Mixed
Balanced
325Low
34Very Slow
DTier

Shellos is technically a pre-evolution of Gastrodon, but it holds its own in formats where Eviolite is allowed. Storm Drain redirects Water moves and boosts its Sp. Atk, adding extra value. Only weak to Electric and Grass.

Nothing fancy in Shellos's spread. It leans mixed with HP out front. And you'll get 1 HP EV per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
325Avg
HP76
C
Attack48
D
Defense48
D
Sp. Atk57
D
Sp. Def62
C
Speed34
F
Total325
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Shellos yields +1 HP
HP+1AtkDefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch190EasyMedium Fast1M XP0.3m / 1'00"6.3kg / 13.9 lbs65Base XP
Pokedex Entries

There’s speculation that its appearance is determined by what it eats, but the truth remains elusive.

Sword

Its appearance changes depending on the environment. One theory suggests that living in cold seas causes Shellos to take on this form.

Shield

Shellos Weakness

Good

Type-wise, Shellos takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. The Water typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. Storm Drain grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.

4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
2Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Scorei0
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Sticky HoldPrevents a held item from being removed by other Pokémon.
Storm DrainRedirects single-target water moves to this Pokémon where possible. Absorbs Water moves, raising Special Attack one stage.
Sand ForceHAStrengthens rock, ground, and steel moves to 1.3× their power during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.
Storm Drain grants Water immunity

Shellos is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Gastrodon. Check the evolution method below. A decent partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 150 stat points total.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Shellos
Water
Gastrodon
WaterGround
HP
76
111+35
ATK
48
83+35
DEF
48
68+20
SP.ATK
57
92+35
SP.DEF
62
82+20
SPE
34
39+5
BST
325C-Tier
475B-Tier+150
ROLE
Balanced
Trick Room
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Shellos easily with 43 breeding partners from the Indeterminate and Water1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Acid Armor, Clear Smog, Counter and 8 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
IndeterminateWater1
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
11moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillgardevoirgalladepolteageistblastoisegolduckkingdramiloticwalreinalcremieslowbroslowking

Don't let the NFE status fool you. Shellos with Eviolite hits bulk numbers that compete with final forms. Max Sp. Atk without Speed EVs and Hardy nature maximize that, and Stormdrain handles the rest. Recover patches up chip damage.

Best Build

Special Tank
Ability
Stormdrain
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Hardy
EVs

Best Shellos Moveset

  • SurfSTAB
  • Earth Power
  • Ice Beam
  • RecoverRecovery

Breeding's the move. Acid Armor and Clear Smog give Shellos options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 8 types already covers a decent range on top of Hydro Pump and Muddy Water. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Lv 1
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 5
Harden
30Normal
Lv 10
Recover
10Normal
Lv 15
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Lv 20
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Lv 25
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Lv 31
Muddy Water
908510Water
Lv 35
Earth Power
9010010Ground
Lv 40
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 45
Memento
10010Dark

TM Moves

Src
TR17
Amnesia
20Psychic
TM31
Attract
10015Normal
TR06
Blizzard
110705Ice
TR01
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM55
Brine
6510010Water
TM45
Dive
8010010Water
TR67
Earth Power
9010010Ground
TR26
Endure+4
10Normal
TM39
Facade
7010020Normal
TM35
Hail
10Ice
TR03
Hydro Pump
110805Water
TR05
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM27
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM53
Mud Shot
559515Ground
TR45
Muddy Water
908510Water
TM25
Protect+4
10Normal
TM33
Rain Dance
5Water
TM21
Rest
10Psychic
TM76
Round
6010015Normal
TR84
Scald
8010015Water
TR27
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TR20
Substitute
10Normal
TR04
Surf
9010015Water
TM36
Whirlpool
358515Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Acid Armor
20Poison
Egg
Clear Smog
5015Poison
Egg
Counter-5
10020Fighting
Egg
Curse
10Ghost
Egg
Mirror Coat-5
10020Psychic
Egg
Mist
30Ice
Egg
Sludge
6510020Poison
Egg
Spit Up
10010Normal
Egg
Stockpile
20Normal
Egg
Swallow
10Normal
Egg
Yawn
10Normal

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Skitter Smack
709010Bug

high spawn rates in mid-game routes across 26 locations. Shellos's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.

Best Locations

26 spots to find Shellos at Lv. 20-28 via walking. Not all of them exist in both Shield and Sword versions, so filter by your copy below.

Motostoke Riverbank
ShieldGrassLv.26-2835%MidThunderstorm
EFFORTLESS
Motostoke Riverbank
SwordGrassLv.26-2835%MidThunderstorm
EFFORTLESS
Giant's Cap
SwordGrassLv.26-2830%MidRaining
EFFORTLESS
Giant's Cap
ShieldGrassLv.26-2830%MidRaining
EFFORTLESS
Giant's Mirror
ShieldGrassLv.26-2830%MidRaining
EFFORTLESS
Giant's Mirror
SwordGrassLv.26-2830%MidRaining
EFFORTLESS
Stony Wilderness
ShieldGrassLv.26-2830%MidRaining
EFFORTLESS
Stony Wilderness
SwordGrassLv.26-2830%MidRaining
EFFORTLESS
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldOverworldLv.20-2425%MidCaveAll Weather
EASY
Galar Mine No. 2
SwordOverworldLv.20-2425%MidCaveAll Weather
EASY
Bridge Field
ShieldGrassLv.26-2825%MidRaining
EASY
Bridge Field
SwordGrassLv.26-2825%MidRaining
EASY
Bridge Field
ShieldGrassLv.26-2820%MidThunderstorm
EASY
Bridge Field
SwordGrassLv.26-2820%MidThunderstorm
EASY
Giant's Cap
SwordGrassLv.26-2820%MidThunderstorm
EASY
Giant's Cap
ShieldGrassLv.26-2820%MidThunderstorm
EASY
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveThunderstorm
MODERATE
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveIntense Sun
MODERATE
Galar Mine No. 2
SwordGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveAll Weather
MODERATE
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveSnowing
MODERATE
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveSandstorm
MODERATE
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveRaining
MODERATE
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveHeavy Fog
MODERATE
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveOvercast
MODERATE
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveNormal Weather
MODERATE
Galar Mine No. 2
ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveSnowstorm
MODERATE
  • At 325 BST, Shellos is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Gastrodon before bringing it to any serious fight.

  • Shellos's biggest threats include Manectric (Electric) and Roserade (Grass), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. At base 34 Speed, Shellos won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.

  • Shellos evolves into Gastrodon at level 30. Shellos is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Shellos gets Storm Drain, Sticky Hold, and Sand Force. But Storm Drain is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.

  • Shellos is a mixed attacker — base 48 Attack and 57 Sp. Atk. But the speed tells the real story — base 34 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.

  • Shellos appears in 13 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.

Debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Shellos appears in 13 games across 6 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.