Physical
Attacker
325Low
50Slow
CTier

Krabby is technically a pre-evolution of Kingler, but it can still hold its own in battle. Sheer Force drops secondary effects for a straight power boost, adding extra value. Only weak to Electric and Grass. Known as the River Crab Pokemon.

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
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 senses danger approaching, it cloaks itself with bubbles from its mouth so it will look bigger.

Heart Gold

The pincers break off easily. If it loses a pincer, it somehow becomes incapable of walking sideways.

Soul Silver

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 IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
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 decent 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 21 breeding partners from the Water3 egg group. Pass egg moves like Agility, Amnesia, Ancient Power and 7 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
10moves
Breed With (best first)
drapioncrawdauntcorsolaskorupicorphishomastarkabutopsomanytekabutotentacruelcloysterstarmie

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.

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

The egg pool carries weight here. Agility and Amnesia 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 1
Mud Sport
15Ground
Lv 5
Vise Grip
5510030Normal
Lv 9
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 11
Harden
30Normal
Lv 15
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Lv 19
Mud Shot
559515Ground
Lv 21
Metal Claw
509535Steel
Lv 25
Stomp
6510020Normal
Lv 29
Protect+4
10Normal
Lv 31
Guillotine
305Normal
Lv 35
Slam
807520Normal
Lv 39
Brine
6510010Water
Lv 41
Crabhammer
1008510Water
Lv 45
Flail
10015Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM55
Brine
6510010Water
TM78
Captivate
10020Normal
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM28
Dig
8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM58
Endure+4
10Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM54
False Swipe
4010040Normal
TM56
Fling
10010Dark
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM83
Natural Gift
10015Normal
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
HM06
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
609510Rock
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM82
Sleep Talk
10Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
30Normal
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water
HM05
Whirlpool
358515Water
TM81
X-Scissor
8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Agility
30Psychic
Egg
Amnesia
20Psychic
Egg
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Egg
Dig
8010010Ground
Egg
Flail
10015Normal
Egg
Haze
30Ice
Egg
Knock Off
6510020Dark
Egg
Slam
807520Normal
Egg
Swords Dance
30Normal
Egg
Tickle
10020Normal

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Tutor
Dive
8010010Water
Tutor
Fury Cutter
109520Bug
Tutor
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Tutor
Iron Defense
15Steel
Tutor
Knock Off
6510020Dark
Tutor
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Tutor
Snore
4010015Normal
Tutor
Superpower
1201005Fighting

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal

high spawn rates in early-game fishing spots across 36 locations. Krabby's one of the easier catches on the list. Multiple catch methods are available, so check which ones match your setup. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.

Best Locations

36 spots to find Krabby at Lv. 10-40 via fishing, walking, and more. Not all of them exist in both SoulSilver and HeartGold versions, so filter by your copy below.

Cianwood City
SoulSilverSmashing rocksLv.15-24CommonEarlyCity
EASY
Cianwood City
HeartGoldSmashing rocksLv.15-24CommonEarlyCity
EASY
Whirl Islands - 1F
HeartGoldOld RodLv.10RareEarlyWater
CHALLENGING
Whirl Islands - 1F
SoulSilverOld RodLv.10RareEarlyWater
CHALLENGING
Whirl Islands - B2F
HeartGoldOld RodLv.10RareEarlyWater
CHALLENGING
Whirl Islands - B2F
SoulSilverOld RodLv.10RareEarlyWater
CHALLENGING
Seafoam Islands - B4F
SoulSilverOld RodLv.10RareEarlyWater
CHALLENGING
Seafoam Islands - B4F
HeartGoldOld RodLv.10RareEarlyWater
CHALLENGING
Cliff Cave - B1F
HeartGoldSmashing rocksLv.20-26CommonMidCave
EASY
Cliff Cave - B1F
SoulSilverSmashing rocksLv.20-26CommonMidCave
EASY
Whirl Islands - 1F
HeartGoldGood RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - 1F
SoulSilverGood RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - B2F
SoulSilverGood RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - B2F
HeartGoldGood RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - 1F
HeartGoldGrassLv.22-24CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - 1F
SoulSilverGrassLv.22-24CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B1F
SoulSilverGrassLv.22-24CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B1F
HeartGoldGrassLv.22-24CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B2F
SoulSilverGrassLv.22-24CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B2F
HeartGoldGrassLv.22-24CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B3F
HeartGoldGrassLv.23-25CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Whirl Islands - B3F
SoulSilverGrassLv.23-25CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Route 19
HeartGoldSmashing rocksLv.24-27CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 19
SoulSilverSmashing rocksLv.24-27CommonMidRoute
EASY
Cliff Cave - 1F
SoulSilverGrassLv.20UncommonMidCave
EASY
Cliff Cave - 1F
HeartGoldGrassLv.20UncommonMidCave
EASY
Cliff Cave - 2F
HeartGoldGrassLv.20UncommonMidCave
EASY
Cliff Cave - 2F
SoulSilverGrassLv.20UncommonMidCave
EASY
Cliff Cave - B1F
HeartGoldGrassLv.20UncommonMidCave
EASY
Cliff Cave - B1F
SoulSilverGrassLv.20UncommonMidCave
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B4F
HeartGoldGood RodLv.20RareMidWater
HARD
Seafoam Islands - B4F
SoulSilverGood RodLv.20RareMidWater
HARD
Whirl Islands - 1F
HeartGoldSuper RodLv.40CommonLateWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - 1F
SoulSilverSuper RodLv.40CommonLateWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - B2F
SoulSilverSuper RodLv.40CommonLateWater
EASY
Whirl Islands - B2F
HeartGoldSuper RodLv.40CommonLateWater
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 gets Sheer Force, Hyper Cutter, and Shell Armor. But Sheer Force is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.

  • Krabby is a physical attacker with base 105 Attack. 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.