thwackey #811
Type Matchups
Weak to (2x damage):
Resistant to (½x damage):
thwackey
Generation VIII · #0811 — Beat Pokémon
Thwackey is a Grass-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII, officially classified as the Beat Pokémon due to its distinctive rhythmic abilities. As National Pokédex number 811, Thwackey occupies a crucial middle position in the Grookey evolutionary line, serving as the intermediate form between the adorable starter Grookey and the powerful final evolution Rillaboom. With a base stat total of 420, Thwackey demonstrates a balanced yet offense-oriented growth pattern, particularly excelling in Attack (85) and Speed (80). The species is known for its two primary abilities: Overgrow, which boosts Grass-type moves to 1.5× damage when health drops to one-third or below, and its hidden ability Grassy Surge, which transforms the battlefield terrain to Grassy Terrain upon entry—a valuable competitive tool that sees use in high-level competitive play.
Base Stats
Height
0.7m
Weight
14.0kg
Category
Beat Pokémon
Gender
Male 87.5% / Female 12.5%
Color
green
Shape
upright
Abilities
Strengthens grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
When this Pokémon enters battle, it changes the terrain to Grassy Terrain.
Thwackey Biology & Physical Characteristics
Thwackey is a bipedal, humanoid monkey Pokémon with a distinctive light-green body complemented by lighter-green facial and chest markings. Its most striking feature is the prominent tuft of leaves atop its head, held in place by two dark brown wooden sticks that it uses as drumming implements. The Pokémon possesses dark brown ears, arms, and tail, with characteristic dark green bands encircling its wrists. Its large, expressive yellow eyes and several sharp teeth give it an energetic, youthful appearance that reflects its position as a middle-stage evolution. The stick Thwackey carries is particularly important to its biology and psychology—when the Pokémon evolves into Rillaboom, this single stick splits into two, allowing for more complex drumming patterns. Thwackey measures 0.7 meters in height and weighs 14.0 kilograms, making it appropriately sized for a second-stage evolution that maintains some of its starter form's proportions while becoming noticeably more robust and capable.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Thwackey Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Thwackey exhibits a significant gender skew typical of many monkey-like Pokémon, with approximately 87.5 percent of individuals being male and only 12.5 percent female. This genetic ratio is consistent across generations and contributes to the species' notable sexual dimorphism in competitive breeding contexts. Thwackey belongs to both the Field and Grass egg groups, allowing for diverse breeding combinations with a wide range of Pokémon species from these classifications. The species has a base friendship value of 50, which is considered normal and indicates that Thwackey requires standard levels of care and bonding to develop optimal loyalty and performance. With an egg cycle counter of 20 cycles—approximately 4,884 to 5,140 steps to hatch—Thwackey eggs take a moderate amount of time to incubate, making breeding projects involving this line reasonably time-intensive. The capture rate of 45 indicates moderate difficulty in catching wild Thwackey, requiring more than a standard Poké Ball to reliably secure specimens in early encounter attempts. These breeding statistics make Thwackey accessible to breeders seeking to develop competitive movesets or specific nature combinations for the final evolution, Rillaboom.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm00
sword shield
tm01
yellow
tm01
red blue
tm01
ultra sun ultra moon
tm01
sun moon
tm01
blue japan
tm01
red green japan
tm01
sword shield
tm02
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm03
yellow
tm03
red blue
tm03
blue japan
tm03
red green japan
tm05
red blue
tm05
yellow
tm05
red green japan
tm05
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm05
blue japan
tm07
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm08
red blue
+389 more TMs/HMs
thwackey's Evolution Chain
Thwackey Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Thwackey represents the intermediate stage of a three-stage evolutionary line beginning with Grookey and culminating in Rillaboom. The evolution from Grookey to Thwackey occurs at level 16, a relatively early milestone that marks the transition from the timid grass starter to a more confident and rhythmically-attuned warrior. At level 35, Thwackey undergoes its final evolution into Rillaboom, a dramatically more powerful form that represents a complete transformation in both appearance and capability. The evolutionary progression reflects a journey of musical and martial development, with each stage becoming progressively more skilled at utilizing rhythm as both a tool and weapon. The stick evolution is particularly notable—while Thwackey wields a single stick split into two pieces, Rillaboom gains a full drum-like instrument, suggesting that the Pokémon's musical journey culminates in mastery of percussion performance. Unlike Mega Evolution or Dynamax forms, this is a traditional linear evolution with no branching paths or alternate forms, making the Grookey line one of the more straightforward progression routes among modern Pokémon starters.
