Arbok Best Moveset
AbilityIntimidate on entry lowers the opponent's Attack, and 95 base Attack on Poison TermStab gives the moveset moderate physical pressure. Held ItemBlack Sludge provides passive recovery. Tera Poison removes the Ground weakness and boosts the Poison damage, but 80 Speed means faster threats act first.
Poison-types had no targets in Gen I (Red & Blue). Psychic dominated, and Arbok's 95 Attack couldn't make up for the typing disadvantage.
Utility Moveset
- Wrap
- Earthquake
- Glare
- Hyper Beam
Recommended Teammates
The Special split gave Arbok 79 Sp. Def in Gen II (Gold & Silver). Not bad for a Poison-type, but 95 Attack still lacked the power moves to threaten.
Utility Moveset
- Earthquake
- Sludge Bomb
- Glare
- Thief
Recommended Teammates
Intimidate arrived as Arbok's ability in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Attack drops on switch-in gave it defensive utility, but no offensive STAB worth running.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Sludge Bomb
- Earthquake
- Body Slam
- Glare
Recommended Teammates
Physical/Special split helped Arbok's Poison Jab and Gunk Shot in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Best offensive gen, but the competition at every tier was fiercer.
Best Moves
Best Build
Arbok best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Earthquake
- Switcheroo
- Gunk Shot
- Aqua Tail
Recommended Teammates
Fell back in Gen V (Black & White). Intimidate was useful but 448 BST couldn't keep up with power creep. Too slow at 80 Speed for the faster metagame.
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Coil
- Sucker Punch
- Earthquake
- Gunk Shot
Recommended Teammates
Coil boosted Attack, Defense, and accuracy in Gen VI (X & Y). The best setup move Arbok ever had, but the base stats capped the ceiling.
Wall Moveset
- Gunk Shot
- Coil
- Glare
- Aqua Tail
Recommended Teammates
Dropped in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Every role Arbok filled had a better option. Intimidate utility existed on bulkier bodies with stronger typing.
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Coil
- Gunk Shot
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch
Recommended Teammates
Returned in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet) after skipping Gen VIII entirely. Same Intimidate, same stats, same result. The format had moved on without Arbok.
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Gunk Shot
- Earthquake
- Coil
- Sucker Punch
Recommended Teammates
Arbok Weakness
Arbok is weak to Ground and Psychic. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Arbok leans offensive (base 95 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ground, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Fairy |
What is Arbok Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Arbok
Rillaboom's Knock Off hits Arbok for 59-70%.
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityGrassy Surge ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Rillaboom builds →Knock Off59-70% U Turn31-37% Wood Hammer54-64% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Alomomola builds →Flip Turn18-21% Scald13-16% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityQuarkdrive ItemBooster Energy NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Iron Valiant builds →Moonblast23-27% Close Combat25-30% Knock Off28-33% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Clefable builds →Moonblast15-18% | ||
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemWellspringmask NatureJolly Moves View Ogerpon-Wellspring builds →
| ||
Evolution
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Get Arbok
Arbok starts showing up in mid-game routes at moderate rates across 6 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Arbok in SV
Ekans is your first catch on the way to Arbok. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 7-60 across 22 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch EkansApple HillsLv.7-60OverworldCrystal PoolLv.7-60OverworldFellhorn GorgeLv.7-60OverworldKitakami RoadLv.7-60OverworldMossfell ConfluenceLv.7-60OverworldOni MountainLv.7-60OverworldRevelers RoadLv.7-60OverworldWistful FieldsLv.7-60Overworld
Step 2Arbok ✓Fellhorn GorgeLv.22-60OverworldMossfell ConfluenceLv.22-60OverworldOnis MawLv.22-60Overworldor evolve from Ekans (Step 1)
A few locations for Arbok with moderate rates across late-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.
Where To Catch Arbok in LZA
To get Arbok, start by catching Ekans through walking encounters at Lv. 8-52. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
- Step 1Catch EkansWild Zone 4Lv.8-10OverworldLegends: Z-A
- Step 2Arbok ✓Wild Zone 10Lv.31-33OverworldLegends: Z-AWild Zone 10Lv.50-52OverworldLegends: Z-Aor evolve from Ekans (Step 1)
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 BDSP
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 CavernLv.58-63GrassBrilliant DiamondPost-gameGrassland CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameSwampy CaveLv.58-63GrassBrilliant DiamondPost-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 LGPE
Step 1Catch EkansRoute 3Lv.3-8GrassLet's Go EeveeRate 20%Route 4Lv.7-12GrassLet's Go EeveeRate 20%
Step 2Arbok ✓
Base Stats
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 Guide
Arbok can work for a story run. 448 BST is average, but Poison typing fills a niche depending on your team composition.
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.
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 a physical attacker with 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.
Game Availability
Arbok has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves