Mixed
Balanced
CTier
70Speed · Below Avg

Tentacool Best Moveset

Water/Poison at 100 Sp. Def but only 40 Sp. Atk and 40 Attack. The special bulk is impressive for a pre-evolution but the moveset has no offensive output. Evolve to Tentacruel for 80 Sp. Atk, 120 Sp. Def, and 100 Speed that forms a real defensive pivot.

SABCDEFEEEEEEEEERed, Blue & YellowIRB/YPEAKGold, Silver & CrystalIIGS/CRuby, Sapphire & EmeraldIIIRS/EDiamond, Pearl & PlatinumIVDP/PtBlack & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2X & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPScarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AIXSV/LZACURRENT
★Gen I — Red, Blue & YellowE

Poison/Water pre-evolution in Gen I (Red & Blue). 100 Special was good for 335 BST. Before Tentacruel mattered in higher tiers.

Had a combined Special stat of 100

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM14
Blizzard
Ice110POPULARCoverage
Lv 49
Hydro Pump
Water110POPULARSTAB
Lv 30
Wrap
Normal15COMMONCoverage
TM6
Toxic
Poison—COMMONSTAB
HM3
Surf
Water90RARESTAB
TM13
Ice Beam
Ice90RARECoverage
Tentacool Red & Blue MovesTentacool Yellow Moves

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Tentacool
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • BlizzardCoverage
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • WrapCoverage
  • ToxicUtility

Recommended Teammates

Vileplume
VileplumeGood
Gastly
GastlyGood
Graveler
GravelerGood
→Gen II — Gold, Silver & CrystalE

Three gens at the bottom in Gen II (Gold & Silver). Liquid Ooze punished draining moves. 40 HP and 35 Defense crumbled to anything physical.

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM6
Toxic
Poison—POPULARSTAB
TM36
Sludge Bomb
Poison90POPULARSTAB
Lv 49
Hydro Pump
Water110POPULARSTAB
Egg
Rapid Spin
Normal50POPULARCoverage
Tentacool Gold & Silver MovesTentacool Crystal Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Tentacool
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • ToxicUtility
  • Sludge BombSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • Rapid Spin

Recommended Teammates

Stantler
StantlerExcellent
Dewgong
DewgongExcellent
Wigglytuff
WigglytuffExcellent
→Gen III — Ruby, Sapphire & EmeraldE

Clear Body or Liquid Ooze in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). 335 BST pre-evolution. Tentacruel existed and was better at everything. Three gens confirmed it.

Received Clear Body and Liquid Ooze
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM6
Toxic
Poison—POPULARSTAB
Lv 49
Hydro Pump
Water110POPULARSTAB
TM17
Protect
Normal—POPULARPriority
Egg
Rapid Spin
Normal50POPULARCoverage
Tentacool Ruby & Sapphire MovesTentacool Emerald Moves
Experimental
Bulky Support
Ability
Clear Body
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Tentacool
Timid+SPE
EVs

Bulky Support Moveset

  • ToxicUtility
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • ProtectFAST +4
  • Rapid Spin

Recommended Teammates

Nosepass
NosepassExcellent
Aron
AronExcellent
Masquerain
MasquerainExcellent
→Gen IV — Diamond, Pearl & PlatinumE

Tentacool saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). Tentacool maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Clearbody with Leftovers, favoring a Hasty nature.

Physical/Special split overhauled move damage
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Rapid Spin
Normal50POPULARCoverage
TM6
Toxic
Poison—COMMONSTAB
Egg
Knock Off
Dark65COMMONCoverage
TM13
Ice Beam
Ice90COMMONCoverage
HM3
Surf
Water90COMMONSTAB
TM36
Sludge Bomb
Poison90RARESTAB
Lv 15
Toxic Spikes
Poison—RARESTAB
Tentacool Diamond & Pearl MovesTentacool Platinum Moves
Experimental
Bulky Support
Ability
Clear Body
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Tentacool
Hasty+SPE
EVs

Bulky Support Moveset

  • Rapid Spin
  • ToxicUtility
  • Knock Off
  • Ice Beam

Recommended Teammates

Luxray
LuxrayExcellent
Masquerain
MasquerainGood
Persian
PersianGood
→Gen V — Black & White / B2W2E

Tentacool saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). Tentacool maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Liquidooze with Eviolite, favoring a Calm nature.

Gained Rain Dish as hidden abilityHidden Abilities became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Rapid Spin
Normal50COMMONCoverage
TM55
Scald
Water80COMMONSTAB
Lv 15
Toxic Spikes
Poison—COMMONSTAB
Egg
Knock Off
Dark65COMMONCoverage
TM36
Sludge Bomb
Poison90RARESTAB
Tentacool Black & White MovesTentacool Black 2 & White 2 Moves
Experimental
Hazard Setter
Ability
Liquid Ooze
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Tentacool
Calm+SPD
EVs

Hazard Setter Moveset

  • Rapid Spin
  • ScaldSTAB
  • Toxic SpikesSTAB
  • Knock Off

Recommended Teammates

Stunfisk
StunfiskDecent
Bronzor
BronzorDecent
→Gen VI — X & Y / ORASE

Tentacool saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Tentacool maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Liquidooze with Nothing, favoring a Bold nature.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 4
Supersonic
Normal—COMMONUtility
Lv 13
Toxic Spikes
Poison—COMMONSTAB
Lv 16
Water Pulse
Water60COMMONSTAB
Lv 10
Acid
Poison40COMMONSTAB
Tentacool X & Y MovesTentacool ORAS Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Liquid Ooze
Item
Nothing
Best Nature for Tentacool
Bold+DEF
EVs

