Is Growlithe Good in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Playthrough?
Growlithe shows up wild as a mid-game Fire option if you skipped Torchic. AbilityIntimidate softens physical attackers, and a Fire Stone gives you Arcanine before the late gyms. Competes with Numel's line for the same roster spot.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Roxanne's team.
Growlithe has the type edge here and should clean up Brawly's team.
Growlithe has the type edge here and should clean up Wattson's team.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Flannery's team.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.
Winona's team hits Growlithe's weaknesses hard.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Tate & Liza's team.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Sidney's team.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Phoebe's team.
Arcanine resists most of Glacia's coverage and hits back hard.
Drake's team hits Arcanine's weaknesses hard.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Steven's team.
Catch Growlithe on Mt. Pyre (walking, Lv 31, rare). DexNav.
You can pick up the Fire Stone in Fiery Path. 1 other location is also available.
How to Get Growlithe in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Growlithe sits at moderate rates across 6 spots in late-game routes. Pick one from the sorted list and commit to it. Jumping between areas wastes more time than waiting in the right location.
Where To Catch Growlithe in ORAS
To get Growlithe, start by catching Growlithe through walking encounters at Lv. 31+. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Growlithe ✓Mt. Pyre - Area 5Lv.31CaveRate 5%DexNav chainMt. Pyre - Area 6Lv.31CaveRate 5%DexNav chainMt. Pyre - Area 7Lv.31CaveRate 5%DexNav chain
Step 2Evolve into Arcanine
Growlithe Weakness
Type-wise, Growlithe takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. 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, Fairy |
What is Growlithe Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Growlithe
 Shellos Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Shellos builds →Surf 2x88-105%KO Mud Bomb 2x42-51% | ||
 Piplup Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Piplup builds →Surf 2x93-112%KO Rock Tomb 2x42-51% | ||
 Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Totodile Water | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Totodile builds →Surf 2x77-91% Rock Tomb 2x47-56% | ||
 Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x81-98% Rock Tomb 2x51-60% Mud-Slap 2x14-19% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
Shellos Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Shellos builds →Surf 2x94-113%KO Mud Bomb 2x46-54% | ||
Piplup Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Piplup builds →Surf 2x94-113%KO Rock Tomb 2x42-50% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Vaporeon Water | B | |
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
 Prinplup Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Piplup (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Prinplup builds →Surf 2x113-134%KO Rock Tomb 2x48-57% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Tyrunt RockDragon | C | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x142-167%KO Dig 2x59-71% | ||
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandslash builds →Dig 2x122-144%KO Rock Tomb 2x62-73% | ||
Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
 Dewott Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Oshawott (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Dewott builds →Surf 2x115-137%KO Dig 2x66-78% | ||
 Gabite DragonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gabite builds →Dig 2x115-137%KO Rock Tomb 2x57-68% | ||
 Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 2x145-171%KO Dig 2x127-150%KO Surf 2x64-76% | ||
 Relicanth WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Relicanth builds →Dive 2x118-139%KO Rock Tomb 2x90-107%KO Bulldoze 2x61-71% | ||
 Clamperl Water | C | |
 Feraligatr Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Totodile (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Feraligatr builds →Surf 2x112-132%KO Dig 2x88-105%KO Rock Tomb 2x67-79% | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandslash builds →Dig 2x127-150%KO Rock Tomb 2x64-76% | ||
 Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Torterra builds →Earthquake 2x174-206%KO Rock Tomb 2x70-83% | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 2x148-175%KO Dig 2x131-155%KO Surf 2x64-76% | ||
Relicanth WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Relicanth builds →Dive 2x120-142%KO Rock Tomb 2x91-108%KO Bulldoze 2x61-72% | ||
Clamperl Water | C | |
Feraligatr Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Totodile (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Feraligatr builds →Surf 2x111-131%KO Dig 2x89-106%KO Rock Tomb 2x69-81% | ||
 Tyrantrum RockDragon | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tyrunt (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Tyrantrum builds →Stone Edge 2x190-224%KO Dig 2x101-119%KO | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rampardos builds →Stone Edge 2x248-292%KO Dig 2x132-156%KO Surf 2x66-78% | ||
 Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tirtouga (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Carracosta builds →Aqua Tail 2x155-183%KO Stone Edge 2x173-203%KO Dig 2x92-108%KO | ||
Relicanth WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Relicanth builds →Dive 2x119-140%KO Stone Edge 2x148-175%KO Bulldoze 2x60-71% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhydon builds →Stone Edge 2x201-236%KO Dig 2x162-191%KO Surf 2x50-59% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x199-235%KO Stone Edge 2x199-235%KO Surf 2x49-58% | ||
 Cranidos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Cranidos builds →Head Smash 2x288-340%KO Earthquake 2x128-152%KO | ||
Tyrantrum RockDragon | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tyrunt (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Tyrantrum builds →Stone Edge 2x187-220%KO Earthquake 2x124-147%KO | ||
Relicanth WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Relicanth builds →Dive 2x118-140%KO Stone Edge 2x148-175%KO Earthquake 2x99-117%KO | ||
Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tirtouga (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Carracosta builds →Aqua Tail 2x153-180%KO Stone Edge 2x170-200%KO Earthquake 2x113-133%KO | ||
Tyrantrum RockDragon | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tyrunt (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Tyrantrum builds →Head Smash 2x286-337%KO Earthquake 2x128-150%KO | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rampardos builds →Head Smash 2x375-441%KO Earthquake 2x167-197%KO Surf 2x64-75% | ||
Relicanth WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Relicanth builds →Head Smash 2x222-261%KO Dive 2x120-141%KO Earthquake 2x99-117%KO | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x203-239%KO Stone Edge 2x135-159%KO Surf 2x76-89% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x203-239%KO Stone Edge 2x203-239%KO Surf 2x49-57% | ||
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Excadrill can KO Growlithe with Earthquake (249-293%). Greninja threatens a KO with Hydro Pump (266-313%). Rhyperior's Earthquake also KOs at 280-330%.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x249-293%KO Rapid Spin42-49% | ||
 Greninja WaterDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityProtean ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse97-114%KO Ice Beam36-43% Hydro Pump 2x266-313%KO | ||
 Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhyperior builds →Earthquake 2x280-330%KO Stone Edge 2x280-330%KO | ||
Growlithe Evolutions
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
ORAS Growlithe Best Moveset
Fire at 70 Attack with AbilityIntimidate dropping opponent Attack on entry. The moveset fires at pre-evolution power. AbilityFlash Fire absorbs Fire for a boost. Arcanine one evolution away brings 110 Attack and A-tier versatility.
Best Build
Growlithe best EVs are Attack and Speed
Utility Moveset
- Heat Wave
- Fire Blast
- Fire Fang
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The egg pool carries weight here. Body Slam and Close Combat aren't available any other way for Growlithe, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Overheat and Flare Blitz for solid options.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
Growlithe has a superb sense of smell. Once it smells anything, this Pokémon won’t forget the scent, no matter what. It uses its advanced olfactory sense to determine the emotions of other living things.
Growlithe Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire 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 mixed attacker with base 70 Attack and 70 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Fragile, can't afford to take many hits.
For Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, 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 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves