Is Arbok Good in Yellow Playthrough?
Even with a trade from Red, Arbok doesn't cover any matchups your team actually needs. The Poison-type limitations that hold it back in Red and Blue apply just the same in Yellow.
Brock's typing presses Arbok's defenses.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Arbok has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.
Arbok has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Arbok has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.
Giovanni's team hits Arbok's weaknesses hard.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.
Trade
Arbok cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 22.
Recommended Moves
- After Brock
- TM28GroundDigPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Returned by the Team Rocket Grunt in Cerulean City after you defeat him
- After Misty
- TM08NormalBody SlamPower 85Accuracy 100%PP 15S.S. Anne
- LV 27NormalGlarePower —Accuracy 75%PP 30
- After Lt. Surge
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Rocket Game Corner
- TM10NormalDouble-EdgePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15Rocket Hideout
- After Erika
- TM40NormalSkull BashPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15Safari Zone
- HM04NormalStrengthPower 80Accuracy 100%PP 15Fuchsia City
- After Koga
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Silph Co.
How to Get Arbok in Yellow
No Ekans in Yellow's grass means no homegrown Arbok. Bring an Ekans across from Red or Blue and raise it to level 22.
How to Obtain Arbok in Y
- Step 1Obtain EkansCARTRIDGE TRADEfrom Red & BlueAvailableCatch in Red & Blue via Walking · Route 11, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Gift · Goldenrod City · 700 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Walking · Route 42. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Walking · Route 11. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Walking · Route 212 · Dual-slot: FireRed. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom PlatinumNot TradeableAppears in Platinum via Walking · Route 212 · Dual-slot: FireRed. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in HeartGold & SoulSilver via Walking · Safari Zone. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
- Step 2Arbok ✓
Arbok Weakness
Arbok is weak to Ground, Psychic, and Bug. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ground, Psychic, Bug |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Poison |
- 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
What is Arbok Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Arbok
 Rhydon GroundRock | S | |
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
 Mewtwo Psychic | S | |
Obtain MethodCerulean Cave Interact Encounter | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
 Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
 Hypno Psychic | C | |
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | S | |
 Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Kadabra builds →Psychic 2x125-148%KO Dig 2x35-41% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
 Dugtrio Ground | B | |
 Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Parasect builds →Dig 2x72-85% Leech Life 2x23-28% | ||
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 12 Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Slowbro builds →Psychic 2x107-126%KO Earthquake 2x59-70% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Arbok Evolutions
Arbok is the evolved form of Ekans, reached at level 22. A Poison type at 424 stats that still can't breed. Evolving from Ekans gave Arbok the biggest boost in HP (+25), bringing the total to 424 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
Y Arbok Best Moveset
MoveEarthquake provides the only real coverage worth using, but 60 Speed means going second against anything competitive. Poison TermStab has no useful targets at the top. MoveGlare for paralysis support is the one competitive niche.
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Wrap
- Earthquake
- Glare
- Hyper Beam
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
All 18 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
The frightening patterns on its belly have been studied. Six variations have been confirmed.
Arbok Yellow Guide
No. Arbok isn't catchable in Yellow. Catch one in Red, then trade it over.
Honestly, in Yellow Arbok is a tough sell. It rates just E-Tier, and stronger Poison options exist. Fun pick, not a practical one.
In Yellow, Arbok plays as a balanced. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully.
Game Availability
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.
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 7Let's Go
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
Explore
Where to go next after Arbok.
Keep playing · YellowYellow Tier ListThe best Pokemon ranked tier by tierSee Yellow Tier List