Stats & Training
Everything pushes toward mixed damage here. Arcanine's Attack does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 2 Attack EVs per KO. Moderately hard to find, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Its proud and regal appearance has captured the hearts of people since long ago.
Its proud and regal appearance has captured the hearts of people since long ago.
Arcanine Weakness
Arcanine's Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, and Rock. The Fire typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. With 90 HP and balanced defenses, Arcanine can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySerenegrace ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Jirachi builds →U Turn7-8% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain12-14% Fire Blast26-31% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Ninetales builds →Fire Blast19-22% Flamethrower15-18% | ||
Black & White Evolution
Arcanine evolved from Growlithe's chain using an evolution item. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Growlithe eggs (average hatch time). The evolution from Growlithe pushed Arcanine to 555 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +40. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Arcanine to get Growlithe eggs easily using 181 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Body Slam, Close Combat, Covet and 10 more.
Black & White Arcanine Best Moveset
Flashfire helps Arcanine stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, Defense and Sp. Def investment EVs for the right balance, and Flare Blitz as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Arcanine best EVs are Defense and Sp. Def
Bulky Support Moveset
- Flare Blitz
- Morning Sun
- Extreme Speed
- Close Combat
Recommended Teammates
Moves
You'll want to breed for Body Slam and Close Combat on Arcanine. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Overheat and Flare Blitz, they expand what Arcanine can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Arcanine in Black & White
No wild encounters for Arcanine in Black & White. Bring Growlithe over from Red, Yellow, or Sun, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
Arcanine Guide
In the Black & White meta, Arcanine already has 555 BST going for it, and Intimidate pushes the competitive value even higher. C-Tier attacker on our tier list. Flare Blitz with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Black & White, watch for Starmie (Water), Golem (Ground), and Aerodactyl (Rock) when using Arcanine. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Arcanine gets Intimidate, Flash Fire, and Justified. But Intimidate is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Arcanine is a physical attacker with base 110 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 95 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the attacker role.
In Black & White, run Flare Blitz, Morningsun, Extreme Speed, and Close Combat on Arcanine. Flare Blitz is the most common pick at 21% usage. This set covers the attacker role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Available since Red & Blue, Arcanine appears in 21 games spanning 10 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Hisuian form in Generation 8.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves