Physical
Balanced
438Average
80Moderate
CTier

Arbok is a Poison-type from Gen 1. Only weak to Ground, Psychic, and Bug. 85 base Attack is its best stat. Known as the Cobra Pokemon. It needs some investment to avoid getting outsped.

Arbok's stats barely vary. 2 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 2 Attack stat exp, medium-fast 1M XP curve to max.

Base Stats
438Above
HP60
C
Attack85
C
Defense69
C
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def79
C
Speed80
C
Total438
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

It is rumored that the ferocious warning markings on its belly differ from area to area.

Red / Blue

Arbok Weakness

Vulnerable

Arbok is weak to Ground, Psychic, and Bug-type moves. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.

Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
GroundPsychicBug
½xResisti
GrassFightingPoison
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (2)i
GrassBug
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Scorei-3
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, reached at level 22. A Poison type at 438 stats that still can't breed. Evolving from Ekans gave Arbok the biggest boost in HP (+25), bringing the total to 438 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 not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 1
Item
Not in Gen 1
Nature
Not in Gen 1

Best Arbok Moveset

  • WrapCoverage
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • GlareUtility
  • Hyper Beam

Recommended Teammates

Victreebel
VictreebelGood
Dragonite
DragoniteGood
Tauros
TaurosDecent

TMs define Arbok's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Acid and Poison Sting, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Normal and Dark coverage and more. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
—10030Normal
Lv 1
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 1
Wrap
158520Normal
Lv 10
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 17
Bite
6010025Normal
Lv 27
Glare
—7530Normal
Lv 36
Screech
—8540Normal
Lv 47
Acid
4010030Poison

TM Moves

Src
TM34
Bide+1
——10Normal
TM08
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM28
Dig
10010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM27
Fissure
—305Ground
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM21
Mega Drain
4010010Grass
TM31
Mimic
——10Normal
TM20
Rage
2010020Normal
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM48
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM40
Skull Bash
10010010Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM50
Substitute
——10Normal
TM09
Take Down
908520Normal
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison

Egg Moves

Arbok doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Arbok can't learn any Tutor moves

decent spawn rates across 3 locations for Arbok in late-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.

Where To Catch Arbok in Red & Blue

The path to Arbok starts with Ekans at Lv. 6-57 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Ekans
    Step 1Catch Ekans
    Route 4
    GrassLv.6-12CommonEarlyRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 10
    GrassLv.11-17CommonEarlyRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 9
    GrassLv.11-17CommonEarlyRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 11
    GrassLv.12-15CommonEarlyRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 23
    GrassLv.26CommonMidRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 8
    GrassLv.17-19UncommonMidRoute
    EASY
  2. Arbok
    Step 2Arbok ✓
    Route 23
    GrassLv.41RareLateRoute
    CHALLENGING
    Cerulean Cave - 1F
    GrassLv.52UncommonPostCave
    EASY
    Cerulean Cave - B1F
    GrassLv.57RarePostCave
    CHALLENGING
    or evolve from Ekans (Step 1)

  • Arbok has a 438 base stat total and ranks as C-Tier — a situational pick that fills a niche. It works best as a balanced.

  • Arbok's biggest threats include Golem (Ground), Starmie (Psychic), and Scyther (Bug), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Ekans evolves into Arbok at level 22. Arbok is the fully evolved form. It sits at 438 BST in its evolved form.

  • Arbok fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 85 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.