The Whiskers Pokemon. Barboach is wild in Emerald's waters with Oblivious blocking Attract. C-Tier Whiscash shares Swampert's Water/Ground typing.
Ability 1ObliviousAbility 1Prevents infatuation and protects against Captivate.
288HP50Attack48Defense43Speed60Sp.Def41Sp.Atk46
Barboach
Whiscash
Weak to
Mixed
Balanced
60Speed · Below Avg

Is Barboach Good in Emerald Playthrough?

Route 111 fishing. Water/Ground with AbilityOblivious. Whiscash at 30 gets Swampert's typing with lower stats. One weakness to Grass. Wallace uses Whiscash on his Champion team. If you didn't pick Mudkip, Barboach's evolution fills that Water/Ground role from mid-game.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadSEGGTEEEEEEETRoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5BarboachCatchableWhiscashEvolveWinonaGym 6Tate & LizaGym 7JuanGym 8SidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4WallaceChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Strong

Barboach resists most of Roxanne's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
You Win
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
BlockHardenTackleRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Even

Barboach trades roughly evenly with Brawly's team.

Even
Machop
Lv 16
Fighting
Guts
Karate ChopLow KickSeismic TossBulk Up
Even
Meditite
Lv 16
FightingPsychic
Pure Power
Focus PunchLight ScreenReflectBulk Up
You Win
Makuhita
Lv 19
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustVital ThrowReversalBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Good

Barboach has the type edge here and should clean up Wattson's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSparkSelf DestructShock Wave
You Win
Electrike
Lv 20
Electric
Static
Shock WaveLeerQuick AttackHowl
You Win
Magneton
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicShock WaveThunder WaveSonic Boom
Even
Manectric
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveShock WaveHowl
Flannery
Gym 4
Good

Barboach has the type edge here and should clean up Flannery's team.

Easy KO
Numel
Lv 24
FireGround
Oblivious
OverheatTake DownMagnitudeSunny Day
Easy KO
Slugma
Lv 24
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Camerupt
Lv 26
FireGround
Magma Armor
OverheatTackleSunny DayAttract
Even
Torkoal
Lv 29
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatSunny DayBody SlamAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Tough

Norman's typing presses Barboach's defenses.

Even
Spinda
Lv 27
Normal
Own Tempo
Teeter DancePsybeamFacadeEncore
Risky
Vigoroth
Lv 27
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFacadeEncoreFeint Attack
Even
Linoone
Lv 29
Normal
Pickup
SlashBelly DrumFacadeHeadbutt
Risky
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
CounterYawnFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Whiscash trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

You Win
Swablu
Lv 29
NormalFlying
Natural Cure
Perish SongMirror MoveSafeguardAerial Ace
Even
Tropius
Lv 29
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayAerial AceSolar BeamSynthesis
Even
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Even
Skarmory
Lv 31
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Even

Whiscash trades roughly evenly with Tate & Liza's team.

Even
Claydol
Lv 41
GroundPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
EarthquakeAncient PowerPsychicLight Screen
Even
Xatu
Lv 41
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
PsychicSunny DayConfuse RayCalm Mind
Even
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Even
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Juan
Gym 8
Even

Whiscash trades roughly evenly with Juan's team.

Even
Luvdisc
Lv 41
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
Even
Whiscash
Lv 41
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
Even
Sealeo
Lv 43
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Even
Crawdaunt
Lv 43
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
Water PulseCrabhammerTauntLeer
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 46
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
Water PulseDouble TeamIce BeamRest
Sidney
Elite Four
Even

Whiscash trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.

Even
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarDouble EdgeSand AttackCrunch
Risky
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
TormentDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Risky
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Even
Crawdaunt
Lv 48
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
SurfSwords DanceStrengthFacade
Even
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceRock SlideSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Even

Whiscash trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.

Even
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseProtect
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallGrudgeWill O WispFeint Attack
Even
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallDouble TeamNight ShadeFeint Attack
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicThunderboltFacade
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamRock SlideEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Even

Whiscash trades roughly evenly with Glacia's team.

Even
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamHailIce Ball
Even
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchIcy WindIce Beam
Even
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDouble EdgeHailBlizzard
Even
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallExplosionHailIce Beam
Risky
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamIce BeamSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Even

Whiscash trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.

You Win
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectDouble Edge
Even
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Double EdgeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 53
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenDragon DanceSurfBody Slam
You Win
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathEarthquake
Even
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawRock SlideCrunch
Wallace
Champion
Tough

Wallace's team hits Whiscash's weaknesses hard.

Even
Wailord
Lv 57
Water
Water Veil
Rain DanceWater SpoutDouble EdgeBlizzard
You Win
Tentacruel
Lv 55
WaterPoison
Clear Body
ToxicHydro PumpSludge BombIce Beam
Avoid
Ludicolo
Lv 56
WaterGrass
Swift Swim
Giga DrainSurfLeech SeedDouble Team
Even
Whiscash
Lv 56
WaterGround
Oblivious
EarthquakeSurfAmnesiaHyper Beam
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 56
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon DanceEarthquakeHyper BeamSurf
Risky
Milotic
Lv 58
Water
Marvel Scale
RecoverSurfIce BeamToxic

Catchable

Available after Badge 5
Type
WaterGround
Tier
E

Catch Barboach on Route 111 (Good Rod fishing, Lv 10-30, uncommon).

