | 100 | 10 |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. normal / strong / agile |
Acc. normal / strong |
PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 / 75 / 45 | — | 20 | ||
| Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 75 / 90 / 60 | 100 | 10 | |
| Ominous Wind | Ghost | Special | 60 / 75 / 45 | 100 | 15 | |
| Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 | |
| Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 | |
| Swift | Normal | Special | 60 / 75 / 45 | — | 20 | |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 / 100 / 60 | 90 / 100 | 10 |
Generation IX · Scarlet & Violet
Zubat cannot be obtained in Scarlet and Violet, so it has no learnset there. Its Generation IX home is Legends: Z-A.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Version 2.0.0+ and Mega Dimension)13 level-up · 23 TM/HM
Zubat can be traded into Legends: Z-A from Version 2.0.0, and the Mega Dimension expansion has it in Hyperspace Lumiose's Poison-type and Flying-type wild zones. Moves here have no accuracy or PP: each has the level at which it is learned, a level at which it becomes a Plus Move, its power and a cooldown. The 13-move list borrows a flock of bird moves, with Gust at 5, Quick Attack at 15, Whirlwind at 18 and Hypnosis at 22 joining Bite, Wing Attack and Haze, and Leech Life closing things at 50. Values are as in this game, so Quick Attack hits for 30, Dual Wingbeat for 45 and Razor Wind for 40. Its 23 TMs range from Crunch and Heat Wave to Nasty Plot and U-turn. There is no breeding and there are no tutors.
By level-up
| Learn | Plus | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Cooldown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 6 |
| 1 | 10 | Absorb | Grass | Special | 20 | 7 |
| 5 | 8 | Gust | Special | 40 | 6 | |
| 8 | 11 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 6 |
| 12 | 15 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 6 | |
| 15 | 18 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 30 | 3 |
| 18 | 21 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 7 |
| 22 | 25 | Hypnosis | Psychic | Status | — | 10 |
| 26 | 29 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | 15 |
| 30 | 33 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 6 |
| 34 | 37 | Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 6 |
| 42 | 45 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 7 | |
| 50 | 53 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | 9 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Cooldown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM017 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | 15 |
| TM025 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 8 |
| TM027 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | 5 |
| TM035 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | 12 |
| TM042 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 9 |
| TM043 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 12 | |
| TM047 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | 12 |
| TM053 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 7 |
| TM059 | Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 8 |
| TM068 | Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 9 |
| TM074 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 8 |
| TM082 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 12 |
| TM083 | Nasty Plot | Dark | Status | — | 15 |
| TM085 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | 10 |
| TM091 | Curse | Ghost | Status | — | 15 |
| TM094 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 7 |
| TM095 | Taunt | Dark | Status | — | 12 |
| TM109 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 7 |
| TM119 | Ominous Wind | Ghost | Special | 60 | 6 |
| TM123 | Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 6 |
| TM134 | Dual Wingbeat | Physical | 45 | 6 | |
| TM139 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 10 |
| TM145 | Razor Wind | Normal | Special | 40 | 12 |
04On screen
Zubat in the anime
Debut EP006Clefairy and the Moon Stone · Its appearances on screen, and 3 other trainers who raised one.
Zubat is the anime's original cave dweller. It flapped into the show at Mt. Moon in only the sixth episode (EP006), and in the same episode Brock revealed he had caught one, the first Pokémon a main character ever caught off screen. Brock's Zubat became the group's scout, battled Team Rocket, a giant Tentacruel and Molly Hale's illusory Flaaffy, and waited until the Johto journey to evolve, finally becoming a Golbat at Dr. Anna's castle (EP165) and then a Crobat through its bond with Brock (EP196).
Ash has never owned one, but he has crossed paths with plenty. Dr. Anna's bow-wearing Zubat Mimi turned Supersonic into a medical scanner, Team Skull Grunt Rapp's Zubat lost to Ash and his friends again and again across Alola, and wild Zubat keep fluttering through caves, sewers, movies and flashbacks, as well as the Kanto-set Pokémon Origins, Generations and Evolutions.
Other trainers’ Zubat
First seen: EP006Clefairy and the Moon Stone
Evolved: EP165Hassle in the Castle
Now: A Crobat now, living at the Pewter Gym with Brock's family
Brock wasted no time. He had joined Ash only the episode before, and somewhere near the entrance to Mt. Moon he quietly caught a Zubat. Nobody saw it happen: Ash only found out when Brock sent it into battle, and he was not best pleased that he hadn't thought to catch one himself (EP006).
