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 CROCONAW has clamped its jaws on its foe, it will absolutely not let go. Because the tips of its fangs are forked back like barbed fishhooks, they become impossible to remove when they have sunk in.

Ruby / Sapphire

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.

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
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 a decent partner pool 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 using 49 partners from the Monster and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Crunch, Dragon Claw and 5 more.

Egg Groups
MonsterWater1
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurcharizardblastoisenidokingmeganiumferaligatrampharossceptileswampertgolduckkingdra

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 3.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

The natural movepool does the job, but Ancient Power and Crunch from the egg pool give Croconaw something extra. Pair those with Hydro Pump and Surf for STAB and coverage across 9 types for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Rage
2010020Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 7
Rage
2010020Normal
Lv 13
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 21
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 28
Scary Face
9010Normal
Lv 37
Slash
7010020Normal
Lv 45
Screech
8540Normal
Lv 55
Hydro Pump
120805Water

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM28
Dig
6010010Ground
HM08
Dive
6010010Water
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM01
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
20Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water
HM07
Waterfall
8010015Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Egg
Crunch
8010015Dark
Egg
Dragon Claw
8010015Dragon
Egg
Hydro Pump
120805Water
Egg
Mud Sport
15Ground
Egg
Rock Slide
759010Rock
Egg
Thrash
12010020Normal
Egg
Water Sport
15Water

Tutor Moves

Croconaw can't learn any Tutor moves

Croconaw isn't available in the wild in Ruby & Sapphire. Start by transferring Totodile from Gold, Crystal, or Brilliant Diamond. The evolution path from Totodile to Croconaw is covered in the steps below.

How to Obtain Croconaw in Ruby & Sapphire

  1. Totodile
    Step 1Obtain Totodile

    Receive as a gift in:

    Then trade to Ruby & Sapphire to continue the evolution chain.

    Also found in:

  2. 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.