Stats & Training
Tangela's spread isn't flashy. Defense leads, Sp. Def trails, 2 stats clear the bar. Tough to catch and worth 1 Defense EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
The vines that cloak its entire body are always jiggling. They effectively unnerve its foes.
It tangles any moving thing with its vines. Their subtle shaking is ticklish if you get ensnared.
Tangela Weakness
Type-wise, Tangela takes extra damage from Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Tangela's physical bulk (base 115 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Water, Electric, Grass, Ground |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
 Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Cyndaquil builds →Fire Blast 2x123-145%KO Flamethrower 2x102-121%KO Flame Wheel 2x32-39% Ember 2x48-58% | ||
 Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Numel builds →Fire Blast 2x131-155%KO Flamethrower 2x106-126%KO Ember 2x48-58% | ||
 Ekans Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Ekans builds →Acid 2x40-48% Poison Sting 2x11-15% | ||
 Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Paras builds →Leech Life 2x48-58% X-Scissor 2x48-58% | ||
 Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Scyther builds →X-Scissor 2x68-80% U-turn 2x60-72% Wing Attack 2x51-60% Silver Wind 2x68-80% | ||
 Pinsir Bug | C | |
 Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x180-212%KO Flamethrower 2x145-172%KO Ember 2x68-80% Fire Spin 2x60-72% | ||
 Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Volbeat builds →Signal Beam 2x75-88% U-turn 2x44-52% Silver Wind 2x60-72% | ||
 Illumise Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Illumise builds →U-turn 2x33-40% Silver Wind 2x81-96% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Scyther builds →X-Scissor 2x64-77% U-turn 2x57-67% Wing Attack 2x50-60% Silver Wind 2x62-73% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x176-207%KO Flamethrower 2x144-170%KO Fire Punch 2x57-67% Ember 2x64-77% | ||
Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Volbeat builds →Signal Beam 2x70-83% U-turn 2x42-50% Aerial Ace 2x24-29% Silver Wind 2x57-67% | ||
 Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Golbat builds →Fly 2x57-67% Leech Life 2x33-40% U-turn 2x30-36% Wing Attack 2x39-47% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Scyther builds →X-Scissor 2x65-77% U-turn 2x57-68% Wing Attack 2x50-59% Silver Wind 2x65-77% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x179-211%KO Flamethrower 2x146-172%KO Fire Punch 2x55-65% Ember 2x67-80% | ||
Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Volbeat builds →Signal Beam 2x70-83% U-turn 2x43-50% Aerial Ace 2x25-30% Silver Wind 2x57-68% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Golbat builds →Fly 2x57-68% Leech Life 2x34-40% U-turn 2x30-36% Wing Attack 2x40-48% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Scyther builds →X-Scissor 2x64-77% U-turn 2x57-67% Wing Attack 2x49-58% Silver Wind 2x62-73% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x173-205%KO Flamethrower 2x143-168%KO Fire Punch 2x54-64% Ember 2x64-77% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x62-73% Fly 2x41-49% Air Slash 2x106-126%KO Aerial Ace 2x29-34% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Golbat builds →Sludge Bomb 2x101-119%KO Fly 2x57-67% Leech Life 2x33-39% U-turn 2x29-35% | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x58-68% X-Scissor 2x34-40% Air Slash 2x64-76% Air Cutter 2x51-61% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Scyther builds →X-Scissor 2x64-76% U-turn 2x58-68% Wing Attack 2x49-58% Silver Wind 2x62-74% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x179-211%KO Flamethrower 2x147-174%KO Lava Plume 2x132-155%KO Fire Punch 2x55-66% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Golbat builds →Sludge Bomb 2x104-124%KO Fly 2x58-68% Leech Life 2x34-40% U-turn 2x30-35% | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Infernape can KO Tangela with Fire Blast (165-195%). Dragonite threatens a KO with Outrage (94-111%). Gengar's Shadow Ball also KOs at 128-150%.
 Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Infernape builds →Close Combat55-65% U Turn 2x43-51% Fire Blast 2x165-195%KO | ||
 Dragonite Dragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Dragonite builds →Extreme Speed42-49% Outrage94-111%KO | ||
 Gengar GhostPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Gengar builds →Shadow Ball128-150%KO Focus Blast127-150%KO Explosion48-57% | ||
 Forretress BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin11-13% Explosion54-64% Payback11-13% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Tangela View Weavile builds →Ice Shard 2x41-49% Pursuit21-24% | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
Evolving Tangela into Tangrowth takes knowing a specific move. It's not a simple level-up, so check the chain details below. Evolving adds up to 100 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Tangela easily with 45 breeding partners from the Plant egg group. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Confusion, Endeavor and 7 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Tangela Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The egg pool carries weight here. Amnesia and Confusion aren't available any other way for Tangela, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Leaf Storm and Power Whip for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Tangela Locations
high spawn rates in mid-game routes across 8 locations. Tangela's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Best Locations to Catch Tangela in HeartGold & SoulSilver
8 spots to find Tangela at Lv. 20-42 via walking. Not all of them exist in both HeartGold and SoulSilver versions, so filter by your copy below.
Tangela Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Tangela isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Tangrowth to unlock its full potential. At 435 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Run Regenerator on Tangela. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Tangela also gets Chlorophyll and Leaf Guard, but they don't compare.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Regenerator is the hidden ability. It heals for 1/3 max HP upon switching out. Worth hunting for if you want Tangela to compete at a higher level.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Tangela fills the attacker role. It's a special attacker with base 100 Sp. Atk. At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Game Availability
Tangela has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 21 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves