Arbok punches above its weight class thanks to Intimidate. It lowers the opponent's Attack on switch-in, which is enough to make up for stats that don't impress on their own. Only weak to Ground and Psychic. Known as the Cobra Pokemon.
Arbok's spread isn't flashy. Attack leads, HP trails, 2 stats clear the bar. Moderately hard to find and worth 2 Attack EVs, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
The pattern on its belly is for intimidation. It constricts foes while they are frozen in fear.
Arbok Weakness
GoodArbok is weak to Ground and Psychic-type moves. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Arbok leans offensive (base 95 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
Arbok is the evolved form of Ekans. Breeding produces Ekans eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Ekans gave Arbok the biggest boost in Attack (+35), bringing the total to 448 stats.
Breed with Arbok to get Ekans eggs easily using 72 partners from the Dragon and Ground egg groups.
Gunkshot is the main STAB option after a Coil boost. Leftovers gives Arbok passive recovery each turn to survive the setup turn, and max Attack and Speed EVs make the boosted hits count. Ground coverage catches resists.
Best Build
Best Arbok Moveset
- Gunk Shot
- Coil
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
Recommended Teammates
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 11 types means almost nothing walls Arbok cleanly, with Belch and Gunk Shot anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 12 types means almost nothing walls Arbok cleanly, with Gunk Shot and Sludge Bomb anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Breeding opens up real options for Arbok. Beat Up and Disable come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Belch and Gunk Shot and coverage across 9 types.
Arbok develops a solid moveset just through leveling. Earthquake and Hyper Beam show up naturally, and the progression handles both STAB and utility without leaning on TMs for the core attacks.
No wild encounters for Arbok in Scarlet & Violet. Bring Ekans over from Red, Gold, or Brilliant Diamond, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
Arbok can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Transfer Ekans from Red, Gold, or Brilliant Diamond and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
You're catching Ekans first, not Arbok. Ekans appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Arbok in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Ekans is your first catch on the way to Arbok. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 58-63 across 6 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch EkansBogsunk CavernGrassLv.58-63PostSwampPost-gameGrassland CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSwampy CaveGrassLv.58-63PostSwampPost-game
Step 2Arbok ✓
Arbok doesn't appear wild. Catch Ekans instead, it shows up at decent rates. Evolve it at level 22 to get Arbok. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Arbok in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee
Step 1Catch EkansEASYRoute 3GrassLv.3-820%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 4GrassLv.7-1220%EarlyRoute
Step 2Arbok ✓
Don't let Arbok's 448 base stat total fool you. Intimidate is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier.
Ekans evolves into Arbok at level 22. Arbok is the fully evolved form. It sits at 448 BST in its evolved form.
Run Intimidate on Arbok. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Arbok also gets Shed Skin and Unnerve, but they don't compare.
Arbok fills the balanced role. It's leaning toward the physical side (base 95 Attack). Base 80 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Arbok appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Arbok has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A