Its first fight set the tone. Side by side with Ash's Butterfree, Zubat whipped up a Whirlwind that turned Koffing's gas back on Team Rocket, took a Tackle from Koffing and bounced straight back, then used Supersonic to leave Ekans and Koffing so dizzy they attacked each other. Butterfree's gust did the rest and sent Jessie and James sailing off. Afterwards Zubat perched on Brock's shoulder for a helping of his special Pokémon food (EP006).
On the road through Kanto it was more helper than heavy hitter. Over Porta Vista it took on the Tentacool swarm and joined Ash's Squirtle against the giant Tentacruel, only to be knocked out (EP019). At Duplica's mansion it stood guard with Ash's Pidgeotto and spotted Team Rocket with the stolen Ditto, the first of many scouting missions (EP037). When Brock decided to stay with Professor Ivy in the Orange Islands, Zubat stayed too, waving Ash and Misty off with the rest of Brock's team (EP083).
Back on the road in Johto, Zubat's sonar became the group's search engine, even if it did not always find what it was looking for. Its Supersonic could not pick out Rochelle's stolen Donphan through the trees (EP120), and when it went looking for Arielle's Ledyba it found them along with a group of Golbat, so Brock wisely called it back (EP128). On the big screen it led off Brock's three-on-three battle against Molly Hale, confusing her illusory Flaaffy with Supersonic and landing a Wing Attack before a Thunder Shock brought it down (M03).
Its big moment came at Dr. Anna's castle. Brock proudly showed off Zubat to the doctor, whose own Zubat, Mimi, used Supersonic as an ultrasound scanner, and after a chase with Team Rocket left everyone stuck in a hidden maze, the two bats mapped it with their sound waves. Once Pineco's Self-Destruct blew the stuck door open, the Zubat blasted away Weezing's Smokescreen and Brock's Zubat confused Arbok into attacking its own side. Then it evolved into Golbat in the middle of the fight, 159 episodes after it was caught (EP165).
The new Golbat batted Arbok's Poison Sting aside with Wing Attack and helped Pikachu send Team Rocket flying, but its Supersonic was now so powerful that it scrambled Dr. Anna's laptop. Too strong for medical work, Dr. Anna said, and with that Brock's dream of staying on as her assistant was over (EP165).
As a Golbat it nursed a sick Brock (EP193) and was the only Pokémon able to resist the ancient artefacts in Control Freak!, where Brock's call made it evolve into Crobat in the middle of a chase after Team Rocket's rocket (EP196). Crobat kept scouting through the rest of Johto (EP226, EP264), then stayed behind with Brock's brother Forrest at the Pewter Gym when Brock set off for Hoenn. It was there to greet him on his return (AG177), and it even turned up in Alola to take on Team Rocket (SM042).
Personality
Brock's Zubat was a quiet professional: quick, loyal and endlessly useful. Its Supersonic doubled as sonar, which made it the group's go-to scout whenever a Pokémon went missing or Team Rocket ran off with one. Its devotion to Brock ran deep, deep enough that, as a Golbat, it used that same Supersonic to keep a feverish Brock in bed (EP193), and that bond is exactly what later turned it into a Crobat.
Moves usedWhirlwindSupersonicWing Attack
Key battles
- EP006Clefairy and the Moon Stone · vs Ekans and Koffing Won
- EP019Tentacool & Tentacruel · vs The Tentacool swarm and the giant Tentacruel Lost
- M03Pokémon 3: The Movie – Spell of the Unown: Entei · vs Flaaffy (an illusion created by the Unown) Lost
- EP165Hassle in the Castle · vs Arbok and Weezing Won
First seen: SM001Alola to New Adventure!
Rapp, one of the three Team Skull Grunts who roam Alola with Tupp and Zipp, relies entirely on Zubat, her only known Pokémon. In her very first appearance she sent out three at once, the only time she has used more than one, and their Leech Life on Kiawe's Turtonator ended with everything swept away by Inferno Overdrive (SM001). From then on a single Zubat was her partner in a long and colourful losing streak: Delia and Ash at the Pokémon School open house (SM024), the Totem Alolan Raticate, which shrugged off Supersonic (SM025), Ilima's Eevee (SM065), Mina's Ribombee, which fired a Pollen Puff into its mouth after Rapp had drawn a cute portrait of it (SM084), and Hapu's Mudsdale (SM104). It never evolved, and it was still at her side when Ash's Alolan adventure came to an end (SM146).
