Special
Attacker
325Low
50Slow
CTier

Krabby is technically a pre-evolution of Kingler, but it can still hold its own in battle. Only weak to Electric and Grass. Known as the River Crab Pokemon. Built to hit on the physical side.

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

Base Stats
325Avg
HP30
F
Attack105
B
Defense90
B
Sp. Atk25
F
Sp. Def25
F
Speed50
D
Total325
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Krabby yields +1 Atk
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch225EasyMedium Fast1M XP0.4m / 1'04"6.5kg / 14.3 lbs65Base XP
Pokedex Entries

If it is unable to find food, it will absorb nutrients by swallowing a mouthful of sand.

Crystal

Krabby Weakness

Good

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.

Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Scorei0
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Hyper CutterPrevents Attack from being lowered by other Pokémon.
Shell ArmorProtects against critical hits.
Sheer ForceHAStrengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.

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

How to Evolve

2 Forms
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
475C-Tier+150
ROLE
Attacker
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Krabby easily with 13 breeding partners from the Water3 egg group. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Dig, Flail and 2 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Water3
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
5moves
Breed With (best first)
corsolaomastarkabutopsomanytekabutotentacruelcloysterstarmiekinglerstaryutentacoolkrabby

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Best Krabby Moveset

  • CrabhammerSTAB
  • Body Slam
  • Double Edge
  • Swords Dance

The egg pool carries weight here. Amnesia and Dig aren't available any other way for Krabby, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Crabhammer and Surf for solid options.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bubble
2010030Water
Lv 5
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 12
Vise Grip
5510030Normal
Lv 16
Harden
30Normal
Lv 23
Stomp
6510020Normal
Lv 27
Guillotine
305Normal
Lv 34
Protect+4
10Normal
Lv 41
Crabhammer
1008510Water

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM03
Curse
10Ghost
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM20
Endure+4
10Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM49
Fury Cutter
109520Bug
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM16
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM31
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM08
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM35
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM34
Swagger
8515Normal
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
HM06
Whirlpool
358515Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Amnesia
20Psychic
Egg
Dig
6010010Ground
Egg
Flail
10015Normal
Egg
Haze
30Ice
Egg
Slam
807520Normal

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Ice Beam
9510010Ice

Krabby's scattered across 58 spots in early-game fishing spots with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.

Best Locations

You'll find Krabby across 58 fishing, walking, and more encounters from Lv. 10-40, sorted by game progression. Earlier spots show up first so you can grab one as soon as it's reachable.

Burned Tower - 1F
Smashing rocksLv.15CommonEarlyBuilding
EASY
Cianwood City
Smashing rocksLv.15CommonEarlyCity
EASY
Dark Cave - East
Smashing rocksLv.15CommonEarlyCave
EASY
Dark Cave - West
Smashing rocksLv.15CommonEarlyCave
EASY
Route 40
Smashing rocksLv.15CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Cherrygrove City
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyCity
MODERATE
Cianwood City
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyCity
MODERATE
Olivine City
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyCity
MODERATE
Route 34
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 40
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 41
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Union Cave - B2F
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyCave
MODERATE
Whirl Islands - 1F
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Whirl Islands - B2F
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Whirl Islands - B2F Inner Cave
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Cerulean City
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyCity
MODERATE
Cinnabar Island - Gym
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Route 19
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 20
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 21
Old RodLv.10UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Cherrygrove City
Good RodLv.20CommonMidCity
EASY
Cianwood City
Good RodLv.20CommonMidCity
EASY
Olivine City
Good RodLv.20CommonMidCity
EASY
Route 34
Good RodLv.20CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 40
Good RodLv.20CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 41
Good RodLv.20CommonMidRoute
EASY
Union Cave - B2F
Good RodLv.20CommonMidCave
EASY
Whirl Islands - 1F
Good RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - B2F
Good RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - B2F Inner Cave
Good RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Cerulean City
Good RodLv.20CommonMidCity
EASY
Cinnabar Island - Gym
Good RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Route 19
Good RodLv.20CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 20
Good RodLv.20CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 21
Good RodLv.20CommonMidRoute
EASY
Whirl Islands - 1F
GrassLv.22-24CommonMidWaterMorning/day
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - 1F
GrassLv.22-24CommonMidWaterNight
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B1F
GrassLv.23-25CommonMidWaterMorning/day
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B1F
GrassLv.23-25CommonMidWaterNight
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B2F
GrassLv.24-26CommonMidWaterMorning/day
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B2F
GrassLv.24-26CommonMidWaterNight
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B2F Inner Cave
GrassLv.25-27CommonMidWaterMorning/day
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B2F Inner Cave
GrassLv.25-27CommonMidWaterNight
EFFORTLESS
Cherrygrove City
Super RodLv.40CommonLateCity
EASY
Cianwood City
Super RodLv.40CommonLateCity
EASY
Olivine City
Super RodLv.40CommonLateCity
EASY
Route 34
Super RodLv.40CommonLateRoute
EASY
Route 40
Super RodLv.40CommonLateRoute
EASY
Route 41
Super RodLv.40CommonLateRoute
EASY
Union Cave - B2F
Super RodLv.40CommonLateCave
EASY
Whirl Islands - 1F
Super RodLv.40CommonLateWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - B2F
Super RodLv.40CommonLateWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - B2F Inner Cave
Super RodLv.40CommonLateWater
EASY
Cerulean City
Super RodLv.40CommonLateCity
EASY
Cinnabar Island - Gym
Super RodLv.40CommonLateWater
EASY
Route 19
Super RodLv.40CommonLateRoute
EASY
Route 20
Super RodLv.40CommonLateRoute
EASY
Route 21
Super RodLv.40CommonLateRoute
EASY
  • At 325 BST, Krabby is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Kingler before bringing it to any serious fight.

  • Krabby's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric) and Exeggutor (Grass), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Krabby evolves into Kingler at level 28. Krabby is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Krabby is a special attacker with base 25 Sp. Atk. Fragile — can't afford to take many hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the attacker role.

  • Krabby appears in 19 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Present since Red & Blue, Krabby appears in 19 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Krabby have the longest track record of availability in the series.