The Dragon Pokemon. Horsea is common in Yellow's waters, but its evolution Seadra is the end of the line until Kingdra arrives in Gen 2.
340HP30Attack40Defense70Speed60Sp.Def70Sp.Atk70
Horsea
Seadra
Weak to
Special
Balanced
60Speed · Below Avg

Is Horsea Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Fragile and slow for a Water-type. Seadra is an improvement but neither one stands out in a game with Starmie, Lapras, and Gyarados available.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadSTTTGEGGTSEEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5HorseaCatchableSeadraEvolveSabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Strong

Horsea resists most of Brock's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Horsea's defenses.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Avoid
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's team hits Horsea's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's team hits Horsea's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Horsea has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

You Win
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Risky
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Seadra trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Seadra has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

Easy KO
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Seadra has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

Easy KO
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Tough

Lorelei's typing presses Seadra's defenses.

Risky
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Risky
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Risky
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Risky
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Strong

Seadra resists most of Bruno's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Seadra trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Seadra trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Seadra trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Easy KO
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Risky
Cloyster
Lv 61
WaterIce
Shell Armor
Ice BeamClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Ninetales
Lv 63
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Risky
Jolteon
Lv 65
Electric
Volt Absorb
Pin MissileThunder WaveQuick AttackThunder

Catchable

Available after Badge 5
Type
Water
Tier
F

Catch Horsea in Vermilion City (Super Rod fishing, Lv 5, uncommon).

View Horsea locations

Evolve Horsea to Seadra

Level 32
Type
Water
Tier
C

Horsea evolves into Seadra at Level 32. Your Horsea should hit Level 32 before you reach Sabrina, at typical leveling pace.

View Seadra locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Horsea in Yellow

Horsea bites the Super Rod at 5 separate water spots, common-to-uncommon, levels 5 to 25. Cast in enough places and a seahorse turns up quickly.

5 locations to catch Horsea

Encountered via fishing with a Rod

Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5

Where To Catch Horsea in Y

Horsea is the chain's first catch. You'll find fishing encounters from Lv. 5-35 across 7 total spots in the chain.

  1. Seadra
    Step 2Catch or Evolve into Seadra
    or evolve from Horsea (Step 1)

To plan your throws, open the Yellow catch rate calculator with Horsea preloaded.

Horsea Weakness

Horsea is weak to Electric and Grass. Not many exploitable gaps in the Water typing defensive chart. Horsea's Water typing only leaves 2 gaps to cover.

Horsea Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Horsea Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Horsea Strong Against

3Strong
3Resisted
0Immune
Score0
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Horsea

Pikachu
Pikachu
Electric
C
Ivysaur
Ivysaur
GrassPoison
C
Bellsprout
Bellsprout
GrassPoison
D
Oddish
Oddish
GrassPoison
C

Horsea Evolutions

Horsea evolves into Seadra, but can't breed. At 340 stats as a Water type, evolution is the only path. Evolving adds up to 100 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Horsea
Water
Seadra
Water
HP
30
55+25
ATK
40
65+25
DEF
70
95+25
SP.ATK
70
95+25
SP.DEF
25
45+20
SPE
60
85+25
BST
295F-Tier
440C-Tier+145
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Special
Special
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Horsea Best Moveset

Tiny Special stat behind MoveSurf that can't threaten even the weakest competitive targets. Heading toward Seadra, where the Special at least reaches functional levels. Nothing to contribute at this stage.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Horsea
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Hydro PumpUtility
  • BlizzardCoverage
  • SurfUtility
  • SurfSTAB

Moves List

Most of Horsea's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Hydro Pump and Surf, but Normal and Ice and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bubble
—3010030Water
Lv 19
Smokescreen
D—10020Normal
Lv 24
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 30
Water Gun
D6010025Water
Lv 37
Agility
C——30Psychic
Lv 45
Hydro Pump
S180805Water

TM Moves

All 16 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
S110905Ice
TM11C9710020Water
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
D12010015Normal
TM13C9510010Ice
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
D10010010Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
S14210015Water
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
D6010025Water

Tutor Moves

Horsea can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP30
F
Attack40
D
Defense70
C
Sp. Atk70
C
Sp. Def70
C
Speed60
C
Total340
Details
Catch Rate
Easy225 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.4 m
Weight8.0 kg
Base XP59
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+1SpDSpe
Special Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

If it senses any danger, it will vigorously spray water or a special type of ink from its mouth.

Pokemon Yellow

Horsea Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, for a casual playthrough, Horsea works as a placeholder. Water coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Seadra. That's where the stats start mattering.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Horsea appears in 20 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Horsea have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Explore

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