Physical
Balanced
535High
60Moderate
BTier

What separates Lapras from the pack is Water Absorb — it heals when hit by Water moves. Combine that with Water/Ice typing and it relies on priority moves or Scarf to keep up. A longtime staple going back to Gen 1.

The stat line revolves around HP. Percentage recovery gets extra mileage here. Sp. Def backs it up, though Speed doesn't pull its weight. Worth 2 HP EVs on a slow 1.25M XP grind to max out.

Base Stats
535High
HP130
A
Attack85
C
Defense80
C
Sp. Atk85
C
Sp. Def95
B
Speed60
C
Total535
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Lapras yields +2 HP
HP+2AtkDefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch45ChallengingSlow1.25M XP2.5m / 8'02"220kg / 485 lbs187Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It loves crossing the sea with people and Pokémon on its back. It understands human speech.

Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

Lapras Weakness

Vulnerable

Lapras's Water/Ice typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock moves. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Lapras's overall bulk (130/80/95) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.

4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
0xImmunei
4Weak
2Resist
1Immune
Scorei-5
Stealth Rock25% on switch
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Water AbsorbAbsorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.
Shell ArmorProtects against critical hits.
HydrationHACures any major status ailment after each turn during rain.
Water Absorb grants Water immunity

No evolution chain to worry about here. Lapras is a standalone Pokemon with plenty of partners for breeding through two egg groups. Eggs come out takes forever to hatch.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Lapras
#131Lapras
Does not evolve
Breeding
Easy

Breed Lapras easily with 57 breeding partners from the Monster and Water1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Ancient Power, Curse, Fissure and 4 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
MonsterWater1
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
7moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurcharizardblastoisemeganiumferaligatrampharossceptileswamperttorterrarhyperiorgolduck

the remaining moves is what separates a good sweep from a wasted boost. After Dragon Dance, Lapras threatens a wide range with flexible EVs EVs and Heavy-Duty Boots backing every hit.

Best Build

Physical Attacker
Ability
Waterabsorb
Item
Heavy-Duty BootsANTI-HAZARD
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Lapras Moveset

  • LiquidationSTAB
  • Dragon Dance
  • Icicle SpearSTAB
  • Freeze DrySTAB

You'll want to breed for Ancient Power and Curse on Lapras. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hydro Pump and Blizzard, they expand what Lapras can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 1
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 5
Sing
5515Normal
Lv 10
Mist
30Ice
Lv 15
Life Dew
10Water
Lv 20
Ice Shard+1
4010030Ice
Lv 25
Confuse Ray
10010Ghost
Lv 30
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Lv 35
Brine
6510010Water
Lv 40
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Lv 45
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
Lv 50
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 55
Hydro Pump
110805Water
Lv 60
Perish Song
5Normal
Lv 65
Sheer Cold
305Ice

TM Moves

Src
TM227
Alluring Voice
8010010Fairy
TM46
Avalanche-4
6010010Ice
TM143
Blizzard
110705Ice
TM89
Body Press
8010010Fighting
TM66
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM28
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM02
Charm
10020Fairy
TM22
Chilling Water
5010020Water
TM17
Confuse Ray
10010Ghost
TM224
Curse
10Ghost
TM19
Disarming Voice
4015Fairy
TM204
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM226
Dragon Cheer
15Dragon
TM100
Dragon Dance
20Dragon
TM115
Dragon Pulse
8510010Dragon
TM106
Drill Run
809510Ground
TM149
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM47
Endure+4
10Normal
TM25
Facade
7010020Normal
TM152
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM174
Haze
30Ice
TM130
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
TM142
Hydro Pump
110805Water
TM163
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM117
Hyper Voice
9010010Normal
TM135
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM187
Icicle Spear
2510030Ice
TM34
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM99
Iron Head
8010015Steel
TM110
Liquidation
8510010Water
TM209
Muddy Water
908510Water
TM156
Outrage
12010010Dragon
TM07
Protect+4
10Normal
TM120
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM228
Psychic Noise
7510010Psychic
TM50
Rain Dance
5Water
TM74
Reflect
20Psychic
TM85
Rest
5Psychic
TM70
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM53
Smart Strike
7010Steel
TM52
Snowscape
10Ice
TM103
Substitute
10Normal
TM123
Surf
9010015Water
TM01
Take Down
908520Normal
TM171
Tera Blast
8010010Normal
TM166
Thunder
1107010Electric
TM126
Thunderbolt
9010015Electric
TM11
Water Pulse
6010020Water
TM77
Waterfall
8010015Water
TM193
Weather Ball
5010010Normal
TM208
Whirlpool
358515Water
TM59
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Egg
Curse
10Ghost
Egg
Fissure
305Ground
Egg
Freeze-Dry
7010020Ice
Egg
Horn Drill
305Normal
Egg
Sparkling Aria
9010010Water
Egg
Tickle
10020Normal

Tutor Moves

Lapras can't learn any Tutor moves

Lapras doesn't appear in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer it from Red, Yellow, or Sword to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Lapras is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

  • Lapras looks average on paper at 535 BST. But Water Absorb is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. B-Tier on our tier list.

  • Watch for Raikou (Electric), Venusaur (Grass), and Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Lapras. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Rock-type attackers are also a problem. Lapras has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.

  • Lapras doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Water/Ice-type Pokemon with strong stats at 535 BST — no evolution needed.

  • Lapras gets Water Absorb, Shell Armor, and Hydration. But Water Absorb is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.

  • Lapras is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — at base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often.

  • Lapras appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Available since Red & Blue, Lapras appears in 20 games spanning 9 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Gigantamax form in Generation 8.