Transfer-only with Water Absorb healing from Water hits, Lapras's bulk plus Water/Ice-type attacks remain strong at A-Tier in Ruby & Sapphire.
Ability 1Water AbsorbAbility 1Absorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.Ability 2Shell ArmorAbility 2Protects against critical hits.
535HP130Attack85Defense80Speed60Sp.Def95Sp.Atk85
Weak to
Special
Balanced
60Speed · Below Avg

Is Lapras Good in Ruby & Sapphire Playthrough?

Not native to Hoenn. Trade from FireRed or LeafGreen. AbilityWater Absorb heals from Water attacks and AbilityShell Armor blocks crits. Lapras handles Drake's Dragons and Glacia's Ice with the Water resistance. A strong import but Walrein does a similar job natively.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadSGEGEGGEGGESGRoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6Tate & LizaGym 7WallaceGym 8LaprasTradeSidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4StevenChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Strong

Lapras resists most of Roxanne's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Easy KO
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
TackleHardenRock ThrowRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Good

Lapras has the type edge here and should clean up Brawly's team.

You Win
Machop
Lv 17
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopSeismic TossBulk Up
You Win
Makuhita
Lv 18
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustKnock OffSand AttackBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Even

Lapras trades roughly evenly with Wattson's team.

Even
Magnemite
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomThunder ShockThunder Wave
You Win
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSelf DestructSparkSonic Boom
Risky
Magneton
Lv 23
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomShock WaveThunder Wave
Flannery
Gym 4
Good

Lapras has the type edge here and should clean up Flannery's team.

Easy KO
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
Easy KO
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
FlamethrowerRock SlideLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Torkoal
Lv 28
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatBody SlamFlailAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Lapras trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

Even
Slaking
Lv 28
Normal
Truant
EncoreFacadeYawnFeint Attack
You Win
Vigoroth
Lv 30
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFeint AttackFacadeEncore
Even
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
Focus PunchSlack OffFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Good

Lapras has the type edge here and should clean up Winona's team.

Easy KO
Swellow
Lv 31
NormalFlying
Guts
Quick AttackAerial AceDouble TeamEndeavor
Easy KO
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
You Win
Skarmory
Lv 32
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
You Win
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Good

Lapras has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.

You Win
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Easy KO
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Wallace
Gym 8
Even

Lapras trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.

Even
Luvdisc
Lv 40
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
Even
Whiscash
Lv 42
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
Even
Sealeo
Lv 40
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Even
Seaking
Lv 42
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseRain DanceFury AttackHorn Drill
Risky
Milotic
Lv 43
Water
Marvel Scale
Water PulseTwisterRecoverIce Beam
Sidney
Elite Four
Good

Lapras has the type edge here and should clean up Sidney's team.

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarTake DownSand AttackCrunch
You Win
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
Fake OutDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
You Win
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Even
Sharpedo
Lv 48
WaterDark
Rough Skin
CrunchSwaggerSurfSlash
You Win
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceSnatchSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Good

Lapras has the type edge here and should clean up Phoebe's team.

You Win
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseFuture Sight
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallSpiteWill O WispFeint Attack
You Win
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallPsychicAttractFeint Attack
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicToxicSkill Swap
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamConfuse RayEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Even

Lapras trades roughly evenly with Glacia's team.

Even
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchHailIce Beam
Even
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamHailIce Ball
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDiveHailBlizzard
Even
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallCrunchHailIce Beam
Even
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamBlizzardSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Strong

Lapras resists most of Drake's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectCrunch
You Win
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Take DownDragon BreathDragon DanceRefresh
Easy KO
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
Levitate
DigDragon BreathFlySandstorm
Easy KO
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
Levitate
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathSand Attack
You Win
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawFlyCrunch
Steven
Champion
Good

Lapras has the type edge here and should clean up Steven's team.

You Win
Skarmory
Lv 57
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
ToxicAerial AceSpikesSteel Wing
You Win
Claydol
Lv 55
GroundPsychic
Levitate
ReflectLight ScreenAncient PowerEarthquake
Even
Aggron
Lv 56
SteelRock
Sturdy
ThunderEarthquakeSolar BeamDragon Claw
Easy KO
Cradily
Lv 56
RockGrass
Suction Cups
Giga DrainAncient PowerSludge BombConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Armaldo
Lv 56
RockBug
Battle Armor
Water PulseAncient PowerAerial AceSlash
Risky
Metagross
Lv 58
SteelPsychic
Clear Body
EarthquakePsychicMeteor MashHyper Beam

Trade

Transfer-only
Type
WaterIce
Tier
A

Lapras cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.

View Lapras locations

How to Get Lapras in Ruby & Sapphire

The Silph Co. gift that handed you a Lapras in Kanto does not exist in Hoenn, and there is no wild one to replace it. Trading remains the only way to get one.

Lapras cannot be caught in the wild in Ruby & Sapphire, but you can still get it via these paths:

Catch in the wild and trade from these games:

Then trade to Ruby & Sapphire.

