piloswine #221
Type Matchups
Weak to (2x damage):
Resistant to (½x damage):
Immune to (0x damage):
piloswine
Generation II · #0221 — Swine Pokémon
Piloswine is a dual-type Ice/Ground Pokémon introduced in Generation II, occupying the National Pokédex slot #221. As the evolved form of Swinub, it represents the intermediate stage in a three-part evolutionary line culminating in the powerful Mamoswine. This sturdy Swine Pokémon boasts a well-balanced stat distribution with a total base stat of 450, featuring equally strong HP and Attack values of 100 each, making it a respectable combatant in its own right. With a catch rate of 75 and base happiness of 70, Piloswine proves to be a moderately accessible and friendly addition to any trainer's roster. The species follows a slow growth rate and requires 20 egg cycles to hatch, positioning it as a long-term investment for dedicated trainers who appreciate the rewards of patience and perseverance.
Base Stats
Height
1.1m
Weight
55.8kg
Category
Swine Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
brown
Shape
quadruped
Habitat
cave
Abilities
Prevents infatuation and protects against captivate.
Increases evasion to 1.25× during hail. Protects against hail damage.
Halves damage from fire and ice moves.
Piloswine Biology & Physical Characteristics
Piloswine is a large, bulky porcine Pokémon covered entirely in a thick coat of long, shaggy brown fur that serves as its primary defense against harsh arctic climates. The most striking feature of its anatomy is the prominent hump on its back, which stores energy reserves for survival in frozen environments. Its most formidable weapons are two tusks composed of ice, which thicken considerably during snowfall and are noticeably larger on male specimens than their female counterparts. Despite possessing two beady eyes, these are almost perpetually obscured by tufts of fur, severely limiting its vision and forcing Piloswine to rely heavily on its sensitive pig-like nose to navigate its surroundings. Its floppy ears are remarkably sensitive to sound, serving as an additional sensory organ to compensate for its poor eyesight. The Pokémon's short legs are adorned with rugged hooves that provide exceptional traction on ice, allowing it to traverse treacherous frozen terrain without slipping. These compact but powerful limbs support its impressive weight of 55.8 kilograms across a frame standing 1.1 meters tall.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Piloswine Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Piloswine maintains a perfectly balanced gender ratio of 50% male to 50% female, allowing trainers equal opportunity to obtain either sex. The species belongs to the Field egg group, making it compatible with a wide variety of other Pokémon for breeding purposes and enabling strategic team composition planning. Sexual dimorphism is notably visible in Piloswine, with males displaying significantly larger and more prominent tusks compared to their female counterparts, reflecting a common pattern in many mammalian species where males exhibit more exaggerated weaponry. This physical distinction adds biological depth to the species and provides visual feedback about an individual Piloswine's sex without requiring menu navigation. The base happiness value of 70 indicates that Piloswine bonds reasonably well with trainers, though not as quickly as some other species with higher friendship values. With an egg hatch counter of 20 cycles, breeding Piloswine requires a moderate time investment, translating to approximately 4,884 to 5,140 steps to hatch a Swinub egg, making it accessible to patient breeders seeking to establish optimal individuals with desired natures and IVs.
Held Items
Sprites
Held Items
aspear-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when frozen to cure frozen.
Cost: 80
aspear-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when frozen to cure frozen.
Cost: 80
never-melt-ice
type-enhancement
Held: Ice-Type moves from holder do 20% more damage.
Cost: 1000
never-melt-ice
type-enhancement
Held: Ice-Type moves from holder do 20% more damage.
Cost: 1000
TMs & HMs
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm03
crystal
tm03
gold silver
tm05
ruby sapphire
tm05
emerald
tm05
gold silver
tm05
crystal
tm05
diamond pearl
tm05
black white
tm05
platinum
tm05
heartgold soulsilver
tm05
firered leafgreen
tm05
black 2 white 2
tm05
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm05
x y
tm05
xd
tm05
colosseum
tm05
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
+656 more TMs/HMs
Gender Differences
This Pokémon has visible differences between male and female forms.
piloswine's Evolution Chain
Piloswine Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Piloswine evolves from Swinub upon reaching level 33, representing a significant power increase from its pre-evolved form. The transformation into Piloswine marks the development of more pronounced tusks and a fuller, more impressive coat of fur. However, Piloswine is not the final stage of evolution; it can evolve further into the formidable Mamoswine when leveled up while knowing the move Ancient Power. This unique evolutionary requirement distinguishes Piloswine's evolutionary line from many others, as it necessitates trainers to teach their Piloswine the move Ancient Power before achieving the final evolution. This special condition was introduced in Generation IV, adding a strategic layer to team development and encouraging players to engage with move tutors and breeding mechanics. The evolution into Mamoswine results in a substantially more powerful Pokémon with increased stats across the board, making the journey through Piloswine's intermediate stage a worthwhile stepping stone for those seeking to harness the full potential of this ancient lineage.
