What separates Arcanine from the pack is Intimidate — it lowers the opponent's Attack on switch-in. Combine that with Fire typing and it sits at a decent but contested Speed tier. Known as the Legendary Pokemon.
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.
ARCANINE is known for its high speed. It is said to be capable of running over 6,200 miles in a single day and night. The fire that blazes wildly within this POKéMON’s body is its source of power.
Arcanine Weakness
AvgArcanine's Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, and Rock moves. 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.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
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.
How to Evolve
Breed with Arcanine to get Growlithe eggs easily using 102 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Body Slam, Crunch, Fire Spin and 4 more.
Intimidate helps Arcanine stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, max Attack without Speed EVs for the right balance, and Overheat as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Best Arcanine Moveset
- Extreme Speed
- Overheat
- Hidden Power Fighting
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
You'll want to breed for Body Slam and Crunch on Arcanine. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Overheat and Fire Blast, they expand what Arcanine can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
No wild encounters for Arcanine in Ruby & Sapphire. Bring Growlithe over from Red, Yellow, or Sun, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
Arcanine already has 555 BST going for it, and Intimidate pushes the competitive value even higher. C-Tier pivot on our tier list.
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 special attacker with base 100 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 95 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. Fits the pivot role.
Arcanine appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Available since Red & Blue, Arcanine appears in 21 games spanning 9 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Hisuian form in Generation 8.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A