Physical
Balanced
448Average
80Moderate
CTier

Arbok is a Poison-type from Gen 1. Only weak to Ground and Psychic. 95 base Attack is its best stat. Known as the Cobra Pokemon. It needs some investment to avoid getting outsped.

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.

Base Stats
448Above
HP60
C
Attack95
B
Defense69
C
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def79
C
Speed80
C
Total448
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Arbok yields +2 Atk
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch90Challenging•Medium Fast1M XP•3.5m / 11'06"•65kg / 143.3 lbs•157Base XP
Pokedex Entries

To intimidate foes, it spreads its chest wide and makes eerie sounds by expelling air from its mouth.

Crystal

Arbok Weakness

Avg

Arbok is weak to Ground and Psychic-type moves. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Arbok leans offensive (base 95 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.

Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
GroundPsychic
½xResisti
GrassFightingPoisonBug
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (1)i
Grass
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Scorei0
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesAbsorbs on switch
Abilities
IntimidateLowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
Shed SkinHas a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn.
UnnerveHAPrevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.

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.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Ekans
#023Ekans
22
Level 22
Arbok
#024Arbok
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Ekans
Poison
Arbok
Poison
HP
35
60+25
ATK
60
95+35
DEF
44
69+25
SP.ATK
40
65+25
SP.DEF
54
79+25
SPE
55
80+25
BST
288C-Tier
448C-Tier+160
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed with Arbok to get Ekans eggs easily using 13 partners from the Dragon and Ground egg groups. Notable egg moves include Beat Up, Crunch, Pursuit and 2 more.

Egg Groups
DragonGround
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
5moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosraichupikachucharizardkingdranidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokseadra
12 of 13·

Arbok runs a standard attacker set. A nature nature with flexible EVs EVs shapes the build, while Nothing brings extra utility. An ability supports the kit from the background.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
Nothing
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Best Arbok Moveset

  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Sludge BombSTAB
  • GlareUtility
  • ThiefCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Houndoom
HoundoomGood
Meganium
MeganiumGood
Dodrio
DodrioGood

Breeding opens up real options for Arbok. Beat Up and Crunch come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Sludge Bomb and Acid and Dark and Normal coverage and more.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 1
Leer
—10030Normal
Lv 1
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 1
Wrap
158520Normal
Lv 9
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 15
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 25
Glare
—7530Normal
Lv 33
Screech
—8540Normal
Lv 43
Acid
4010030Poison
Lv 51
Haze
——30Ice

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM03
Curse
——10Ghost
TM28
Dig
6010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM20
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
751005Grass
TM02
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM35
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM34
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM06
Toxic
—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Beat Up
—10010Dark
Egg
Crunch
8010015Dark
Egg
Pursuit
4010020Dark
Egg
Slam
807520Normal
Egg
Spite
—10010Ghost

Tutor Moves

Arbok can't learn any Tutor moves

Arbok is available from early-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 7 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.

Where To Catch Arbok in Crystal

The path to Arbok starts with Ekans at Lv. 4-42 via walking and headbutt encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Ekans
    Step 1Catch Ekans
    Route 32
    GrassLv.4CommonEarlyRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 42
    GrassLv.13CommonEarlyRouteMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 3
    GrassLv.8UncommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 4
    GrassLv.8UncommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Azalea Town
    Headbutting treesLv.10UncommonEarlyCity
    MODERATE
    Route 32
    Headbutting treesLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
    MODERATE
    Route 33
    Headbutting treesLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
    MODERATE
    Route 42
    Headbutting treesLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
    MODERATE
    Route 26
    Headbutting treesLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
    MODERATE
    Route 27
    Headbutting treesLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
    MODERATE
    Route 33
    GrassLv.7RareEarlyRouteMorning/day
    CHALLENGING
  2. Arbok
    Step 2Arbok ✓
    Route 3
    GrassLv.10RareEarlyRoute
    CHALLENGING
    Route 4
    GrassLv.10RareEarlyRoute
    CHALLENGING
    Route 42
    GrassLv.15RareEarlyRouteMorning/day
    CHALLENGING
    Route 27
    GrassLv.28CommonMidRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 26
    GrassLv.30RareMidRoute
    CHALLENGING
    Mt. Silver - Outside
    GrassLv.42UncommonLateCaveMorning/day
    EASY
    Route 28
    GrassLv.42UncommonLateRouteMorning/day
    EASY
    or evolve from Ekans (Step 1)

  • 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.

  • Arbok's biggest threats include Golem (Ground) and Starmie (Psychic), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Ekans evolves into Arbok at level 22. Arbok is the fully evolved form. It sits at 448 BST in its evolved form.

  • 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.

  • 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.