#0335 · Hoenn · Generation 3

Zangoose

Cat Ferret Pokémon · Normal-type

Zangoose is a Normal-type Pokémon, the Cat Ferret Pokémon, number 335 (#0335) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 3 and comes from the Hoenn region. It is 1.3 m tall and weighs 40.3 kg.

Zangoose is the Cat Ferret Pokémon, a mongoose-like Normal type whose fur bristles at the mere smell of a Seviper. The Pokédex says the two have been bitter rivals for generations.

How to pronounce Zangoose

Zangoose is pronounced ZAN-goos. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Zangoose said out loud:

In Japanese it is ザングース.

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Zangoose is 1.3 m tall and weighs 40.3 kg. Its coat is mostly white, with scar-like patches of deep red across the face, chest and forepaws, and two long black claws curl under its forepaws when not in use. It is classed as bipedal but usually stays on all fours, rising onto its hind legs and fanning out its claws when it is angry.

Behaviour

Zangoose is hot-blooded and brave, and the Pokédex says it dodges attacks with great agility. Its fur stands on end at the smell of a Seviper, and it drops into a battle pose. Bulbapedia notes it also enjoys quiet pastimes, such as listening to ocean waves.

Habitat

The Pokédex lists grassland. In Scarlet and Violet it is found in Paldea's South Province, and in The Indigo Disk in the Coastal Biome and Torchlit Labyrinth.

Powers

Its Ability Immunity stops it being poisoned, while its hidden Ability Toxic Boost raises its Attack by half when it is poisoned; Bulbapedia says no other Pokémon is known to have it. It uses Slash, Crush Claw, X-Scissor and Close Combat, and Crush Claw was its signature move in Generation III. With 115 base Attack and 90 Speed it is a quick physical attacker.

Name origin

Zangoose may combine zan (斬, 'slash') with 'mongoose', and the Z may mirror the S in Seviper, possibly a nod to their rivalry. The Japanese name is Zangoose (ザングース), the same as the English one.

Design inspiration

Zangoose seems modelled on the mongoose, a small cat-like hunter famous for killing venomous snakes. The feud echoes that real rivalry, best known from 'Rikki-Tikki-Tavi' in The Jungle Book. Bulbapedia also compares its looks to cats such as the Persian.

In the games

Zangoose leads Team Razor Wind in Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness; it debuted in Ruby and Sapphire. In Scarlet and Violet it appears in 3 and 4 star Tera Raid Battles, and in Legends: Z-A it turns up in the Mega Dimension DLC's Hyperspace Lumiose.

In the anime

Zangoose debuted in 'ZigZag Zangoose', where Nicholai's Zangoose spotted Jessie's Seviper, turned on it instead of Ash, and won after a long fight with Crush Claw. In 'Glory Blaze!', Paul found Chimchar fighting several Zangoose and caught it after its Blaze flared.

Fun facts

• In its Generation III sprites Zangoose's claws were purple, matching Seviper's purple markings, while Seviper's red tail and fangs matched Zangoose's red markings; later games dropped the colour link.
• Zangoose is a version exclusive in Ruby, Omega Ruby, X and Brilliant Diamond, while Seviper takes Sapphire, Alpha Sapphire, Y and Shining Pearl.
• A Team Plasma Grunt's Zangoose advances on Nate, Hugh and Cheren while they are on the Plasma Frigate in the animated trailer for Black 2 and White 2.

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

Base stats

• HP: 73
• Attack: 115
• Defense: 60
• Sp. Atk: 60
• Sp. Def: 60
• Speed: 90

Zangoose’s base stat total is 458. Its highest stat is Attack.

Type matchups

What is Zangoose weak to?

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

It is immune to Ghost moves.

Evolution

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

Abilities

• Immunity: Prevents poison.
• Toxic Boost (hidden ability): Increases Attack to 1.5× when poisoned.

Moves

Moves Zangoose learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (63)

Zangoose can learn 63 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Agility, Protect, Low Kick, Thief, Facade, Aerial Ace, Metal Claw, Swift, Icy Wind, Rock Tomb, Low Sweep, Fling, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Dig, False Swipe, Brick Break, Zen Headbutt, Shadow Claw, Body Slam, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Sleep Talk, Seed Bomb, Grass Knot, Thunder Wave, Poison Jab, Rest, Rock Slide, Taunt, Swords Dance, Gunk Shot, Substitute, X-Scissor, Aura Sphere, Shadow Ball, Surf, Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Helping Hand, Baton Pass, Reversal, Ice Beam, Fire Blast, Blizzard, Giga Impact, Focus Blast, Hyper Beam, Thunder, Close Combat, Solar Beam, Tera Blast, Roar, Knock Off, Focus Punch, Double-Edge, Endeavor, Throat Chop, Curse, Upper Hand.

Egg moves (12):Belly Drum, Counter, Curse, Disable, Double Hit, Double Kick, Feint, Final Gambit, Flail, Fury Swipes, Night Slash, Quick Guard.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Field.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 90 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Slow Then Very Fast (600,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Attack effort values.
• Base experience yield: 160.

Pokédex entries

Zangoose usually stays on all fours, but when angered, it gets up on its hind legs and extends its claws. This Pokémon shares a bitter rivalry with Seviper that dates back over generations. (Sapphire, Alpha Sapphire)

Memories of battling its arch-rival Seviper are etched into every cell of Zangoose's body. This Pokémon adroitly dodges attacks with incredible agility. (Ruby, Omega Ruby)

Its fur would all stand on end if it smelled a Seviper nearby. Its sharp claws tear up its foes. (HeartGold, SoulSilver, Y)

It has feuded with Seviper for many generations. Its sharp claws are its biggest weapons. (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Black, White, X)

It's Seviper's archrival. To threaten those it encounters, it fans out the claws on its front paws. (Black 2, White 2)

If it comes across a Seviper, its fur bristles and it assumes its battle pose. Its sharp claws are its best weapon. (FireRed, LeafGreen)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Taller than 64% of all Pokémon (1.3 m).
• Heavier than 62% of all Pokémon (40.3 kg).
• Base stat total 458, ranked #490 of 1,025.
• One of 131 Normal-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 88 white Pokémon.
• Number 84 of 135 Pokémon introduced in Generation 3 (Hoenn).
• Can learn 84 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 90: about 11.8% 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 open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Zangoose (Pokémon), Serebii: Zangoose (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (ZAN-goos): 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 · Hoenn region guide · Immunity ability · Toxic Boost ability · Compare Zangoose · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 3 Normal-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Pokémon list · White Pokémon list · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with Z · Cat Pokémon · Weasel and Raccoon Pokémon

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