Where to Find
sinnoh route 217
sinnoh
+1 more
giant chasm
unova
+43 more
frost cavern
kalos
+13 more
Piloswine Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Due to its severely compromised vision, Piloswine exhibits a distinctive charging behavior, repeatedly barreling forward in a generally forward direction while using its heightened senses to interact with its environment. As it charges, the hairs across its back stand up straight in a dramatic warning display, signaling its aggressive intent to potential threats and rivals. This Pokémon is primarily found in harsh, glacial environments including icy caves, mountainous regions, and frozen tundra where its insulating coat allows it to thrive where other Pokémon would perish. Piloswine spends much of its time foraging for sustenance buried beneath snow and ice, employing its powerful tusks to excavate frozen ground and locate hidden food sources. The thick coat of long hair that enables its survival in freezing cold paradoxically becomes a liability in combat and navigation, as numerous Pokédex entries confirm that this same fur obscures its sight, resulting in an almost compulsive tendency to charge repeatedly at enemies. Its sensitivity to sound makes it particularly attentive to auditory stimuli, though this heightened hearing cannot fully compensate for its vision limitations.
Pokedex Entries
Generation II
Because the long hair all over its body obscures its sight, it just keeps charging repeatedly.
If it charges at an enemy, the hairs on its back stand up straight. It is very sensi tive to sound.
Although its legs are short, its rugged hooves prevent it from slipping, even on icy ground.
Generation III
PILOSWINE is covered by a thick coat of long hair that enables it to endure the freezing cold. This POKéMON uses its tusks to dig up food that has been buried under ice.
A PILOSWINE is covered by a thick coat of long hair for enduring freezing cold. It uses its tusks to dig up food that has been buried under ice.
If it charges at an enemy, the hairs on its back stand up straight. It is very sensitive to sound.
Because the long hair all over its body obscures its sight, it just keeps charging repeatedly.
Generation IV
Its shaggy coat makes it unable to see. It checks surroundings with its sensitive nose instead.
Covered by a shaggy coat, it is strong against the cold. Its tusks of ice thicken when it snows.
Because the long hair all over its body obscures its sight, it just keeps charging repeatedly.
If it charges at an enemy, the hairs on its back stand up straight. It is very sensitive to sound.
Generation V
Covered by a shaggy coat, it is strong against the cold. Its tusks of ice thicken when it snows.
With its excellent sense of smell, it’s even able to find mushrooms that are buried under frozen ground.
Generation VI
Although its legs are short, its rugged hooves prevent it from slipping, even on icy ground.
Because the long hair all over its body obscures its sight, it just keeps charging repeatedly.
Piloswine is covered by a thick coat of long hair that enables it to endure the freezing cold. This Pokémon uses its tusks to dig up food that has been buried under ice.
Piloswine is covered by a thick coat of long hair that enables it to endure the freezing cold. This Pokémon uses its tusks to dig up food that has been buried under ice.
Generation VIII
If it charges at an enemy, the hairs on its back stand up straight. It is very sensitive to sound.
Although its legs are short, its rugged hooves prevent it from slipping, even on icy ground.
The long fur of this Pokémon covers its eyes, ears, and even limbs, allowing Piloswine to resist harshly frigid conditions. The Pokémon's white tusks can be used to defeat its enemies.
Piloswine Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Piloswine derives from a combination of "pilo," referencing its characteristic long hair or pilosity, and "swine," which directly identifies its porcine nature. The Japanese name, Inomoo (イノムー), combines "inoshishi" (wild boar) with a suffix suggesting its woolly appearance, emphasizing both its biological classification and its distinctive fur-covered physiology. Visually, Piloswine draws inspiration from prehistoric woolly mammals such as the woolly mammoth and musk ox, creatures that similarly adapted to ice-age conditions through dense fur coats and powerful builds. The design philosophy reflects this paleontological influence, with the tusks and hump creating a silhouette reminiscent of extinct megafauna that roamed frozen tundras. The contrast between its short legs and bulky upper body creates a sturdy, immobile appearance that belies its surprising mobility and charging capability. The aesthetic progression from the diminutive Swinub to the robust Piloswine demonstrates clear design intent, with the evolution represented through size increase, thicker fur presentation, and more imposing tusks that grow increasingly prominent as the Pokémon matures into adulthood.
