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.
Base Stats
515High
HP80
C
Attack70
C
Defense65
C
Sp. Atk80
C
Sp. Def120
A
Speed100
B
Total515
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Tentacruel yields +2 SpD
HPAtkDefSpASpD+2Spe
Details
Catch60Challenging•Slow1.25M XP•1.6m / 5'03"•55kg / 121.3 lbs•180Base XP
Pokedex Entries
Its 80 tentacles absorb water and stretch almost endlessly to CONSTRICT its prey and enemies.
Gold
In battle, it extends all 80 of its tentacles to entrap its opponent inside a poisonous net.
Silver
Tentacruel Weakness
Good
Electric, 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.
Gen II Type Chart
Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Clear BodyPrevents stats from being lowered by other Pokémon.
Liquid OozeDamages opponents using leeching moves for as much as they would heal.
Rain DishHAHeals for 1/16 max HP after each turn during rain.
Evolved from Tentacool. Tentacruel is the final form in this two-stage line. A small 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.
Breed with Tentacruel to get Tentacool eggs easily using 13 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Aurora Beam, Haze, Mirror Coat and 2 more.
The recommended build leans into Tentacruel's strengths as a setup attacker. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, and flexible EVs EVs back that up. An ability rounds out the package.
Don't skip the egg moves. Tentacruel picks up Aurora Beam and Haze 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
Lv 1
Constrict
1010035Normal
Lv 1
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 1
Supersonic
—5520Normal
Lv 6
Supersonic
—5520Normal
Lv 12
Constrict
1010035Normal
Lv 19
Acid
4010030Poison
Lv 25
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Lv 30
Wrap
158520Normal
Lv 38
Barrier
——30Psychic
Lv 47
Screech
—8540Normal
Lv 55
Hydro Pump
120805Water
No moves match your search
TM Moves
Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM03
Curse
——10Ghost
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM20
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
751005Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM16
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM35
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM34
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM06
Toxic
—8510Poison
HM06
Whirlpool
358515Water
No moves match your search
Egg Moves
Src
Egg
Aurora Beam
6510020Ice
Egg
Haze
——30Ice
Egg
Mirror Coat-5
—10020Psychic
Egg
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Egg
Safeguard
——25Normal
No moves match your search
Tutor Moves
Tentacruel can't learn any Tutor moves
Tentacruel's scattered across 64 spots in mid-game water routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Where To Catch Tentacruel in Gold & Silver
The path to Tentacruel starts with Tentacool at Lv. 10-40 via surfing and fishing encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
We rate Tentacruel B-Tier — a solid choice for the right team. At 515 BST, it fits the pivot role. Base 120 Sp. Def stands out.
Watch for Raikou (Electric), Golem (Ground), and Starmie (Psychic) when using Tentacruel. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Tentacool evolves into Tentacruel at level 30. Tentacruel is the fully evolved form. At 515 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
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.
Yellow
Red & Blue
Gold & Silver
Crystal
Ruby & Sapphire
FireRed & LeafGreen
Emerald
Platinum
HeartGold & SoulSilver
Diamond & Pearl
Black & White
Black 2 & White 2
X & Y
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Sun & Moon
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee
Sword & Shield
Legends: Arceus
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Scarlet & Violet
Legends: Z-A