Utility
Balanced
314Low
43Very Slow
DTier

Mid-stage Pokemon like Squirtle rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Blastoise, which is where the real potential kicks in. Only weak to Electric and Grass. Known as the Tiny Turtle Pokemon.

An unusually even spread gives Squirtle flexibility. Defense barely edges ahead. But Speed isn't far off. Tough to catch and follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve. Yields 1 Defense EV.

Base Stats
314Avg
HP44
D
Attack48
D
Defense65
C
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def64
C
Speed43
D
Total314
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Squirtle yields +1 Def
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch45ChallengingMedium Slow1.06M XP0.5m / 1'08"9kg / 19.8 lbs63Base XP
Pokedex Entries

When it feels threatened, it draws its legs inside its shell and sprays water from its mouth.

Crystal

Squirtle Weakness

Good

Squirtle's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass moves. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Just 2 weak spots to worry about, which keeps teambuilding straightforward.

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
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Scorei0
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
TorrentStrengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
Rain DishHAHeals for 1/16 max HP after each turn during rain.

Three stages ahead. Squirtle grows into Wartortle, then pushes on to Blastoise. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with a decent partner pool via two egg groups. The evolved forms gain up to 216 total stats over Squirtle.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Squirtle
Water
HP
44
59+15
79+20
ATK
48
63+15
83+20
DEF
65
80+15
100+20
SP.ATK
50
65+15
85+20
SP.DEF
64
80+16
105+25
SPE
43
58+15
78+20
BST
314C-Tier
405D-Tier+91
530C-Tier+125
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Mixed
Breeding
Easy

Breed Squirtle easily with 36 breeding partners from the Monster and Water1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Confusion, Flail, Foresight and 3 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
MonsterWater1
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurcharizardblastoisenidokingmeganiumferaligatrampharosgolduckkingdraslowbrorhydon

Best Build

Gen 2 build content has limited support (no abilities).

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

The natural movepool does the job, but Confusion and Flail from the egg pool give Squirtle something extra. Pair those with Hydro Pump and Surf for STAB and coverage across 8 types for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
3510035Normal
Lv 4
Tail Whip
10030Normal
Lv 7
Bubble
2010030Water
Lv 10
Withdraw
40Water
Lv 13
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 18
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 23
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Lv 28
Protect+4
10Normal
Lv 33
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 40
Skull Bash
10010010Normal
Lv 47
Hydro Pump
120805Water

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM03
Curse
10Ghost
TM40
Defense Curl
40Normal
TM28
Dig
6010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM01
Dynamic Punch
100505Fighting
TM20
Endure+4
10Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM02
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM33
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
TM16
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM31
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM08
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM04
Rollout
309020Rock
TM35
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM34
Swagger
8515Normal
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
HM07
Waterfall
8010015Water
HM06
Whirlpool
358515Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Egg
Flail
10015Normal
Egg
Foresight
10040Normal
Egg
Haze
30Ice
Egg
Mirror Coat-5
10020Psychic
Egg
Mist
30Ice

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Ice Beam
9510010Ice

Squirtle doesn't appear in Crystal. Transfer it from Red, Yellow, or Brilliant Diamond to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Squirtle is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

  • Squirtle is meant to evolve into Wartortle. At 314 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.

  • Watch for Raikou (Electric) and Venusaur (Grass) when using Squirtle. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Squirtle evolves into Wartortle at level 16. Squirtle is the base form in a 3-stage evolutionary line.

  • Base 43 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Squirtle is leaning toward the special side (base 50 Sp. Atk).

  • Squirtle appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

One of the original 151, Squirtle has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.