The Tiny Turtle Pokemon. Import-only in Ruby & Sapphire. Squirtle gains Torrent, but the real value is Blastoise's A-Tier Rapid Spin support.
Ability 1TorrentAbility 1Strengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
314HP44Attack48Defense65Speed43Sp.Def64Sp.Atk50
Squirtle
Wartortle
Blastoise
Weak to
Special
Balanced
43Speed · Very Slow

Is Squirtle Good in Ruby & Sapphire Playthrough?

Trade-only. Hoenn's Water roster is one of the deepest in the series: Mudkip, Tentacruel, Gyarados, Pelipper, and Walrein are all available locally. AbilityTorrent boosts Water moves when HP is low. Importing Squirtle into this field is unnecessary.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadGGTGTEETEEEEERoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6Tate & LizaGym 7WallaceGym 8SquirtleTradeSidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4StevenChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Good

Squirtle has the type edge here and should clean up Roxanne's team.

Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
You Win
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
TackleHardenRock ThrowRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Good

Squirtle has the type edge here and should clean up Brawly's team.

Even
Machop
Lv 17
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopSeismic TossBulk Up
You Win
Makuhita
Lv 18
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustKnock OffSand AttackBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Tough

Wattson's team hits Squirtle's weaknesses hard.

Even
Magnemite
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomThunder ShockThunder Wave
Risky
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSelf DestructSparkSonic Boom
Risky
Magneton
Lv 23
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomShock WaveThunder Wave
Flannery
Gym 4
Good

Squirtle has the type edge here and should clean up Flannery's team.

You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
FlamethrowerRock SlideLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Torkoal
Lv 28
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatBody SlamFlailAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Tough

Norman's typing presses Squirtle's defenses.

Even
Slaking
Lv 28
Normal
Truant
EncoreFacadeYawnFeint Attack
Even
Vigoroth
Lv 30
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFeint AttackFacadeEncore
Risky
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
Focus PunchSlack OffFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Squirtle trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

Even
Swellow
Lv 31
NormalFlying
Guts
Quick AttackAerial AceDouble TeamEndeavor
Risky
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Even
Skarmory
Lv 32
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Even

Squirtle trades roughly evenly with Tate & Liza's team.

Even
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Even
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Wallace
Gym 8
Tough

Wallace's typing presses Squirtle's defenses.

Risky
Luvdisc
Lv 40
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
Even
Whiscash
Lv 42
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
Even
Sealeo
Lv 40
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Risky
Seaking
Lv 42
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseRain DanceFury AttackHorn Drill
Avoid
Milotic
Lv 43
Water
Marvel Scale
Water PulseTwisterRecoverIce Beam
Sidney
Elite Four
Even

Squirtle trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarTake DownSand AttackCrunch
Risky
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
Fake OutDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Risky
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Even
Sharpedo
Lv 48
WaterDark
Rough Skin
CrunchSwaggerSurfSlash
Even
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceSnatchSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Even

Squirtle trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.

You Win
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseFuture Sight
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallSpiteWill O WispFeint Attack
Even
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallPsychicAttractFeint Attack
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicToxicSkill Swap
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamConfuse RayEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Even

Squirtle trades roughly evenly with Glacia's team.

Even
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchHailIce Beam
Even
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamHailIce Ball
Even
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDiveHailBlizzard
Even
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallCrunchHailIce Beam
Risky
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamBlizzardSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Even

Squirtle trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.

Even
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectCrunch
Even
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Take DownDragon BreathDragon DanceRefresh
You Win
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
DigDragon BreathFlySandstorm
You Win
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathSand Attack
Risky
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawFlyCrunch
Steven
Champion
Even

Squirtle trades roughly evenly with Steven's team.

Even
Skarmory
Lv 57
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
ToxicAerial AceSpikesSteel Wing
You Win
Claydol
Lv 55
GroundPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
ReflectLight ScreenAncient PowerEarthquake
You Win
Aggron
Lv 56
SteelRock
Sturdy
ThunderEarthquakeSolar BeamDragon Claw
Even
Cradily
Lv 56
RockGrass
Suction Cups
Giga DrainAncient PowerSludge BombConfuse Ray
You Win
Armaldo
Lv 56
RockBug
Battle Armor
Water PulseAncient PowerAerial AceSlash
Risky
Metagross
Lv 58
SteelPsychic
Clear Body
EarthquakePsychicMeteor MashHyper Beam

Trade

Transfer-only
Type
Water
Tier
E

Squirtle cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.

View Squirtle locations

How to Get Squirtle in Ruby & Sapphire

Hoenn gives you Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip to start, never Squirtle, and it has no wild spawn here. Trading one in from another game is the only way to own it.

How to Obtain Squirtle in RS

  1. Squirtle
    Step 1Squirtle ✓
    CARTRIDGE TRADE
    Available
    Catch in FireRed & LeafGreen via Gift · Pallet Town · Starter Pokémon, then trade to the current game via link cable.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Red & Blue via Gift · Pallet Town · Starter Pokémon. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    from Yellow
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Yellow via Gift · Vermilion City · Defeat Lt. Surge. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in HeartGold & SoulSilver via Gift · Pallet Town · Gift from Professor Oak (post-Red). Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    from X & Y
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in X & Y via Gift · Lumiose City · Gift from Professor Sycamore. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon via Walking · Seaward Cave · Island Scan; Monday. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee via Walking · Route 25 · Special. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
  2. Wartortle
    Step 2Evolve into Wartortle
  3. Blastoise
    Step 3Evolve into Blastoise

How to Get Shiny Squirtle in Ruby & Sapphire

Squirtle isn't native to Hoenn, so pick the shiny starter in Pallet Town in FireRed or LeafGreen, soft resetting before you accept it, then trade it over. See every game where Shiny Squirtle can be hunted

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Squirtle in Ruby & SapphireNormal
Shiny Squirtle in Ruby & Sapphire Shiny
Color ShiftBlue
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Squirtle Evolution

3 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Squirtle Weakness

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

Squirtle Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Squirtle Weak Against

Good
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Squirtle Strong Against

3Strong
3Resisted
0Immune
Score0
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Squirtle

Ludicolo
Ludicolo
WaterGrass
C
B
Cacturne
Cacturne
GrassDark
B
Vileplume
Vileplume
GrassPoison
C
Roselia
Roselia
GrassPoison
C

Squirtle Evolutions

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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Squirtle
#007Squirtle
16
Transfer Only
Wartortle
#008Wartortle
36
Transfer Only
Blastoise
#009Blastoise
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
314E-Tier
405E-Tier+91
530A-Tier+125
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Mixed

Breeding

Easy

Breed Squirtle easily with 49 breeding partners from the Monster and Water 1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Flail, Foresight, Haze and 5 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
MonsterWater 1
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurcharizardblastoisenidokingmeganiumferaligatrampharossceptileswampertgolduckkingdra

RS Squirtle Best Moveset

Water pre-evolution with AbilityTorrent boosting Water at low HP. MoveSurf from weak Sp. Atk can't threaten. Blastoise's MoveRapid Spin role is the eventual destination.

Best Build

Experimental
Bulky Support
Ability
Torrent
Item
Sitrus BerryRECOVERY
Best Nature for Squirtle
Impish+DEF

Squirtle best EVs are Sp. Def and Defense

EVs

Bulky Support Moveset

  • CounterSLOW -5Coverage
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • SurfSTAB
  • FlailCoverage

Moves List

The natural movepool does the job, but Flail and Foresight from the egg pool give Squirtle something extra. Pair those with Hydro Pump and Surf for STAB and coverage across 7 types for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 4
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 7
Bubble
—3010030Water
Lv 10
Withdraw
———40Water
Lv 13
Water Gun
D6010025Water
Lv 18
Bite
D6010025Dark
Lv 23
Rapid Spin
D5010040Normal
Lv 28
Protect+4
C——10Normal
Lv 33
Rain Dance
C——5Water
Lv 40
Skull Bash
—10010010Normal
Lv 47
Hydro Pump
A180805Water

TM Moves

All 24 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM14A120705Ice
TM31
Brick BreakSootopolis Citynot until badge 7
D7510015Fighting
TM28
DigRoute 114badge 3
D6010010Ground
HM08
DiveMossdeep Citybadge 6
D9010010Water
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D7010020Normal
TM01
Focus Punch-3Route 115badge 5
C15010020Fighting
TM07
HailShoal Cavebadge 6
———10Ice
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM13
Ice BeamAbandoned Shipbadge 2
A9510010Ice
TM23
Iron TailMeteor Fallsnot until badge 8
D1007515Steel
TM17C——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
HM06
Rock SmashMauville Citybadge 2
D2010015Fighting
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
HM04
StrengthRusturf Tunnelbadge 3
—8010015Normal
HM03
SurfPetalburg Citybadge 5
A14210015Water
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison
TM03
Water PulsePrize for defeating Wallacenot until badge 8
D9010020Water
HM07
WaterfallCave of Originnot until badge 7
D12010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Flail
A—10015Normal
Egg
Foresight
——10040Normal
Egg
Haze
C——30Ice
Egg
Mirror Coat-5
A—10020Psychic
Egg
Mist
———30Ice
Egg
Mud Sport
———15Ground
Egg
Refresh
D——20Normal
Egg
Yawn
C——10Normal

Tutor Moves

Squirtle can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP44
D
Attack48
D
Defense65
C
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def64
C
Speed43
D
Total314
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.5 m
Weight9.0 kg
Base XP63
Abilities
Torrent
Strengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

SQUIRTLE’s shell is not merely used for protection. The shell’s rounded shape and the grooves on its surface help minimize resistance in water, enabling this POKéMON to swim at high speeds.

Pokemon Ruby / Pokemon Sapphire

Squirtle Ruby & Sapphire Guide

  • Squirtle isn't catchable in Ruby & Sapphire. Pick it as your starter in FireRed or LeafGreen, then trade it to Ruby & Sapphire.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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