- SM001Alola to New Adventure! · vs Pikachu and Turtonator Lost
- SM024Alolan Open House! · vs Litten, Pikachu and Rockruff Lost
- SM025A Team-on-Team Tussle! · vs Totem Alolan Raticate Lost
- SM065Turning Heads and Training Hard! · vs Eevee Lost
- SM084The Shape of Love to Come! · vs Ribombee, Poipole and Pikachu Lost
- SM099We Know Where You're Going, Eevee! · vs Eevee and Popplio Lost
- SM104That's Some Spicy Island Research! · vs Mudsdale Lost
- SM128League Offenders and Defenders! · vs Rowlet and Decidueye Lost
First seen: EP165Hassle in the Castle
Dr. Anna runs a clinic where Pokémon help treat people, and her Zubat Mimi, a female who wears a green bow, uses Supersonic like an ultrasound scanner to see inside her patients. When a chase with Team Rocket sent Dr. Anna, Brock and both their Zubat sliding into a hidden maze beneath the castle, Mimi's sound waves fed a map of the passages to Dr. Anna's laptop. Once everyone was free, Mimi and Brock's Zubat blew away Weezing's Smokescreen together, moments before Brock's Zubat evolved. Her name probably comes from mimi, the Japanese word for 'ear' (EP165).
- EP165Hassle in the Castle · vs Arbok and Weezing Won
Ash & Zubat
Ash has never caught a Zubat, though he wished he had the moment Brock revealed the one he had quietly caught outside Mt. Moon (EP006). That same episode, Pikachu's Thunder Shock drove off a swarm that was mobbing the scientist Seymour, and Ash's Pokédex gave him his first entry on the species. In Alola he and Pikachu clashed with Team Skull Grunt Rapp's Zubat again and again, from his very first Alolan episode (SM001) to the opening of the Manalo Conference (SM128).
Featured episodes
- EP006Clefairy and the Moon StoneAt the foot of Mt. Moon a swarm of wild Zubat mobs the scientist Seymour until Pikachu's Thunder Shock sends them packing. Seymour explains that strong lights in the cave have been upsetting its Pokémon.
- DP109Leading a Stray!In the sewers beneath Canalave City, a group of Zubat are among the wild Pokémon who help a Luxio look after a Wailmer that has ended up stranded in the drains.
More appearances
- AG176The Ole' Berate and Switch! When the tournament's officials turn out to be a horde of Team Rocket Grunts, one of them has a Zubat.
- AG191Once More With Reeling! A Coordinator's Zubat competes in the Terracotta Contest.
- SM008Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge! A Zubat plays in Lillie's garden; it is there again in The Ol' Raise and Switch! (SM030).
- SM009To Top a Totem! A flock of Zubat is flying overhead as a Psyduck tumbles out of the sky.
- SM090Securing the Future! A Trainer's Zubat joins the people and Pokémon of Alola in sending their light to Necrozma so that it can return to normal.
Beyond the main series
Anime gallery
Anime trivia
- Brock's Zubat took its time: caught at Mt. Moon (EP006), it didn't evolve until Hassle in the Castle (EP165), well into the Johto journey.
- Zubat was the first Pokémon a main character ever caught off screen. Brock caught it one episode after his debut, quicker than any other main character, Ash included (EP006).
- Dub slip: in the English version of Clefairy and the Moon Stone, Brock tells Zubat to use Double Team, yet it uses Whirlwind. In Japanese he simply tells it to team up with Ash's Butterfree (EP006).
- Brock's Zubat was the first main character's Pokémon to evolve in the middle of a fight with Team Rocket (EP165), and as a Golbat it became the first to evolve through friendship (EP196).
- Dr. Anna's Zubat Mimi uses Supersonic as a medical ultrasound – fittingly, mimi is the Japanese word for 'ear' (EP165).
- Rapp's Zubat was knocked out by Mudsdale's High Horsepower, even though a Ground-type move should never touch a Flying-type Pokémon (SM104).
“Zubat, Flying Pokémon with supersonic powers. Zubat live in caves and hate to fly outside in daylight.”
Ash's Pokédex (Dexter) · EP006
05On the big screen
Zubat in the movies
1 film, 2 Pikachu shorts featuring Zubat.
On the big screen, Zubat mostly means Brock's Zubat, the bat he caught at Mt. Moon early in the TV series. It stretches its wings on a Big Town rooftop in the Pikachu short Pikachu & Pichu, and its one real film battle comes in Spell of the Unown, where it opens Brock's match against Molly Hale with Supersonic and Wing Attack, only for her Flaaffy to bring it down with Thunder Shock.