Learnable Moves
Piloswine can learn 85 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| amnesia | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| ancient power | rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| avalanche | ice | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| bite | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| blizzard | ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| captivate | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| charm | fairy | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| defense curl | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| detect | fighting | Status | — | — | 5 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| earth power | ground | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fissure | ground | Physical | — | 30 | 5 |
| flail | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| freeze dry | ice | Special | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| fury attack | normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| hail | ice | Status | — | — | 10 |
| haze | ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| high horsepower | ground | Physical | 95 | 95 | 10 |
| horn attack | normal | Physical | 65 | 100 | 25 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| ice beam | ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| ice fang | ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| ice shard | ice | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| icicle crash | ice | Physical | 85 | 90 | 10 |
| icicle spear | ice | Physical | 25 | 100 | 30 |
| icy wind | ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| light screen | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| mimic | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mist | ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| mud bomb | ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| mud shot | ground | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| mud sport | ground | Status | — | — | 15 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| odor sleuth | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| peck | flying | Physical | 35 | 100 | 35 |
| powder snow | ice | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| reflect | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| reversal | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| sand tomb | ground | Physical | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| sandstorm | rock | Status | — | — | 10 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| smack down | rock | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| snowscape | ice | Status | 0 | — | 10 |
| stealth rock | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| stomping tantrum | ground | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| stone edge | rock | Physical | 100 | 80 | 5 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| superpower | fighting | Physical | 120 | 100 | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| tackle | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thrash | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| throat chop | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
Piloswine Competitive Battle Guide
Piloswine occupies a curious position in competitive Pokémon battling, functioning primarily as a transitional form rather than a fully optimized competitor, since trainers typically use it as a stepping stone toward its superior final evolution, Mamoswine. Nevertheless, with base stats totaling 450 and a balanced distribution favoring physical offense with 100 Attack and 100 HP, Piloswine can function as a capable physical sweeper or wall in lower-tier formats. Its Ice/Ground typing provides excellent offensive coverage, with Ground moves hitting Electric, Fire, Poison, and Rock types for super-effective damage, while Ice moves target Dragon, Flying, Grass, and Ground types effectively. Among its three available abilities, Oblivious prevents critical status conditions like infatuation, Snow Cloak increases evasion during hail weather and negates hail damage for weather-dependent strategies, while its hidden ability Thick Fat provides valuable defensive utility by halving damage from Fire and Ice type moves. The relatively low Speed stat of 50 necessitates either considerable Speed investment through EVs or reliance on priority moves and slower-paced strategies. Its movepool includes reliable options like Earthquake, Ice Beam, Stone Edge, and Stealth Rock, though competitive trainers typically prefer waiting for Mamoswine's enhanced stats and typing advantage.
Commonly Asked Questions About Piloswine
What type is Piloswine?
Piloswine is a ice and ground type Pokemon.
What does Piloswine evolve into?
Piloswine evolves into mamoswine.
What are Piloswine's weaknesses?
Piloswine is weak to water, grass, fighting, steel and fire type moves.
Where can I find Piloswine?
Piloswine can be found in sinnoh route 217 (sinnoh), giant chasm (unova) and frost cavern (kalos).
Piloswine Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Piloswine has achieved notable presence in Pokémon media, most prominently through Pryce's Piloswine in the animated series, which served as a key member of the Icirrus City Gym Leader's team and demonstrated the species' combat prowess in televised battles. Dawn's Piloswine similarly gained recognition as a valued team member during the Diamond & Pearl era of the anime, showcasing the Pokémon's reliability and strength in professional competitive contexts. The species has appeared consistently throughout trading card game releases since its introduction, with various card iterations highlighting its dual Ice/Ground typing and thematic connection to arctic environments. Within the broader Pokémon community, Piloswine occupies an interesting cultural niche as the bridge between its more well-known evolutions, with some trainers developing genuine affection for the intermediate form despite its competitive inferiority. The Pokémon's distinctive appearance and charging behavior have made it recognizable even to casual fans, and its design has influenced subsequent Ice-type Pokémon aesthetics throughout later generations. Its presence in various regional Pokédex entries and game availability across multiple generations has ensured consistent cultural presence, even as Mamoswine claims the spotlight for competitive and collector audiences.
Where to Find Piloswine in Every Pokémon Game
Piloswine's availability has fluctuated across different game generations and regional games, reflecting the variable approaches to regional Pokédex composition. In Generation II games (Gold, Silver, and Crystal), Piloswine receives local Pokédex number 0192, establishing its foundational availability in its native generation. Throughout Generation III remakes FireRed and LeafGreen, it appears as a reasonable encounter in ice-themed locations, while later games such as HeartGold and SoulSilver, Platinum, Black 2 and White 2 continue its distribution with varying accessibility. More recent entries including Sword and Shield feature Piloswine in The Crown Tundra DLC content, while Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's The Teal Mask expansion maintain its presence in contemporary titles. The species can reliably be obtained by training a Swinub caught in appropriate ice-type habitats to level 33, making it accessible through natural gameplay progression for most trainers. Its capture rate of 75 ensures that catching wild Swinub and evolving them represents an efficient method of acquisition, and breeding programs allow dedicated trainers to obtain optimally-natured specimens. The consistent distribution across generations underscores Piloswine's status as a foundational Ice-type representative in the Pokémon franchise's ecosystem.