vigoroth #288
Type Matchups
Weak to (2x damage):
Immune to (0x damage):
vigoroth
Generation III · #0288 — Wild Monkey Pokémon
Vigoroth, known as the Wild Monkey Pokémon, is a Normal-type Pokémon introduced in Generation III that occupies a unique transitional role in one of the franchise's most compelling evolutionary lines. As the middle evolution of Slakoth and Slaking, Vigoroth represents a dramatic shift from its lethargic pre-evolution, embodying pure kinetic energy and restless vigor. With a National Pokédex number of 288, this Pokémon stands out for its paradoxical nature—evolved from a notoriously lazy creature, yet incapable of remaining still for even a moment. Vigoroth's base stat total of 440 is distributed in a way that reflects its hyperactive nature, with notable investment in HP (80), Attack (80), Defense (80), and particularly Speed (90), making it significantly more offensively capable than its predecessor despite retaining balanced defensive stats. Its signature Ability, Vital Spirit, prevents sleep—a fitting representation of its inability to settle down, which translates into protection against sleep-inducing moves in competitive scenarios.
Base Stats
Height
1.4m
Weight
46.5kg
Category
Wild Monkey Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
white
Shape
upright
Habitat
forest
Abilities
Prevents sleep.
Vigoroth Biology & Physical Characteristics
Vigoroth presents a striking visual transformation from its Slakoth ancestor, manifesting as a white, bipedal, sloth-like Pokémon with a distinctive teardrop-shaped tuft of red fur crowning its forehead. Standing at 1.4 meters tall and weighing 46.5 kilograms, this Wild Monkey Pokémon displays numerous anatomical features that emphasize both its primate ancestry and its heightened physicality. Its most notable characteristics include long, powerful arms equipped with two sharp black claws on each hand and foot, complemented by distinctive red circular pads on the undersides of these appendages. The Pokémon features a brown lower jaw containing two small triangular teeth in each jaw, and its eyes are encircled by prominent brown rings that give it a perpetually alert expression. Two brown stripes run along its back, while shaggy fur adorns its chest, tail, and the sides of its maw, contrasting with its predominantly white body. Perhaps most crucially to understanding Vigoroth's physiology, its heart beats at a tenfold tempo compared to that of a Slakoth, a biological transformation that fundamentally reshapes its entire metabolism and behavioral capacity. This accelerated cardiovascular system necessitates constant movement—attempting to sit still or sleep actually raises its stress levels and agitates its blood to dangerous levels.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Vigoroth Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Vigoroth maintains a perfectly balanced gender ratio of 50% male and 50% female, ensuring equal distribution of both genders in wild populations and bred offspring. This neutral gender balance allows trainers flexibility in building their ideal teams without gender-based restrictions on breeding mechanics. As a Pokémon belonging to the Field Egg Group, Vigoroth can breed with a wide variety of Pokémon that share this classification, including many notable species encountered throughout various generations. When bred, Vigoroth and compatible partners require 15 egg cycles to produce offspring, translating to approximately 3,599 to 3,855 steps before the egg hatches—a moderate incubation period that reflects its mid-stage evolutionary status. The base friendship value of 70 that Vigoroth starts with in Generations 3 through 7 suggests a moderately receptive Pokémon to bonding, though subsequent generations adjusted this value to 50, indicating a slightly more reserved initial disposition. Vigoroth's involvement in breeding chains is particularly interesting for competitive trainers seeking to create custom movesets, as it can pass along moves learned at various levels throughout the evolutionary line to descendant Pokémon. The combination of its Field Egg Group classification and balanced gender ratio makes Vigoroth a practical choice for breeding projects focused on creating strong Field-type Pokémon with optimal natures and inherited moves.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm00
sword shield
tm01
yellow
tm01
gold silver
tm01
crystal
tm01
red blue
tm01
platinum
tm01
emerald
tm01
diamond pearl
tm01
firered leafgreen
tm01
ruby sapphire
tm01
black white
tm01
black 2 white 2
tm01
xd
tm01
colosseum
tm01
heartgold soulsilver
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm01
ultra sun ultra moon
tm01
