Special
Balanced
335Low
40Very Slow
DTier

Frillish is technically a pre-evolution of Jellicent, but it holds its own in formats where Eviolite is allowed. Water Absorb heals when hit by Water moves, adding extra value. Normal and Fighting moves can't touch it, which offsets the 4 weaknesses somewhat. Known as the Floating Pokemon.

Sp. Def and Sp. Atk carry most of Frillish's stat budget. Attack's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Sp. Def EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
335Avg
HP55
D
Attack40
D
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def85
C
Speed40
D
Total335
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Frillish yields +1 SpD
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe
Details
Catch190EasyMedium Fast1M XP1.2m / 3'11"33kg / 72.8 lbs67Base XP
Pokedex Entries

If its veil-like arms stun and wrap a foe, that foe will be dragged miles below the surface, never to return.

Black 2 / White 2

Frillish Weakness

Excellent

Frillish is weak to Electric, Grass, Ghost, and Dark-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves entirely. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Frillish's special bulk (base 85 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
4Weak
6Resist
3Immune
Scorei+4
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Water AbsorbAbsorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.
Cursed BodyHas a 30% chance of Disabling any move that hits the Pokémon.
DampHAPrevents self destruct, explosion, and aftermath from working while the Pokémon is in battle.
Water Absorb grants Water immunity

One evolution ahead. Frillish grows into Jellicent through a straightforward two-stage chain. No compatible partners for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 145 stat points total.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Frillish
WaterGhost
Jellicent
WaterGhost
HP
55
100+45
ATK
40
60+20
DEF
50
70+20
SP.ATK
65
85+20
SP.DEF
85
105+20
SPE
40
60+20
BST
335D-Tier
480C-Tier+145
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Special
Special
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Frillish easily from the Indeterminate egg group. Pass egg moves like Acid Armor, Confuse Ray, Constrict and 3 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Indeterminate
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.

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

Breeding opens up real options for Frillish. Acid Armor and Confuse Ray come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Water Spout and Hydro Pump and Grass and Normal coverage and more.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bubble
2010030Water
Lv 1
Water Sport
15Water
Lv 5
Absorb
2010025Grass
Lv 9
Night Shade
10015Ghost
Lv 13
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Lv 17
Recover
10Normal
Lv 22
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Lv 27
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
Lv 32
Brine
6510010Water
Lv 37
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 43
Hex
5010010Ghost
Lv 49
Hydro Pump
120805Water
Lv 55
Wring Out
1005Normal
Lv 61
Water Spout
1501005Water

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
HM06
Dive
8010010Water
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM53
Energy Ball
8010010Grass
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
10020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM55
Scald
8010015Water
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM36
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM34
Sludge Wave
9510010Poison
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM92
Trick Room-7
5Psychic
HM05
Waterfall
8010015Water
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
7515Fire

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Acid Armor
40Poison
Egg
Confuse Ray
10010Ghost
Egg
Constrict
1010035Normal
Egg
Mist
30Ice
Egg
Pain Split
20Normal
Egg
Recover
10Normal

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Bind
158520Normal
Tutor
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
Tutor
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
Tutor
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Tutor
Magic Coat+4
15Psychic
Tutor
Pain Split
20Normal
Tutor
Sleep Talk
10Normal
Tutor
Snore
4010015Normal
Tutor
Spite
10010Ghost
Tutor
Trick
10010Psychic

Frillish is available from early-game water routes onward at high spawn rates. 24 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.

Best Locations

Frillish's encounter pool splits between White 2 and Black 2. You've got 24 surfing spots at Lv. 5-60 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.

Route 4
White 2Surfing on waterLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteAny
EASY
Route 4
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.5-15CommonEarlyRouteAny
EASY
Virbank City
White 2Surfing on waterLv.5-15CommonEarlyCityAny
EASY
Virbank City
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.5-15CommonEarlyCityAny
EASY
Virbank Complex - Outside
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.5-15CommonEarlyPower-plantAny
EASY
Virbank Complex - Outside
White 2Surfing on waterLv.5-15CommonEarlyPower-plantAny
EASY
Route 13
White 2Surfing on waterLv.25-40CommonMidRouteAny
EASY
Route 13
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.25-40CommonMidRouteAny
EASY
Seaside Cave - 1F
White 2Surfing on waterLv.25-40CommonMidCaveAny
EASY
Seaside Cave - 1F
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.25-40CommonMidCaveAny
EASY
Undella Bay
White 2Surfing on waterLv.25-40CommonMidWaterAny
EASY
Undella Bay
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.25-40CommonMidWaterAny
EASY
Undella Town
White 2Surfing on waterLv.25-40CommonMidCityAny
EASY
Undella Town
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.25-40CommonMidCityAny
EASY
Humilau City
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.30-45CommonMidCityAny
EASY
Humilau City
White 2Surfing on waterLv.30-45CommonMidCityAny
EASY
Route 21
White 2Surfing on waterLv.30-45CommonMidRouteAny
EASY
Route 21
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.30-45CommonMidRouteAny
EASY
P2 Laboratory
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.45-60CommonLateBuildingAny
EASY
P2 Laboratory
White 2Surfing on waterLv.45-60CommonLateBuildingAny
EASY
Route 17
White 2Surfing on waterLv.45-60CommonLateRouteAny
EASY
Route 17
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.45-60CommonLateRouteAny
EASY
Route 18
White 2Surfing on waterLv.45-60CommonLateRouteAny
EASY
Route 18
Black 2Surfing on waterLv.45-60CommonLateRouteAny
EASY
  • Frillish is meant to evolve into Jellicent. At 335 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.

  • Frillish's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric), Exeggutor (Grass), and Dusknoir (Ghost), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Dark-type attackers are also a problem. At base 40 Speed, Frillish won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.

  • Frillish evolves into Jellicent at level 40. Frillish is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Water Absorb is what you want on Frillish. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Cursed Body, Damp) work on paper but Water Absorb is what makes Frillish worth using.

  • Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Frillish is a special attacker with base 65 Sp. Atk.

  • Frillish appears in 7 games, including Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, and X & Y.

Frillish joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 7 titles so far. With 5 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.