Mixed
Pivot
515High
100Fast
CTier

As a Water/Poison-type, Tentacruel fills a straightforward role. Only weak to Electric, Ground, Psychic, and Bug. 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

The tentacles are normally kept short. On hunts, they are extended to ensnare and immobilize prey.

Red / Blue

Tentacruel Weakness

Vulnerable

Electric, Ground, Psychic, and Bug-type moves hit Tentacruel for super-effective damage. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Tentacruel's special bulk (base 120 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
ElectricGroundPsychicBug
½xResisti
FireWaterIceFightingPoison
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (5)i
FireGroundRockGrassBug
4Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Scorei-3
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesAbsorbs on switch
Abilities
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.

You get Tentacruel from Tentacool at level 30. This Water/Poison-type hits 515 total stats and can't produce eggs. HP grew the most through evolution (+40 over Tentacool), and Tentacruel peaks at 515 total stats.

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 not available · Introduced in Gen 2

The recommended build leans into Tentacruel's strengths as an attacker. An item provides extra utility, and flexible EVs EVs back that up. An ability rounds out the package.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 1
Item
Not in Gen 1
Nature
Not in Gen 1

Best Tentacruel Moveset

  • WrapCoverage
  • BlizzardCoverage
  • ToxicUtility
  • SurfSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Tauros
TaurosDecent
Exeggutor
ExeggutorDecent
Jolteon
JolteonDecent

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Tentacruel. TMs unlock Normal and Ice coverage and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Hydro Pump and Surf into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Acid
4010030Poison
Lv 1
Supersonic
—5520Normal
Lv 1
Wrap
158520Normal
Lv 7
Supersonic
—5520Normal
Lv 13
Wrap
158520Normal
Lv 18
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 22
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 27
Constrict
1010035Normal
Lv 35
Barrier
——30Psychic
Lv 43
Screech
—8540Normal
Lv 50
Hydro Pump
120805Water

TM Moves

Src
TM34
Bide+1
——10Normal
TM14
Blizzard
110905Ice
TM11
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM21
Mega Drain
4010010Grass
TM31
Mimic
——10Normal
TM20
Rage
2010020Normal
TM33
Reflect
——20Psychic
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM40
Skull Bash
10010010Normal
TM50
Substitute
——10Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM03
Swords Dance
——30Normal
TM09
Take Down
908520Normal
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison
TM12
Water Gun
4010025Water

Egg Moves

Tentacruel doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Tentacruel can't learn any Tutor moves

Can't catch Tentacruel directly. Start with Tentacool at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 30. The 2-stage line from Tentacool to Tentacruel is where the leveling time goes.

How to Obtain Tentacruel in Red & Blue

To get Tentacruel, start by catching Tentacool through fishing and surfing encounters at Lv. 5-40. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

  1. Tentacool
    Step 1Catch Tentacool
    Route 12
    BlueSuper RodLv.5CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 12
    RedSuper RodLv.5CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 13
    RedSuper RodLv.5CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 13
    BlueSuper RodLv.5CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 17
    BlueSuper RodLv.5CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 17
    RedSuper RodLv.5CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 18
    BlueSuper RodLv.5CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 18
    RedSuper RodLv.5CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 19
    BlueSurfing on waterLv.5-40CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 19
    RedSurfing on waterLv.5-40CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 20
    BlueSurfing on waterLv.5-40CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 20
    RedSurfing on waterLv.5-40CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 21
    BlueSurfing on waterLv.5-40CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 21
    RedSurfing on waterLv.5-40CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Pallet Town
    BlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Pallet Town
    RedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Viridian City
    BlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Viridian City
    RedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
  2. Tentacruel
    Step 2Tentacruel ✓

  • 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.

  • Watch for Raikou (Electric), Golem (Ground), and Starmie (Psychic) when using Tentacruel. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Bug-type attackers are also a problem.

  • 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 mixed attacker — base 70 Attack and 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.