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm01
sun moon
tm01
x y
+978 more TMs/HMs
vigoroth's Evolution Chain
Vigoroth Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Vigoroth occupies a fascinating evolutionary niche as the middle stage of a three-part line that begins with the notoriously indolent Slakoth and concludes with the dominant Slaking. The evolution from Slakoth to Vigoroth occurs at level 18, marking a dramatic transformation in the Pokémon's fundamental nature and statistics. When Slakoth reaches this threshold, its dormant potential awakens, and its heart rate accelerates to a fever pitch, resulting in the hyperactive Vigoroth. This middle evolution represents an inverse relationship with its pre-evolution—while Slakoth's Ability Truant forces it to skip turns in battle due to laziness, Vigoroth's Vital Spirit prevents sleep, reflecting a complete psychological inversion. The evolution from Vigoroth to Slaking occurs at level 36, completing a narrative arc where the Pokémon appears to channel its frenetic energy into a focused power, returning to a state of reduced activity but now with the strength to dominate. Mechanically, Vigoroth serves as a bridge: its base stats total 440, representing a modest increase from Slakoth's 310 but a stepping stone to Slaking's formidable 670. The Speed stat increases from Slakoth's 30 to Vigoroth's 90, only to decrease to Slaking's 55—a curious pattern that suggests Vigoroth is the peak of the line's pure velocity. This evolutionary line is one of the few where a middle evolution is statistically superior to its second evolution in specific categories, making Vigoroth an occasionally viable alternative for trainers seeking speed over raw power.
Where to Find
pinwheel forest
unova
+5 more
alola route 11
alola
Vigoroth Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Vigoroth's behavioral profile is defined entirely by its inability to remain stationary, a characteristic so pronounced that multiple Pokédex entries emphasize its complete incapacity for stillness. The Pokémon is described as always itching and agitated to go on wild rampages, driven by physiological necessity rather than mere temperament. This compulsive need for movement extends even into attempted sleep—when Vigoroth tries to rest, the blood in its veins grows so agitated that it must run wild throughout the jungle before it can finally settle down, and even then the quality of its sleep appears compromised. Its constant motion is driven by the boiling energy coursing through its blood, prompting it to run through fields and mountains all day in an attempt to calm itself sufficiently to sleep at night. The result of this perpetual activity is an insatiable hunger; Vigoroth is always famished because it won't stop rampaging, and even while eating, this Pokémon cannot keep still, consuming food in rapid bursts during its endless movement. In terms of habitat, Vigoroth is found in jungle environments and mountainous regions where it has ample space to satisfy its need for constant activity. Its behavioral patterns suggest a Pokémon that would struggle in confined spaces, thriving instead in vast territories where it can freely express its hyperkinetic nature without causing excessive collateral damage.
Pokedex Entries
Generation III
VIGOROTH is always itching and agitated to go on a wild rampage. It simply can’t tolerate sitting still for even a minute. This POKéMON’s stress level rises if it can’t be moving constantly.
VIGOROTH is simply incapable of remaining still. Even when it tries to sleep, the blood in its veins grows agitated, compelling this POKéMON to run wild throughout the jungle before it can settle down.
It can’t keep still because its blood boils with energy. It runs through the fields and mountains all day to calm itself. If it doesn’t, it can’t sleep at night.
It is always hungry because it won’t stop rampaging. Even while it is eating, it can’t keep still.
Generation IV
Its heart beats at a tenfold tempo, so it cannot sit still for even a moment.
Its stress level rises if it cannot keep moving constantly. Too much stress makes it feel sick.
Generation V
Its heart beats at a tenfold tempo, so it cannot sit still for even a moment.
Its heartbeat is fast and its blood so agitated that it can’t sit still for one second.
Generation VI
Its heartbeat is fast and its blood so agitated that it can’t sit still for one second.
Its stress level rises if it cannot keep moving constantly. Too much stress makes it feel sick.
Vigoroth is always itching and agitated to go on a wild rampage. It simply can’t tolerate sitting still for even a minute. This Pokémon’s stress level rises if it can’t be moving constantly.
