The Snail Pokemon. Shelmet evolves into Accelgor only when traded for a Karrablast. The trade mechanic swaps their shells, turning a slow snail into a fast ninja.
Ability 1HydrationAbility 1Cures any major status ailment after each turn during rain.Ability 2Shell ArmorAbility 2Protects against critical hits.
305HP50Attack40Defense85Speed25Sp.Def65Sp.Atk40
Weak to

How to evolve

  1. This pageShelmet
  2. Accelgor
    Tradewith Karrablast
Utility
Balanced
UTier
25Speed · Very Slow

Shelmet Best Moveset

Bug pre-evo with 85 Defense but 40 in both offenses and 25 Speed making the moveset entirely non-functional. AbilityOvercoat from the hidden slot blocks weather damage and powder moves. Evolve into Accelgor for 145 Speed, the fastest non-legendary available.

Evolution family tier history
SABCDEFF+F+F+F+Black & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2PEAKX & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPCURRENT
Consistently F-Tier across all generations
★Gen V — Black & White / B2W2F+

Shelmet was a niche pick at best in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2), rarely seen in standard play. This was Shelmet's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Shellarmor with Eviolite, favoring a Bold nature.

Hidden Abilities became available

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM6
Toxic
Poison—POPULARUtility
Egg
Spikes
Ground—POPULARHazard
Lv 49
Recover
Normal—POPULARRecovery
Lv 56
Final Gambit
Fighting—COMMONCoverage
Lv 44
Bug Buzz
Bug90RARESTAB

Best Build

Experimental
Wall
Ability
Shell Armor
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Shelmet
Bold+DEF

Shelmet best EVs are Defense and HP

EVs

Wall Moveset

  • ToxicUtility
  • SpikesHazard
  • RecoverRecovery
  • Final Gambit

Recommended Teammates

Leafeon
LeafeonExcellent
Arbok
ArbokExcellent
Frillish
FrillishExcellent
→Gen VI — X & Y / ORASF+

Shelmet was a niche pick at best in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS), rarely seen in standard play. Shelmet maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Overcoat with Eviolite, favoring a Bold nature.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM6
Toxic
Poison—POPULARUtility
TM83
Infestation
Bug20POPULARSTAB
Egg
Spikes
Ground—POPULARHazard
Lv 49
Recover
Normal—POPULARRecovery
Experimental
Wall
Ability
Overcoat
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Shelmet
Bold+DEF
EVs

Wall Moveset

  • ToxicUtility
  • InfestationSTAB
  • SpikesHazard
  • RecoverRecovery

Recommended Teammates

Chinchou
ChinchouExcellent
Gastly
GastlyExcellent
Munchlax
MunchlaxExcellent
→Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUMF+

Shelmet was a niche pick at best in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM), rarely seen in standard play. Shelmet maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Overcoat with Eviolite, favoring a Bold nature.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 49
Recover
Normal—COMMONRecovery
Egg
Spikes
Ground—COMMONHazard
Egg
Toxic Spikes
Poison—COMMONUtility
TM6
Toxic
Poison—COMMONUtility
Egg
Encore
Normal—COMMONUtility
TM83
Infestation
Bug20RARESTAB
Experimental
Wall
Ability
Overcoat
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Shelmet
Bold+DEF
EVs

Wall Moveset

  • RecoverRecovery
  • SpikesHazard
  • Toxic Spikes
  • ToxicUtility

Recommended Teammates

Audino
AudinoExcellent
Corsola
CorsolaExcellent
Quagsire
QuagsireExcellent
→Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPF+

Shelmet was a niche pick at best in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP), rarely seen in standard play. Shelmet maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Shellarmor with Eviolite, favoring a Impish nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 8
Curse
Ghost—COMMONSetup
TR29
Baton Pass
Normal—COMMONUtility
Lv 40
Recover
Normal—COMMONRecovery
Tutor
Skitter Smack
Bug70COMMONSTAB
Lv 20
Yawn
Normal—RAREUtility
Xfer
Infestation
Bug20RARESTAB
Xfer
Toxic
Poison—RAREUtility
TR54
Toxic Spikes
Poison—RAREUtility
Experimental
Wall
Ability
Shell Armor
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Shelmet
Impish+DEF
EVs

Wall Moveset

  • CurseSetup
  • Baton Pass
  • RecoverRecovery
  • Skitter SmackSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Pyukumuku
PyukumukuGood
Sceptile
SceptileGood
Clefable
ClefableDecent

Shelmet Weakness

Shelmet is weak to Fire, Flying, and Rock. Standard number of weaknesses for the Bug typing.

