Rock Head prevents recoil and Swift Swim helps in rain at C-Tier. Relicanth is also needed to unlock the Regi trio puzzle in Emerald.
Ability 1Swift SwimAbility 1Doubles Speed during rain.Ability 2Rock HeadAbility 2Protects against recoil damage.
485HP100Attack90Defense130Speed55Sp.Def65Sp.Atk45
Weak to
Mixed
Balanced
55Speed · Slow

Is Relicanth Good in Emerald Playthrough?

Underwater encounter, rare. Water/Rock with AbilityRock Head or AbilitySwift Swim. Required for the Regi puzzle alongside Wailord. Decent physical stats. Most Emerald players catch Relicanth for the Regis and keep it for the bulk. The puzzle is the main event.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadSGGSGGGEEEGEERoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6RelicanthCatchableTate & LizaGym 7JuanGym 8SidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4WallaceChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Strong

Relicanth 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
Easy KO
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
BlockHardenTackleRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Good

Relicanth 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

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

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

Relicanth 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
Easy KO
Torkoal
Lv 29
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatSunny DayBody SlamAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Good

Relicanth has the type edge here and should clean up Norman's team.

You Win
Spinda
Lv 27
Normal
Own Tempo
Teeter DancePsybeamFacadeEncore
You Win
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
Good

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

Easy KO
Swablu
Lv 29
NormalFlying
Natural Cure
Perish SongMirror MoveSafeguardAerial Ace
You Win
Tropius
Lv 29
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayAerial AceSolar BeamSynthesis
You Win
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Even
Skarmory
Lv 31
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

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

Even
Claydol
Lv 41
GroundPsychic
Levitate
EarthquakeAncient PowerPsychicLight Screen
You Win
Xatu
Lv 41
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
PsychicSunny DayConfuse RayCalm Mind
You Win
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Even
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Juan
Gym 8
Even

Relicanth trades roughly evenly with Juan's team.

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

Relicanth trades roughly evenly with 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
Even
Crawdaunt
Lv 48
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
SurfSwords DanceStrengthFacade
You Win
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceRock SlideSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Even

Relicanth trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.

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

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

Easy KO
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
You Win
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallExplosionHailIce Beam
Even
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamIce BeamSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Even

Relicanth trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.

You Win
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectDouble Edge
You Win
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Double EdgeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Risky
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

Relicanth trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.

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

Catchable

Available after Badge 6
Type
WaterRock
Tier
C

Catch Relicanth on Route 124 (Surf, Lv 30-35, rare).

View Relicanth locations

Emerald Relicanth Locations

Relicanth is a rare surf catch in the same deep water as Clamperl, off Routes 124 and 126. With a catch rate of 25 and thin spawns, the ancient fish is one of the harder ocean grabs, and it doubles as a key to the Regi puzzle.

Wild Relicanth may be holding when caught:

Green Shard (5% chance) A shard from an ancient item. Can be sold cheaply.

2 locations to catch Relicanth

Encountered via Surfing

Badge 7
Surf
Badge 8

How to Get Shiny Relicanth in Emerald

Relicanth turns up only rarely in the deep water off Route 124 and Route 126; range across that stretch of ocean and reset each scarce encounter, hunting the ancient fish's muted, off-color shiny scales. Compare Shiny Relicanth odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Relicanth in EmeraldNormal
Shiny Relicanth in Emerald Shiny
Color ShiftGraytoBlue
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Relicanth Evolution

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

Emerald Shiny Relicanth 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

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

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 / 8,192Full Odds
Chance By Now50.0%at 5,678 encountersAbout 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

Planning a longer hunt? Set up Relicanth in the Emerald Shiny Odds Calculator to compare every method side by side.

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.