The same bat kept flying for Brock after it evolved. As a Golbat it joins the fight to keep Mewtwo from Giovanni in the TV special Mewtwo Returns, and as a Crobat it is sent to find Ash in Celebi – Voice of the Forest and called on again in Pokémon Heroes. In 2025 wild Zubat finally got a role they were made for: a swarm that spooks a boy in a dark forest at night in the POKÉTOON short Murkrow and the Nighttime Adventure.
Pokémon 3: The Movie – Spell of the Unown
M03 · 2000
Brock's Zubat
This is Zubat's one proper big-screen battle. Inside the crystal tower that has swallowed the Hale mansion, Brock stays behind so Ash can keep climbing to rescue his mum, and Entei conjures a battlefield for a three-on-three match against Molly Hale. Brock leads with Zubat. A crystal Poké Ball forms in Molly's hand and releases a Flaaffy.
Zubat gets off to a flying start, confusing Flaaffy with Supersonic and swooping in with Wing Attack. Flaaffy sways out of the way, though, and before Zubat can turn round it is knocked out by Thunder Shock. Brock sends in Vulpix to carry on the fight.
Pikachu shorts
- PK07Pikachu & Pichu (2000) · Brock's Zubat
Left on a rooftop high above Big Town while their Trainers are busy getting something ready, the Pokémon make themselves at home. The Water types dive straight into the fountain, and Brock's Zubat spreads its wings. The short played before Spell of the Unown, the film where Zubat battles Molly's Flaaffy. - PT17Murkrow and the Nighttime Adventure (POKÉTOON) (2025) · A swarm of wild Zubat
Zubat play the spooky part they were born for. When young Hiro follows a mysterious Murkrow into a dark forest at night, a swarm of Zubat gives him a fright, and so do an Ekans in a tree and a Spinarak. He presses on anyway, and when he trips over a tree root, his Aipom, who has followed him with Cyndaquil, catches him before he hits the ground.
06Trading Card Game · every card
Zubat in the Pokémon TCG
41 cards since 1999, oldest first. Tap any card to see it full size.
Zubat first flapped onto the table in Japan's Mystery of the Fossils in June 1997, and English players met it in Fossil in October 1999. It has turned up in every era of the game since, nearly always as a humble Basic with a Bite, a Supersonic or a splash of poison. Its type follows the game's changing home for Poison Pokémon: Grass from Fossil to EX Delta Species, Psychic from Mysterious Treasures to Unbroken Bonds, and Darkness from Battle Styles onwards. In almost three decades its HP has never climbed above 50, and there has never been a Zubat ex, V or Mega. What it does have is owners: Brock's and Koga's Zubat in the Gym sets, and Team Rocket's Zubat in Destined Rivals, which at last gives the bat Rocket Grunts so often send out in the games a card of its own.
The designers clearly enjoy Zubat's echolocation and sneaky habits. Surprise and Astonish make cards vanish from your opponent's hand, Revealing Echo on the 151 card makes them show it to you, and Hide in Shadows lets Zubat slip away to the Bench. The artist roll-call reads like a history of the hobby: Kagemaru Himeno and Mitsuhiro Arita in the early years, Ken Sugimori on three cards, a new artist on each EX-era card, and newer illustrators such as Scav, osare, toi8 and Mékayu today. TCG Pocket has carried four of those modern artworks into the app and added one new painting, Taiga Kasai's Shiny Rare.
Cards to know
- Fossil 57/62 — Zubat's English debut, painted by Kagemaru Himeno. Leech Life lets it heal as it bites, and the Japanese print gets the artist's name wrong.
- Gym Heroes 24/132 (Brock's Zubat) — Level 5 and just 30 HP, yet printed as a Rare: the frailest Zubat ever, and one of Gym Heroes' notorious 'common rares'.
- Gym Challenge 83/132 (Koga's Zubat) — A whole swarm in one attack: Group Attack calls Koga's Zubat out of your deck and hits harder for each one. Shame the card can't spell the plural.
- Phantom Forces 31/119 — match's Zubat is the most travelled artwork of the lot: a Generations reprint, a Japanese Card Gym promo, and the very first Zubat in TCG Pocket.
- 151 041/165 — A blind bat that reads your hand: Revealing Echo turns Zubat's echolocation into a peek at your opponent's cards.
