The Mud Fish Pokemon. Mudkip is Emerald's Water starter and the community favorite. S-Tier Swampert with only Grass weakness makes this the strongest pick.
Ability 1TorrentAbility 1Strengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
310HP50Attack70Defense50Speed40Sp.Def50Sp.Atk50
Mudkip
Marshtomp
Swampert
Weak to
Special
Balanced
40Speed · Very Slow

Is Mudkip Good in Emerald Playthrough?

Safest starter in Emerald. Swampert at 36 has Water/Ground with one weakness to Grass. AbilityTorrent boosts Water at low HP. Handles Roxanne, Wattson, and Flannery through the gym circuit. Against Wallace's Water Champion team, Swampert's Ground coverage hits where pure Water can't. Not the best endgame pick (Treecko wins that), but the safest from start to finish.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadSGGSEEEGGGGEEMudkipStarterRoxanneGym 1MarshtompEvolveBrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6SwampertEvolveTate & LizaGym 7JuanGym 8SidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4WallaceChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Strong

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

Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
You Win
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
BlockHardenTackleRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Good

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

You Win
Machop
Lv 16
Fighting
Guts
Karate ChopLow KickSeismic TossBulk Up
Even
Meditite
Lv 16
FightingPsychic
Pure Power
Focus PunchLight ScreenReflectBulk Up
You Win
Makuhita
Lv 19
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustVital ThrowReversalBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Good

Marshtomp has the type edge here and should clean up Wattson's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSparkSelf DestructShock Wave
Easy KO
Electrike
Lv 20
Electric
Static
Shock WaveLeerQuick AttackHowl
Easy KO
Magneton
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicShock WaveThunder WaveSonic Boom
You Win
Manectric
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveShock WaveHowl
Flannery
Gym 4
Strong

Marshtomp resists most of Flannery's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Numel
Lv 24
FireGround
Oblivious
OverheatTake DownMagnitudeSunny Day
Easy KO
Slugma
Lv 24
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
Easy KO
Camerupt
Lv 26
FireGround
Magma Armor
OverheatTackleSunny DayAttract
You Win
Torkoal
Lv 29
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatSunny DayBody SlamAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Marshtomp trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

You Win
Spinda
Lv 27
Normal
Own Tempo
Teeter DancePsybeamFacadeEncore
Even
Vigoroth
Lv 27
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFacadeEncoreFeint Attack
You Win
Linoone
Lv 29
Normal
Pickup
SlashBelly DrumFacadeHeadbutt
Even
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
CounterYawnFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Marshtomp trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

Even
Swablu
Lv 29
NormalFlying
Natural Cure
Perish SongMirror MoveSafeguardAerial Ace
Even
Tropius
Lv 29
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayAerial AceSolar BeamSynthesis
Risky
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Even
Skarmory
Lv 31
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Even

Swampert trades roughly evenly with Tate & Liza's team.

Even
Claydol
Lv 41
GroundPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
EarthquakeAncient PowerPsychicLight Screen
Even
Xatu
Lv 41
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
PsychicSunny DayConfuse RayCalm Mind
Even
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Even
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Juan
Gym 8
Good

Swampert has the type edge here and should clean up Juan's team.

You Win
Luvdisc
Lv 41
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
You Win
Whiscash
Lv 41
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 43
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
You Win
Crawdaunt
Lv 43
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
Water PulseCrabhammerTauntLeer
Even
Kingdra
Lv 46
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
Water PulseDouble TeamIce BeamRest
Sidney
Elite Four
Good

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

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarDouble EdgeSand AttackCrunch
Even
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
TormentDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Even
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
You Win
Crawdaunt
Lv 48
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
SurfSwords DanceStrengthFacade
You Win
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceRock SlideSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Good

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

You Win
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseProtect
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallGrudgeWill O WispFeint Attack
You Win
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallDouble TeamNight ShadeFeint Attack
You Win
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicThunderboltFacade
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamRock SlideEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Good

Swampert has the type edge here and should clean up Glacia's team.

You Win
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamHailIce Ball
You Win
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchIcy WindIce Beam
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDouble EdgeHailBlizzard
Even
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallExplosionHailIce Beam
Even
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamIce BeamSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Even

Swampert trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.

You Win
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectDouble Edge
Even
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Double EdgeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Even
Kingdra
Lv 53
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenDragon DanceSurfBody Slam
You Win
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathEarthquake
Even
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawRock SlideCrunch
Wallace
Champion
Even

Swampert trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.

Even
Wailord
Lv 57
Water
Water Veil
Rain DanceWater SpoutDouble EdgeBlizzard
You Win
Tentacruel
Lv 55
WaterPoison
Clear Body
ToxicHydro PumpSludge BombIce Beam
Risky
Ludicolo
Lv 56
WaterGrass
Swift Swim
Giga DrainSurfLeech SeedDouble Team
Even
Whiscash
Lv 56
WaterGround
Oblivious
EarthquakeSurfAmnesiaHyper Beam
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 56
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon DanceEarthquakeHyper BeamSurf
Even
Milotic
Lv 58
Water
Marvel Scale
RecoverSurfIce BeamToxic

Starter

Starter Pokemon
Type
Water
Tier
E

Mudkip is available as a starter at Lv 5.

View Mudkip locations

Evolve Mudkip to Marshtomp

Level 16
Type
WaterGround
Tier
E

Mudkip evolves into Marshtomp at Level 16. Your Mudkip should hit Level 16 before you reach Brawly, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

Evolve Marshtomp to Swampert

Level 36
Type
WaterGround
Tier
S

Marshtomp evolves into Swampert at Level 36. Your Marshtomp should hit Level 36 before you reach Tate & Liza, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Mudkip in Emerald

The Water starter Mudkip rounds out Birch's three, none of which appear anywhere in the wild. Whichever one you take, the other two vanish from that file, so the level 5 pick is the only Mudkip you get.

1 location to catch Mudkip

How to Obtain Mudkip in E

  1. Marshtomp
    Step 2Evolve into Marshtomp
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave Swampert with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Mudkip egg.
  2. Swampert
    Step 3Evolve into Swampert

How to Get Shiny Mudkip in Emerald

Mudkip is Birch's Water-type starter on Route 101, so save before reaching into his bag and soft-reset the gift over and over until the shiny finally shows itself. Compare Shiny Mudkip odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Mudkip in EmeraldNormal
Shiny Mudkip in Emerald Shiny
Color ShiftBluetoPurple
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Mudkip Evolution

3 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Emerald Shiny Mudkip Calculator

2 Methods
Shiny Odds

Both methods here share the same odds, about 1 in 8,192 on each try. Pick whichever fits how you play.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Emerald

Soft Reset: Save in front of a static, gift, or legendary encounter, then reset until it sparkles.

Breeding: Hatch eggs of this line; each egg rolls at the base shiny rate (no Masuda before Gen IV).

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 8,192Soft Reset
Chance By Now50.0%at 5,678 resetsAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few864----
25%one in four2,357----
50%coin flip5,678----
90%very likely18,862----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your Emerald shiny odds for Mudkip.

Mudkip Weakness

Type-wise, Mudkip takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Mudkip Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
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 Mudkip Weak Against

Good
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Mudkip Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Mudkip

C
Treecko
Treecko
Grass
D
D
Lotad
Lotad
WaterGrass
D
Seedot
Seedot
Grass
D

Mudkip Evolutions

Mudkip is the start of a three-stage chain. It evolves into Marshtomp first, then eventually reaches Swampert. For breeding, average hatch time with a decent partner pool via two egg groups. Evolving adds up to 225 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Mudkip
Water
Marshtomp
WaterGround
Swampert
WaterGround
HP
50
70+20
100+30
ATK
70
85+15
110+25
DEF
50
70+20
90+20
SP.ATK
50
60+10
85+25
SP.DEF
50
70+20
90+20
SPE
40
50+10
60+10
BST
310E-Tier
405E-Tier+95
535S-Tier+130
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Tank
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Easy

Breed Mudkip easily with 49 breeding partners from the Monster and Water 1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Curse, Ice Ball, Mirror Coat and 3 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
MonsterWater 1
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurcharizardblastoisenidokingmeganiumferaligatrampharossceptileswampertgolduckkingdra

E Mudkip Best Moveset

Water starter that evolves into arguably the best Hoenn starter for competitive play. Mudkip's moveset should focus on physical Water moves while leveling toward Marshtomp.

Best Build

Experimental
Bulky Support
Ability
Torrent
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Mudkip
SeriousNEUTRAL

Mudkip best EVs are Defense and Sp. Def

EVs

Bulky Support Moveset

  • SurfSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • ProtectFAST +4
  • Hydro PumpSTAB

Moves List

The egg pool carries weight here. Curse and Ice Ball aren't available any other way for Mudkip, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Hydro Pump and Surf for solid options.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
D—10040Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 6
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Lv 10
Water Gun
D6010025Water
Lv 15
Bide+1
———10Normal
Lv 19
Foresight
——10040Normal
Lv 24
Mud Sport
———15Ground
Lv 28
Take Down
D908520Normal
Lv 33
Whirlpool
—528515Water
Lv 37
Protect+4
B——10Normal
Lv 42
Hydro Pump
A180805Water
Lv 46
Endeavor
D—1005Normal

TM Moves

All 23 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM14D120705Ice
TM28
DigRoute 114badge 3
D6010010Ground
HM08C9010010Water
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D7010020Normal
TM21
FrustrationPacifidlog Townbadge 5
D—10020Normal
TM07
HailShoal Cavebadge 6
———10Ice
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM13
Ice BeamMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
B9510010Ice
TM23
Iron TailMeteor Fallsnot until badge 8
D1007515Steel
TM17B——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
HM06D2010015Fighting
TM39D609510Rock
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
HM04—8010015Normal
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison
TM03
Water PulsePrize for defeating Juannot until badge 8
D9010020Water
HM07
WaterfallGiven by Wallace in Sootopolis Citynot until badge 7
A12010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Curse
C——10Ghost
Egg
Ice Ball
—309020Ice
Egg
Mirror Coat-5
D—10020Psychic
Egg
Refresh
D——20Normal
Egg
Stomp
D6510020Normal
Egg
Uproar
—9010010Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Body Slam
D8510015Normal
Tutor
Defense Curl
D——40Normal
Tutor
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Tutor
Endure+4
C——10Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
A559515Ice
Tutor
Mimic
D——10Normal
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Rollout
—309020Rock
Tutor
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Tutor
Snore
—4010015Normal
Tutor
Substitute
C——10Normal
Tutor
Swagger
D—9015Normal

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP50
D
Attack70
C
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def50
D
Speed40
D
Total310
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.4 m
Weight7.6 kg
Base XP62
Abilities
Torrent
Strengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

On land, it can powerfully lift large boulders by planting its four feet and heaving. It sleeps by burying itself in soil at the water’s edge.

Pokemon Emerald

Mudkip Emerald Guide

  • In Emerald, Mudkip does the job early-game if you need a Water type on your team. Evolve it into Marshtomp before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Mudkip first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 16 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.

Explore

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