Stats & Training
Shellder's spread isn't flashy. Defense leads, Sp. Def trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Common in the wild and worth 1 Defense EV, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It swims backward by opening and closing its two shells. Its large tongue is always kept hanging out.
It swims backward by opening and closing its two shells. Its large tongue is always kept hanging out.
Shellder Weakness
Type-wise, Shellder takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Shellder's physical bulk (base 100 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Pansage Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodDreamyard Gift | ||
 Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNuvema Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Snivy builds →Leaf Tornado 2x100-119%KO Vine Whip 2x35-44% | ||
 Blitzle Electric | D | |
 Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
 Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x298-351%KO Magical Leaf 2x153-181%KO | ||
 Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x264-311%KO Mega Drain 2x91-108%KO | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x351-413%KO Mega Drain 2x119-142%KO | ||
 Swadloon BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Swadloon builds →Solar Beam 2x202-238%KO Razor Leaf 2x47-57% | ||
Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x287-339%KO Magical Leaf 2x146-172%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x254-300%KO Mega Drain 2x87-103%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x338-398%KO Mega Drain 2x116-138%KO | ||
 Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x330-389%KO Giga Drain 2x208-246%KO Needle Arm 2x57-69% Mega Drain 2x111-133%KO | ||
Swadloon BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Swadloon builds →Solar Beam 2x192-226%KO Razor Leaf 2x46-54% | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x296-348%KO Magical Leaf 2x151-178%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x262-309%KO Mega Drain 2x91-109%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x343-404%KO Mega Drain 2x117-139%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x336-396%KO Giga Drain 2x213-252%KO Needle Arm 2x58-70% Mega Drain 2x114-135%KO | ||
Swadloon BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Swadloon builds →Solar Beam 2x191-226%KO Razor Leaf 2x43-52% | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x308-363%KO Magical Leaf 2x157-186%KO | ||
 Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Leavanny builds →Solar Beam 2x254-300%KO Razor Leaf 2x67-79% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x275-324%KO Mega Drain 2x93-111%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x364-430%KO Mega Drain 2x124-146%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x355-418%KO Giga Drain 2x224-264%KO Needle Arm 2x63-75% Mega Drain 2x120-142%KO | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x304-357%KO Giga Drain 2x190-225%KO Magical Leaf 2x155-182%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Leavanny builds →Solar Beam 2x249-293%KO Leaf Blade 2x100-118%KO Razor Leaf 2x63-75% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x269-318%KO Mega Drain 2x94-111%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x355-418%KO Mega Drain 2x121-143%KO | ||
 Sawsbuck NormalGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Sawsbuck builds →Solar Beam 2x221-261%KO Energy Ball 2x167-196%KO Horn Leech 2x81-96% | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x313-368%KO Giga Drain 2x197-232%KO Magical Leaf 2x158-186%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Leavanny builds →Solar Beam 2x258-303%KO Leaf Blade 2x99-117%KO Razor Leaf 2x63-75% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x277-326%KO Mega Drain 2x93-111%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x365-430%KO Mega Drain 2x124-147%KO | ||
Sawsbuck NormalGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Sawsbuck builds →Solar Beam 2x227-267%KO Energy Ball 2x172-202%KO Horn Leech 2x83-98% | ||
In Black & White, Magnezone can KO Shellder with Thunderbolt (441-519%). Breloom's Bullet Seed hits Shellder for 61-72%. Rotom's Thunderbolt also KOs at 324-382%.
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemAir Balloon NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Magnezone builds →Thunderbolt 2x441-519%KO Flash Cannon98-115%KO Volt Switch 2x344-404%KO | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Breloom builds →Mach Punch48-56% Bullet Seed 2x61-72% | ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Rotom builds →Volt Switch 2x252-297%KO Shadow Ball144-169%KO Thunderbolt 2x324-382%KO | ||
Black & White Evolution
Evolving Shellder into Cloyster takes an evolution item. It's not a simple level-up, so check the chain details below. Evolving adds up to 220 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Shellder easily with 25 breeding partners from the Water3 egg group. Pass egg moves like Aqua Ring, Avalanche, Barrier and 9 more to offspring.
Black & White Shellder Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The egg pool carries weight here. Aqua Ring and Avalanche aren't available any other way for Shellder, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Hydro Pump and Surf for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Black & White Shellder Locations
Shellder starts showing up in late-game fishing spots at high spawn rates across 12 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations to Catch Shellder in Black & White
Shellder is a fishing-only catch in this game. 12 spots at Lv. 35-60 using Super Rod, so bring the right rod and check the rates on each location.
Shellder Guide
Shellder evolves into Cloyster using a Water Stone. One evolution, no branching. Solid jump from 305 BST.
In Black & White, Shellder does the job early-game if you need a Water type on your team. Evolve it into Cloyster before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Shellder is catchable in Black & White. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.
Shellder is available in Black & White. Across the full series, it appears in 20 games total.
Game Availability
Shellder has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
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