Physical
Attacker
CTier
50Speed · Slow

Krabby Best Moveset

Krabby hasn't fully evolved, but Eviolite's 50% bulk boost makes it viable anyway. Adamant nature with max HP and Attack EVs shapes the defensive spread, and Sheerforce adds utility.

SABCDEFEEEEEEEERed, Blue & YellowIRB/YPEAKGold, Silver & CrystalIIGS/CRuby, Sapphire & EmeraldIIIRS/EDiamond, Pearl & PlatinumIVDP/PtBlack & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2X & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPCURRENT
★Gen I — Red, Blue & YellowE

Krabby saw minimal competitive use in Gen I (Red, Blue & Yellow). This was Krabby's competitive peak. A key development: had a combined Special stat of 25.

Had a combined Special stat of 25

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Swords Dance
Normal—POPULARUtility
Tutor
Body Slam
Normal85POPULARCoverage
Tutor
Double-Edge
Normal120POPULARCoverage
Lv 45
Crabhammer
Water100POPULARSTAB
Krabby Red & Blue MovesKrabby Yellow Moves

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Krabby
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Swords Dance
  • Body Slam
  • Double Edge
  • CrabhammerSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Gengar
GengarExcellent
Exeggutor
ExeggutorExcellent
Chansey
ChanseyExcellent
→Gen II — Gold, Silver & CrystalE

Krabby saw minimal competitive use in Gen II (Gold, Silver & Crystal). Krabby maintained its position from the previous generation.

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 41
Crabhammer
Water100POPULARSTAB
Xfer
Body Slam
Normal85POPULARCoverage
Xfer
Double-Edge
Normal120POPULARCoverage
Xfer
Swords Dance
Normal—POPULARUtility
Krabby Gold & Silver MovesKrabby Crystal Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Krabby
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • CrabhammerSTAB
  • Body Slam
  • Double Edge
  • Swords Dance

Recommended Teammates

Snubbull
SnubbullExcellent
Grimer
GrimerExcellent
Charmander
CharmanderExcellent
→Gen III — Ruby, Sapphire & EmeraldE

Krabby saw minimal competitive use in Gen III (Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald). Krabby maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Hypercutter with Choice Band, favoring a Adamant nature.

Received Hyper Cutter and Shell Armor
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM42
Facade
Normal70POPULARCoverage
Tutor
Body Slam
Normal85POPULARCoverage
Lv 23
Mud Shot
Ground55POPULARCoverage
TM10
Hidden Power (Fighting)
Fighting60POPULARCoverage
Krabby Ruby & Sapphire MovesKrabby Emerald Moves
Experimental
Physical Wallbreaker
Ability
Hyper Cutter
Item
Choice BandPOWER
Best Nature for Krabby
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Physical Wallbreaker Moveset

  • FacadeCoverage
  • Body Slam
  • Mud Shot
  • Hidden Power Fighting

Recommended Teammates

Ariados
AriadosExcellent
Voltorb
VoltorbExcellent
Doduo
DoduoExcellent
→Gen IV — Diamond, Pearl & PlatinumE

Krabby saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). Krabby maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Shellarmor with Oranberry, favoring a Adamant nature.

Physical/Special split overhauled move damage
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 41
Crabhammer
Water100POPULARSTAB
Xfer
Agility
Psychic—COMMONSetup
TM27
Return
Normal—COMMONCoverage
TM31
Brick Break
Fighting75COMMONCoverage
TM75
Swords Dance
Normal—RAREUtility
Krabby Diamond & Pearl MovesKrabby Platinum Moves
Experimental
Physical Attacker
Ability
Shell Armor
Item
Oran BerryRECOVERY
Best Nature for Krabby
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Physical Attacker Moveset

  • CrabhammerSTAB
  • AgilitySetup
  • ReturnCoverage
  • Brick Break

Recommended Teammates

Gastly
GastlyGood
Munchlax
MunchlaxGood
Gligar
GligarGood
→Gen V — Black & White / B2W2E

Krabby saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). Krabby maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sheerforce with Eviolite, favoring a Brave nature.

Gained Sheer Force as hidden abilityHidden Abilities became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM75
Swords Dance
Normal—POPULARUtility
Lv 41
Crabhammer
Water100POPULARSTAB
TM81
X-Scissor
Bug80POPULARCoverage
Tutor
Superpower
Fighting120POPULARCoverage
Krabby Black & White MovesKrabby Black 2 & White 2 Moves
Experimental
Physical Tank
Ability
Sheer Force
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Krabby
Brave+ATK
EVs

Physical Tank Moveset

  • Swords Dance
  • CrabhammerSTAB
  • X Scissor
  • SuperpowerCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Sunflora
SunfloraExcellent
Baltoy
BaltoyExcellent
Bronzor
BronzorExcellent
→Gen VI — X & Y / ORASE

Krabby saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Krabby maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sheerforce with Scopelens, favoring a Careful nature.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 41
Crabhammer
Water100POPULARSTAB
Lv 29
Protect
Normal—COMMONPriority
TM80
Rock Slide
Rock75COMMONCoverage
TM81
X-Scissor
Bug80COMMONCoverage
TM14
Blizzard
Ice110RARECoverage
TM31
Brick Break
Fighting75RARECoverage
Xfer
Body Slam
Normal85RARECoverage
Krabby X & Y MovesKrabby ORAS Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Sheer Force
Item
Scope Lens
Best Nature for Krabby
Careful+SPD
EVs

Utility Moveset

  • CrabhammerSTAB
  • ProtectFAST +4
  • Rock Slide
  • X Scissor

Recommended Teammates

Paras
ParasGood
Wurmple
WurmpleGood
Drowzee
DrowzeeGood
→Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUME

Krabby saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Krabby maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sheerforce with Focus Sash, favoring a Adamant nature.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Agility
Psychic—COMMONSetup
Egg
Knock Off
Dark65COMMONCoverage
Lv 41
Crabhammer
Water100COMMONSTAB
Tutor
Superpower
Fighting120COMMONCoverage
Tutor
Liquidation
Water85COMMONSTAB
TM80
Rock Slide
Rock75COMMONCoverage
Krabby Sun & Moon MovesKrabby Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Moves
Experimental
Physical Setup Sweeper
Ability
Sheer Force
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Krabby
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset

  • AgilitySetup
  • Knock Off
  • CrabhammerSTAB
  • SuperpowerCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Corphish
CorphishGood
Kabutops
KabutopsGood
Parasect
ParasectGood
→Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPE

Krabby saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Krabby maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Shellarmor with Focus Sash, favoring a Hardy nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 48
Guillotine
Normal—POPULARCoverage
Krabby Sword & Shield MovesKrabby BDSP Moves
Experimental
Bulky Support
Ability
Shell Armor
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Krabby
HardyNEUTRAL
EVs

Bulky Support Moveset

  • GuillotineCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Krabby
KrabbyExcellent

Krabby Weakness

Type-wise, Krabby takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. The Water typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. Krabby's physical bulk (base 90 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Krabby Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel

What is Krabby Weak Against

Good
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
ElectricGrass
½xResist
FireWaterIceSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Krabby Strong Against

3Strong
3Resisted
0Immune
Score0
2xStrong
FireGroundRock
½xResisted
WaterGrassDragon
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Krabby

Rotom threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (210-248%).

Evolution

Krabby is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Kingler. Check the evolution method below. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 150 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Krabby
#098Krabby
28
Level 28
Kingler
#099Kingler
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Krabby
Water
Kingler
Water
HP
30
55+25
ATK
105
130+25
DEF
90
115+25
SP.ATK
25
50+25
SP.DEF
25
50+25
SPE
50
75+25
BST
325C-Tier
475B-Tier+150
ROLE
Attacker
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Krabby easily with 37 breeding partners from the Water3 egg group.

Egg Groups
Water 3
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
drapionclawitzergolisopodcursolacrawdauntcorsolaskorupiclaunchercorphisharcheopsomastarkabutops
12 of 37·

How to Get Krabby

All 20 games

No wild encounters for Krabby in Winds & Waves. Bring Krabby over from Red & Blue, Yellow, or Gold & Silver, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.

How to Obtain Krabby in WW

  1. Krabby
    Step 1Krabby ✓
    LATER APPEARANCE
    from Red & Blue
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Red & Blue via Super rod · Route 6. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    from Yellow
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Yellow via Super rod · Route 25. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    from Gold & Silver
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Gold & Silver via Super rod · Route 34. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
  2. Kingler
    Step 2Evolve into Kingler

Base Stats

The stat bars tell the story: Attack carries everything and Sp. Atk's dead weight. But this River Crab Pokemon still yields 1 Attack EV per fight on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
Avg
HP30
F
Attack105
B
Defense90
B
Sp. Atk25
F
Sp. Def25
F
Speed50
D
Total325
Details
Catch Rate
Easy225 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.4 m
1'04"Tiny
Weight6.5 kg
14.3 lbsFeather
Base XP65
Low Yield
Abilities
Hyper Cutter
Prevents Attack from being lowered by other Pokémon.
Shell Armor
Protects against critical hits.
Sheer ForceHidden Ability
Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

It can be found near the sea. The large pincers grow back if they are torn out of their sockets.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Krabby Guide

  • For a casual playthrough, Krabby works as a placeholder. Water coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Kingler. That's where the stats start mattering.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Krabby appears in 20 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Krabby have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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