Vigoroth is simply incapable of remaining still. Even when it tries to sleep, the blood in its veins grows agitated, compelling this Pokémon to run wild throughout the jungle before it can settle down.
Vigoroth Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Vigoroth derives from 'vigor,' representing vitality, energy, and enthusiastic liveliness, combined with 'sloth'—a deliberate linguistic callback to its evolutionary origin while inverting the meaning to reflect its antithetical behavioral state. In Japanese, Vigoroth is called Yarukimono (ヤルキモノ), constructed from 'yaruki' (やる気), meaning motivation or willingness, combined with the suffix '-mono' (者), meaning creature or person. This naming convention brilliantly captures the Pokémon's defining characteristic: the presence of motivation and drive that its predecessor entirely lacked. The design itself appears to draw inspiration from the movement patterns of wild primates, specifically the frenetic energy of smaller monkey species that leap and swing through jungle environments with apparent abandon. The red coloring on Vigoroth's forehead, rear patch, and paw pads suggests both blood flow—emphasizing the heightened circulation supporting its hyperactive metabolism—and the aggressive, passionate nature of its constant rampaging. The white fur contrasting with these red accents creates a visual metaphor for the Pokémon's internal conflict: the cool, lethargic state of its Slakoth origin versus the burning, dynamic energy of its current form. The teardrop-shaped red tuft on its forehead particularly evokes the appearance of sweat or a mark of exertion, visual language that communicates its exhausting lifestyle. The design maintains enough similarities to Slakoth to make the evolutionary connection clear while being sufficiently distinct to emphasize the profound biological transformation that has occurred.
Learnable Moves
Vigoroth can learn 113 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aerial ace | flying | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| after you | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| amnesia | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| blizzard | ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| brick break | fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| bulk up | fighting | Status | — | — | 20 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| captivate | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| chilling water | water | Special | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| chip away | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| counter | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| covet | normal | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| cut | normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| drain punch | fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| dynamic punch | fighting | Physical | 100 | 50 | 5 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| encore | normal | Status | — | 100 | 5 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| false swipe | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| fire blast | fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 |
| fire punch | fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| flail | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| flamethrower | fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| fling | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| focus blast | fighting | Special | 120 | 70 | 5 |
| focus energy | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| focus punch | fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| fury cutter | bug | Physical | 40 | 95 | 20 |
| fury swipes | normal | Physical | 18 | 80 | 15 |
| gunk shot | poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hone claws | dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| hyper voice | normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| ice beam | ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| ice punch | ice | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| icy wind | ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| incinerate | fire | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| knock off | dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| lash out | dark | Physical | 75 | 100 | 5 |
| low kick | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| low sweep | fighting | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| mega kick | normal | Physical | 120 | 75 | 5 |
| mega punch | normal | Physical | 80 | 85 | 20 |
| metal claw | steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 |
| metronome | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mimic | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mud shot | ground | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| outrage | dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| play rough | fairy | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 |
| poison jab | poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| power up punch | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| retaliate | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| reversal | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock climb | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 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 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| scratch | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| seed bomb | grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| seismic toss | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| shadow ball | ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| shadow claw | ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| shock wave | electric | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| slack off | normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| slash | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| solar beam | grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| stomping tantrum | ground | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sucker punch | dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| 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 |
| throat chop | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| thunder | electric | Special | 110 | 70 | 10 |
| thunder punch | electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| thunder wave | electric | Status | — | 90 | 20 |
| thunderbolt | electric | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| uproar | normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| water pulse | water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| work up | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| x scissor | bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| yawn | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| zen headbutt | psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 |
Vigoroth Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon battling, Vigoroth presents an intriguing option for trainers seeking a Normal-type Pokémon with genuine offensive momentum and respectable bulk. Its base stat distribution—with 80 Attack and 90 Speed offering surprising offensive presence—allows it to function as a physical attacker capable of outspeeding many threats in lower-tier competitive formats. The Vital Spirit Ability proving invaluable in preventing sleep-inducing strategies like Spore, Sleep Powder, and Yawn ensures that Vigoroth retains full battling capacity even when facing strategies designed to incapacitate opponents. However, Vigoroth's low Special Attack (55) and Special Defense (55) stats limit its viability in special-based sets, forcing competitive players toward physical movesets featuring attacks like Close Combat, Earthquake, and Zen Headbutt when available through breeding or egg moves. Its Speed tier of 90 is neither overwhelmingly fast nor particularly slow, positioning Vigoroth in a middle ground where it outspeeds many common threats but falls short of guaranteed first-strike advantage against dedicated speed-based competitors. The relatively low base power of its available moves compared to faster or more offensively specialized Pokémon means Vigoroth typically functions best as a secondary attacker rather than a primary sweeper, making it most viable in formats like Little Cup or lower-tier metagames where its stat distribution is less immediately outclassed. Its modest base stat total of 440 compared to pseudo-legendaries and fully evolved Pokémon means Vigoroth struggles to find competitive niche in higher-tier play, though it occasionally sees use in Pokémon Stadium or Pokémon Stadium 2 environments where its balanced stats and Vital Spirit Ability provide utility.