Where to Find
Location data not available for this Pokémon in the database.
Thwackey Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Thwackey's defining characteristic is its obsession with rhythm and percussion, using its two sticks to create increasingly complex beats that directly correlate with its social status among peers. According to Pokédex entries, the faster a Thwackey can beat out a rhythm, the more respect it earns from its community, making rhythm mastery a form of social currency among the species. During battle, Thwackey becomes so absorbed in the musicality of its drumming that it often fails to notice when it has already defeated its opponent, a trait that occasionally causes it to ignore its trainer's commands in favor of continuing its rhythmic performance. The species constantly practices its drumming in daily life, walking with a characteristic sway as it unconsciously keeps time to an internal beat. Thwackey demonstrates social compassion as well—observations from the Pokémon Journeys series indicate that Thwackey grooms its friends with its sticks as a gesture of friendship and trust, using this intimate behavior to cheer up and strengthen bonds with other Pokémon. The species maintains a Medium Slow growth rate and has a base happiness of 50, indicating that it requires consistent positive interaction and training to reach its full potential.
Pokedex Entries
Generation VIII
The faster a Thwackey can beat out a rhythm with its two sticks, the more respect it wins from its peers.
When it’s drumming out rapid beats in battle, it gets so caught up in the rhythm that it won’t even notice that it’s already knocked out its opponent.
Thwackey Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Thwackey is derived from 'thwack,' an onomatopoeia representing the sound of striking or hitting, perfectly capturing the percussion-based nature of the species. The Japanese name Bachinkey combines 'bachi' (the Japanese term for drumsticks or plectrums) with 'kinkey,' reflecting the monkey-like characteristics of the Pokémon. The design philosophy emphasizes the integration of natural and musical elements—the wooden sticks held by Thwackey appear to grow organically from the Pokémon itself, blurring the line between tool and anatomy. Visually, Thwackey represents a clear evolutionary step between Grookey's more diminutive appearance and Rillaboom's gorilla-like stature, embodying the increasing confidence and capability that comes with musical mastery. The mohawk-like arrangement of leaves, held up by the split stick, creates a distinctive silhouette that immediately communicates the species' rhythm-focused identity. The color palette—light green body with dark brown accents and darker green leaf tips—provides excellent visual contrast while maintaining the aesthetic coherence of the Grookey evolutionary line. This design successfully balances the whimsical, musical nature of the concept with the practical, battle-ready appearance expected of a competitive Pokémon.
