Utility
Balanced
448Average
80Moderate
CTier

Arbok punches above its weight class thanks to Intimidate. It lowers the opponent's Attack on switch-in, which is enough to make up for stats that don't impress on their own. Only weak to Ground and Psychic. Known as the Cobra Pokemon.

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
Catch90ChallengingMedium Fast1M XP3.5m / 11'06"65kg / 143.3 lbs157Base XP
Pokedex Entries

The latest research has determined that there are over 20 possible arrangements of the patterns on its stomach.

Ultra Sun

After stunning its opponents with the pattern on its stomach, it quickly wraps them up in its body and waits for them to stop moving.

Ultra Moon

Arbok Weakness

Good

Arbok is weak to Ground and Psychic-type moves. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Arbok leans offensive (base 95 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.

4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (2)i
2Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Scorei+1
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
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 from the Dragon and Ground egg groups. Notable egg moves include Beat Up, Disable, Iron Tail and 9 more.

Egg Groups
DragonGround
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
12moves

Arbok runs a standard setup attacker set. Hardy nature with max Attack without Speed EVs shapes the build, while Black Sludge brings Poison-type passive recovery. Intimidate supports the kit from the background.

Best Build

Physical Attacker
Ability
Intimidate
Item
Black SludgeSUSTAIN
Nature
Hardy
EVs

Best Arbok Moveset

  • Unknown
  • CoilSetup
  • Gunk ShotSTAB
  • EarthquakeCoverage

The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 12 types means almost nothing walls Arbok cleanly, with Belch and Gunk Shot anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 1
Crunch
8010015Dark
Lv 1
Fire Fang
659515Fire
Lv 1
Ice Fang
659515Ice
Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 1
Thunder Fang
659515Electric
Lv 1
Wrap
159020Normal
Lv 4
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 9
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 12
Glare
10030Normal
Lv 17
Screech
8540Normal
Lv 20
Acid
4010030Poison
Lv 27
Spit Up
10010Normal
Lv 27
Stockpile
20Normal
Lv 27
Swallow
10Normal
Lv 32
Acid Spray
4010020Poison
Lv 39
Mud Bomb
658510Ground
Lv 44
Gastro Acid
10010Poison
Lv 48
Belch
1209010Poison
Lv 51
Haze
30Ice
Lv 56
Coil
20Poison
Lv 63
Gunk Shot
120805Poison

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM59
Brutal Swing
6010020Dark
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM100
Confide
20Normal
TM97
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM82
Dragon Tail-6
609010Dragon
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM83
Infestation
2010020Bug
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM84
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM39
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM34
Sludge Wave
9510010Poison
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
8515Normal
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM09
Venoshock
6510010Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Beat Up
10010Dark
Egg
Disable
10020Normal
Egg
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
Egg
Poison Fang
5010015Poison
Egg
Poison Tail
5010025Poison
Egg
Pursuit
4010020Dark
Egg
Scary Face
10010Normal
Egg
Slam
807520Normal
Egg
Snatch+4
10Dark
Egg
Spite
10010Ghost
Egg
Sucker Punch+1
701005Dark
Egg
Switcheroo
10010Dark

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Tutor
Bind
158520Normal
Tutor
Gastro Acid
10010Poison
Tutor
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
Tutor
Gunk Shot
120805Poison
Tutor
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
Tutor
Seed Bomb
8010015Grass
Tutor
Snatch+4
10Dark
Tutor
Snore
5010015Normal
Tutor
Spite
10010Ghost
Tutor
Stomping Tantrum
7510010Ground
Tutor
Throat Chop
8010015Dark

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 1
Bide+1
10Normal
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 4
Captivate
10020Normal
Gen 2
Curse
10Ghost
Gen 6
Dig
8010010Ground
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
10Normal
Gen 1
Fissure
305Ground
Gen 4
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Gen 1
Mega Drain
7510015Grass
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Natural Gift
10015Normal
Gen 1
Rage
2010020Normal
Gen 6
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 1
Skull Bash
13010010Normal
Gen 6
Strength
8010015Normal
Gen 1
Take Down
908520Normal

The way to get Arbok in this game is through an NPC trade at Route 8. Bring the right Pokemon and it's yours. The details below list the exact trade requirements.

How to Obtain Arbok in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon

The path to Arbok starts with Ekans at Lv. 6-22 via walking and trade encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Ekans
    Step 1Catch Ekans
    Route 2 - South
    Ultra SunGrassLv.7-1050%EarlyRouteShaking spot
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 2 - South
    Ultra MoonGrassLv.7-1050%EarlyRouteShaking spot
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 2 - North
    Ultra MoonGrassLv.8-1150%EarlyRouteShaking spot
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 2 - North
    Ultra SunGrassLv.8-1150%EarlyRouteShaking spot
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 2 - South
    Ultra SunGrassLv.6-920%EarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 2 - South
    Ultra MoonGrassLv.6-920%EarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 2 - North
    Ultra MoonGrassLv.7-1020%EarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 2 - North
    Ultra SunGrassLv.7-1020%EarlyRoute
    EASY
  2. Arbok
    Step 2Arbok
    Route 8
    Ultra SunIn-game tradeLv.22MidRouteTrade for (give Trumbeak)
    Route 8
    Ultra MoonIn-game tradeLv.22MidRouteTrade for (give Trumbeak)
    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.

  • 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 leaning toward the physical side (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.