Mid-stage Pokemon like Spheal rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Walrein, which is where the real potential kicks in. Only weak to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock. Known as the Clap Pokemon.
Spheal's spread isn't flashy. HP leads, Speed trails, 0 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 HP EV, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
During the season when drift ice approaches the shore, Spheal prefers living on the ice—where fewer predators lurk—rather than the land. Its fur retains heat superbly and resists harsh cold.
Spheal Weakness
VulnerableSpheal's Ice/Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock moves. Thick Fat reduces Fire/Ice damage, further improving the defensive spread.
Spheal is the start of a three-stage chain. It evolves into Sealeo first, then eventually reaches Walrein. For breeding, average hatch time with a massive partner pool via two egg groups. The evolved forms gain up to 240 total stats over Spheal.
How to Evolve
Breed Spheal easily with 278 breeding partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups.
Thickfat gives Spheal passive value while it walls. Bold nature boosts Defense, max HP and Defense EVs maximize the physical wall profile, and Eviolite keeps it in the game.
Best Build
Best Spheal Moveset
- Yawn
- Surf
- Protect
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Spheal's movepool balances level-up moves with TM options. Consistent STAB comes from Blizzard and Ice Beam, and Rock and Ground coverage and more keeps opponents from switching in for free. No major gaps here.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
You'll want to breed for Aqua Ring and Belly Drum on Spheal. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Blizzard and Surf, they expand what Spheal can actually threaten in practice.
You'll want to breed for Aqua Ring and Belly Drum on Spheal. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Blizzard and Surf, they expand what Spheal can actually threaten in practice.
You'll want to breed for Aqua Ring and Belly Drum on Spheal. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Blizzard and Ice Beam, they expand what Spheal can actually threaten in practice.
A few locations for Spheal with decent spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations
Spheal starts showing up in late-game routes at high spawn rates across 5 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations
Walking and surfing encounters at Lv. 35-63 across 5 spots for Spheal. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.
high spawn rates for Spheal across 32 locations in endgame routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Best Locations
You can catch Spheal through 32 walking encounters from Lv. 60-65, but availability differs between Sword and Shield. Some spots are exclusive to one version.
Spheal appears at moderate rates across 2 spots in mid-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Best Locations
Spheal isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Sealeo to unlock its full potential. At 290 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
Spheal evolves into Sealeo at level 32. Spheal is the base form in a 3-stage evolutionary line.
Run Thick Fat on Spheal. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Spheal also gets Ice Body and Oblivious, but they don't compare.
Spheal fills the support role. It's a special attacker with base 55 Sp. Atk. Base 25 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.
Spheal appears in 15 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Spheal first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 15 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRSDebut
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