Relicanth Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Grass
2x (Weak)Electric, Fighting, Ground
0.5x (Resist)Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying
0.25x (Resist)Fire
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 Relicanth Weak Against

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

What is Relicanth Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Relicanth

Hariyama
Hariyama
Fighting
B
Breloom
Breloom
GrassFighting
B
Heracross
Heracross
BugFighting
A
Cacturne
Cacturne
GrassDark
B
Blaziken
Blaziken
FireFighting
B

Relicanth Evolutions

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 take forever to hatch. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Relicanth
#369Relicanth
Does not evolve

Breeding

Moderate

Breed Relicanth with 58 breeding partners from the Water 1 and Water 2 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Magnitude, Rock Slide and 3 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Water 1Water 2
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosazumarillblastoisegolduckferaligatrkingdraswampertslowbroslowkingoctilleryludicolodewgong

E Relicanth Best Moveset

130 base Defense and Rock/Water typing let Relicanth block most physical attackers on the team. The moveset runs AbilityRock Head to eliminate recoil from MoveDouble-Edge and MoveHead Smash, turning high-risk moves into free power.

Best Build

Experimental
Physical Sweeper
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
Choice BandPOWER
Best Nature for Relicanth

Relicanth best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Sweeper Moveset

  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Rock SlideSTAB
  • Double Edge
  • Hidden Power Bug

Moves List

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

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Harden
C——30Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 8
Water Gun
D6010025Water
Lv 15
Rock Tomb
C909510Rock
Lv 22
Yawn
C——10Normal
Lv 29
Take Down
C908520Normal
Lv 36
Mud Sport
———15Ground
Lv 43
Ancient Power
A901005Rock
Lv 50
Rest
C——10Psychic
Lv 57
Double-Edge
B12010015Normal
Lv 64
Hydro Pump
D180805Water

TM Moves

All 25 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM14D120705Ice
TM04
Calm MindPrize for defeating Tate & Lizanot until badge 7
C——20Psychic
HM08C9010010Water
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM26
EarthquakeSeafloor Cavernnot until badge 7
B10010010Ground
TM42C7010020Normal
TM21
FrustrationPacifidlog Townbadge 5
D—10020Normal
TM07
HailShoal Cavebadge 6
———10Ice
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamLilycove Department Storebadge 5
C150905Normal
TM13
Ice BeamMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
D9510010Ice
TM17C——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
HM06D2010015Fighting
TM39C909510Rock
TM20D——25Normal
TM37
SandstormRoute 111badge 4
D——10Rock
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
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
C12010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Amnesia
D——20Psychic
Egg
Magnitude
——10030Ground
Egg
Rock Slide
B1129010Rock
Egg
Skull Bash
—10010010Normal
Egg
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Egg
Water Sport
———15Water

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Tutor
Double-Edge
B12010015Normal
Tutor
Endure+4
C——10Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
Tutor
Mimic
D——10Normal
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Psych Up
D——10Normal
Tutor
Rock Slide
B1129010Rock
Tutor
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Tutor
Snore
—4010015Normal
Tutor
Substitute
C——10Normal
Tutor
Swagger
D—9015Normal

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP100
B
Attack90
B
Defense130
A
Sp. Atk45
D
Sp. Def65
C
Speed55
D
Total485
Details
Catch Rate
Difficult25 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.0 m
Weight23.4 kg
Base XP170
Abilities
Swift Swim
Doubles Speed during rain.
Rock Head
Protects against recoil damage.
EV Yield
HP+1AtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
HP training target
Pokedex Entry

A POKéMON that was once believed to have been extinct. The species has not changed its form for 100 million years. It walks on the seafloor using its pectoral fins.

Pokemon Emerald

Relicanth Emerald Guide

  • Yes. Wild Relicanth in Emerald can hold Green Shard (5%). Use Thief (TM46) or Covet to swipe the held item without affecting your catch chance. Quickest way to farm rare items like Green Shard.

  • In Emerald, use Relicanth as a balanced. Splits damage between physical and special. Not the fastest,

  • For Emerald, build your team around Machamp, Kingdra, and Celebi. These have the highest co-usage rates with Relicanth in competitive formats. They cover each other's weaknesses.

  • For Emerald, run Adamant on Relicanth. +Attack is what matters, and the -Sp. Atk cut doesn't hurt this set. Fits the balanced role.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback