#0505 · Unova · Generation 5

Watchog

Lookout Pokémon · Normal-type

Watchog is a Normal-type Pokémon, the Lookout Pokémon, number 505 (#0505) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 5 and comes from the Unova region. It is 1.1 m tall and weighs 27 kg.

Watchog is the Lookout Pokémon, a meerkat-like sentry whose body stripes light up to scare off predators. The Pokédex says its keen eyes also let it see in the dark.

How to pronounce Watchog

Watchog is pronounced WOCH-og. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Watchog said out loud:

In Japanese it is ミルホッグ (Miruhog).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Watchog is an upright, reddish-brown meerkat, 1.1 m tall and 27 kg, with large beige cheeks, one pointed front tooth, yellow stripes on its chest and tail, and white hands, feet and tail tip. Luminescent compounds in its body let its eyes and stripes glow. Its tail is nearly always shown standing straight up.

Behaviour

Watchog is always watching its surroundings. The Pokédex says it flashes its eyes and body to stun attackers. When it spots an enemy, its tail stands up and it spits out berry seeds kept in its cheek pouches.

Habitat

The Pokédex names no habitat. In Black and White it is found on Routes 7 and 18 and in the P2 Laboratory.

Powers

Its Abilities are Illuminate and Keen Eye, with Analytic hidden. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon it learns Confuse Ray, Hypnosis, Crunch at level 16 and Hyper Fang at 36. With 85 base Attack and 77 Speed it is a quick, tricky Normal-type attacker.

Name origin

Watchog may combine 'watch' (to observe) and 'groundhog', with plays on 'watchdog' and 'watch out'. The Japanese name is Miruhog (ミルホッグ), which may come from miru (to watch) and groundhog.

Design inspiration

Its name points to a groundhog, but its look also recalls a meerkat, prairie dog or chipmunk. Its striped body may be inspired by a road worker's protective suit and safety vest, and its battle-interrupting moves might allude to traffic guards. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Watchog evolves from Patrat at level 20 and does not evolve further.

In the games

Watchog first turned up as a wild Pokémon in Black and White. It is not available in Scarlet and Violet, but in Legends: Z-A it appears in Wild Zone 10 and, in the Mega Dimension DLC, in Hyperspace Lumiose.

In the anime

Lenora's Watchog debuted in 'A Night in the Nacrene City Museum!', where its Illuminate Ability revealed a hiding Yamask. In 'The Battle According to Lenora!' it beat Ash's Oshawott with Thunderbolt.

Fun facts

• Of all Pokémon that have evolved, Watchog alone has a catch rate of 255, the easiest possible.
• Despite Pokédex entries about it spitting berry seeds, Bulbapedia says Watchog could not learn Bullet Seed before Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
• In 'Cilan and the Case of the Purrloin Witness!', Mrs. Ripple used a Watchog to guard her jewels.

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

Base stats

• HP: 60
• Attack: 85
• Defense: 69
• Sp. Atk: 60
• Sp. Def: 69
• Speed: 77

Watchog’s base stat total is 420. Its highest stat is Attack.

Type matchups

What is Watchog weak to?

Watchog takes extra damage from Fighting (2×) moves.

It is immune to Ghost moves.

Evolution

What does Watchog evolve from?

Watchog evolves from Patrat at level 20.

Watchog is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Patrat, Watchog.

Abilities

• Illuminate: Doubles the wild encounter rate.
• Keen Eye: Prevents accuracy from being lowered.
• Analytic (hidden ability): Strengthens moves to 1.3× their power when moving last.

Moves

Moves Watchog learns by level up in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon

“Evo” means Watchog learns the move the moment it evolves: Confuse Ray.

TM moves (31)

Watchog can learn 31 moves from TMs in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon: Work Up, Toxic, Hidden Power, Sunny Day, Hyper Beam, Light Screen, Protect, Rain Dance, Frustration, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Return, Shadow Ball, Double Team, Flamethrower, Facade, Rest, Attract, Round, Focus Blast, Fling, Giga Impact, Thunder Wave, Swords Dance, Psych Up, Dream Eater, Grass Knot, Swagger, Sleep Talk, Substitute, Confide.

Egg moves (9), which Patrat can hatch knowing:Assurance, Bullet Seed, Flail, Foresight, Iron Tail, Pursuit, Revenge, Screech, Tearful Look.

Move tutor moves (22): After You, Aqua Tail, Covet, Endeavor, Fire Punch, Focus Punch, Gunk Shot, Helping Hand, Ice Punch, Iron Tail, Knock Off, Laser Focus, Last Resort, Low Kick, Seed Bomb, Shock Wave, Signal Beam, Snore, Stomping Tantrum, Super Fang, Thunder Punch, Zen Headbutt.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Field.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 255 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Attack effort values.
• Base experience yield: 147.

Pokédex entries

When they see an enemy, their tails stand high, and they spit the seeds of berries stored in their cheek pouches. (Black, Y, Alpha Sapphire)

Using luminescent matter, it makes its eyes and body glow and stuns attacking opponents. (Black 2, White 2, X, Omega Ruby)

They make the patterns on their bodies shine in order to threaten predators. Keen eyesight lets them see in the dark. (White)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Taller than 54% of all Pokémon (1.1 m).
• Heavier than 49% of all Pokémon (27 kg).
• Base stat total 420, ranked #562 of 1,025.
• One of 131 Normal-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 147 brown Pokémon.
• Number 12 of 156 Pokémon introduced in Generation 5 (Unova).
• Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
• Can learn 77 different moves in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon.
• Catch rate 255: about 33.3% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 3 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: Watchog (Pokémon), Serebii: Watchog (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (WOCH-og): 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

Normal-type Pokémon · Unova region guide · Illuminate ability · Keen Eye ability · Analytic ability · Compare Watchog · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 5 Normal-type Pokémon · Gen 5 Pokémon list · Brown Pokémon list · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with W · Mouse and Rodent Pokémon · Weasel and Raccoon Pokémon

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