--- title: "Larvesta (#0636): Stats, Weaknesses, Moves & Lore | pokee.si" url: "https://pokee.si/pokemon/larvesta" description: "Larvesta (#0636): Bug/Fire-type Torch Pokémon from Unova. Base stat total 360. Abilities: Flame Body, Swarm. Stats, matchups, evolutions, moves, every Pokédex entry and lore on pokee.si." last_updated: "2026-10-21" publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)" last_checked: "2026-10-20" --- #0636 · Unova · Generation 5 # Larvesta Torch Pokémon · Bug/Fire-type ![Larvesta official artwork](https://pokee.si/img/art/636.webp) Larvesta is a [Bug](https://pokee.si/types/bug)/[Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire)-type Pokémon, the Torch Pokémon, number 636 (#0636) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 5 and comes from the [Unova](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/unova) region. It is 1.1 m tall and weighs 28.8 kg. Larvesta is the Torch Pokémon, a fuzzy caterpillar that spits fire from five horns. Ancient people believed it fell from the sun, and one Pokédex entry calls it the Larva That Stole the Sun. ## How to pronounce Larvesta Larvesta is pronounced **lar-VES-tuh**. The capital letters show the stressed syllable. Listen to Larvesta said out loud: [Listen](https://pokee.si/audio/names/636.mp3) In Japanese it is メラルバ (Merlarva). Hear every other name on the [Pokémon pronunciation guide](https://pokee.si/pronounce). ## Lore ### Biology Larvesta is 1.1 m tall and 28.8 kg, with a white mane of fuzz around its head and upper body and a brown lower half. It has blue eyes, three pairs of small black legs and five red horns curling from either side of its head. The Pokédex says its body is warm all over, and that it wraps itself in a cocoon of fire to evolve. ### Behaviour Larvesta spouts flame from its horns to scare off predators and startle prey, and Bulbapedia says it has been seen using the flames to fly. The Violet entry says it was worshipped in ancient times as the sun's emissary, but also seen as a burden because it often set forests alight. ### Habitat The White entry says Larvesta lives at the base of volcanoes. In Scarlet and Violet it is found in Asado Desert and in 3 star Tera Raid Battles, and it is unobtainable in Legends: Z-A. ### Powers Larvesta's horn flames, the Scarlet entry says, can cut through a sheet of iron, and Ultra Sun puts their peak at nearly 3,000°C (5,500°F). It uses Ember, Flame Charge, Flame Wheel, Bug Buzz and later Flare Blitz. Its Abilities are Flame Body and, hidden, Swarm. Base Attack 85 makes it a physical Fire and Bug attacker. ### Name origin Larvesta may combine 'larva' with Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth whose temple held an undying fire, and may nod to 'lava'. The Japanese name is Merlarva (メラルバ), perhaps めらめら meramera, a word for flaring flames, plus 'larva'. ### Design inspiration Larvesta is modelled on a moth larva. Bulbapedia says its white fuzzy mane may be a visual pun on 'woolly worm', a name for tiger moth caterpillars, and that it resembles the Valais Blacknose sheep. Its five horns could suggest sun rays, and the red growths on its body may reference Japan's Tower of the Sun. These are fan readings. ### Evolution notes Larvesta evolves into Volcarona at level 59. ### In the games Players get a Larvesta Egg from a Pokémon Ranger in a Route 18 building in Black and White, where it first appeared, and in X and Y it lives in the Fire Friend Safari. ### In the anime Luke's Larvesta debuted in 'The Club Battle Hearts of Fury: Emolga Versus Sawk!', where it beat Cilan's Stunfisk. Luke said it handles the special effects whenever he makes movies. ### Fun facts - No other Pokémon evolves at level 59, and no Pokémon at its first stage has to wait as long as Larvesta. - In 'Trial on a Golden Scale!', a Shiny Larvesta evolved on screen, which Bulbapedia says was the first time a Shiny Pokémon was seen evolving in the anime. - Forms aside, Larvesta and Volcarona were the final Generation V Pokémon to join Pokémon GO, arriving on 2 May 2023. Sources: [Bulbapedia: Larvesta (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Larvesta_(Pok%C3%A9mon)) · [Serebii: Larvesta (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/larvesta/) ## Base stats - HP: **55** - Attack: **85** - Defense: **55** - Sp. Atk: **50** - Sp. Def: **55** - Speed: **60** Larvesta’s base stat total is **360**. Its highest stat is Attack. ## Type matchups ### What is Larvesta weak to? Larvesta takes extra damage from [Rock](https://pokee.si/types/rock) (4×), [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) (2×), [Flying](https://pokee.si/types/flying) (2×) moves. It resists [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) (¼×), [Ice](https://pokee.si/types/ice) (½×), [Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting) (½×), [Bug](https://pokee.si/types/bug) (½×), [Steel](https://pokee.si/types/steel) (½×), [Fairy](https://pokee.si/types/fairy) (½×). ## Evolution ### How does Larvesta evolve? Larvesta evolves into [Volcarona](https://pokee.si/pokemon/volcarona) at level 59. The whole family: **Larvesta**, [Volcarona](https://pokee.si/pokemon/volcarona). ## Abilities - [Flame Body](https://pokee.si/abilities/flame-body): Has a 30% chance of burning attacking Pokémon on contact. - [Swarm](https://pokee.si/abilities/swarm) (hidden ability): Strengthens Bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. ## Moves ### Moves Larvesta learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet | Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [Ember](https://pokee.si/moves/ember) | Fire | Special | 40 | | 1 | [String Shot](https://pokee.si/moves/string-shot) | Bug | Status | — | | 6 | [Flame Charge](https://pokee.si/moves/flame-charge) | Fire | Physical | 50 | | 12 | [Struggle Bug](https://pokee.si/moves/struggle-bug) | Bug | Special | 50 | | 18 | [Flame Wheel](https://pokee.si/moves/flame-wheel) | Fire | Physical | 60 | | 24 | [Bug Bite](https://pokee.si/moves/bug-bite) | Bug | Physical | 60 | | 30 | [Screech](https://pokee.si/moves/screech) | Normal | Status | — | | 36 | [Leech Life](https://pokee.si/moves/leech-life) | Bug | Physical | 80 | | 42 | [Bug Buzz](https://pokee.si/moves/bug-buzz) | Bug | Special | 90 | | 48 | [Take Down](https://pokee.si/moves/take-down) | Normal | Physical | 90 | | 54 | [Amnesia](https://pokee.si/moves/amnesia) | Psychic | Status | — | | 60 | [Double-Edge](https://pokee.si/moves/double-edge) | Normal | Physical | 120 | | 66 | [Flare Blitz](https://pokee.si/moves/flare-blitz) | Fire | Physical | 120 | ### TM moves (37) Larvesta can learn 37 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: [Take Down](https://pokee.si/moves/take-down), [Protect](https://pokee.si/moves/protect), [Acrobatics](https://pokee.si/moves/acrobatics), [Struggle Bug](https://pokee.si/moves/struggle-bug), [Trailblaze](https://pokee.si/moves/trailblaze), [Pounce](https://pokee.si/moves/pounce), [Fire Spin](https://pokee.si/moves/fire-spin), [Facade](https://pokee.si/moves/facade), [Flame Charge](https://pokee.si/moves/flame-charge), [Endure](https://pokee.si/moves/endure), [Sunny Day](https://pokee.si/moves/sunny-day), [Zen Headbutt](https://pokee.si/moves/zen-headbutt), [U-turn](https://pokee.si/moves/u-turn), [Body Slam](https://pokee.si/moves/body-slam), [Sleep Talk](https://pokee.si/moves/sleep-talk), [Light Screen](https://pokee.si/moves/light-screen), [Rest](https://pokee.si/moves/rest), [Leech Life](https://pokee.si/moves/leech-life), [Substitute](https://pokee.si/moves/substitute), [Will-O-Wisp](https://pokee.si/moves/will-o-wisp), [Giga Drain](https://pokee.si/moves/giga-drain), [Heat Wave](https://pokee.si/moves/heat-wave), [Psychic](https://pokee.si/moves/psychic), [Flamethrower](https://pokee.si/moves/flamethrower), [Amnesia](https://pokee.si/moves/amnesia), [Calm Mind](https://pokee.si/moves/calm-mind), [Fire Blast](https://pokee.si/moves/fire-blast), [Wild Charge](https://pokee.si/moves/wild-charge), [Overheat](https://pokee.si/moves/overheat), [Bug Buzz](https://pokee.si/moves/bug-buzz), [Flare Blitz](https://pokee.si/moves/flare-blitz), [Solar Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/solar-beam), [Tera Blast](https://pokee.si/moves/tera-blast), [Bug Bite](https://pokee.si/moves/bug-bite), [Lunge](https://pokee.si/moves/lunge), [Double-Edge](https://pokee.si/moves/double-edge), [Skitter Smack](https://pokee.si/moves/skitter-smack). Egg moves (4):[Absorb](https://pokee.si/moves/absorb), [Harden](https://pokee.si/moves/harden), [Morning Sun](https://pokee.si/moves/morning-sun), [Thrash](https://pokee.si/moves/thrash). ## Breeding & training - Gender: 50% male, 50% female. - Egg groups: Bug. - Egg cycles: 40 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 5,120). - Catch rate: 45 out of 255. - Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50. - Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100). - Defeating it gives 1 Attack effort value. - Base experience yield: 72. ## Pokédex entries Larvesta's body is warm all over. It spouts fire from the tips of its horns to intimidate predators and scare prey. *(Shield)* The people of ancient times believed that Larvesta fell from the sun. *(Sword)* It protects itself with flame. Long years ago, people believed Larvesta had a nest on the sun. *(Ultra Moon)* When battling opponents, it sprays fire from its five horns. The max temperature of the flames can reach nearly 5,500 degrees Fahrenheit. *(Ultra Sun)* The base of volcanoes is where they make their homes. They shoot fire from their five horns to repel attacking enemies. *(White, Y, Alpha Sapphire)* Said to have been born from the sun, it spews fire from its horns and encases itself in a cocoon of fire when it evolves. *(Black 2, White 2, X, Omega Ruby)* ## Names around the world - **Japanese**: メラルバ - **Romaji**: Merlarva - **French**: Pyronille - **German**: Ignivor - **Spanish**: Larvesta - **Italian**: Larvesta - **Korean**: 활화르바 - **Chinese (Simplified)**: 燃烧虫 - **Chinese (Traditional)**: 燃燒蟲 ## Trivia - Taller than 54% of all Pokémon (1.1 m). - Heavier than 51% of all Pokémon (28.8 kg). - Base stat total 360, ranked #684 of 1,025. - One of 4 Pokémon that are both Bug and Fire. - One of 88 white Pokémon. - Number 143 of 156 Pokémon introduced in Generation 5 (Unova). - Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon. - Can learn 45 different moves in Scarlet / Violet. - Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health. - Appears in 7 distinct Pokédex entries. ## Sources and fact-checking - Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: [PokéAPI](https://pokeapi.co) open game data. - Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from [Bulbapedia: Larvesta (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Larvesta_(Pok%C3%A9mon)), [Serebii: Larvesta (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/larvesta/). - Pronunciation (lar-VES-tuh): 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 [Bug-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/bug) · [Fire-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/fire) · [Bug/Fire weaknesses and matchups](https://pokee.si/types/fire-bug) · [Unova region guide](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/unova) · [Flame Body ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/flame-body) · [Swarm ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/swarm) · [Compare Larvesta](https://pokee.si/compare?ids=636) · [Full Pokédex](https://pokee.si/pokedex) · [Type chart](https://pokee.si/types) · [All moves](https://pokee.si/moves) ## Browse similar Pokémon [Gen 5 Bug-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/bug/gen-5) · [Gen 5 Fire-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/fire/gen-5) · [Gen 5 Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/pokedex/gen-5) · [White Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/colours/white) · [Bug egg group](https://pokee.si/egg-groups/bug) · [Pokémon that start with L](https://pokee.si/pokemon-names/l) · [Bug Pokémon](https://pokee.si/animals/bug) · [Butterfly and Moth Pokémon](https://pokee.si/animals/butterfly) ← [Hydreigon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/hydreigon) | [Volcarona](https://pokee.si/pokemon/volcarona) → --- Source: https://pokee.si/pokemon/larvesta (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. 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