Utility
Balanced
314Low
43Very Slow
CTier

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

It hides in its shell to protect itself, then strikes back with spouts of water at every opportunity.

Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

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.

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 plenty of partners 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 57 breeding partners from the Monster and Water1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Aqua Jet, Aqua Ring, Fake Out and 6 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
9moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurcharizardblastoisemeganiumferaligatrampharossceptileswamperttorterrarhyperiorgolduck

Squirtle hasn't fully evolved, but Eviolite's 50% bulk boost makes it viable anyway. Modest nature with flexible EVs EVs shapes the defensive spread, and Torrent adds utility.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Torrent
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Modest+SPA
EVs

Best Squirtle Moveset

  • Shell Smash
  • Ice Beam
  • SurfSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB

Recommended Teammates

The natural movepool does the job, but Aqua Jet and Aqua Ring from the egg pool give Squirtle something extra.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
10030Normal
Lv 3
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 6
Withdraw
40Water
Lv 9
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Lv 12
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 15
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Lv 18
Protect+4
10Normal
Lv 21
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 24
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Lv 27
Shell Smash
15Normal
Lv 30
Iron Defense
15Steel
Lv 33
Hydro Pump
110805Water
Lv 36
Wave Crash
12010010Water

TM Moves

Src
TM143
Blizzard
110705Ice
TM66
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM58
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM22
Chilling Water
5010020Water
TM55
Dig
8010010Ground
TM204
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM47
Endure+4
10Normal
TM25
Facade
7010020Normal
TM43
Fling
10010Dark
TM196
Flip Turn
6010020Water
TM192
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
TM180
Gyro Ball
1005Steel
TM174
Haze
30Ice
TM130
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
TM142
Hydro Pump
110805Water
TM135
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM69
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
TM124
Ice Spinner
8010015Ice
TM34
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM104
Iron Defense
15Steel
TM110
Liquidation
8510010Water
TM35
Mud Shot
559515Ground
TM209
Muddy Water
908510Water
TM07
Protect+4
10Normal
TM50
Rain Dance
5Water
TM85
Rest
5Psychic
TM70
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM103
Substitute
10Normal
TM123
Surf
9010015Water
TM01
Take Down
908520Normal
TM171
Tera Blast
8010010Normal
TM145
Water Pledge
8010010Water
TM11
Water Pulse
6010020Water
TM193
Weather Ball
5010010Normal
TM208
Whirlpool
358515Water
TM59
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Aqua Jet+1
4010020Water
Egg
Aqua Ring
20Water
Egg
Fake Out+3
4010010Normal
Egg
Flail
10015Normal
Egg
Life Dew
10Water
Egg
Mirror Coat-5
10020Psychic
Egg
Mist
30Ice
Egg
Water Spout
1501005Water
Egg
Yawn
10Normal

Tutor Moves

Squirtle can't learn any Tutor moves

No wild encounters for Squirtle in Scarlet & Violet. It's available in Red, Yellow, or Brilliant Diamond and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.

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.

  • Torrent strengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less — that's the one you want on Squirtle. Rain Dish is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.

  • 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.