Physical
Balanced
405Average
58Slow
DTier

Mid-stage Pokemon like Croconaw rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Feraligatr, which is where the real potential kicks in. Known as the Big Jaw Pokemon. Can go either physical or special depending on the set.

Croconaw's stats barely vary. 2 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 2 Attack and Defense EVs, 1.06M XP medium-slow curve to max.

Base Stats
405Above
HP65
C
Attack80
C
Defense80
C
Sp. Atk59
D
Sp. Def63
C
Speed58
D
Total405
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Croconaw yields +1 Atk, +1 Def
HPAtk+1Def+1SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch45ChallengingMedium Slow1.06M XP1.1m / 3'07"25kg / 55.1 lbs142Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Once it bites down, it won’t let go until it loses its fangs. New fangs quickly grow into place.

Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

Croconaw Weakness

Good

Croconaw's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass moves. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Scorei0
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
TorrentStrengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
Sheer ForceHAStrengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.

Croconaw is the middle stage between Totodile and Feraligatr. It's a three-stage line with one more evolution to go. For breeding, average hatch time with no compatible partners via two egg groups. So far, Defense got the biggest boost (+16 from Totodile). The final form adds another 125 stats on top.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Croconaw
Water
HP
50
65+15
85+20
ATK
65
80+15
105+25
DEF
64
80+16
100+20
SP.ATK
44
59+15
79+20
SP.DEF
48
63+15
83+20
SPE
43
58+15
78+20
BST
314D-Tier
405D-Tier+91
530B-Tier+125
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Easy

Breed with Croconaw to get Totodile eggs easily from the Monster and Water1 egg groups.

Egg Groups
MonsterWater1
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Dark coverage is what separates a good sweep from a wasted boost. After Dragon Dance, Croconaw threatens a wide range with max Attack and Speed EVs and Life Orb backing every hit.

Best Build

Physical Setup Sweeper
Ability
Sheerforce
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Nature
Jolly+SPE
EVs

Best Croconaw Moveset

  • Ice Punch
  • Dragon Dance
  • LiquidationSTAB
  • CrunchCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Without TMs, Croconaw's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 9 types on top of Hydro Pump and Muddy Water for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 6
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 10
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 15
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Lv 21
Aqua Jet+1
4010020Water
Lv 26
Breaking Swipe
6010015Dragon
Lv 35
Screech
8540Normal
Lv 40
Liquidation
8510010Water
Lv 50
Hydro Pump
110805Water
Lv 56
Outrage
12010010Dragon

TM Moves

Src
TM120
Ancient Power
601005Rock
TM105
Blizzard
110705Ice
TM10
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM110
Chilling Water
5010020Water
TM91
Curse
10Ghost
TM28
Dig
8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM02
Dragon Claw
8010015Dragon
TM35
Endure+4
10Normal
TM109
Facade
7010020Normal
TM09
Flip Turn
6010020Water
TM96
Hydro Pump
110805Water
TM13
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM15
Ice Fang
659515Ice
TM49
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM76
Liquidation
8510010Water
TM140
Muddy Water
908510Water
TM93
Outrage
12010010Dragon
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM124
Psychic Fangs
8510010Psychic
TM05
Roar-6
20Normal
TM12
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM04
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM36
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM85
Substitute
10Normal
TM73
Surf
9010015Water
TM30
Swords Dance
20Normal
TM115
Trailblaze
5010020Grass
TM41
Water Pulse
6010020Water
TM98
Waterfall
8010015Water
TM70
Whirlpool
358515Water
TM103
Work Up
30Normal

Egg Moves

Croconaw doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Croconaw can't learn any Tutor moves

Croconaw can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Transfer Totodile from Gold, Crystal, or Brilliant Diamond and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.

How to Obtain Croconaw in Legends: Z-A

  1. Croconaw
    Step 2Croconaw
  • Croconaw isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Feraligatr to unlock its full potential. At 405 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

  • Watch for Raikou (Electric) and Venusaur (Grass) when using Croconaw. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Totodile evolves into Croconaw at level 18. Croconaw evolves into Feraligatr at level 30. Croconaw is a middle-stage evolution in the Totodile line.

  • Run Sheer Force on Croconaw. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Croconaw also gets Torrent, but they don't compare.

  • Croconaw fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 80 Attack. At base 58 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • Croconaw appears in 17 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Croconaw first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 17 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.