As a Water/Poison-type, Tentacruel fills a straightforward role. Only weak to Electric, Ground, and Psychic. Known as the Jellyfish Pokémon. Known as the Jellyfish Pokemon. Can go either physical or special depending on the set.
Sp. Def and Speed carry most of Tentacruel's stat budget. Defense's the obvious dump stat. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Sp. Def EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It lives in complex rock formations on the ocean floor and traps prey using its 80 tentacles. Its red orbs glow when it grows excited or agitated.
Tentacruel Weakness
GoodElectric, Ground, and Psychic-type moves hit Tentacruel for super-effective damage. With 7 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Tentacruel's special bulk (base 120 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Evolved from Tentacool. Tentacruel is the final form in this two-stage line. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. HP grew the most through evolution (+40 over Tentacool), and Tentacruel peaks at 515 total stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Tentacruel to get Tentacool eggs easily using 19 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Aurora Beam, Confuse Ray, Haze and 3 more.
Hasty nature gives Tentacruel the fast mixed lean it needs to trade hits effectively. Leftovers adds passive recovery each turn, max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs split the difference, and utility options punishes anything trying to wall it.
Best Build
Best Tentacruel Moveset
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Don't skip the egg moves. Tentacruel picks up Aurora Beam and Confuse Ray only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Hydro Pump and Sludge Bomb while Normal and Ice coverage and more adds range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
A handful of locations for Tentacruel with decent spawn rates across mid-game fishing spots. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Tentacruel in Emerald
To get Tentacruel, start by catching Tentacool through fishing and surfing encounters at Lv. 5-35. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch TentacoolEASYAbandoned Ship - B1FSurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyEASYAbandoned Ship - B1FOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyEASYAbandoned Ship - B2FOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyEASYAbandoned Ship - B2FSurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyEASYDewford TownOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCityEASYEver Grande CityOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCityEASYEver Grande CitySurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCityEASYLilycove CityOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCityEASYLilycove CitySurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCityEASYMossdeep CityOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCityEASYMossdeep CitySurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCityEASYPacifidlog TownOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCityEASYPacifidlog TownSurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCityEASYRoute 103Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 103Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 105 - OutsideOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 105 - OutsideSurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 106Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 106Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 107Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 107Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 108Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 108Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 109Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 109Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 110Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 110Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 115Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 115Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 118Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 119Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 121Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 121Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 122Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 122Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 123Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 123Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 124Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 124Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 125Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 125Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 126Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 126Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 127Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 127Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 128Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 128Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 129Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 129Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 130Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 130Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 131Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 131Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 132Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 132Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 133Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 133Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 134Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 134Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyRouteEASYSeafloor Cavern - EntranceOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCaveEASYSeafloor Cavern - EntranceSurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCaveEASYSeafloor Cavern - Room 6Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCaveEASYSeafloor Cavern - Room 6Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCaveEASYSeafloor Cavern - Room 7Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCaveEASYSeafloor Cavern - Room 7Old RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCaveEASYShoal Cave - 1F Room 1, High TideOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCaveEASYShoal Cave - 1F Room 1, High TideSurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCaveEASYShoal Cave - 1F Room 2, High TideOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCaveEASYShoal Cave - 1F Room 2, High TideSurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCaveEASYSlateport CityOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCityEASYSlateport CitySurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCityEASYSootopolis CityOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCityEASYAbandoned Ship - B1FGood RodLv.10-30CommonEarlyEASYAbandoned Ship - B2FGood RodLv.10-30CommonEarlyMODERATEDewford TownGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCityMODERATELilycove CityGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCityMODERATEMossdeep CityGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCityMODERATEPacifidlog TownGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCityMODERATERoute 103Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 105 - OutsideGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 106Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 107Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 108Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 109Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 110Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 115Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 118Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 119Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 121Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 122Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 123Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 124Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 125Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 126Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 127Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 129Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 130Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 131Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 132Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 133Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATERoute 134Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRouteMODERATESeafloor Cavern - EntranceGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCaveMODERATESeafloor Cavern - Room 6Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCaveMODERATESeafloor Cavern - Room 7Good RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCaveMODERATEShoal Cave - 1F Room 1, High TideGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCaveMODERATEShoal Cave - 1F Room 2, High TideGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCaveMODERATESlateport CityGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCityEASYAbandoned Ship - B1FSuper RodLv.25-35CommonMidEASYAbandoned Ship - B2FSuper RodLv.25-35CommonMid- Step 2Tentacruel ✓MODERATEAbandoned Ship - B1FSuper RodLv.20-35UncommonMidMODERATEAbandoned Ship - B2FSuper RodLv.20-35UncommonMidHARDAbandoned Ship - B1FSurfing on waterLv.30-35RareMidHARDAbandoned Ship - B2FSurfing on waterLv.30-35RareMidor evolve from Tentacool (Step 1)
We rate Tentacruel C-Tier — a situational pick that fills a niche. At 515 BST, it fits the pivot role. Base 120 Sp. Def stands out.
Tentacool evolves into Tentacruel at level 30. Tentacruel is the fully evolved form. At 515 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
Clear Body prevents stats from being lowered by other Pokémon — that's the one you want on Tentacruel. Rain Dish is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Liquid Ooze works too if your team needs something different.
Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Tentacruel is a special attacker with base 80 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a pivot.
Tentacruel appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
One of the original 151, Tentacruel 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.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A