Shelmet Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fire, Flying, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Fighting, Ground

What is Shelmet Weak Against

Avg
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
FireFlyingRock
½xResist
GrassFightingGround
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Shelmet Strong Against

3Strong
7Resisted
0Immune
Score-4
2xStrong
GrassPsychicDark
½xResisted
FireFightingPoisonFlyingGhostSteelFairy
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Shelmet

Arcanine can KO Shelmet with Flare Blitz (167-197%). Staraptor threatens a KO with Double-Edge (88-104%). Rhyperior's Stone Edge also KOs at 181-213%.

Arcanine
Arcanine
Fire
B
Staraptor
Staraptor
NormalFlying
B
Rhyperior
Rhyperior
GroundRock
B

Evolution

Shelmet doesn't evolve by leveling. You'll need a trade to push it forward to Accelgor. Evolving adds up to 190 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Shelmet
#616Shelmet
Trade
Accelgor
#617Accelgor
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Shelmet
Bug
Accelgor
Bug
HP
50
80+30
ATK
40
70+30
DEF
85
40-45
SP.ATK
40
100+60
SP.DEF
65
60-5
SPE
25
145+120
BST
305D-Tier
495B-Tier+190
ROLE
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Utility
Special

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Shelmet easily with 91 breeding partners from the Bug egg group.

Egg Groups
Bug
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
15 cycles·3,855 steps
Quick~4 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
flygondrapionmasquerainvolbeatillumiseparasectvibravaskorupiparastrapinchsurskitshuckle
12 of 91·

Shiny Shelmet

Red armor swaps to blue-purple, and it's a clean, satisfying change. Shelmet looks like it upgraded from fire knight to water knight overnight.

Normal vs Shiny
Normal ShelmetNormal
Shiny Shelmet Shiny
Color ShiftRedtoGray
Shiny TierA Tier Shiny

Shiny Shelmet Evolution

2 Forms
Shiny Shelmet evolution
Stage 1Shelmet
Trade
Shiny Accelgor evolution
Stage 2Accelgor
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Shiny Shelmet Odds & Hunting Methods

7 of 7 Verified
GameBest MethodOddsDifficulty
GameSword & Shield
MethodBrilliant Aura battle-count boostMotostoke Riverbank · 35%
Odds1/456
Difficulty
GameBlack 2 & White 2
MethodMasuda Method
Odds1/1024
Difficulty
GameBlack & White
MethodMasuda Method
Odds1/1365
Difficulty
GameX & Y
MethodPoke Radar ChainingRoute 14 · 10%
Odds1/100
Difficulty
Shiny via transfer only
Not obtainable here — bring a shiny in from a game where it can be caught or bred.
GameOmega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Method—
Odds—
Difficulty—
GameSun & Moon
Method—
Odds—
Difficulty—
GameUltra Sun & Ultra Moon
Method—
Odds—
Difficulty—
More dots = harder hunt1/200 Green = best verified rate
How do we research these odds?

We check every game where a shiny is possible, then rank each one by the best method available in that game, so the row at the top is the fastest route overall.

Odds marked verified are cross-checked against multiple independent sources before we publish them. Where a rate is not yet confirmed we mark the row pending rather than guess a number.

Read our full methodology

How to Get Shelmet

All 7 games

No trade evolution leads to Shelmet, the first stage of its 2-stage line. Trading only comes in further along the line, as the step cards below show.

