Don't skip Shellder. A Water Stone turns it into Cloyster, one of Yellow's S-Tier threats. Teach it the moves you want before evolving.
325HP30Attack65Defense100Speed40Sp.Def45Sp.Atk45
Shellder
Cloyster
Weak to
Special
Balanced
40Speed · Very Slow

Is Shellder Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Exists as a setup for Cloyster. Water Stone it and move on. Shellder isn't worth using on its own.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTTTEEGGTGEGEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5ShellderCatchableCloysterEvolveSabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Shellder's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Avoid
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Shellder's defenses.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's team hits Shellder's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's team hits Shellder's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Shellder trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

Even
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Risky
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Risky
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Cloyster has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Cloyster has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

Easy KO
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Tough

Lorelei's typing presses Cloyster's defenses.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Risky
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Risky
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Cloyster has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Easy KO
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Good

Cloyster has the type edge here and should clean up Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Easy KO
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Easy KO
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Magneton
Lv 61
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Risky
Cloyster
Lv 63
WaterIce
Shell Armor
Ice BeamClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Flareon
Lv 65
Fire
Flash Fire
Fire SpinReflectQuick AttackFlamethrower

Catchable

Available after Badge 5
Type
Water
Tier
F

Catch Shellder in Vermilion City (Super Rod fishing, Lv 10, uncommon).

View Shellder locations

Evolve Shellder to Cloyster

Use Water Stone
Type
WaterIce
Tier
S

Shellder evolves into Cloyster with a Water Stone. You can buy the Water Stone at the Celadon Department Store on the 4th floor (₽2,100).

Recommended Moves

How to Get Shellder in Yellow

The Super Rod is the only way to Shellder, common-to-uncommon across 3 fishing spots. Levels stretch 10 to 40, so what you reel in depends on where you cast.

3 locations to catch Shellder

Encountered via fishing with a Rod

Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4

Where To Catch Shellder in Y

The line opens with Shellder at Lv. 10-40 via fishing encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Cloyster
    Step 2Evolve into Cloyster

Bring the right balls: check Shellder catch odds in the Yellow Catch Rate Calculator before you throw.

Shellder Weakness

Type-wise, Shellder takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. Its Water typing keeps the defensive matchups simple. Shellder's physical bulk (base 100 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Shellder Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Shellder Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Shellder Strong Against

3Strong
3Resisted
0Immune
Score0
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Shellder

Magneton
Magneton
Electric
C
Jolteon
Jolteon
Electric
A
Raichu
Raichu
Electric
C
Parasect
Parasect
BugGrass
C
Vileplume
Vileplume
GrassPoison
C

Shellder Evolutions

Shellder starts a line toward Cloyster. Can't breed this Water type (325 stats), so keep the evolution path going. Evolving adds up to 200 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Shellder
Water
Cloyster
WaterIce
HP
30
50+20
ATK
65
95+30
DEF
100
180+80
SP.ATK
45
85+40
SP.DEF
25
45+20
SPE
40
70+30
BST
305F-Tier
525S-Tier+220
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Physical
Mixed
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Shellder Best Moveset

Exists to evolve into Cloyster, where the 180 Defense and MoveClamp locking define a real competitive role. 65 Defense at this stage can't support anything. MoveClamp is available early but the stats behind it don't threaten.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Shellder
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • ClampSTAB
  • SurfSTAB
  • ExplosionCoverage
  • BlizzardCoverage

Moves List

TMs define Shellder's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Surf and Bubble Beam, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Normal and Ice coverage. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 1
Withdraw
D——40Water
Lv 18
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Lv 23
Clamp
S528510Water
Lv 30
Aurora Beam
D6510020Ice
Lv 39
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 50
Ice Beam
D9510010Ice

TM Moves

All 20 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
S110905Ice
TM11D9710020Water
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
TM47
ExplosionVictory Road 3Fnot until badge 8
S2501005Normal
TM13D9510010Ice
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM36
Self-DestructSilph Co.badge 5
B2001005Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
S14210015Water
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM30
Teleport-6Route 9badge 2
———20Psychic
TM06C—9010Poison
TM49D8010010Normal
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
D6010025Water

Tutor Moves

Shellder can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP30
F
Attack65
C
Defense100
B
Sp. Atk45
D
Sp. Def45
D
Speed40
D
Total325
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height0.3 m
Weight4.0 kg
Base XP61
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

The shell can withstand any attack. However, when it is open, the tender body is exposed.

Pokemon Yellow

Shellder Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, 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.

Game Availability

Shellder has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Explore

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