- Destined Rivals 120/182 (Team Rocket's Zubat) — Rocket Grunts lean on Zubat throughout the games, and this card finally makes it official, with a female Grunt sharing the art.
Every English-language card
Promo cards
Japan-exclusive cards
Pokémon TCG Pocket
Digital card games
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy Color): Zubat (Fossil 57 art, Kagemaru Himeno), card D03, from the Laboratory booster pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Zubat (Fossil 57 art, Kagemaru Himeno), card C04, in the Island of Fossil pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Zubat (Vending Expansion Sheet 1 art, Aya Kusube), card F02, Common, in the Sky Flying Pokémon pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Zubat (Team Rocket 70 art, Mitsuhiro Arita), card H04, in the Team Rocket's Ambition pack.
The artists behind the cards
- Ken Sugimori — 3 (Brock's Zubat Gym Heroes 24, Koga's Zubat Gym Challenge 83, Mysterious Treasures 108)
- Kagemaru Himeno — 2 (Fossil 57, Plasma Storm 52)
- match — 1 (Phantom Forces 31), reprinted in Generations and as a Japanese Card Gym promo, and reused for TCG Pocket's Genetic Apex 172
- Sekio — 1 (Unbroken Bonds 64), reused for TCG Pocket's Triumphant Light 048
- Shigenori Negishi — 1 (Silver Tempest 103), reused for TCG Pocket's Wisdom of Sea and Sky 107
- Scav — 1 (151 041), reused for TCG Pocket's Pulsing Aura 098
- One artwork each: Mitsuhiro Arita, Aya Kusube (Japan only), Atsuko Nishida, Yukiko Baba, Hisao Nakamura, Kyoko Umemoto, Midori Harada, Miki Tanaka, Sachiko Adachi, Tomokazu Komiya, Masakazu Fukuda, kawayoo, Mizue, Satoshi Shirai, Asako Ito, Sumiyoshi Kizuki, osare, toi8, Mékayu; plus Taiga Kasai's Shiny Rare in TCG Pocket
07On the page & beyond
Zubat in manga, books & other media
From the earliest manga to story books and songs.
In print, Zubat started out as a thief. In the fourth chapter of Kosaku Anakubo's Pocket Monsters (CoroCoro, September 1996), one swipes Clefairy's fish, evolves mid-scuffle and ends up in Green's Poké Ball as a Golbat. Since then it has haunted the caves of Pokémon Adventures, worked for villains like Mars and Proton, steered Dr. Anna through a castle maze in Ash & Pikachu, and found a Koffing hidden in a smokescreen by echolocation in Yeah! I Got Pokémon!.
On the bookshelf it clings to a Pikachu in the Pokémon Snap story guide, lets Brock down in Go West, Young Ash, and closes the 2008 All-New Collector's Sticker Book, which runs 'from Abomasnow to Zubat'. In music, it opens Tuesday's verse of the English Pokérap and turns up in the very first verse of Japan's Pokémon Ieru Kana?. Off the page, KFC sold it as a beanbag in 1998, and in 2020 a hoax paper blaming a Cyllage City outbreak on eating Zubat made it into a journal before being withdrawn.
Manga
Books
Other media
More from the page
08Did you know?
Zubat trivia
Name origins, design secrets and the facts that make Zubat such a fan favourite.
What’s in a name?
Zubat goes by much the same name in English and Japanese, where it is written ズバット (Zubatto). One half is plain 'bat'; the other is ずばっと zubatto, a punchy Japanese word meaning 'piercingly' – just right for a Pokémon whose ultrasonic shrieks cut through the dark. It is also a name with heritage: Zubat is the masked hero of Kaiketsu Zubat, a Japanese tokusatsu series from 1977. Other languages go full horror film or full science lesson: in French it is Nosferapti, from Nosferatu and petit ('little'), while its Chinese name 超音蝠 Chāoyīnfú means 'ultrasound bat'.
Design origins
Zubat is unmistakably a bat, and most likely a nod to the vampire bat, the real animal that feeds on other creatures' blood. That may explain its Poison typing too: vampire-bat saliva contains anticoagulants that keep blood from clotting, and bats have long been linked with diseases such as rabies. Its missing eyes recall troglomorphism – the way cave animals lose their eyes over many generations underground – while also playing on the old 'blind as a bat' myth, born of bats' echolocation even though real bats are not blind. And its horror of sunlight, which can actually burn its skin, comes straight out of vampire legend.
