Snorlax blocks two routes in Yellow and once caught, it dominates. S-Tier with massive HP and Special that make it nearly unkillable by special attacks.
495HP160Attack110Defense65Speed30Sp.Def65Sp.Atk65
Weak to
Physical
Support
30Speed · Very Slow

Is Snorlax Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Blocks the road in two spots and both times you should throw everything you have at catching it. Massive HP, strong special bulk, hits hard physically, and MoveRest keeps it alive indefinitely. Snorlax is one of the best Pokemon in Yellow, full stop.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTGEEGEGEEGEEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4SnorlaxCatchableKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Snorlax's defenses.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Good

Snorlax has the type edge here and should clean up Misty's team.

You Win
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Even
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Snorlax trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Snorlax trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

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

Snorlax has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

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

Snorlax trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

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

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

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

Snorlax trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

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

Snorlax trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

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

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

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

Snorlax trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

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

Snorlax trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

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

Snorlax trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
You Win
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Even
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Even
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catchable

Available after Badge 4
Type
Normal
Tier
S

Catch Snorlax on Route 16 (interact, Lv 30, limited). Use Poke Flute. A sleeping Snorlax blocks Route 16 west of Celadon City; wake it with the Poke Flute Mr. Fuji gives you at his house in Lavender Town.

View Snorlax locations

How to Get Snorlax in Yellow

Two Snorlax block the road, one on Route 12 and one on Route 16, until the Poke Flute wakes them. Each sits at level 30 with a stingy catch rate, and once you beat or catch one it's gone for good.

2 locations to catch Snorlax

Badge 4
Badge 5

Snorlax Weakness

Snorlax's Normal typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting. It shrugs off Ghost-type attacks completely. Snorlax's overall bulk (160/65/65) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.

Snorlax Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fighting
0x (Immune)Ghost
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 Snorlax Weak Against

Good
1Weak
0Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
½xResist
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Snorlax Strong Against

0Strong
1Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
2xStrong
None
½xResisted
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Snorlax

Machoke
Machoke
Fighting
C
Hitmonlee
Hitmonlee
Fighting
B
Primeape
Primeape
Fighting
C

Snorlax Evolutions

Snorlax is a standalone Normal type at 495 total. It can't breed, which makes catching one the only real option. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Snorlax
#143Snorlax
Does not evolve
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Snorlax Best Moveset

160 HP and 110 Special create a tank that absorbs special attacks while MoveBody Slam fires back with a one-in-three paralysis chance. MoveEarthquake handles Rock types, and MoveSelf-Destruct trades the massive HP pool for catastrophic physical damage. Only Fighting hits super-effectively, and Fighting barely exists competitively.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Snorlax
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Body SlamSTAB
  • RestRecovery
  • Self DestructSTAB
  • EarthquakeCoverage

Moves List

The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Snorlax's coverage across 9 types all comes from technical machines, built on top of Self-Destruct and Hyper Beam for same-type damage. Double-Edge and Hyper Beam are the payoff moves.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Amnesia
C——20Psychic
Lv 1
Headbutt
C10510015Normal
Lv 1
Rest
B——10Psychic
Lv 35
Body Slam
B12710015Normal
Lv 41
Harden
D——30Normal
Lv 48
Double-Edge
B18010015Normal
Lv 56
Hyper Beam
A225905Normal

TM Moves

All 36 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
D110905Ice
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
B12710015Normal
TM11D6510020Water
TM18
Counter-5Celadon Department Storebadge 3
D—10020Fighting
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B18010015Normal
TM26
EarthquakeSilph Co.badge 5
B10010010Ground
TM38C120855Fire
TM27——305Ground
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
A225905Normal
TM13D9510010Ice
TM05
Mega KickCeladon Department Storebadge 3
B180755Normal
TM01
Mega PunchMt. Moonbadge 1
C1208520Normal
TM35
MetronomePokémon Labbadge 6
D——10Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM16
Pay DayRoute 12badge 5
C6010020Normal
TM29
PsychicSaffron Citybadge 5
D9010010Psychic
TM46——10015Psychic
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D3010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
B——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
B——10Psychic
TM48C759010Rock
TM19
Seismic TossRoute 25badge 1
D—10020Fighting
TM36
Self-DestructSilph Co.badge 5
B3001005Normal
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
B15010010Normal
TM22
Solar BeamPokémon Mansionbadge 6
C12010010Grass
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—12010015Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
C808025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
D9510015Water
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
B1358520Normal
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
D1107010Electric
TM24D9510015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
D4010025Water

Tutor Moves

Snorlax can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP160
S
Attack110
B
Defense65
C
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def65
C
Speed30
F
Total495
Details
Catch Rate
Difficult25 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height2.1 m
Weight460.0 kg
Base XP189
EV Yield
HP+2AtkDefSpASpDSpe
HP training target
Pokedex Entry

Will eat anything, even if the food happens to be a little moldy. It never gets an upset stomach.

Pokemon Yellow

Snorlax Yellow Guide

  • Snorlax is a static encounter at Route 12 in Yellow. Snorlax appears at level 30. Prerequisite: Use Poke Flute. Save before the encounter. These one-shot Pokemon don't respawn if you knock them out or run out of Poke Balls.

  • In Yellow, use Snorlax as a support. Physical side carries the damage. It's slow, so Trick Room or priority moves are key.

  • Gigantamax Snorlax is exclusive to Sword & Shield, so it's not usable in Yellow. The form has a unique appearance and a signature G-Max move.

Game Availability

Available since Red & Blue, Snorlax appears in 21 games spanning 9 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Gigantamax form in Generation 8.

Explore

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