Stats & Training
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.
Discovered by chance during deep-sea explorations, it has not changed since ancient times.
Discovered by chance during deep-sea explorations, it has not changed since ancient times.
Relicanth Weakness
Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Grass |
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
 Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
 Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Meditite FightingPsychic | D | |
 Plusle Electric | D | |
 Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Vine Whip 4x56-68% Bullet Seed 4x40-48% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chikorita builds →Razor Leaf 4x48-58% Bullet Seed 4x24-29% | ||
 Paras BugGrass | D | |
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Oddish builds →Bullet Seed 4x24-29% Absorb 4x40-48% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Bellsprout builds →Vine Whip 4x48-58% Bullet Seed 4x32-39% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 4x214-253%KO Energy Ball 4x161-189%KO Vine Whip 4x59-71% Bullet Seed 4x39-47% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 4x141-166%KO Energy Ball 4x107-126%KO Magical Leaf 4x74-87% Razor Leaf 4x46-55% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Paras builds →Solar Beam 4x134-158%KO Energy Ball 4x107-126%KO Brick Break 2x24-29% Bullet Seed 4x33-39% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 4x187-221%KO Energy Ball 4x141-166%KO Bullet Seed 4x26-32% Absorb 4x39-47% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Bellsprout builds →Solar Beam 4x180-213%KO Energy Ball 4x134-158%KO Vine Whip 4x46-55% Bullet Seed 4x33-39% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 4x210-248%KO Energy Ball 4x160-189%KO Vine Whip 4x55-65% Bullet Seed 4x33-39% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 4x138-163%KO Energy Ball 4x104-124%KO Magical Leaf 4x72-85% Razor Leaf 4x43-52% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Paras builds →Solar Beam 4x133-157%KO Energy Ball 4x99-117%KO Dig 2x24-28% Brick Break 2x22-26% | ||
 Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Sunkern builds →Solar Beam 4x104-124%KO Energy Ball 4x77-91% Mega Drain 4x38-46% Bullet Seed 4x22-26% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 4x188-222%KO Energy Ball 4x143-170%KO Mega Drain 4x66-78% Bullet Seed 4x22-26% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 4x204-241%KO Energy Ball 4x154-182%KO Vine Whip 4x54-64% Bullet Seed 4x31-38% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 4x131-155%KO Energy Ball 4x100-118%KO Magical Leaf 4x68-80% Razor Leaf 4x40-48% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Paras builds →Solar Beam 4x127-150%KO Energy Ball 4x96-113%KO Dig 2x22-27% Brick Break 2x21-25% | ||
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Sunkern builds →Solar Beam 4x100-118%KO Energy Ball 4x77-91% Razor Leaf 4x31-38% Mega Drain 4x36-43% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 4x177-209%KO Energy Ball 4x137-161%KO Mega Drain 4x63-75% Bullet Seed 4x22-27% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 4x208-245%KO Energy Ball 4x154-182%KO Vine Whip 4x53-62% Bullet Seed 4x32-38% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 4x134-158%KO Energy Ball 4x102-120%KO Magical Leaf 4x69-82% Razor Leaf 4x41-48% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Paras builds →Solar Beam 4x126-149%KO Energy Ball 4x98-115%KO Dig 2x22-27% Giga Drain 4x82-96% | ||
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Sunkern builds →Solar Beam 4x98-115%KO Energy Ball 4x73-86% Razor Leaf 4x28-34% Mega Drain 4x36-43% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 4x179-211%KO Energy Ball 4x138-163%KO Mega Drain 4x65-77% Bullet Seed 4x20-24% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 4x200-236%KO Energy Ball 4x150-177%KO Vine Whip 4x50-59% Bullet Seed 4x33-39% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 4x130-152%KO Energy Ball 4x96-113%KO Magical Leaf 4x66-79% Razor Leaf 4x37-44% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Paras builds →Solar Beam 4x125-148%KO Energy Ball 4x96-113%KO Dig 2x22-26% Giga Drain 4x79-93% | ||
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Sunkern builds →Solar Beam 4x96-113%KO Energy Ball 4x75-89% Razor Leaf 4x29-34% Mega Drain 4x37-44% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 4x175-207%KO Energy Ball 4x134-157%KO Mega Drain 4x62-74% Bullet Seed 4x20-25% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 4x204-241%KO Energy Ball 4x154-182%KO Vine Whip 4x50-59% Bullet Seed 4x32-38% | ||
 Tangela Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Tangela builds →Solar Beam 4x223-262%KO Energy Ball 4x168-199%KO Vine Whip 4x36-42% Mega Drain 4x79-93% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 4x132-156%KO Energy Ball 4x100-118%KO Magical Leaf 4x68-80% Razor Leaf 4x39-46% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Paras builds →Solar Beam 4x125-148%KO Energy Ball 4x93-110%KO Dig 2x23-27% Giga Drain 4x79-93% | ||
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Sunkern builds →Solar Beam 4x96-114%KO Energy Ball 4x75-89% Razor Leaf 4x28-34% Mega Drain 4x36-42% | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Infernape's Close Combat hits Relicanth for 60-71%. Flygon's Earthquake hits Relicanth for 49-57%. Zapdos's Thunderbolt also KOs at 91-107%.
 Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Infernape builds →Close Combat 2x60-71% U Turn12-14% Fire Blast11-12% | ||
 Flygon GroundDragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Flygon builds →Earthquake 2x49-57% Outrage29-34% U Turn11-13% | ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Zapdos builds →Thunderbolt 2x91-107%KO Heat Wave8-9% | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureAdamant Moves View Breloom builds →
| ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves View Roserade builds →
| ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Relicanth with 69 breeding partners from the Water1 and Water2 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Aqua Tail, Magnitude and 7 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Relicanth Best Moveset
Rockhead helps Relicanth stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, flexible EVs for the right balance, and Waterfall as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Relicanth best EVs are Defense and Attack
Bulky Support Moveset
- Head Smash
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Double Edge
Recommended Teammates
Moves
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
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Relicanth Locations
Relicanth is available from early-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 2 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.
Best Locations to Catch Relicanth in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Relicanth Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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. Head Smash with Leftovers is the standard set.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, run Head Smash, Waterfall, Earthquake, and Double Edge on Relicanth. Head Smash is the most common pick at 25% usage. Waterfall provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Relicanth first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 14 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves