Playthrough tier listEmerald

Best Poison Pokémon in Emerald

Crobat leads the 18 Poison Pokémon for beating Emerald.

18gradedNov 5, 2026updated
Build your own tier list
Graded by Build your own tier list
  • Post-game
Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 18 Pokémon
STop0 PokémonCarries an Emerald run against most of the bosses
No Pokémon is graded S.
AStrong1 PokémonA strong pick for most of the gameClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
CrobatCrobat
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
BSolid2 PokémonDoes the job with some help
VileplumeVileplume
TentacruelTentacruel
CSituational6 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
SeviperSeviper
SwalotSwalot
MukMuk
AriadosAriadosPost-game
WeezingWeezing
GolbatGolbat
DBottom9 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
DustoxDustox
ZubatZubat
GloomGloom
OddishOddish
TentacoolTentacool
GulpinGulpin
GrimerGrimer
SpinarakSpinarakPost-game
KoffingKoffing

What each tier means

  • STop Carries an Emerald run against most of the bosses
  • AStrong A strong pick for most of the game
  • BSolid Does the job with some help
  • CSituational Struggles against several bosses
  • DBottom Hard to use for beating the game
2 reads blended into one listreblend in Showing18/ 18

Board breakdown

Among Poison Pokémon in Emerald, Swalot does well in 6 of the 13 boss fights, Roxanne to Wallace, and 3 fights have no Poison answer.

If Seviper and Swalot help in the same number of fights, which Poison pick is better?

Go with Swalot: level with Seviper at 6 of 13 fights, and yours 1 badge sooner.

Swalot helps in 1 more fight than Crobat.

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Swalot has 6 of 13, first at Norman.

Gym 1, RoxanneGym 2, BrawlyGym 3, WattsonGym 4, FlanneryGym 5, NormanGym 6, WinonaGym 7, Tate & LizaGym 8, JuanElite Four, SidneyElite Four, PhoebeElite Four, GlaciaElite Four, DrakeChampion, Wallace
  • SeviperGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: does wellGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Juan: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeWallace: no clear edgeAfter badge 3Route 1149% of encounters
    Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellFlanneryNormanWinonaJuanSidneyGlaciaHas troubleTate & LizaNo clear edgePhoebe, Drake, Wallace
  • SwalotGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: no clear edgeGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: does wellGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Juan: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: does wellWallace: no clear edgeAfter badge 2GulpinRoute 11015% of encounters#095GulpinLevel 26#096Swalotfinal form by Flannery
    Not yet: Roxanne, BrawlyDoes wellNormanWinonaJuanSidneyGlaciaDrakeHas troubleTate & LizaNo clear edgeWattson, Flannery, Phoebe, Wallace
  • CrobatGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: no clear edgeGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Juan: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeWallace: does wellAfter badge 1ZubatGranite Cave 1F30% of encounters#063ZubatLevel 22#064GolbatFriendship#065Crobat
    Not yet: RoxanneDoes wellFlanneryJuanSidneyGlaciaWallaceHas troubleWattsonNo clear edgeBrawly, Norman, Winona, Tate & Liza, Phoebe, Drake
  • TentacruelGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: no clear edgeGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: has troubleGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: does wellGym 8 Juan: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: no clear edgeWallace: no clear edgeAfter badge 1TentacoolRoute 103Old Rod30% of encounters#066TentacoolLevel 30#067Tentacruelfinal form by Winona
    Not yet: RoxanneDoes wellFlanneryWinonaTate & LizaJuanSidneyHas troubleWattson, NormanNo clear edgeBrawly, Phoebe, Glacia, Drake, Wallace
  • VileplumeGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: not on your team yetGym 5 Norman: not on your team yetGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Juan: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeWallace: does wellVileplume after badge 5OddishAfter badge 2Route 11740% of encounters#088OddishLevel 21#089GloomLeaf Stone#090VileplumeLeaf Stone on Route 119needs Surf
    Not yet: Roxanne to NormanDoes wellJuanSidneyGlaciaWallaceNo clear edgeWinona, Tate & Liza, Phoebe, