Physical
Balanced
485Average
55Slow
CTier

That 4x Grass weakness is something every Relicanth user needs to plan around. Swift Swim doubles its Speed in rain, which helps. Known as the Longevity Pokemon. The stat spread favors raw physical power.

Relicanth's all-in on Defense at the expense of Sp. Atk. The physical lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 2 HP and Defense EVs and follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats
485Above
HP100
B
Attack90
B
Defense130
A
Sp. Atk45
D
Sp. Def65
C
Speed55
D
Total485
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Relicanth yields +1 HP, +1 Def
HP+1AtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch25DifficultSlow1.25M XP1m / 3'03"23.4kg / 51.6 lbs170Base XP
Pokedex Entries

A rare Pokémon discovered during a deep-sea exploration. It has not changed in over 100 million years.

Black / White

Relicanth Weakness

Vulnerable

Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground-type moves hit Relicanth for super-effective damage. Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Relicanth's physical bulk (base 130 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
¼xResisti
0xImmunei
None
4Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Scorei-4
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
4x Grass — Energy Ball, Giga Drain, Leaf Storm
Abilities
Swift SwimDoubles Speed during rain.
Rock HeadProtects against recoil damage.
SturdyHAPrevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.

What you see is what you get. Relicanth sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and plenty of partners from two egg groups. Eggs are takes forever to hatch.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Relicanth
#369Relicanth
Does not evolve
Breeding
Moderate

Breed Relicanth with 78 breeding partners from the Water1 and Water2 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Aqua Tail, Brine and 9 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Water1Water2
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
12moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosazumarillblastoisegolduckferaligatrkingdraswampertslowbroslowkingoctilleryludicolodewgong

the remaining moves gives Relicanth answers even while choice-locked. Choice Band provides raw power at the cost of move flexibility, and max HP and Attack EVs with Rockhead mean every prediction that lands hits hard.

Best Build

Physical Wallbreaker
Ability
Rockhead
Item
Choice BandPOWER
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Relicanth Moveset

  • Head SmashSTAB
  • WaterfallSTAB
  • Double Edge
  • Zen Headbutt

Don't skip the egg moves. Relicanth picks up Amnesia and Aqua Tail only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Head Smash and Hydro Pump while Normal and Ice coverage and more adds range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Harden
30Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
5010035Normal
Lv 8
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 15
Rock Tomb
609510Rock
Lv 22
Yawn
10Normal
Lv 29
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 36
Mud Sport
15Ground
Lv 43
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Lv 50
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Lv 57
Dive
8010010Water
Lv 64
Rest
10Psychic
Lv 71
Hydro Pump
120805Water
Lv 78
Head Smash
150805Rock

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
HM06
Dive
8010010Water
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM69
Rock Polish
20Rock
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
609510Rock
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM55
Scald
8010015Water
TM23
Smack Down
5010015Rock
TM71
Stone Edge
100805Rock
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
HM05
Waterfall
8010015Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Amnesia
20Psychic
Egg
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Egg
Brine
6510010Water
Egg
Magnitude
10030Ground
Egg
Mud Shot
559515Ground
Egg
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Egg
Muddy Water
958510Water
Egg
Skull Bash
10010010Normal
Egg
Sleep Talk
10Normal
Egg
Snore
4010015Normal
Egg
Water Sport
15Water
Egg
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Tutor Moves

Relicanth can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 4
Captivate
10020Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
10Normal
Gen 4
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Natural Gift
10015Normal
Gen 4
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 4
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Gen 4
Whirlpool
358515Water

high spawn rates for Relicanth across 2 locations in late-game fishing spots. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.

Best Locations

Route 4
WhiteSuper RodLv.35-60CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spot
EASY
Route 4
BlackSuper RodLv.35-60CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spot
EASY
  • Don't let Relicanth's 485 base stat total fool you. Swift Swim is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier.

  • Watch for Venusaur (Grass), Jolteon (Electric), and Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Relicanth. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Venusaur is the most dangerous since Grass moves deal 4x damage. Ground-type attackers are also a problem.

  • Relicanth doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Water/Rock-type Pokemon with a 485 base stat total.

  • Run Swift Swim on Relicanth. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Relicanth also gets Rock Head and Sturdy, but they don't compare.

  • Relicanth fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 90 Attack. At base 55 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.

  • Relicanth appears in 14 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.

Relicanth first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 14 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.