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.
The hardness of its shell surpasses the hardness of a diamond. In days gone by, people used the shells to make shields.
This Pokémon’s tongue is always hanging out. It uses its tongue with great dexterity to dig up sand from the seabed in its search for food.
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 |
 Decidueye GrassGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Iki Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Decidueye builds →Leaf Blade 2x104-123%KO Razor Leaf 2x65-77% Leafage 2x49-57% | ||
 Meganium Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Meganium builds →Petal Dance 2x296-349%KO Petal Blizzard 2x85-100%KO Magical Leaf 2x150-177%KO Razor Leaf 2x53-63% | ||
 Vikavolt BugElectric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Vikavolt builds →Zap Cannon 2x473-557%KO Thunderbolt 2x356-420%KO Spark 2x55-66% | ||
 Cottonee GrassFairy | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Cottonee builds →Solar Beam 2x165-194%KO Energy Ball 2x126-149%KO Giga Drain 2x104-123%KO Razor Leaf 2x27-31% | ||
 Petilil Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Petilil builds →Leaf Storm 2x281-331%KO Energy Ball 2x196-231%KO Giga Drain 2x165-194%KO Magical Leaf 2x130-154%KO | ||
In Sun & Moon, Zapdos can KO Shellder with Thunderbolt (356-419%). Kartana's Knock Off hits Shellder for 45-54%. Amoonguss's Giga Drain also KOs at 193-227%.
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave63-74% Thunderbolt 2x356-419%KO | ||
 Kartana GrassSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Kartana builds →Knock Off45-54% | ||
 Amoonguss GrassPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemBlack Sludge NatureSassy Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Amoonguss builds →Giga Drain 2x193-227%KO | ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemColbur Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Rotom builds →Volt Switch 2x199-234%KO Hex93-109%KO | ||
Sun & Moon 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 33 breeding partners from the Water3 egg group. Pass egg moves like Aqua Ring, Avalanche, Barrier and 9 more to offspring.
Sun & Moon Shellder Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
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
Sun & Moon Shellder Locations
Shellder starts showing up in early-game fishing spots at decent spawn rates across 10 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 Sun & Moon
Before you go hunting for Shellder, check which of the 10 spots belong to your version. Moon and Sun each have different gift and fishing encounters at Lv. 10-55.
Shellder Guide
Shellder evolves into Cloyster using a Water Stone. One evolution, no branching. Solid jump from 305 BST.
In Sun & Moon, 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 Sun & Moon. 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 Sun & Moon. 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