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.
The sight of it running over 6,200 miles in a single day and night has captivated many people.
A Pokémon that has long been admired for its beauty. It runs agilely as if on wings.
Arcanine Weakness
AvgArcanine's Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, and Rock moves. 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.
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 138 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Covet, Double Kick, Double-Edge and 2 more.
Intimidate helps Arcanine stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, max Attack and Speed EVs for the right balance, and Extreme Speed as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Best Arcanine Moveset
- Extreme Speed
- Burn Up
- Flare Blitz
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
STAB runs through Burn Up and Overheat for the basics, but Arcanine's real strength is the 10-type coverage spread. Dark and Normal hit common defensive types, and the movepool keeps going.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
A few locations for Arcanine with decent spawn rates across endgame routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Arcanine in Sword & Shield
To get Arcanine, start by catching Growlithe through walking encounters at Lv. 7-58. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch GrowlitheEFFORTLESSRolling FieldsShieldOverworldLv.7-1060%EarlyIntense SunEFFORTLESSWest Lake AxewellShieldGrassLv.7-1140%EarlyCaveIntense SunEFFORTLESSDappled GroveShieldGrassLv.11-1540%EarlyForestIntense SunEFFORTLESSWest Lake AxewellShieldOverworldLv.8-1435%EarlyCaveIntense SunEFFORTLESSEast Lake AxewellShieldGrassLv.8-1230%EarlyCaveIntense SunEFFORTLESSSouth Lake MilochShieldGrassLv.11-1330%EarlyWaterIntense SunEASYRolling Fields - 2ShieldOverworldLv.7-1025%EarlyIntense SunEASYEast Lake AxewellShieldOverworldLv.10-1525%EarlyCaveIntense SunEASYSouth Lake MilochShieldOverworldLv.14-1625%EarlyWaterIntense SunEASYRolling FieldsShieldGrassLv.7-1020%EarlyIntense SunEASYWatchtower RuinsShieldGrassLv.11-1420%EarlyBuildingIntense SunEASYRoute 3ShieldOverworldLv.10-1415%EarlyRouteAll WeatherEASYSouth Lake Miloch - 2ShieldOverworldLv.14-1615%EarlyWaterIntense SunCHALLENGINGDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-152%EarlyForestIntense SunEFFORTLESSHammerlocke HillsSwordGrassLv.28-3040%MidIntense SunMODERATEWatchtower RuinsShieldOverworldLv.26-2910%MidBuildingIntense SunMODERATENorth Lake MilochShieldOverworldLv.26-285%MidWaterIntense SunEFFORTLESSAxew's EyeShieldGrassLv.35-4040%LateIntense SunEFFORTLESSDusty BowlSwordOverworldLv.42-4730%LateIntense SunMODERATEGiant's SeatShieldOverworldLv.33-385%LateWaterIntense SunMODERATEAxew's EyeShieldOverworldLv.36-405%LateIntense Sun
Step 2Arcanine ✓EASYLake of OutrageOverworldLv.55-5825%PostWaterIntense Sunor evolve from Growlithe (Step 1)
Arcanine already has 555 BST going for it, and Intimidate pushes the competitive value even higher. B-Tier attacker 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 attacker 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