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.
Overflowing with beauty and majesty, this strong Pokémon appears in ancient Eastern folklore.
The fire burning inside its body serves as the energy to fuel it as it runs great distances. It appears in many legends.
Arcanine Weakness
Arcanine's Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. 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 |
 Tapu Fini WaterFairy | A | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Hope Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Tapu Fini builds →Hydro Pump 2x88-104%KO Muddy Water 2x72-85% Surf 2x72-85% Waterfall 2x54-64% | ||
 Primarina WaterFairy | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Iki Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Primarina builds →Hydro Pump 2x111-131%KO Sparkling Aria 2x91-107%KO Surf 2x91-107%KO Scald 2x82-96% | ||
 Zygarde DragonGround | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 16 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Zygarde builds →Earthquake 2x83-98% Stone Edge 2x55-65% Land's Wrath 2x75-89% Dig 2x68-80% | ||
 Nihilego RockPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nihilego builds →Head Smash 2x77-91% Power Gem 2x82-96% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Wimpod (Poni Breaker Coast Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Golisopod builds →Surf 2x51-60% Liquidation 2x86-102%KO Scald 2x46-55% Waterfall 2x82-96% | ||
In Sun & Moon, Tapu Koko deals 56-66% with Thunderbolt.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureSassy Moves View Ferrothorn builds →
| ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityElectric Surge ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Tapu Koko builds →Thunderbolt56-66% Volt Switch43-51% Dazzling Gleam24-29% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Pelipper builds →Hurricane50-59% Scald 2x73-86% | ||
 Celesteela Steel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Celesteela builds →Air Slash37-44% Flamethrower15-17% | ||
Sun & Moon 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 218 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Body Slam, Burn Up, Close Combat and 11 more.
Sun & Moon Arcanine Best Moveset
the remaining moves gives Arcanine answers even while choice-locked. Choice Band provides raw power at the cost of move flexibility, and max HP and Attack EVs with Intimidate mean every prediction that lands hits hard.
Best Build
Arcanine best EVs are HP and Attack
Doubles Physical Wallbreaker Moveset
- Flare Blitz
- Extreme Speed
- Wild Charge
- Close Combat
Recommended Teammates
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Flare Blitz
- Extreme Speed
- Close Combat
- Wild Charge
Recommended Teammates
Moves
You'll want to breed for Body Slam and Burn Up on Arcanine. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Overheat and Burn Up, 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 Sun & Moon
Can't catch Arcanine directly. Start with Growlithe at decent rates from the locations below, then evolve through a special method. The 2-stage line from Growlithe to Arcanine is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Arcanine in Sun & Moon
Step 1Catch GrowlitheRoute 2 - NorthSunGrass Lv.7-10 Route20%EarlyRoute 2 - NorthMoonGrass Lv.7-10 Route20%Early
Step 2Arcanine ✓
Arcanine Guide
In the Sun & Moon 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 Choice Band is the standard set.
In Sun & Moon, 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.
For Sun & Moon, Arcanine has answers, but so do you. Faster attackers outpace it. Anything with a super-effective STAB move and decent speed can revenge kill.
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