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.
It has remained unchanged for 100 million years. It was discovered during a deep-sea exploration.
A rare Pokémon discovered during a deep-sea exploration. It has not changed in over 100 million years.
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 |
 Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Ferroseed builds →Thunderbolt 2x24-29% Rock Smash 2x11-13% | ||
 Pansage Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Pansage builds →Vine Whip 4x39-47% Rock Smash 2x13-16% | ||
 Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Roselia builds →Magical Leaf 4x120-142%KO Mega Drain 4x87-103%KO Absorb 4x46-55% | ||
 Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Skiddo builds →Bulldoze 2x20-24% Razor Leaf 4x53-63% Vine Whip 4x46-55% Rock Smash 2x13-16% | ||
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Ferroseed builds →Thunderbolt 2x22-26% Rock Smash 2x10-12% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 4x62-73% Dig 2x20-24% Bulldoze 2x16-19% Razor Leaf 4x44-52% | ||
Pansage Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Pansage builds →Seed Bomb 4x53-63% Dig 2x17-21% Low Sweep 2x15-17% Vine Whip 4x35-42% | ||
 Chespin Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAquacorde Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chespin builds →Seed Bomb 4x62-73% Dig 2x20-24% Low Sweep 2x16-19% Bulldoze 2x16-19% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 4x137-162%KO Magical Leaf 4x110-130%KO Mega Drain 4x75-89% Absorb 4x39-47% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Ferroseed builds →Thunderbolt 2x22-26% Rock Smash 2x10-12% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 4x62-73% Dig 2x20-24% Bulldoze 2x16-19% Razor Leaf 4x44-52% | ||
 Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Pansage Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Pansage builds →Seed Bomb 4x53-63% Dig 2x17-21% Low Sweep 2x15-17% Vine Whip 4x35-42% | ||
Chespin Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAquacorde Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chespin builds →Seed Bomb 4x62-73% Dig 2x20-24% Low Sweep 2x16-19% Bulldoze 2x16-19% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Ferroseed builds →Thunderbolt 2x22-26% Rock Smash 2x10-12% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 4x62-73% Dig 2x20-24% Bulldoze 2x16-19% Razor Leaf 4x44-52% | ||
Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Pansage Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Pansage builds →Seed Bomb 4x53-63% Dig 2x17-21% Low Sweep 2x15-17% Vine Whip 4x35-42% | ||
Chespin Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAquacorde Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Chespin builds →Seed Bomb 4x62-73% Dig 2x20-24% Low Sweep 2x16-19% Bulldoze 2x16-19% | ||
 Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Leaf Tornado 4x113-133%KO Vine Whip 4x53-62% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 4x64-76% Dig 2x21-25% Bulldoze 2x16-19% Razor Leaf 4x45-53% | ||
 Pumpkaboo GhostGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Pumpkaboo builds →Razor Leaf 4x45-53% Charge Beam 2x17-21% Rock Smash 2x11-13% Bullet Seed 4x22-27% | ||
Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Pansage Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Pansage builds →Seed Bomb 4x56-67% Dig 2x19-22% Low Sweep 2x15-18% Vine Whip 4x33-40% | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 4x122-144%KO Bulldoze 2x21-25% Razor Leaf 4x57-68% Rock Smash 2x14-17% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Leaf Tornado 4x115-135%KO Vine Whip 4x50-59% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 4x64-76% Dig 2x21-25% Bulldoze 2x16-20% Razor Leaf 4x46-55% | ||
Pumpkaboo GhostGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Pumpkaboo builds →Razor Leaf 4x46-55% Charge Beam 2x18-21% Rock Smash 2x12-14% Bullet Seed 4x25-30% | ||
Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 4x119-141%KO Focus Blast 2x69-81% Bulldoze 2x20-24% Razor Leaf 4x58-69% | ||
 Trevenant GhostGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Trevenant builds →Wood Hammer 4x137-161%KO Focus Blast 2x52-62% Dig 2x31-37% Bulldoze 2x23-27% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Carnivine builds →Power Whip 4x128-151%KO Leaf Tornado 4x113-134%KO Vine Whip 4x49-58% | ||
 Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Skiddo builds →Leaf Blade 4x70-82% Seed Bomb 4x61-72% Dig 2x20-24% Horn Leech 4x58-69% | ||
In X & Y, Serperior can KO Relicanth with Leaf Storm (233-274%). Garchomp's Earthquake hits Relicanth for 77-91%. Zapdos's Thunderbolt also KOs at 98-115%.
 Serperior Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityContrary ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Serperior builds →Leaf Storm 4x233-274%KO | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x77-91% | ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemSitrus Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave9-10% Thunderbolt 2x98-115%KO | ||
 Hitmontop Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemEjectbutton NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Hitmontop builds →Close Combat 2x81-96% Feint3-4% | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemMiracleseed NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Breloom builds →Bullet Seed 4x40-48% Mach Punch 2x31-37% | ||
X & Y 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 87 breeding partners from the Water1 and Water2 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Aqua Tail, Brine and 9 more to offspring.
X & Y Relicanth Best Moveset
Ground coverage gives Relicanth answers even while choice-locked. Choice Band provides raw power at the cost of move flexibility, and max Attack and Speed EVs with Rockhead mean every prediction that lands hits hard.
Best Build
Relicanth best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Head Smash
- Earthquake
- Waterfall
- Zen Headbutt
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
X & Y Relicanth Locations
A handful of locations for Relicanth with high spawn rates across late-game fishing spots. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations to Catch Relicanth in X & Y
Catching Relicanth here means fishing. All 4 encounters require Super Rod at Lv. 35+, and there aren't any overworld spawns in this game.
Relicanth Guide
In X & Y, 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 Choice Band is the standard set.
In X & Y, 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 X & Y, 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 X & Y, run Head Smash, Earthquake, Waterfall, and Zenheadbutt on Relicanth. Head Smash is the most common pick at 22% 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