Commonly Asked Questions About Vigoroth
What type is Vigoroth?
Vigoroth is a normal type Pokemon.
What does Vigoroth evolve into?
Vigoroth evolves into slaking.
What are Vigoroth's weaknesses?
Vigoroth is weak to fighting type moves.
Where can I find Vigoroth?
Vigoroth can be found in pinwheel forest (unova) and alola route 11 (alola).
Vigoroth Cultural Impact & Franchise History
While Vigoroth has not achieved the mainstream recognition of Pokémon like Charizard or Pikachu, it has maintained a dedicated following within the Pokémon community, particularly among enthusiasts of Generation III who appreciate its narrative role within the Slakoth evolutionary line. The Pokémon's unique design philosophy—representing a middle ground between lethargy and power—has resonated with players who value thematic consistency in game design, as the evolutionary line creates a compelling commentary on balance and extremes. Vigoroth has appeared in various official Pokémon media, including the animated series where its hyperactive nature provided comedic potential for character interactions and battle sequences. In the trading card game, Vigoroth has received numerous card iterations across different sets, though it typically occupies a supporting role rather than featuring as a centerpiece card. The Pokémon's cultural footprint, while modest compared to legendary Pokémon or first-generation creatures, reflects a broader appreciation within the franchise for well-designed middle evolutions that serve genuine mechanical and narrative purposes beyond simply padding out evolution lines. Fan communities frequently discuss Vigoroth in the context of Generation III's design philosophy, often praising its clear identity and the coherent evolutionary narrative it provides alongside Slakoth and Slaking. The Pokémon represents an interesting design case study in how middle evolutions can transcend their transitional status through distinctive characteristics and thematic depth.
Where to Find Vigoroth in Every Pokémon Game
Vigoroth's availability varies significantly across Pokémon games, with the Pokémon primarily encountered in regions where Slakoth naturally spawns, as trainers must evolve their Slakoth to level 18 to obtain a Vigoroth. In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald—where Vigoroth was first introduced—the Pokémon can be found in the Petalburg Woods and surrounding jungle environments, though the more direct path involves catching Slakoth and training it to the required level. In later generations, Vigoroth availability shifted with each region's evolutionary fauna and game design choices; Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 included Slakoth in the Pokédex with corresponding availability, allowing players to obtain Vigoroth through leveling. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, being remakes of the original Generation III games, restored Vigoroth to its native habitat in the Hoenn region, where trainers can encounter Slakoth and evolve them through the standard level-based method. More recent games including Scarlet and Violet feature Slakoth and its evolutionary line in updated regional Pokédex entries, ensuring contemporary players can still acquire Vigoroth through natural gameplay progression. The Pokémon's capture rate of 120 (translating to approximately 15.7% capture rate with a standard Poké Ball at full health) indicates it is moderately difficult to catch in the wild, roughly equivalent to common Pokémon like Pikachu or Weedle, making it reasonably accessible for average trainers. For competitive players, Vigoroth can be obtained through breeding Slakoth or Slaking with compatible Field Egg Group partners, providing alternative breeding paths for trainers seeking specific natures or movesets without capturing wild specimens.