Mid-stage Pokemon like Spheal rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Walrein, which is where the real potential kicks in. Only weak to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock. Known as the Clap Pokemon.
Spheal's spread isn't flashy. HP leads, Speed trails, 0 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 HP EV, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
During the season when drift ice approaches the shore, Spheal prefers living on the ice—where fewer predators lurk—rather than the land. Its fur retains heat superbly and resists harsh cold.
Spheal Weakness
VulnerableSpheal's Ice/Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock moves. Thick Fat reduces Fire/Ice damage, further improving the defensive spread.
Spheal is the start of a three-stage chain. It evolves into Sealeo first, then eventually reaches Walrein. For breeding, average hatch time with plenty of partners via two egg groups. The evolved forms gain up to 240 total stats over Spheal.
How to Evolve
Breed Spheal easily with 69 breeding partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups.
Nothing and Icebody form the backbone. Spheal invests a spread EV build EVs to play its attacker role properly, and Hardy nature pushes higher. Waterfall handles the heavy lifting on offense. The remaining moves rounds it out.
Best Build
Legends: Arceus uses different battle mechanics.
Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.
Spheal's movepool balances level-up moves with TM options. Consistent STAB comes from Blizzard and Ice Beam, and Rock and Ground coverage and more keeps opponents from switching in for free. No major gaps here.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
A few locations for Spheal with decent spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations
Spheal isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Sealeo to unlock its full potential. At 290 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
Spheal evolves into Sealeo at level 32. Spheal is the base form in a 3-stage evolutionary line.
Run Thick Fat on Spheal. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Spheal also gets Ice Body and Oblivious, but they don't compare.
Spheal fills the balanced role. It's a mixed attacker — base 40 Attack and 55 Sp. Atk. Base 25 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.
Spheal appears in 15 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Spheal first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 15 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRSDebut
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