Is Tentacruel Good in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Playthrough?
Water/Poison with excellent Special Defense. Poison moves handle Mina's Fairy trial, and the bulk lets it survive hits most Water-types can't. Falls behind offensively at the E4 but stays useful as a defensive answer.
Tentacool has the type edge here and should clean up Ilima's team.
Hala's team hits Tentacool's weaknesses hard.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Lana's team.
ElectricSteelReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Moon only)
BugElectricReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GrassReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GhostFairyReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou...
Tentacool has the type edge here and should clean up Kiawe's team.
Tentacool trades roughly evenly with Mallow's team.
Tentacool trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Sophocles's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Nanu's team.
Tentacruel has the type edge here and should clean up Mina's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Hapu's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Molayne's team.
Tentacruel has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Kahili's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Kukui's team.
Catch Tentacool on Hau'oli City (Surf, Lv 15-18, common).
Your Tentacool should hit Level 30 before you reach Lana, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Tentacruel in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Tentacruel starts showing up in mid-game water routes at high spawn rates across 8 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Tentacruel in USUM
Tentacool is your first catch on the way to Tentacruel. You'll find surfing encounters from Lv. 14-44 across 24 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch TentacoolBrooklet Hill - Totem's DenLv.14-17Surfing on waterRate 40%Hau'oli City - BeachfrontLv.15-18Surfing on waterRate 40%Kala'e BayLv.15-18Surfing on waterRate 40%Melemele SeaLv.15-18Surfing on waterRate 40%Hano BeachLv.22-25Surfing on waterRate 100%Shaking spotRoute 7Lv.16-19Surfing on waterRate 30%Hano BeachLv.22-25Surfing on waterRate 30%NightSOS from FinneonHano BeachLv.22-25Surfing on waterRate 30%
Step 2Tentacruel ✓Route 14Lv.30-33Surfing on waterRate 30%Route 15Lv.32-35Surfing on waterRate 40%Ancient Poni PathLv.41-44Surfing on waterRate 30%Poni Breaker CoastLv.41-44Surfing on waterRate 30%or evolve from Tentacool (Step 1)
Tentacruel Weakness
Electric, Ground, and Psychic moves hit Tentacruel for super-effective damage. With 8 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ground, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Steel, Fairy |
What is Tentacruel Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Tentacruel
 Espeon Psychic | B | |
 Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Obtain MethodHeahea Beach Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Vikavolt builds →Thunderbolt 2x78-93% Mud-Slap 2x14-16% | ||
 Slowking WaterPsychic | C | |
 Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
 Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Psyshock 2x61-73% Charge Beam 2x27-32% | ||
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Obtain MethodHeahea Beach Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Vikavolt builds →Thunderbolt 2x85-101%KO Mud-Slap 2x15-18% | ||
Slowking WaterPsychic | C | |
Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Psyshock 2x66-79% Charge Beam 2x29-35% | ||
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Obtain MethodHeahea Beach Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Vikavolt builds →Thunderbolt 2x80-95% Mud-Slap 2x14-18% | ||
 Oranguru NormalPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Oranguru builds →Psyshock 2x48-57% Thunderbolt 2x35-43% | ||
Slowking WaterPsychic | C | |
Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Espeon builds →Future Sight 2x98-115%KO | ||
 Hypno Psychic | C | |
Obtain MethodHauoli City Interact Encounter | ||
Slowking WaterPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Slowking builds →Psyshock 2x53-63% Bulldoze 2x35-42% | ||
Oranguru NormalPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Oranguru builds →Psyshock 2x49-59% Thunderbolt 2x37-44% Bulldoze 2x30-35% | ||
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Obtain MethodHeahea Beach Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Vikavolt builds →Thunderbolt 2x80-96% Mud-Slap 2x14-18% | ||
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Espeon builds →Future Sight 2x98-116%KO | ||
 Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gardevoir builds →Dream Eater 2x80-95% Thunderbolt 2x47-56% | ||
Hypno Psychic | C | |
Obtain MethodHauoli City Interact Encounter | ||
Oranguru NormalPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Oranguru builds →Dream Eater 2x61-73% Thunderbolt 2x36-43% Bulldoze 2x29-34% | ||
Slowking WaterPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Slowking builds →Dream Eater 2x66-78% Bulldoze 2x35-41% | ||
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Espeon builds →Future Sight 2x92-109%KO | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x90-107%KO Thunderbolt 2x45-54% | ||
Slowking WaterPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Slowking builds →Dream Eater 2x62-74% Bulldoze 2x33-39% | ||
Hypno Psychic | C | |
Obtain MethodHauoli City Interact Encounter | ||
 Torterra GrassGround | C | |
 Lunala PsychicGhost | S | |
Obtain MethodMahalo Trail Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Lunala builds →Dream Eater 2x81-95% Thunderbolt 2x49-57% | ||
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Espeon builds →Future Sight 2x93-110%KO | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x90-106%KO Thunderbolt 2x44-53% | ||
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x87-102%KO Charge Beam 2x25-30% | ||
 Delphox FirePsychic | C | |
 Mewtwo Psychic | S | |
Obtain MethodUltra Space Wilds Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Mewtwo builds →Future Sight 2x109-128%KO Thunderbolt 2x54-64% Earthquake 2x75-88% | ||
Lunala PsychicGhost | S | |
Obtain MethodMahalo Trail Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Lunala builds →Dream Eater 2x82-96% Thunderbolt 2x49-58% | ||
Espeon Psychic | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Espeon builds →Future Sight 2x94-112%KO | ||
 Xurkitree Electric | B | |
Obtain MethodUltra Space Interact Encounter | ||
 Azelf Psychic | B | |
Obtain MethodUltra Space Wilds Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Azelf builds →Future Sight 2x91-107%KO Thunderbolt 2x46-54% | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySoulheart ItemAssault Vest NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Magearna builds →Volt Switch 2x24-28% Ice Beam7-9% | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityBattlebond ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse21-24% Ice Beam12-14% Hydro Pump14-17% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityMisty Surge ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Tapu Fini builds →Moonblast6-7% Surf6-7% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemBlack Sludge NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Toxapex builds →Scald3-4% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
Tentacruel Evolutions
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Tentacruel to get Tentacool eggs easily using 33 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Acupressure, Aqua Ring, Aurora Beam and 8 more.
USUM Tentacruel Best Moveset
120 Sp. Def at 100 Speed with Water/Poison TermStab makes Tentacruel the format's premier special defense option that also applies offensive pressure. MoveToxic Spikes poisons everything that touches the ground. AbilityLiquid Ooze punishes HP-draining moves, and AbilityRain Dish heals in rain. The moveset holds A-tier through Speed, special bulk, and hazard setting that faster teams rely on.
Best Build
Tentacruel best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Rapid Spin
- Scald
- Toxic Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Don't skip the egg moves. Tentacruel picks up Acupressure and Aqua Ring only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Hydro Pump and Sludge Wave while coverage across 8 types adds range.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It fires off ultrasonic waves from its red orbs to weaken its prey, and then it wraps them up in its 80 tentacles.
It communicates with others of its kind by lighting up the red orbs on its head. When the orbs are blinking, it’s a warning sign.
Tentacruel Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Guide
For Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, we rate Tentacruel B-Tier: a solid option in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon for the right team. At 515 BST, it fits the pivot role. Rapid Spin with Black Sludge is the standard set.
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 mixed attacker with base 70 Attack and 80 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a pivot.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, run Rapid Spin, Scald, Toxic Spikes, and Sludge Bomb on Tentacruel. Rapid Spin is the most common pick at 0% usage. Scald provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
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.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves