The River Crab Pokemon. Krabby's 105 Attack is wasted in Yellow because all Water moves run off Special in Gen 1. A victim of the type-based split.
325HP30Attack105Defense90Speed50Sp.Def25Sp.Atk25
Krabby
Kingler
Weak to
Special
Attacker
50Speed · Slow

Is Krabby Good in Yellow Playthrough?

High Attack sounds impressive, but Water moves run off Special in Gen 1. None of that physical power reaches Krabby's Water damage. Kingler has the same mismatch but worse.

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

Krabby 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 Krabby's defenses.

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

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

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

Erika's team hits Krabby's weaknesses hard.

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

Koga's typing presses Krabby's defenses.

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

Sabrina's typing presses Kingler's defenses.

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

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

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

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

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Even
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
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 Kingler's defenses.

Even
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
Risky
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Risky
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Kingler has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

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

Agatha's team hits Kingler's weaknesses hard.

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

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

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

Kingler trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Easy KO
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Risky
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
E

Catch Krabby on Seafoam Islands (walking, Lv 25-27, common).

View Krabby locations

Evolve Krabby to Kingler

Level 28
Type
Water
Tier
E

Krabby evolves into Kingler at Level 28. Your Krabby should hit Level 28 before you reach Sabrina, at typical leveling pace.

View Kingler locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Krabby in Yellow

Krabby works two ways, walking the shoreline or biting the Super Rod, 9 encounters across 3 coastal spots. Common at most, so a pincer crab isn't hard to land.

3 locations to catch Krabby

Encountered via fishing with a Rod, tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5

Krabby Weakness

Type-wise, Krabby takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. Not many exploitable gaps in the Water typing defensive chart. 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
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 Krabby Weak Against

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

What is Krabby Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Krabby

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

Krabby Evolutions

Krabby starts a line toward Kingler. Can't breed this Water type (325 stats), so keep the evolution path going. Evolving adds up to 150 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

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
325E-Tier
475E-Tier+150
ROLE
Attacker
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Krabby Best Moveset

The best Attack stat among pre-evolutions at 105, completely unable to power MoveSurf because Water damage runs off the 25 Special stat instead. Normal physical moves are the only option. The type split makes the one good number irrelevant.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Krabby
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Swords Dance
  • Body Slam
  • Double Edge
  • CrabhammerSTAB

Moves List

Most of Krabby's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Crabhammer 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 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 20
Vise Grip
—5510030Normal
Lv 25
Guillotine
——305Normal
Lv 30
Stomp
C6510020Normal
Lv 35
Crabhammer
S1508510Water
Lv 40
Harden
D——30Normal

TM Moves

All 18 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
D110905Ice
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
S8510015Normal
TM11D9710020Water
HM01
CutS.S. Annebadge 2
—509530Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
S12010015Normal
TM13D9510010Ice
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
D14210015Water
TM03
Swords DanceSilph Co.badge 5
S——30Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
D6010025Water

Tutor Moves

Krabby can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

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
Weight6.5 kg
Base XP65
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

Its pincers are superb weapons. They sometimes break off during battle, but they grow back fast.

Pokemon Yellow

Krabby Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, 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 19 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Krabby have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Explore

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