View Barboach locations

Evolve Barboach to Whiscash

Level 30
Type
WaterGround
Tier
C

Barboach evolves into Whiscash at Level 30. Your Barboach should hit Level 30 before you reach Winona, at typical leveling pace.

View Whiscash locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Barboach in Emerald

Barboach hides on the rods at Meteor Falls and a handful of routes, frequent on the Super Rod across sixteen spots and thinner on the Good Rod. Drop a line near the falls and the whiskered fish turns up readily.

5 locations to catch Barboach

Encountered via fishing with a Rod

Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8

How to Get Shiny Barboach in Emerald

Barboach bites down on the Good Rod and Super Rod cast into the water of Meteor Falls, so drop your line into that pool and reel up one after another, releasing each until a shiny surfaces. Compare Shiny Barboach odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Barboach in EmeraldNormal
Shiny Barboach in Emerald Shiny
Color ShiftGray
Shiny TierD Tier Shiny

Shiny Barboach Evolution

2 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Emerald Shiny Barboach Calculator

2 Methods
Shiny Odds

Both methods here share the same odds, about 1 in 8,192 on each try. Pick whichever fits how you play.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Emerald

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breeding: Hatch eggs of this line; each egg rolls at the base shiny rate (no Masuda before Gen IV).

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 8,192Full Odds
Chance By Now50.0%at 5,678 encountersAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few864----
25%one in four2,357----
50%coin flip5,678----
90%very likely18,862----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Want exact numbers for your session? Calculate your shiny odds in Emerald with Barboach preloaded.

Barboach Weakness

Barboach's Water/Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to Grass. Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage.

Barboach Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Poison, Rock, Steel
0x (Immune)Electric
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Barboach Weak Against

Good
1Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Score+3
4xCritical
2xWeak
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Barboach Strong Against

6Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+5
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Barboach

Cacturne
Cacturne
GrassDark
B
B
C
C
Tropius
Tropius
GrassFlying
C

Barboach Evolutions

Barboach evolves into Whiscash. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs take an average time to hatch. The evolved forms gain up to 180 total stats over Barboach. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Barboach
WaterGround
Whiscash
WaterGround
HP
50
110+60
ATK
48
78+30
DEF
43
73+30
SP.ATK
46
76+30
SP.DEF
41
71+30
SPE
60
60
BST
288E-Tier
468C-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Barboach easily with 17 breeding partners from the Water 2 egg group. Pass egg moves like Spark, Thrash, Whirlpool to offspring.

Egg Groups
Water 2
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
3moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosoctillerymagikarpremoraidwailordrelicanthwailmerlanturnsharpedowhiscashseakingqwilfish

E Barboach Best Moveset

Water/Ground typing removes the Electric weakness, but Barboach's stats are too low for competitive play. The moveset should run MoveEarthquake and Water moves while leveling toward Whiscash.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Oblivious
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Barboach

Barboach best EVs are Sp. Atk and Attack

EVs

Utility Moveset

  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • Hidden Power Fire
  • ProtectFAST +4

Moves List

You'll want to breed for Spark and Thrash on Barboach. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Earthquake and Surf, they expand what Barboach can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Mud-Slap
D3010010Ground
Lv 6
Mud Sport
———15Ground
Lv 6
Water Sport
———15Water
Lv 11
Water Gun
D6010025Water
Lv 16
Magnitude
——10030Ground
Lv 21
Amnesia
D——20Psychic
Lv 26
Rest
C——10Psychic
Lv 26
Snore
—4010015Normal
Lv 31
Earthquake
S15010010Ground
Lv 36
Future Sight
—12010010Psychic
Lv 41
Fissure
——305Ground

TM Moves

All 21 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM14D120705Ice
HM08D9010010Water
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM26
EarthquakeSeafloor Cavernnot until badge 7
S15010010Ground
TM42D7010020Normal
TM21
FrustrationPacifidlog Townbadge 5
D—10020Normal
TM07
HailShoal Cavebadge 6
———10Ice
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM13
Ice BeamMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
B9510010Ice
TM17B——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
TM39D609510Rock
TM37
SandstormRoute 111badge 4
D——10Rock
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison
TM03
Water PulsePrize for defeating Juannot until badge 8
D9010020Water
HM07
WaterfallGiven by Wallace in Sootopolis Citynot until badge 7
D12010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Spark
D6510020Electric
Egg
Thrash
—12010020Normal
Egg
Whirlpool
—528515Water

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Double-Edge
D12010015Normal
Tutor
Endure+4
C——10Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
Tutor
Mimic
D——10Normal
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D3010010Ground
Tutor
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Tutor
Snore
—4010015Normal
Tutor
Substitute
C——10Normal
Tutor
Swagger
D—9015Normal

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP50
D
Attack48
D
Defense43
D
Sp. Atk46
D
Sp. Def41
D
Speed60
C
Total288
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.4 m
Weight1.9 kg
Base XP58
Abilities
Oblivious
Prevents infatuation and protects against Captivate.
EV Yield
HP+1AtkDefSpASpDSpe
HP training source
Pokedex Entry

Its body is covered with a slimy film. The film acts as a barrier to prevent germs in muddy water from entering the BARBOACH’s body.

Pokemon Emerald

Barboach Emerald Guide

  • In Emerald, Barboach does the job early-game if you need a Water/Ground type on your team. Evolve it into Whiscash before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Barboach first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 16 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.

Explore

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback