While most trainers evolve Croagunk into Toxicroak immediately, the unevolved form has a niche with Eviolite boosting its defenses. Watch the Psychic matchup though — quadruple damage means one hit can end it. Watch the Psychic matchup though — quadruple damage means one hit can end it.
Croagunk's stats barely vary. 0 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 1 Attack EV, medium-fast 1M XP curve to max.
Inflating its poison sacs, it fills the area with an odd sound and hits flinching opponents with a poison jab.
It rarely fights fairly, but that is strictly to ensure survival. It is popular as a mascot.
Croagunk Weakness
AvgPsychic, Ground, and Flying-type moves hit Croagunk for super-effective damage. Psychic hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. 6 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. Dry Skin grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
Croagunk evolves into Toxicroak. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. Plenty of partners for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. The evolved forms gain up to 190 total stats over Croagunk.
How to Evolve
Eviolite makes Croagunk bulkier than you'd expect from something that still evolves. A spread EV build EVs with Adamant nature handle the stat profile. Ground coverage keeps it from being passive.
Best Build
Best Croagunk Moveset
- Drain Punch
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Sucker Punch
Recommended Teammates
Need something that threatens multiple types? Croagunk's movepool delivers. Coverage across 10 types plus STAB from Focus Punch and Belch gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Croagunk's movepool balances level-up moves with TM options. Consistent STAB comes from Close Combat and Sludge Bomb, and coverage across 7 types keeps opponents from switching in for free. No major gaps here.
Without breeding, Croagunk misses out on Acupressure and Bullet Punch. That's 10 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Focus Punch and Belch, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.
Need something that threatens multiple types? Croagunk's movepool delivers. Coverage across 10 types plus STAB from Belch and Focus Blast gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
Croagunk's scattered across 12 spots in mid-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations
walking encounters for Croagunk across 12 spots at Lv. 16-41. The catch is that Violet and Scarlet don't share every location, so compare what's available in your version.
Croagunk appears at decent spawn rates across 4 spots in mid-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Best Locations
Walking encounters at walking across 4 spots for Croagunk. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.
Croagunk starts showing up in mid-game routes at moderate rates across 8 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations
Which version you're playing matters for Croagunk. 8 walking spots at Lv. 16-20 spread across Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.
Croagunk's scattered across 25 spots in early-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations
You'll find Croagunk across 25 walking encounters from Lv. 10-47, sorted by game progression. Earlier spots show up first so you can grab one as soon as it's reachable.
Croagunk isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Toxicroak to unlock its full potential. At 300 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
Croagunk evolves into Toxicroak at level 37. Croagunk is the base form of this evolutionary line.
Run Dry Skin on Croagunk. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Croagunk also gets Anticipation and Poison Touch, but they don't compare.
Croagunk fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 61 Attack. Base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's fragile — can't afford to take many hits.
Croagunk appears in 13 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.
Croagunk first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 13 games across 6 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB

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 IVDPDebut

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 VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A
