deerling
Generation V · #0585 — Season Pokémon
Deerling, known as the Season Pokémon, is a dual-type Normal/Grass Pokémon introduced in Generation V that stands as one of the most visually distinctive creatures in the National Pokédex. With a National Pokédex number of 585, Deerling is renowned for its remarkable ability to change its appearance and even scent based on seasonal variations, making it a natural calendar for trainers and researchers alike. This small deer-like Pokémon, measuring just 0.6 meters in height and weighing a modest 19.5 kilograms, exemplifies the connection between Pokémon and nature's cycles. The spring form displays a delicate pink coloration that gives way to other seasonal appearances, with the Pokédex entries noting that people have historically used Deerling to mark the passing seasons. Its approachable base friendship value of 70 and relatively high capture rate of 190 make it an accessible Pokémon for trainers seeking a seasonal companion.
Base Stats
Height
0.6m
Weight
19.5kg
Category
Season Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
pink
Shape
quadruped
Abilities
Doubles Speed during strong sunlight.
Absorbs grass moves, raising Attack one stage.
Doubles the chance of moves' extra effects occurring.
Deerling Biology & Physical Characteristics
Deerling in its spring form presents a striking appearance dominated by soft pink coloring across its upper body, contrasting beautifully with a peachy underside. The Pokémon features distinctive yellow patterning that forms a decorative rim around its body, with a prominent yellow floral tuft adorning its head that conceals small antlers underneath. Its ears are tapered and similarly decorated with yellow coloration on their inner surfaces, while the tips of all four limbs are colored black, and its small pink tail completes the delicate aesthetic. This spring form corresponds to the South Province in the Scarlet and Violet games, representing the Pokémon at its most gentle and refined. According to Pokédex entries from multiple generations, the color and scent of Deerling's fur change to match its environment and the season, a remarkable biological adaptation influenced not only by the calendar but also by temperature and humidity levels. The spring form specifically emanates a delicate, sweet, and calming scent that distinguishes it from its seasonal counterparts, making each form of Deerling recognizable through multiple senses.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Deerling Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Deerling exhibits an even gender distribution with exactly 50% male and 50% female individuals in wild populations and breeding scenarios. The species belongs to the Field egg group, classifying it among terrestrial Pokémon that breed through conventional methods requiring compatible breeding partners. With an egg hatching counter of 20 cycles—approximately 4,884 to 5,140 steps of overworld travel—Deerling eggs require moderate incubation time, making them reasonably accessible for breeders seeking to develop competitive specimens. The base friendship value of 70 positions Deerling as moderately friendly at capture, though players can increase this value through consistent interaction and battle experience to optimize breeding outcomes. The balanced gender ratio means that both male and female Deerling are equally probable encounters, and for breeding purposes, trainers can utilize either gender with Ditto or compatible Field group partners. The species' medium-fast growth rate ensures that newly hatched Deerling reach competitive levels at a reasonable pace, making bred specimens viable for trainers who wish to develop Sawsbuck relatively quickly.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm01
ultra sun ultra moon
tm01
sun moon
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm03
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm05
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm06
yellow
tm06
gold silver
tm06
red blue
tm06
crystal
tm06
emerald
tm06
firered leafgreen
tm06
diamond pearl
tm06
platinum
tm06
ruby sapphire
tm06
colosseum
tm06
black 2 white 2
tm06
xd
tm06
black white
+535 more TMs/HMs
Forms
springDefault
summer
autumn
winterdeerling's Evolution Chain
Deerling Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Deerling evolves into Sawsbuck upon reaching level 34, a transformation that maintains its dual Normal/Grass typing while significantly enhancing its physical capabilities. The evolution represents the maturation of this seasonal Pokémon into a more formidable form, with Sawsbuck gaining substantial increases in all base stats, particularly in attack and special attack, making it considerably more viable for competitive battle. Like Deerling, Sawsbuck retains the ability to change seasonal forms, though with different visual characteristics that reflect its more mature deer-like appearance. The evolution occurs regardless of which seasonal form the Deerling is currently in, suggesting that the evolutionary trigger at level 34 is more related to biological maturation than seasonal factors. Trainers should note that this evolution is straightforward and inevitable at the specified level with no alternative evolution paths, making the Deerling line a linear progression rather than a branching evolutionary family.
Where to Find
unova route 6
unova
+19 more
dragonspiral tower
unova
+11 more
unova route 7
unova
+5 more
Deerling Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Deerling exhibits notably gentle and non-confrontational behavior, preferring to conceal itself in tall grass when sensing hostility from potential threats rather than engaging defensively. The species is naturally gregarious, moving in herds across mountainous and grassland regions, which allows for safety in numbers and shared foraging opportunities. According to Pokédex entries, when Deerling senses animosity, it will immediately hide in the grass, demonstrating an inherently cautious nature that belies its adorable appearance. However, the Scarlet and Violet Pokédex entries note that Deerling is not particularly shy and will behave as it pleases even in front of people, suggesting a confidence within appropriate social contexts. These Pokémon show a remarkable capacity for forming bonds with those who feed them, quickly developing affection toward considerate trainers. Their herding behavior and preference for grassland habitats make them well-suited to open mountain regions where seasonal changes are most pronounced, allowing their color-changing abilities to provide maximum adaptive advantage throughout the year.
Pokedex Entries
The color and scent of their fur changes to match the mountain grass. When they sense hostility, they hide in the grass.
Their coloring changes according to the seasons and can be slightly affected by the temperature and humidity as well.
The turning of the seasons changes the color and scent of this Pokémon’s fur. People use it to mark the seasons.
Their coloring changes according to the seasons and can be slightly affected by the temperature and humidity as well.
The turning of the seasons changes the color and scent of this Pokémon’s fur. People use it to mark the seasons.
Their coloring changes according to the seasons and can be slightly affected by the temperature and humidity as well.
The turning of the seasons changes the color and scent of this Pokémon’s fur. People use it to mark the seasons.
Deerling Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Deerling combines 'deer' with the diminutive suffix '-ling,' emphasizing the Pokémon's youthful, fawn-like appearance and its connection to seasonal cycles. The Japanese name Shikijika (シキジカ) derives from 'shiki' meaning season and 'jika' meaning deer, directly encoding the Pokémon's seasonal nature into its nomenclature. The spring form's design draws inspiration from young deer fawns found in temperate regions, with the soft pink coloration evoking the delicate beauty of spring blossoms and new growth. The yellow floral tuft on its head serves as a visual representation of spring flowers, while the overall color palette and gentle demeanor reflect the rejuvenation and softness associated with the season of renewal. The presence of four distinct seasonal forms represents a unique design achievement in the Pokémon franchise, requiring developers to create entirely separate visual identities for each form while maintaining recognizable core elements. This design philosophy extends to subtle elements like scent variations, showing Pokémon Game Freak's commitment to creating multisensory seasonal representations through a single species.