How to Get Shiny Lapras in Ruby & Sapphire

Inside Icefall Cave in FireRed or LeafGreen you can meet a shiny Lapras, absent from all of Hoenn, then trade it home. See every game where Shiny Lapras can be hunted

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Lapras in Ruby & SapphireNormal
Shiny Lapras in Ruby & Sapphire Shiny
Color ShiftBluetoPurple
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Lapras Evolution

Does Not Evolve
Lapras does not evolve
Single-stage PokemonView Full Evolution Chart

Lapras Weakness

Lapras's Water/Ice typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock. 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.

Lapras Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass, Fighting, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Water
0.25x (Resist)Ice
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Lapras Weak Against

Vulnerable
4Weak
2Resist
1Immune
Score-5
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
0xImmune

What is Lapras Strong Against

6Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+5
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Lapras

Heracross
Heracross
BugFighting
A
Hariyama
Hariyama
Fighting
B
Breloom
Breloom
GrassFighting
B
Blaziken
Blaziken
FireFighting
B
Machoke
Machoke
Fighting
C

Lapras Evolutions

No evolution chain to worry about here. Lapras is a standalone Pokemon with a decent partner pool for breeding through two egg groups. Its eggs take forever to hatch. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Lapras
#131Lapras
Does not evolve

Breeding

Easy

Breed Lapras easily with 49 breeding partners from the Monster and Water 1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Curse, Dragon Dance, Foresight and 5 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
MonsterWater 1
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurcharizardblastoisenidokingmeganiumferaligatrampharossceptileswampertgolduckkingdra

RS Lapras Best Moveset

130 HP tanks hits while MoveIce Beam and MoveSurf fire from 95 Sp. Atk. Water healing through AbilityWater Absorb provides safe switch-ins. MoveThunder Wave paralyzes, MoveRest recovers. Held ItemLeftovers sustains. One of the bulkiest offensive tanks with Water immunity.

Best Build

Experimental
Special Tank
Ability
Water Absorb
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Lapras
Modest+SPA

Lapras best EVs are HP and Sp. Atk

EVs

Special Tank Moveset

  • Ice BeamSTAB
  • Heal Bell
  • ThunderboltCoverage
  • ThunderCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Moves List

You'll want to breed for Curse and Dragon Dance 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
D—10040Normal
Lv 1
Sing
——5515Normal
Lv 1
Water Gun
D6010025Water
Lv 7
Mist
———30Ice
Lv 13
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Lv 19
Confuse Ray
D—10010Ghost
Lv 25
Perish Song
A——5Normal
Lv 31
Ice Beam
B14210010Ice
Lv 37
Rain Dance
C——5Water
Lv 43
Safeguard
D——25Normal
Lv 49
Hydro Pump
A180805Water
Lv 55
Sheer Cold
——305Ice

TM Moves

All 28 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM14C180705Ice
HM08
DiveMossdeep Citybadge 6
C9010010Water
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D7010020Normal
TM07
HailShoal Cavebadge 6
———10Ice
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamLilycove Department Storebadge 5
C150905Normal
TM13
Ice BeamAbandoned Shipbadge 2
B14210010Ice
TM23
Iron TailMeteor Fallsnot until badge 8
C1007515Steel
TM17C——10Normal
TM29
PsychicMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
C9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6Route 114badge 3
A——20Normal
HM06
Rock SmashMauville Citybadge 2
D2010015Fighting
TM20D——25Normal
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
TM34D60—20Electric
HM04
StrengthRusturf Tunnelbadge 3
—8010015Normal
HM03
SurfPetalburg Citybadge 5
A14210015Water
TM25A1207010Electric
TM24
ThunderboltMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
A9510015Electric
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison
TM03
Water PulsePrize for defeating Wallacenot until badge 8
C9010020Water
HM07
WaterfallCave of Originnot until badge 7
C12010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Curse
C——10Ghost
Egg
Dragon Dance
C——20Dragon
Egg
Foresight
——10040Normal
Egg
Horn Drill
——305Normal
Egg
Refresh
D——20Normal
Egg
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Egg
Substitute
C——10Normal
Egg
Tickle
——10020Normal

Tutor Moves

Lapras can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
High
HP130
A
Attack85
C
Defense80
C
Sp. Atk85
C
Sp. Def95
B
Speed60
C
Total535
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height2.5 m
Weight220.0 kg
Base XP187
Abilities
Water Absorb
Absorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.
Shell Armor
Protects against critical hits.
Water Absorb grants Water immunity
EV Yield
HP+2AtkDefSpASpDSpe
HP training target
Pokedex Entry

People have driven LAPRAS almost to the point of extinction. In the evenings, this POKéMON is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain.

Pokemon Ruby / Pokemon Sapphire

Lapras Ruby & Sapphire Guide

  • Lapras isn't catchable in Ruby & Sapphire. Catch one in FireRed or LeafGreen, then trade it to Ruby & Sapphire.

Game Availability

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

Explore

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