Physical
Support
505High
5Very Slow
CTier

As a Bug/Rock-type, Shuckle fills a straightforward role. Only weak to Water, Rock, and Steel. Known as the Mold Pokémon. Known as the Mold Pokemon. Can go either physical or special depending on the set.

Shuckle's all-in on Defense at the expense of Speed. The mixed lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 2 Defense and Sp. Def EVs and follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
505High
HP20
F
Attack10
F
Defense230
S
Sp. Atk10
F
Sp. Def230
S
Speed5
F
Total505
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Shuckle yields +1 Def, +1 SpD
HPAtkDef+1SpASpD+1Spe
Details
Catch190EasyMedium Slow1.06M XP0.6m / 2'00"20.5kg / 45.2 lbs177Base XP
Pokedex Entries

The fluid secreted by its toes carves holes in rocks for nesting and can be mixed with BERRIES to make a drink.

Crystal

Shuckle Weakness

Vulnerable

Water, Rock, and Steel-type moves hit Shuckle for super-effective damage. Shuckle's overall bulk (20/230/230) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.

Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
3Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Scorei-4
Stealth Rock25% on switch
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
SturdyPrevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
GluttonyMakes the Pokémon eat any held Berry triggered by low HP below 1/2 its max HP.
ContraryHAInverts stat changes.

Breeding is the whole story for Shuckle. A decent partner pool through one egg group, eggs are average hatch time, and you won't need to evolve anything. It's got 1 egg moves worth looking into.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Shuckle
#213Shuckle
Does not evolve
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Shuckle easily with 23 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Sweet Scent to offspring.

Egg Groups
Bug
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
1moves
Breed With (best first)
parasectparasshuckleforretressvenomothgligarariadosbutterfreebeedrillledianyanmavenonat

Start with flexible EVs EVs. A nature nature gives Shuckle the right balanced lean, Leftovers adds passive recovery each turn, and an ability works in the background. Toxic is the main damage option.

Best Build

Support
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Best Shuckle Moveset

  • ToxicUtility
  • RestRecovery
  • Defense Curl
  • EncoreUtility

Without TMs, Shuckle's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get Normal and Ground coverage and more on top of Rollout for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Constrict
1010035Normal
Lv 1
Withdraw
40Water
Lv 9
Wrap
158520Normal
Lv 14
Encore
1005Normal
Lv 23
Safeguard
25Normal
Lv 28
Bide+1
10Normal
Lv 37
Rest
10Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM03
Curse
10Ghost
TM40
Defense Curl
40Normal
TM28
Dig
6010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM20
Endure+4
10Normal
HM05
Flash
7020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM02
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM31
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM08
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM04
Rollout
309020Rock
TM37
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM35
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM34
Swagger
8515Normal
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Sweet Scent
10020Normal

Tutor Moves

Shuckle can't learn any Tutor moves

Easy grab on Shuckle with decent spawn rates across 6 locations in early-game areas. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.

Best Locations

Rock smash and gift encounters at Lv. 15+ across 6 spots for Shuckle. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.

Cianwood City
Gift from NPCLv.15CommonEarlyCity
EFFORTLESS
Burned Tower - 1F
Smashing rocksLv.15UncommonEarlyBuilding
MODERATE
Cianwood City
Smashing rocksLv.15UncommonEarlyCity
MODERATE
Dark Cave - East
Smashing rocksLv.15UncommonEarlyCave
MODERATE
Dark Cave - West
Smashing rocksLv.15UncommonEarlyCave
MODERATE
Route 40
Smashing rocksLv.15UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
  • Don't let Shuckle's 505 base stat total fool you. Contrary is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier as a support.

  • Watch for Starmie (Water), Aerodactyl (Rock), and Steelix (Steel) when using Shuckle. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. At base 5 Speed, Shuckle won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.

  • Shuckle doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Bug/Rock-type Pokemon with strong stats at 505 BST — no evolution needed.

  • Shuckle fills the support role. It's a physical attacker with base 10 Attack. Base 5 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.

  • Shuckle appears in 16 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Shuckle first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 16 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.