Carracosta Best Moveset
Physical bulk plus Water/Rock TermStab at 108 Attack and 133 Defense. AbilitySolid Rock cuts super-effective damage by 25%, partially covering the 4x Grass weakness. AbilitySwift Swim in rain fixes the 32 Speed problem. D-tier because without rain the Speed is the lowest among viable physical attackers.
Shell Smash from 133 Defense in Gen V (Black & White). Solid Rock reduced super-effective damage. Sturdy guaranteed surviving setup. The three-layer insurance worked.
Best Moves
Best Build
Carracosta best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
Recommended Teammates
Borderline in Gen VI (X & Y). Shell Smash plus Solid Rock plus Sturdy was the combo. 32 Speed after a boost was barely viable.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Earthquake
- Waterfall
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Shell Smash sets got predictable in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Opponents carried Grass-types that outsped even boosted Carracosta.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Earthquake
- Shell Smash
- Liquidation
- Rock Slide
Recommended Teammates
Four gens from Shell Smash sweeper to forgotten in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Power creep made 108 Attack after a boost look average.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Aqua Jet
- Stone Edge
- Shell Smash
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Carracosta Weakness
Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground moves hit Carracosta for super-effective damage. Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Solid Rock reduces SE moves damage, further improving the defensive spread. Carracosta's physical bulk (base 133 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Grass |
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire |
What is Carracosta Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Carracosta
Raikou threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (186-219%). Lucario's Aura Sphere also KOs at 105-124%.
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLoaded Dice NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Carracosta View Breloom builds →Mach Punch 2x26-31% Bullet Seed 4x33-39% | ||
 Raikou Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Carracosta View Raikou builds →Scald55-65% Thunderbolt 2x186-219%KO Volt Switch 2x145-171%KO | ||
 Lucario FightingSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Carracosta View Lucario builds →Extreme Speed10-11% Close Combat 2x88-103%KO Aura Sphere 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySandrush ItemAir Balloon NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Carracosta View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x71-83% Rapid Spin6-7% | ||
Evolution
Evolved from Tirtouga. Carracosta is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are slow to hatch. Attack grew the most through evolution (+30 over Tirtouga), and Carracosta peaks at 495 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
How to Get Carracosta
Can't catch Carracosta directly. Start with Tirtouga at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 37. The 2-stage line from Tirtouga to Carracosta is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Carracosta in SwSh
The path to Carracosta starts with Tirtouga at Lv. 60-65 via walking and surfing encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch TirtougaFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%ThunderstormFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%SnowstormFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%OvercastFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%Heavy FogFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%SnowingFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Normal WeatherFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%ThunderstormFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%OvercastFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%RainingFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%SnowingFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%Normal WeatherFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%RainingFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%SnowstormFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Heavy Fog
Step 2Carracosta ✓BREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Carracosta egg.
Carracosta doesn't appear wild. Catch Tirtouga instead, it shows up at moderate rates. Evolve it at level 37 to get Carracosta. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Carracosta in USUM
Step 1Catch TirtougaRoute 8 - Fossil Restoration CenterLv.15Gift from NPCRevive Cover Fossil
Step 2Carracosta ✓
No wild encounters for Carracosta. The 2-stage line runs through Tirtouga, which you can catch at moderate rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 37 once you've got the levels.
How to Obtain Carracosta in SM
- Step 1Catch TirtougaRoute 8 - Fossil Restoration CenterLv.15Gift from NPCSunRevive Cover Fossil
- Step 2Carracosta ✓BREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Carracosta egg.
You're catching Tirtouga first, not Carracosta. Tirtouga appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Carracosta in ORAS
Step 1Catch TirtougaRustboro City - Devon CorporationLv.20Gift from NPCOne-timeRevive Cover Fossil
Step 2Carracosta ✓
Base Stats
Defense leads and Speed gets almost nothing. That's Carracosta's stat line in a nutshell. 3 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Tough to catch and yields 2 Defense EVs.
This Pokémon emerges from the water in search of prey despite the fact that it moves more slowly on land.
Carracosta Guide
Swift Swim changes the entire equation for Carracosta. The 495 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a trick room.
Watch for Exeggutor (Grass), Raikou (Electric), and Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Carracosta. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Exeggutor is the most dangerous since Grass moves deal 4x damage. Ground-type attackers are also a problem. At base 32 Speed, Carracosta won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Swift Swim is what you want on Carracosta. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Solid Rock, Sturdy) work on paper but Swift Swim is what makes Carracosta worth using.
Base 32 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Carracosta is a mixed attacker with base 108 Attack and 83 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a trick room.
Run Aqua Jet, Stealth Rock, Scald, and Shellsmash on Carracosta. Aqua Jet is the most common pick at 0% usage. Scald provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Carracosta joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 7 titles so far. With 6 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BWDebut
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves