#0638 · Unova · Generation 5 · legendary

Cobalion

Iron Will Pokémon · Steel/Fighting-type

Cobalion is a Steel/Fighting-type Pokémon, the Iron Will Pokémon, number 638 (#0638) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 5 and comes from the Unova region. It is 2.1 m tall and weighs 250 kg.

Cobalion is the Iron Will Pokémon, the steel-bodied stag-like leader of the Swords of Justice, a trio of Legendary Pokémon that fought humans to protect other Pokémon. The Pokédex says one glare from it is enough to make an unruly Pokémon obey.

How to pronounce Cobalion

Cobalion is pronounced koh-BAY-lee-un. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Cobalion said out loud:

In Japanese it is コバルオン (Cobalon).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Cobalion is a quadruped with traits of a stag and a goat, 2.1 m tall and 250 kg. Aqua blue fur covers its body, and its jagged yellow horns curve like thunderbolts. A black stripe runs from its nose over the top of its head, a white cravat-like tuft hangs under its neck, and yellow fin-shaped growths sit on its shoulder blades. The Pokédex describes its body and heart as steel.

Behaviour

The Pokédex says Cobalion has radiated the air of a leader since birth, that its presence calms even vicious foes, and, in an older entry, that its personality is calm and composed. Bulbapedia's retelling of the legend says Cobalion and its allies challenged humans to stop them taking Pokémon homes, and that Cobalion led other Pokémon to safety. The trio distrusts people since a war led to a forest fire in the Moor of Icirrus. Cobalion loves Cobalion Treats from Snacksworth, who once followed it.

Habitat

The Pokédex names no habitat, but its legend belongs to Unova. In The Indigo Disk expansion for Scarlet and Violet it appears in North Province Area Two after Snacksworth gives you its treat. In Legends: Z-A it appears in Hyperspace Lumiose, in the Mega Dimension DLC, after a special scan.

Powers

Cobalion's signature move in Generation V was Sacred Sword, and in the anime and manga it forms a sword from its head. It also uses Iron Head, Close Combat, Metal Burst and Swords Dance. Its only Ability is Justified. With base Defense 129, Speed 108 and HP 91 it is a sturdy, fast Steel and Fighting type.

Name origin

Cobalion may combine cobalt, the blue metal and colour, with possibly 'champion'. The Japanese name is Cobalon (コバルオン).

Design inspiration

Takao Unno designed Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion. Cobalion is based on Athos from The Three Musketeers, the senior member of the group and its unofficial leader. Its Steel typing may pun on Athos's title, Count de la Fère, since fer is French for iron. Visually it resembles a markhor goat, a stag and some antelopes.

In the games

Cobalion is the main villain for most of the story in Pokémon Rumble Blast. It first appeared in Black and White, where a single one waits in the Guidance Chamber of Mistralton Cave, and in Black 2 and White 2 it is on Route 13. In the Battle Maison of the Generation VI games, Battle Chatelaine Morgan uses one in the Super Rotation Battle.

In the anime

Cobalion debuted in the film 'Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice', starring beside Terrakion, Virizion, Kyurem and Keldeo, all of whom can speak by telepathy. In Pokémon: Twilight Wings, Sonia picks up a book with Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion on its cover in 'The Gathering of Stars'.

Fun facts

• Cobalion's Defense and Special Defense, 129 and 72, are swapped in Virizion, whose other stats match Cobalion's exactly.
• Bulbapedia notes Cobalion is the only member of the Swords of Justice with a type immunity: its Steel typing makes it immune to Poison moves.
• Its French and German names, Cobaltium and Kobalium, differ from each other, which is true of none of the other Swords of Justice.
• The Paradox Pokémon Iron Crown resembles Cobalion, and it is said to be either a far-future relative or a counterpart from another timeline.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Cobalion (Pokémon) · Serebii: Cobalion (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 91
• Attack: 90
• Defense: 129
• Sp. Atk: 90
• Sp. Def: 72
• Speed: 108

Cobalion’s base stat total is 580. Its highest stat is Defense.

Type matchups

What is Cobalion weak to?

Cobalion takes extra damage from Fire (2×), Fighting (2×), Ground (2×) moves.

It resists Bug (¼×), Rock (¼×), Normal (½×), Grass (½×), Ice (½×), Dragon (½×), Dark (½×), Steel (½×).

It is immune to Poison moves.

Evolution

Cobalion does not evolve, and it does not evolve from any other Pokémon.

Abilities

• Justified: Raises Attack one stage upon taking damage from a Dark move.

Moves

Moves Cobalion learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (51)

Cobalion can learn 51 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Scary Face, Protect, Facade, Aerial Ace, Metal Claw, Swift, Endure, Volt Switch, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Sandstorm, Smart Strike, False Swipe, Brick Break, Zen Headbutt, Air Slash, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Reflect, Thunder Wave, Poison Jab, Rest, Taunt, Swords Dance, Body Press, Flash Cannon, Iron Head, Substitute, Iron Defense, X-Scissor, Aura Sphere, Stealth Rock, Heavy Slam, Calm Mind, Helping Hand, Reversal, Stone Edge, Giga Impact, Focus Blast, Hyper Beam, Close Combat, Steel Beam, Tera Blast, Roar, Vacuum Wave, Psych Up, Double-Edge, Coaching, Metal Sound, Upper Hand.

Breeding & training

• Gender: genderless.
• Egg groups: Undiscovered.
• Egg cycles: 80 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 10,240).
• Catch rate: 3 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 35.
• Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 3 Defense effort values.
• Base experience yield: 261.

Pokédex entries

From the moment it's born, this Pokémon radiates the air of a leader. Its presence will calm even vicious foes. (Shield)

This Pokémon appears in a legend alongside Terrakion and Virizion, fighting against humans in defense of the Unova region's Pokémon. (Sword)

It has a body and heart of steel. It worked with its allies to punish people when they hurt Pokémon. (Black 2, White 2, Y, Alpha Sapphire)

It has a body and heart of steel. Its glare is sufficient to make even an unruly Pokémon obey it. (White, X, Omega Ruby)

This legendary Pokémon battled against humans to protect Pokémon. Its personality is calm and composed. (Black)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Tallest Fighting type in Gen 5: 2.1 m.
• Highest Defense among Fighting types in Gen 5: 129.
• Heaviest Steel type in Gen 5: 250 kg.
• Tallest Steel type in Gen 5: 2.1 m.
• Taller than 90% of all Pokémon (2.1 m).
• Heavier than 94% of all Pokémon (250 kg).
• Base stat total 580, ranked #69 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Defense, ranked #51 of 1,025.
• One of 2 Pokémon that are both Steel and Fighting.
• One of 170 blue Pokémon.
• Number 145 of 156 Pokémon introduced in Generation 5 (Unova).
• Can learn 59 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 3: about 0.4% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 5 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Cobalion (Pokémon), Serebii: Cobalion (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (koh-BAY-lee-un): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Steel-type Pokémon · Fighting-type Pokémon · Steel/Fighting weaknesses and matchups · Cobalion vs Terrakion · Cobalion vs Virizion · Cobalion vs Iron Crown · Unova region guide · Justified ability · Compare Cobalion · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

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Gen 5 Steel-type Pokémon · Gen 5 Fighting-type Pokémon · Gen 5 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · No Eggs Discovered egg group · Pokémon that start with C · Deer Pokémon

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