Names around the world
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ズバット Zubatto | From 'bat' and ずばっと zubatto (piercingly) |
| French | Nosferapti | From Nosferatu and petit (little) |
| German | Zubat | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| Spanish | Zubat | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| Italian | Zubat | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Zubat | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| Korean | 주뱃 Zubat | Transcription of the Japanese name |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 超音蝠 Chāoyīnfú | From 超音波 chāoyīnbō (ultrasound) and 蝠 fú (bat) |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 超音蝠 Chīuyāmfūk | From 超音波 chīuyāmbō (ultrasound) and 蝠 fūk (bat); pre-Gen VII media used 波音蝠 Bōyāmfūk, from 音波 yāmbō (sound wave) and 蝠 fūk (bat) |
| Russian | Зубат Zubat | Transcription of the English name |
| Thai | ซูแบท Subaet | Transcription of the Japanese name |
| Hindi | ज़ूबैट Zubat | Transcription of the English name |
| Lithuanian | Zubatas | From the English name |
Did you know?
- No other family shares the Poison/Flying combination: Zubat, Golbat and Crobat have it all to themselves.
- They are also the only Poison-type Pokémon in the Flying Egg Group.
- Zubat has no eyes at all – yet it can learn Mean Look.
- Alpha Pokémon in Legends: Arceus glare with glowing red eyes, except Zubat, which has none. In Legends: Z-A it shares that quirk only with Greavard.
- In Pokémon GO, Shadow Zubat and Shadow Steelix are the rare Shadow Pokémon without glowing red eyes.
- Its base Sp. Atk of 30 is the lowest of any Flying type, tied with Taillow, Starly, Combee and Pikipek.
- Zubat and Noibat are near twins: both are bats with Infiltrator, a 245 base stat total, a 1 Speed EV yield and a green Shiny – just with Attack and Sp. Atk swapped.
- Woobat's family mirrors Zubat's: cave-dwelling bats with no visible eyes when unevolved, a friendship evolution and green Shiny colours.
- Gender differences arrived in Generation IV, and Zubat got one: males have bigger fangs than females.
- Its first trading card, Fossil's Zubat (1997), is a Grass-type card – the early TCG had no Poison type – and Japanese prints misspell artist Kagemaru Himeno's name as 'Kagenaru'.
- In Gold and Silver, rival Silver's Zubat has become a Crobat by the final rematches – a friendship evolution that shows he has started treating his Pokémon with care.
- Golbat can't become Crobat in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, because Crobat isn't in those games; in FireRed and LeafGreen you need the National Pokédex first.
- In Pokémon Conquest, Zubat evolves into Golbat as soon as its Speed reaches 55.
- Diamond and Pearl's Super Contests feature dressed-up rival Zubat called Batty and Midnight.
- Its French name, Nosferapti, means 'little Nosferatu' – and in Japan, Zubat is also the hero of the 1977 tokusatsu series Kaiketsu Zubat.
09Quizzes, archive & further reading
More Zubat
Test yourself
Professor Oak's Kanto Quiz: BeginnerProfessor Oak has a few questions before you set foot in the tall grass. How well do you know the region where it all began?Take the quiz →
Who's That Pokémon? Kanto: BeginnerIt's the classic challenge! Can you name these original 151 Pokémon from their silhouettes alone?Take the quiz →
Indigo League Anime: IntermediateGrab your cap and set off on Ash's very first adventure. How much do you remember from the Indigo League days?Take the quiz →
Pokémon Movies: IntermediateFrom a mysterious island showdown to a city where people and Pokémon live side by side, how well do you know Pokémon on the big screen?Take the quiz →
Pokémon TCG: IntermediateShuffle up and draw! From the very first booster packs to the digital age, how well do you know the Pokémon Trading Card Game?Take the quiz →Pokémon General Knowledge: IntermediateReady to dig deeper? Test what you know about where Pokémon came from, the people behind it and its many spin-offs.Take the quiz →From the archive: Gengar’s Online Pokédex
Before this page, Pokémon Dungeon was home to Gengar’s Online Pokédex, the classic fan Pokédex for Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver & Crystal by Curtis Alumbaugh (Gengar) with Ian Alumbaugh (Haunter). Its Zubat entry is preserved in full, with its original art, moves and locations.
Further reading
Pokémon and all related names, artwork, sprites, screenshots and card images are © Nintendo, Creatures Inc., GAME FREAK inc. and The Pokémon Company, used here for fan commentary. Images via the Bulbagarden Archives. Page updated 28 October 2026.