Physical
Balanced
485Average
55Slow
CTier

That 4x Grass weakness is something every Relicanth user needs to plan around. Swift Swim doubles its Speed in rain, which helps. Known as the Longevity Pokemon. The stat spread favors raw physical power.

Relicanth's all-in on Defense at the expense of Sp. Atk. The physical lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 2 HP and Defense EVs and follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats
485Above
HP100
B
Attack90
B
Defense130
A
Sp. Atk45
D
Sp. Def65
C
Speed55
D
Total485
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Relicanth yields +1 HP, +1 Def
HP+1AtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch25DifficultSlow1.25M XP1m / 3'03"23.4kg / 51.6 lbs170Base XP
Pokedex Entries

This rare Pokémon was discovered during a deep-sea exploration. It has not changed in over 100 million years.

Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

Relicanth Weakness

Vulnerable

Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground-type moves hit Relicanth for super-effective damage. Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Relicanth's physical bulk (base 130 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

4xCriticali
¼xResisti
0xImmunei
None
4Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Scorei-4
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
4x Grass — Energy Ball, Giga Drain, Leaf Storm
Abilities
Swift SwimDoubles Speed during rain.
Rock HeadProtects against recoil damage.
SturdyHAPrevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.

What you see is what you get. Relicanth sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and a massive partner pool from two egg groups. Eggs are takes forever to hatch.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Relicanth
#369Relicanth
Does not evolve
Breeding
Moderate

Breed Relicanth with 114 breeding partners from the Water1 and Water2 egg groups.

Egg Groups
Water1Water2
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosazumarillblastoisegolduckferaligatrkingdraswampertslowbroslowkingoctilleryludicolomalamar

Ground coverage gives Relicanth answers even while choice-locked. Choice Band provides raw power at the cost of move flexibility, and max HP and Attack EVs with Rockhead mean every prediction that lands hits hard.

Best Build

Physical Wallbreaker
Ability
Rockhead
Item
Choice BandPOWER
Nature
Brave+ATK
EVs

Best Relicanth Moveset

  • Head SmashSTAB
  • LiquidationSTAB
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Rock SlideSTAB

Recommended Teammates

All 14 games

Without TMs, Relicanth's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get Normal and Ice coverage and more on top of Head Smash and Hydro Pump for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Harden
30Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 5
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 10
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Lv 15
Yawn
10Normal
Lv 20
Dive
8010010Water
Lv 25
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 30
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Lv 35
Rest
10Psychic
Lv 40
Flail
10015Normal
Lv 45
Hydro Pump
110805Water
Lv 50
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Lv 55
Head Smash
150805Rock

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
110705Ice
TM55
Brine
6510010Water
TM83
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM58
Endure+4
10Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM69
Rock Polish
20Rock
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM98
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM49
Scald
8010015Water
TM82
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM76
Stealth Rock
20Rock
TM71
Stone Edge
100805Rock
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM95
Surf
9010015Water
TM87
Swagger
8515Normal
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water
TM99
Waterfall
8010015Water

Egg Moves

Relicanth doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Relicanth can't learn any Tutor moves
All 14 games

Relicanth sits at moderate rates across 2 spots in late-game fishing spots. Pick one from the sorted list and commit to it. Jumping between areas wastes more time than waiting in the right location.

Best Locations

Route 226
Shining PearlSuper RodLv.40-505%LateRoute
EXTREME
Route 226
Brilliant DiamondSuper RodLv.40-505%LateRoute
EXTREME
  • Don't let Relicanth's 485 base stat total fool you. Swift Swim is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier.

  • Watch for Venusaur (Grass), Jolteon (Electric), and Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Relicanth. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Venusaur is the most dangerous since Grass moves deal 4x damage. Ground-type attackers are also a problem.

  • Relicanth doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Water/Rock-type Pokemon with a 485 base stat total.

  • Run Swift Swim on Relicanth. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Relicanth also gets Rock Head and Sturdy, but they don't compare.

  • Relicanth fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 90 Attack. At base 55 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.

  • Relicanth appears in 14 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.

Relicanth first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 14 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.