Learnable Moves
Thwackey can learn 60 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acrobatics | flying | Physical | 55 | 100 | 15 |
| assurance | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| branch poke | grass | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| bullet seed | grass | Physical | 25 | 100 | 30 |
| double hit | normal | Physical | 35 | 90 | 10 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| drain punch | fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| energy ball | grass | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fake out | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| false swipe | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| fling | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| focus energy | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| giga drain | grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| grass pledge | grass | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| grassy glide | grass | Physical | 55 | 100 | 20 |
| grassy terrain | grass | Status | — | — | 10 |
| growl | normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| growth | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hammer arm | fighting | Physical | 100 | 90 | 10 |
| knock off | dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| leaf storm | grass | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 |
| leech seed | grass | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| low kick | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| magical leaf | grass | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| mega kick | normal | Physical | 120 | 75 | 5 |
| mega punch | normal | Physical | 80 | 85 | 20 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| razor leaf | grass | Physical | 55 | 95 | 25 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| scratch | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| screech | normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| seed bomb | grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| slam | normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| solar beam | grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| solar blade | grass | Physical | 125 | 100 | 10 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swift | normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| swords dance | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| taunt | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thief | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| u turn | bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| uproar | normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| wood hammer | grass | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| work up | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| worry seed | grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
Thwackey Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon battles, Thwackey occupies an unusual niche as an intermediate evolution that rarely sees usage in serious formats, as players typically utilize either Grookey or advance directly to Rillaboom. However, Thwackey's stat distribution—with 85 Attack and 80 Speed—provides a respectable physical attacker profile for lower-tier competitive environments. The species' primary ability, Overgrow, offers a desperation strategy in close battles where activating the 1.5× Grass-type damage multiplier at low health can turn seemingly lost matches into victories. More significantly, Thwackey's hidden ability, Grassy Surge, transforms the battlefield into Grassy Terrain, which reduces damage from priority moves and accelerates healing for grounded Pokémon—a utility that makes the hidden ability variant considerably more strategically valuable than the standard forms. Thwackey's movepool includes physical attacks like Wood Hammer (120 power) and Knock Off (65 power), along with utility moves such as Taunt and Leech Seed acquired through breeding, providing decent tactical flexibility. The species learns Double Hit upon evolution to Rillaboom, maintaining momentum in its physical movepool. While Thwackey itself rarely appears in competitive formats due to power creep and the availability of superior alternatives, its presence as a potential bridge stage gives players options for mid-game team composition in casual and lower-tier competitive environments.
Commonly Asked Questions About Thwackey
What type is Thwackey?
Thwackey is a grass type Pokemon.
What does Thwackey evolve into?
Thwackey evolves into rillaboom.
What are Thwackey's weaknesses?
Thwackey is weak to flying, poison, bug, fire and ice type moves.
Thwackey Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Thwackey has developed a modest but dedicated fanbase within the Pokémon community, particularly among players who appreciate the unique musical and rhythmic theme of the Grookey line. The species gained significant visibility through Pokémon Journeys: The Series, where notable appearances—particularly the episode 'A One-Stick Wonder!'—showcased Thwackey's personality and friendship-building behaviors beyond combat mechanics. The grooming gesture introduced in the anime has resonated with fans as a touching display of Pokémon social bonding, humanizing the species beyond its role as a competitive tool. Thwackey's prominence as Grookey's evolution and its position as a stepping stone to the powerful Rillaboom has made it a familiar sight to players progressing through Pokémon Sword and Shield. The percussive theme has influenced how fans conceptualize the species, with Thwackey becoming emblematic of rhythm-based gameplay mechanics and music-themed Pokémon aesthetics. Trading card game representations of Thwackey maintain consistent design fidelity with the main series games, and the species' appearance in various Pokémon media has cemented its place in the broader cultural understanding of Generation VIII Pokémon. Unlike some intermediate evolutions that fade from popular consciousness, Thwackey maintains relevance through consistent positive portrayals that emphasize its unique personality and charm.
Where to Find Thwackey in Every Pokémon Game
Thwackey is most readily available in Pokémon Sword and Shield, where it can be obtained by evolving Grookey—the Grass-type starter Pokémon—at level 16. In these Generation VIII titles, Grookey is available as a starter choice at the beginning of the game, making Thwackey accessible relatively early in gameplay. The species also appears in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, continuing its presence in Generation IX games, though it must again be obtained through evolution rather than direct wild encounters. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Thwackey occupies local Pokédex number 0002, reflecting its prominence in the Galar region's ecosystem and its position as a commonly encountered species post-evolution. The species does not have any special distribution events or limited-time availability mechanics, making it consistently obtainable through normal gameplay progression without time constraints. Players seeking Thwackey with its hidden ability Grassy Surge may need to breed multiple Grookey or encounter hidden ability variants in Pokémon dens or max raid battles. The species' availability as an evolutionary form rather than a wild encounter means that obtaining multiple competitive specimens requires breeding efforts or trading with other players, contributing to its moderate rarity in competitive breeding circles compared to more readily available Pokémon.