Utility Moveset

  • SupersonicUtility
  • Toxic SpikesSTAB
  • Water PulseSTAB
  • AcidSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Grovyle
GrovyleGood
Kirlia
KirliaGood
Crobat
CrobatGood
→Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUME

Tentacool saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Tentacool maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Liquidooze with Eviolite, favoring a Bold nature.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Rapid Spin
Normal50COMMONCoverage
Lv 13
Toxic Spikes
Poison—COMMONSTAB
TM55
Scald
Water80COMMONSTAB
Egg
Knock Off
Dark65COMMONCoverage
TM6
Toxic
Poison—RARESTAB
Tentacool Sun & Moon MovesTentacool Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Moves
Experimental
Hazard Setter
Ability
Liquid Ooze
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Tentacool
Bold+DEF
EVs

Hazard Setter Moveset

  • Rapid Spin
  • Toxic SpikesSTAB
  • ScaldSTAB
  • Knock Off

Recommended Teammates

Persian
PersianExcellent
Unfezant
UnfezantExcellent
Misdreavus
MisdreavusExcellent
→Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPE

Tentacool saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Tentacool maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Liquidooze with Focus Sash, favoring a Hardy nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Rapid Spin
Normal50COMMONCoverage
TR54
Toxic Spikes
Poison—COMMONSTAB
Xfer
Toxic
Poison—COMMONSTAB
TM25
Protect
Normal—RAREPriority
Tentacool Sword & Shield MovesTentacool BDSP Moves
Experimental
Support
Ability
Liquid Ooze
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Tentacool
HardyNEUTRAL

Support Moveset

  • Rapid Spin
  • Toxic SpikesSTAB
  • ToxicUtility
  • ProtectFAST +4

Recommended Teammates

Aron
AronGood
Magnemite
MagnemiteGood
Cottonee
CottoneeGood
→Gen IX — Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AE

Tentacool saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Tentacool maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Clearbody with Eviolite, favoring a Calm nature.

Terastallization became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Rapid Spin
Normal50POPULARCoverage
Lv 48
Hydro Pump
Water110COMMONSTAB
TM91
Toxic Spikes
Poison—COMMONSTAB
TM148
Sludge Bomb
Poison90COMMONSTAB
TM174
Haze
Ice—RAREUtility
TM175
Toxic
Poison—RARESTAB
TM13
Acid Spray
Poison40RARESTAB
Tentacool Scarlet & Violet MovesTentacool Legends Z-A Moves
Experimental
Hazard Setter
Ability
Clear Body
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Tentacool
Calm+SPD
EVs

Hazard Setter Moveset

  • Rapid Spin
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • Toxic SpikesSTAB
  • Sludge BombSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Goodra
GoodraGood
Rotom-Mow
Rotom-MowGood
Mudsdale
MudsdaleGood

Tentacool Weakness

Tentacool is weak to Electric, Ground, and Psychic. 8 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. Tentacool's special bulk (base 100 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Tentacool Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Ground, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Steel, Fairy

What is Tentacool Weak Against

Good
3Weak
8Resist
0Immune
Score+2
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
ElectricGroundPsychic
½xResist
FireWaterIceFightingPoisonBugSteelFairy
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Tentacool Strong Against

5Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+5
2xStrong
FireGrassGroundRockFairy
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Tentacool

Jolteon's Thunderbolt hits Tentacool for 67-79%. Garchomp threatens a KO with Earthquake (171-202%). Alakazam deals 52-61% with Psychic.

Evolution

Tentacool evolves into Tentacruel. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 180 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Tentacool
#072Tentacool
30
Level 30
Tentacruel
#073Tentacruel
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Tentacool
WaterPoison
Tentacruel
WaterPoison
HP
40
80+40
ATK
40
70+30
DEF
35
65+30
SP.ATK
50
80+30
SP.DEF
100
120+20
SPE
70
100+30
BST
335C-Tier
515B-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Tentacool easily with 37 breeding partners from the Water3 egg group.

Egg Groups
Water 3
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
drapionclawitzergolisopodcursolacrawdauntcorsolaskorupiclaunchercorphisharcheopsomastarkabutops
12 of 37·

How to Get Tentacool

All 21 games

Tentacool appears at moderate rates across 4 spots in endgame routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.

Where To Catch Tentacool in SV

Tentacool is your first catch on the way to Tentacool. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 50-80 across 8 total spots in the chain.

  1. Tentacool
    Step 1Tentacool ✓
    Coastal Biome
    Lv.50-80Overworld
    Coastal Biome
    Lv.58Overworld
  2. Tentacruel
    Step 2Catch or Evolve into Tentacruel
    Coastal Biome
    Lv.50-80Overworld
    Coastal Biome
    Lv.63Overworld
    or evolve from Tentacool (Step 1)

Base Stats

Tentacool's spread isn't flashy. Sp. Def leads, Defense trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Common in the wild and worth 1 Sp. Def EV, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats
Avg
HP40
D
Attack40
D
Defense35
F
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def100
B
Speed70
C
Total335
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height0.9 m
2'11"Small
Weight45.5 kg
100.3 lbsLight
Base XP67
Low Yield
Abilities
Clear Body
Prevents stats from being lowered by other Pokémon.
Liquid Ooze
Damages opponents using leeching moves for as much as they would heal.
Rain DishHidden Ability
Heals for 1/16 max HP after each turn during rain.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe
Special Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

Tentacool is not a particularly strong swimmer. It drifts across the surface of shallow seas as it searches for prey.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Tentacool Guide

  • Tentacool does the job early-game if you need a Water/Poison type on your team. Evolve it into Tentacruel before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Tentacool 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

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