Where To Catch Shelmet in SwSh

The line opens with Shelmet at Lv. 13-65 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Shelmet
    Step 1Shelmet ✓
    Soothing Wetlands
    Lv.13-18Grass
    Rate 30%
    Snowstorm
    Soothing Wetlands
    Lv.13-18Grass
    Rate 30%
    Normal Weather
    Soothing Wetlands
    Lv.13-18Grass
    Rate 30%
    Overcast
    Soothing Wetlands
    Lv.13-18Grass
    Rate 30%
    Heavy Fog
    Soothing Wetlands
    Lv.13-18Grass
    Rate 30%
    Raining
    Soothing Wetlands
    Lv.13-18Grass
    Rate 30%
    Sandstorm
    Soothing Wetlands
    Lv.13-18Grass
    Rate 30%
    Snowing
    Soothing Wetlands
    Lv.13-18Grass
    Rate 30%
    Intense Sun
    Soothing Wetlands
    Lv.13-18Grass
    Rate 30%
    Thunderstorm
    Motostoke Riverbank
    Lv.26-28Grass
    ShieldRate 35%
    Raining
    Hammerlocke Hills
    Lv.28-30Grass
    ShieldRate 30%
    Raining
    Route 7
    Lv.28-40Grass
    ShieldRate 20%
    Snowstorm
    Hammerlocke Hills
    Lv.28-30Grass
    ShieldRate 15%
    Thunderstorm
    Bridge Field
    Lv.26-28Grass
    Rate 10%
    Overcast
    Motostoke Riverbank
    Lv.26-28Grass
    SwordRate 10%
    Raining
    Giant's Cap
    Lv.27-29Grass
    ShieldRate 10%
    Overcast
    Hammerlocke Hills
    Lv.28-30Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Raining
    Route 7
    Lv.28-40Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Snowstorm
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    ShieldRate 25%
    Normal Weather
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    ShieldRate 20%
    Overcast
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    ShieldRate 20%
    Heavy Fog
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    ShieldRate 20%
    Raining
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    ShieldRate 20%
    Sandstorm
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    ShieldRate 20%
    Snowing
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    ShieldRate 20%
    Intense Sun
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    ShieldRate 20%
    Thunderstorm
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Normal Weather
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Overcast
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Heavy Fog
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Raining
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Sandstorm
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Snowing
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Intense Sun
    Route 7
    Lv.36-40Grass
    SwordRate 5%
    Thunderstorm
    Giant's Bed
    Lv.60-65Grass
    Rate 20%
    Snowstorm
    Giant's Bed
    Lv.60-65Grass
    Rate 20%
    Normal Weather
    Giant's Bed
    Lv.60-65Grass
    Rate 20%
    Overcast
    Giant's Bed
    Lv.60-65Grass
    Rate 20%
    Heavy Fog
    Giant's Bed
    Lv.60-65Grass
    Rate 20%
    Raining
    Giant's Bed
    Lv.60-65Grass
    Rate 20%
    Snowing
    Giant's Bed
    Lv.60-65Grass
    Rate 16%
    Intense Sun
    Giant's Bed
    Lv.60-65Grass
    Rate 16%
    Thunderstorm
  2. Accelgor
    Step 2Evolve into Accelgor
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Shelmet egg.

Not landing the catch? Calculate Shelmet catch rates for Sword & Shield by ball, status, and HP.

Base Stats

Defense and Sp. Def carry most of Shelmet's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Easy to catch and yields 1 Defense EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
Avg
HP50
D
Attack40
D
Defense85
C
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def65
C
Speed25
F
Total305
Details
Catch Rate
Easy200 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.4 m
1'04"Tiny
Weight7.7 kg
17.0 lbsFeather
Base XP61
Low Yield
Abilities
Hydration
Cures any major status ailment after each turn during rain.
Shell Armor
Protects against critical hits.
OvercoatHidden Ability
Protects against damage from weather.
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

It has a strange physiology that responds to electricity. When together with Karrablast, Shelmet evolves for some reason.

Pokemon Shield

Shelmet Event Distributions

Shelmet ranks among the more heavily event-distributed Pokemon, returning through repeated Mystery Gift giveaways.

It's a Shelmet!Jun 2011BlackWhiteBlack 2White 2Not shiny
Lv 50 OT: SMR2011 Cherish Ball Classic Ribbon
Moves: Encore, Giga Drain, Body Slam, Bug Buzz
from Jun 2011
School Festival x Pokemon GiftNov 2010BlackWhiteBlack 2White 2Not shiny
Lv 30 OT: ちゅらうみ Cherish Ball Souvenir Ribbon
Moves: Struggle Bug, Mega Drain, Yawn, Protect
from Nov 2010
Original name: がくえんさい×ポケモンプレゼント
School Festival x Pokemon GiftNov 2010BlackWhiteBlack 2White 2Not shiny
Lv 30 OT: もえた Cherish Ball Souvenir Ribbon
Moves: Struggle Bug, Mega Drain, Yawn, Protect
from Nov 2010
Original name: がくえんさい×ポケモンプレゼント

Shelmet Guide

  • Shelmet evolves into Accelgor via trade.

  • You can run Shelmet through the first few routes without issues. 305 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Accelgor as fast as you can.

Game Availability

Shelmet joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 7 titles so far. With 5 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.

Click a game to view version-specific details

Explore

Where to go next after Shelmet.

Next stepPokedexBrowse the full Pokedex for every gameSee Pokedex
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