Between Contrary and Bug/Rock typing, Shuckle carves out a strong competitive niche. It reverses stat changes — what should be a debuff becomes a boost, which gives it an edge most Pokemon in its stat range don't have. Only weak to Water, Rock, and Steel.
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.
A SHUCKLE hides under rocks, keeping its body concealed inside its shell while eating stored berries. The berries mix with its body fluids to become a juice.
Shuckle Weakness
VulnerableWater, 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.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
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
Breed Shuckle easily with 37 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Sweet Scent to offspring.
Sturdy gives Shuckle passive value while it walls. Calm nature boosts Sp. Def, max HP and Sp. Def EVs maximize the special wall profile, and Leftovers keeps it in the game.
Best Build
Best Shuckle Moveset
- Toxic
- Encore
- Protect
- Rest
Recommended Teammates
Without TMs, Shuckle's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get Normal and Ground coverage and more on top of Rock Slide and Rock Tomb for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
high spawn rates in mid-game routes across 2 locations. Shuckle's one of the easier catches on the list. Two different catch methods are in play here. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Best Locations
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.
Run Contrary on Shuckle. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Shuckle also gets Sturdy and Gluttony, but they don't compare.
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.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A