Learnable Moves
Deerling can learn 71 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| agility | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| aromatherapy | grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| baton pass | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| bounce | flying | Physical | 85 | 85 | 5 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| bullet seed | grass | Physical | 25 | 100 | 30 |
| camouflage | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| charm | fairy | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double kick | fighting | Physical | 30 | 100 | 30 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| echoed voice | normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| energy ball | grass | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fake tears | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| feint attack | dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| flash | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| giga drain | grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| grass whistle | grass | Status | — | 55 | 15 |
| grassy glide | grass | Physical | 55 | 100 | 20 |
| grassy terrain | grass | Status | — | — | 10 |
| growl | normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| jump kick | fighting | Physical | 100 | 95 | 10 |
| last resort | normal | Physical | 140 | 100 | 5 |
| leaf storm | grass | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 |
| leech seed | grass | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| light screen | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| magical leaf | grass | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| nature power | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| odor sleuth | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| play rough | fairy | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| retaliate | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| safeguard | normal | Status | — | — | 25 |
| sand attack | ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| seed bomb | grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| shadow ball | ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| solar beam | grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| synthesis | grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| tackle | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thunder wave | electric | Status | — | 90 | 20 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| wild charge | electric | Physical | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| work up | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| worry seed | grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| zen headbutt | psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 |
Deerling Competitive Battle Guide
Deerling's competitive viability is largely limited due to its modest base stat total of 335, with individual stats that lack specialization. The highest stat is speed at 75, which provides some utility in outrunning slower opponents, while attack and HP are both at 60, leaving Deerling's offensive and defensive capabilities relatively underdeveloped. Special attack stands at a notably low 40, making special-based movesets impractical, while defense and special defense at 50 each provide minimal bulk. However, Deerling's abilities offer some competitive potential: Chlorophyll doubles speed during strong sunlight, effectively bringing its speed stat to 150 in favorable weather conditions; Sap Sipper absorbs grass-type moves and increases attack by one stage, providing both defensive coverage and offensive benefits against grass-type opponents; and the hidden ability Serene Grace doubles the chance of moves' secondary effects occurring, potentially enabling status-accumulation strategies. Most competitive trainers view Deerling as a niche pick rather than a meta-relevant choice, instead preferring to evolve it into Sawsbuck at level 34, where significantly improved stats transform it into a legitimate midtier competitive option with genuine threatening potential.
Commonly Asked Questions About Deerling
What type is Deerling?
Deerling is a normal and grass type Pokemon.
What does Deerling evolve into?
Deerling evolves into sawsbuck.
What are Deerling's weaknesses?
Deerling is weak to fighting, flying, poison, bug, fire and ice type moves.
Where can I find Deerling?
Deerling can be found in unova route 6 (unova), dragonspiral tower (unova) and unova route 7 (unova).
Deerling Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Deerling holds a special place in Pokémon culture as the franchise's most direct representation of seasonal change and the passage of time within the game world. The Pokémon's seasonal forms became iconic imagery for Generation V's Unova region, representing the developers' ambition to create Pokémon that embodied natural cycles rather than static designs. Players and fans have celebrated Deerling for its aesthetic diversity, with each seasonal form attracting dedicated supporters who prefer particular color schemes and accompanying scents. The design philosophy behind Deerling inspired subsequent generations to explore form-changing mechanics, influencing the development of Pokémon like Wishiwashi and Morpeko that utilize environmental or conditional transformations. In popular fan communities, Deerling's spring form remains particularly beloved for its gentle pink coloration and delicate floral imagery, making it a recurring subject of fan art and merchandise. The species' role in Scarlet and Violet as region-locked forms tied to specific provinces renewed interest in the species among newer players, introducing a generation of trainers to Deerling's unique seasonal mechanics. Its presence across multiple generations and regions has solidified its status as a beloved and recognizable member of the broader Pokémon franchise.
Where to Find Deerling in Every Pokémon Game
Deerling was first available to players in Generation V's Pokémon Black and White versions, where it could be encountered in the wild and its seasonal form would dynamically change based on the real-world date and the game console's internal calendar system. This dynamic mechanic created a unique real-time gameplay experience where trainers encountered different Deerling forms depending on when they played. From Generation VI through Generation VIII, Deerling's availability became restricted, with only the spring form appearing in wild encounters, while other seasonal forms became obtainable exclusively through Pokémon Bank transfers from Generation V games or from Pokémon GO transfers. The introduction of Pokémon Legends: Arceus and subsequent titles saw limited availability, though the major shift came with Scarlet and Violet, which reintroduced location-based form variation—spring form in the South Province, summer in the East Province, autumn in the West Province, and winter in the North Province. Additionally, Pokémon GO introduced regional availability with seasonal form variations based on the player's real-world location. The Indigo Disk DLC for Scarlet and Violet made Deerling available through transfers and in-game encounters. Trainers seeking specific Deerling forms should consult generation-specific availability guides, as form access remains variable depending on the game title and distribution method chosen.