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.

What is Growlithe weak to?

In X & Y, Growlithe's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Rhydon (Ground), and Golem (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

What is the best ability for Growlithe?

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.

What role does Growlithe play in battle?

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.

Should I use Growlithe?

For X & Y, 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.

Growlithe - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Mixed

Balanced

DTier

60Speed · Below Avg

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.

Base Stats

Avg

HP55

Attack70

Defense45

Sp. Atk70

Sp. Def50

Speed60

Total350

Details

Catch Rate

Easy190 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height0.7 m

Weight19.0 kg

Base XP70

Abilities

Intimidate

Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.

Flash Fire

Protects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.

JustifiedHA

Raises Attack one stage upon taking damage from a dark move.

Flash Fire grants Fire immunity

EV Yield

HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training source

Pokedex Entries

Very friendly and faithful to people. It will try to repel enemies by barking and biting.

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.

Growlithe Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy

Type ChartAvg

3Weak

6Resist

1Immune

Score0

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Water Ground Rock

½xResist

Fire Grass Ice Bug Steel Fairy

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Fire

STAB (4)

Grass Ice Bug Steel

How to Beat Growlithe in X & Y (Best Counters)

In X & Y, Excadrill can KO Growlithe with Earthquake (252-296%). Tyranitar threatens a KO with Stone Edge (311-366%). Gastrodon's Scald also KOs at 132-155%.

Excadrill GroundSteel	S
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Rapid Spin Iron Head Stealth Rock Damage vs Growlithe Earthquake 2x 252-296%KO Rapid Spin 42-50% View Excadrill builds →
Tyranitar RockDark	A
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureRelaxed Moves Stone Edge PursuitSTAB CrunchSTAB Superpower Damage vs Growlithe Stone Edge 2x 311-366%KO Pursuit 62-73% Crunch 124-146%KO Superpower 124-146%KO View Tyranitar builds →
Gastrodon WaterGround	B
Recommended Build AbilityStormdrain ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves Earth Power ScaldSTAB RecoverRecovery ProtectPriority Damage vs Growlithe Scald 2x 132-155%KO View Gastrodon builds →
Gliscor GroundFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureCareful Moves EarthquakeSTAB RoostRecovery Swords Dance Knock Off Damage vs Growlithe Earthquake 2x 154-182%KO Knock Off 33-39% View Gliscor builds →
Greninja WaterDark	B
Recommended Build AbilityProtean ItemAssault Vest NatureModest Moves Dark Pulse ScaldSTAB Icy Wind Blizzard Damage vs Growlithe Dark Pulse 84-100%KO Scald 2x 169-200%KO Blizzard 39-45% View Greninja builds →

X & Y 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

2 Forms

#058Growlithe

Fire Stone

#059Arcanine

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Growlithe

Fire

Arcanine

Fire

90+35

ATK

110+40

DEF

80+35

SP.ATK

100+30

SP.DEF

80+30

SPE

95+35

BST

350D-Tier

555A-Tier+205

ROLE

Balanced

Attacker

TYPE

Mixed

Breeding

Easy

Breed Growlithe easily with 200 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Body Slam, Close Combat, Covet and 10 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Ground

Gender

♂75.0%♀25.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

13moves

Breed With (best first)

X & Y Growlithe Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.

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

Moves

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.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Bite

D6010025Dark

Lv 1

Roar-6

C——20Normal

Lv 6

Ember

—4010025Fire

Lv 8

Leer

——10030Normal

Lv 10

Odor Sleuth

———40Normal

Lv 12

Helping Hand+5

C——20Normal

Lv 17

Flame Wheel

—6010025Fire

Lv 19

Reversal

——10015Fighting

Lv 21

Fire Fang

C659515Fire

Lv 23

Take Down

—908520Normal

Lv 28

Flame Burst

—7010015Fire

Lv 30

Agility

C——30Psychic

Lv 32

Retaliate

—701005Normal

Lv 34

Flamethrower

C9010015Fire

Lv 39

Crunch

D8010015Dark

Lv 41

Heat Wave

C959010Fire

Lv 43

Outrage

C12010010Dragon

Lv 45

Flare Blitz

B12010015Fire

TM Moves

TM40

Aerial Ace

D60—20Flying

TM45

Attract

D—10015Normal

TM100

Confide

———20Normal

TM28

Dig

D8010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM38

Fire Blast

C110855Fire

TM43

Flame Charge

D5010020Fire

TM35

Flamethrower

C9010015Fire

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM59

Incinerate

—6010015Fire

TM50

Overheat

B130905Fire

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM67

Retaliate

—701005Normal

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

C——20Normal

TM94

Rock Smash

—4010015Fighting

TM48

Round

D6010015Normal

TM20

Safeguard

C——25Normal

TM88

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM95

Snarl

D559515Dark

HM04

Strength

—8010015Normal

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM46

Thief

D6010025Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—9010Poison

TM93

Wild Charge

C9010015Electric

TM61

Will-O-Wisp

C—8515Fire

Egg Moves

Egg

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

Egg

Close Combat

C1201005Fighting

Egg

Covet

—6010025Normal

Egg

Crunch

D8010015Dark

Egg

Double Kick

—3010030Fighting

Egg

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

Egg

Fire Spin

D358515Fire

Egg

Flare Blitz

B12010015Fire

Egg

Heat Wave

C959010Fire

Egg

Howl

———40Normal

Egg

Iron Tail

D1007515Steel

Egg

Morning Sun

D——5Normal

Egg

Thrash

—12010010Normal

Tutor Moves

Growlithe can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 4

Captivate

——10020Normal

Gen 4

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Gen 4

Headbutt

D7010015Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

Gen 4

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Gen 4

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

Gen 4

Swift

—60—20Normal

How to Get Growlithe in X & Y

Growlithe doesn't appear in X & Y. Transfer it from Red, Yellow, or Sun to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Growlithe is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Catch in the wild in:

Omega RubyWalking · Mt. Pyre · DexNav chain

Then trade to X & Y.

Also found in:

Red Yellow Gold Crystal FireRed Diamond

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.
In X & Y, Growlithe's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Rhydon (Ground), and Golem (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.
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 X & Y, 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

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