Stats & Training
The stat budget goes to damage. Attack and Sp. Atk carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. A Puppy Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 1 Attack EV per KO.
Very friendly and faithful to people. It will try to repel enemies by barking and biting.
It is very protective of its territory. It will bark and bite to repel intruders from its space.
Growlithe Weakness
Type-wise, Growlithe takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
 Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x131-156%KO Dig 2x106-125%KO Rock Tomb 2x83-100%KO Rock Throw 2x69-81% | ||
Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Squirtle builds →Waterfall 2x73-88% Dig 2x52-63% Water Pulse 2x58-69% Bubble 2x42-50% | ||
 Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x127-150%KO Dig 2x100-119%KO Rock Tomb 2x52-63% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x131-156%KO Dig 2x106-125%KO Rock Tomb 2x83-100%KO Rock Throw 2x69-81% | ||
Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Squirtle builds →Waterfall 2x73-88% Dig 2x52-63% Water Pulse 2x58-69% Bubble 2x42-50% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x127-150%KO Dig 2x100-119%KO Rock Tomb 2x52-63% | ||
 Dugtrio Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x154-182%KO Dig 2x122-144%KO Rock Tomb 2x62-73% Sand Tomb 2x57-68% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x90-106%KO Dig 2x71-84% Rock Tomb 2x54-65% Rock Throw 2x48-57% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x132-156%KO Dig 2x106-125%KO Rock Tomb 2x80-95% Rock Throw 2x67-80% | ||
Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Squirtle builds →Waterfall 2x71-84% Dig 2x49-58% Water Pulse 2x54-65% Bubble 2x38-46% | ||
 Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x92-110%KO Dig 2x73-87% Bone Club 2x61-72% Rock Tomb 2x38-46% | ||
Dugtrio Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x163-192%KO Dig 2x131-155%KO Rock Tomb 2x66-79% Sand Tomb 2x60-71% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x91-108%KO Dig 2x74-88% Rock Tomb 2x57-67% Rock Throw 2x48-57% | ||
 Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhyhorn builds →Earthquake 2x143-169%KO Dig 2x115-135%KO Rock Tomb 2x89-104%KO Rock Blast 2x39-47% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x137-162%KO Dig 2x111-131%KO Rock Tomb 2x82-98% Rock Throw 2x71-84% | ||
Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Squirtle builds →Surf 2x82-98% Waterfall 2x74-88% Dig 2x51-61% Water Pulse 2x57-67% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x117-138%KO Waterfall 2x106-125%KO Water Pulse 2x80-94% Water Gun 2x54-64% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x91-108%KO Dig 2x74-88% Rock Tomb 2x57-67% Rock Throw 2x48-57% | ||
Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhyhorn builds →Earthquake 2x143-169%KO Dig 2x115-135%KO Rock Tomb 2x89-104%KO Rock Blast 2x39-47% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x137-162%KO Dig 2x111-131%KO Rock Tomb 2x82-98% Rock Throw 2x71-84% | ||
Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Squirtle builds →Surf 2x82-98% Waterfall 2x74-88% Dig 2x51-61% Water Pulse 2x57-67% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x115-137%KO Waterfall 2x103-122%KO Water Pulse 2x78-93% Water Gun 2x54-63% | ||
 Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodBerry Forest Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Golduck builds →Surf 2x124-146%KO Waterfall 2x111-132%KO Dig 2x72-85% Water Pulse 2x85-100%KO | ||
 Dewgong WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Dewgong builds →Surf 2x99-117%KO Waterfall 2x89-105%KO Water Pulse 2x66-78% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x87-102%KO Dig 2x70-83% Rock Tomb 2x54-63% Rock Throw 2x46-54% | ||
 Omanyte RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Omanyte builds →Surf 2x120-141%KO Waterfall 2x107-127%KO Water Pulse 2x80-95% Rock Tomb 2x50-59% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Hydro Pump 2x145-171%KO Surf 2x119-141%KO Waterfall 2x105-125%KO Water Pulse 2x80-95% | ||
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodBerry Forest Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Golduck builds →Surf 2x131-155%KO Waterfall 2x115-136%KO Dig 2x74-88% Water Pulse 2x88-104%KO | ||
Dewgong WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Dewgong builds →Surf 2x102-120%KO Waterfall 2x92-108%KO Water Pulse 2x68-81% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x90-106%KO Dig 2x72-85% Rock Tomb 2x55-65% Rock Throw 2x47-55% | ||
Omanyte RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Omanyte builds →Surf 2x125-148%KO Waterfall 2x112-132%KO Ancient Power 2x51-60% Water Pulse 2x84-99% | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Gyarados can KO Growlithe with Earthquake (174-205%). Flygon threatens a KO with Earthquake (161-190%). Regirock's Explosion also KOs at 185-218%.
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x174-205%KO | ||
 Flygon GroundDragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Flygon builds →Earthquake 2x161-190%KO Rock Slide 2x81-96% | ||
 Regirock Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Regirock builds →Explosion185-218%KO Rock Slide 2x169-198%KO Superpower89-105%KO | ||
FireRed & LeafGreen Evolution
Growlithe doesn't evolve by leveling. You'll need an evolution item to push it forward to Arcanine. Evolving adds up to 205 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Growlithe easily with 102 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Body Slam, Crunch, Fire Spin and 4 more to offspring.
FireRed & LeafGreen Growlithe Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 3.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The egg pool carries weight here. Body Slam and Crunch aren't available any other way for Growlithe, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Overheat and Fire Blast for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
FireRed & LeafGreen Growlithe Locations
Growlithe appears at decent spawn rates across 4 spots in early-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 to Catch Growlithe in FireRed & LeafGreen
Walking encounters at Lv. 15-32 across 4 spots for Growlithe. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.
Growlithe Guide
Growlithe is meant to evolve into Arcanine. At 350 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Intimidate is what you want on Growlithe. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Flash Fire, Justified) work on paper but Intimidate is what makes Growlithe worth using.
At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Growlithe is a special attacker with base 70 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Fragile, can't afford to take many hits.
For FireRed & LeafGreen, you can run Growlithe through the first few routes without issues. 350 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Arcanine as fast as you can.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Growlithe has appeared in 21 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received a Hisuian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves