Special
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 retracts its long neck into its shell, it squirts out water with vigorous force.

Sword

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

Shield

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 58 breeding partners from the Monster and Water1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Aqua Jet, Aqua Ring, Fake Out and 7 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
10moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurcharizardblastoisenidokingrhyperiorgolduckkingdramiloticwalreinslowbrorhydon

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

Best Build

Special Sweeper
Ability
Torrent
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Modest+SPA
EVs

Best Squirtle Moveset

  • SurfSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • Shell Smash
  • Rapid Spin

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
Skull Bash
13010010Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM31
Attract
10015Normal
TR56
Aura Sphere
8020Fighting
TR06
Blizzard
110705Ice
TR01
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM43
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM55
Brine
6510010Water
TM15
Dig
8010010Ground
TM45
Dive
8010010Water
TR62
Dragon Pulse
8510010Dragon
TR26
Endure+4
10Normal
TM39
Facade
7010020Normal
TM94
False Swipe
4010040Normal
TM59
Fling
10010Dark
TR52
Gyro Ball
1005Steel
TM35
Hail
10Ice
TM41
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
TR03
Hydro Pump
110805Water
TR05
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM04
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
TM27
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TR46
Iron Defense
15Steel
TR31
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM01
Mega Kick
120755Normal
TM
Mega Punch
808520Normal
TR45
Muddy Water
908510Water
TM25
Protect+4
10Normal
TM33
Rain Dance
5Water
TM21
Rest
10Psychic
TM48
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM76
Round
6010015Normal
TR84
Scald
8010015Water
TR27
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TR20
Substitute
10Normal
TR04
Surf
9010015Water
TR16
Waterfall
8010015Water
TM46
Weather Ball
5010010Normal
TM36
Whirlpool
358515Water
TR85
Work Up
30Normal
TR69
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

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

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Flip Turn
6010020Water

No wild encounters for Squirtle in Sword & Shield. 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.

Catch in the wild in:

Then trade to Sword & Shield.

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 a special attacker with 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.