Noctowl

Using Noctowl in a Playthrough

The Hoothoot line is an early Normal/Flying option that favors special bulk and utility over the fast physical offense typical of many regional birds. Hoothoot evolves into Noctowl at level 20, after which its high HP and Special Defense allow it to take special attacks unusually well, while the Flying typing provides a Ground immunity and useful resistances to Grass and Bug. Its offensive performance was relatively modest in early generations, but Noctowl's Special Attack was increased from 76 to 86 beginning in Generation VII, and later movepools provide stronger special options such as Air Slash, Hurricane, Psychic coverage, Moonblast in applicable games, and setup through Nasty Plot. The Hidden Ability Tinted Lens is especially useful when obtainable because it reduces the practical problem of opponents resisting Noctowl's attacks, although Hidden Ability access is rarely guaranteed during an ordinary story run. Noctowl therefore works best as a durable special attacker or utility flier rather than as a high-powered physical bird.

Noctowl in Competitive Pokémon

Noctowl has generally occupied lower competitive tiers, but it has developed a recognizable niche as a specially bulky Flying-type that can combine recovery, disruption, and special offense. Its Hidden Ability Tinted Lens is its most important offensive tool because resisted attacks deal substantially more damage than normal, allowing moves such as Hurricane to pressure Pokemon that would otherwise switch comfortably into Flying attacks. Depending on generation, Noctowl has used combinations of Roost, Hypnosis, Defog, Whirlwind, Psycho Shift, Work Up or Nasty Plot, and special coverage to function as a support Pokemon or unconventional setup attacker. Its weaknesses are poor physical Defense, only moderate Speed, and competition from Flying-types with stronger defensive typings or higher immediate power; Smogon has therefore placed it in very low tiers in modern generations even when acknowledging the usefulness of Tinted Lens.

Noctowl in Nuzlockes

The Hoothoot line can be a useful Nuzlocke encounter because early availability, a Ground immunity, good HP, and strong Special Defense give Noctowl several safe switching opportunities that frailer regional birds do not have. Its physical Defense is much weaker, however, so Rock attacks and strong neutral physical moves are considerably more dangerous than its large HP total may initially suggest; Electric and Ice weaknesses also require careful matchup planning. Hypnosis can provide valuable emergency control but its imperfect accuracy makes it too unreliable to treat as a guaranteed escape from dangerous situations, while Insomnia can provide a dependable immunity to sleep if Noctowl has that ability. Later-generation Noctowl is somewhat more attractive offensively thanks to its Special Attack increase and access to better special Flying moves, but its greatest Nuzlocke value remains defensive role compression rather than sweeping. Used against special attackers and predictable Ground moves, it can be a much safer team member than its modest overall base-stat total suggests.

Noctowl is a highly specialized nocturnal predator whose eyes can concentrate even extremely faint light, allowing it to see clearly in near-total darkness. Its unusually soft and supple wings produce almost no sound in flight, and the combination of silent movement, exceptional night vision, and high intelligence is said to let it capture prey reliably even in darkness. Noctowl can rotate its head 180 degrees when concentrating, while turning the head completely upside down is associated with complex thought or agitation; disturbing an individual in this state may provoke it to peck the offender. The species nests in trees in temperate and boreal forests and has become domesticated enough in Kitakami for trained Noctowl to be used as part of the region's Flying Taxi service.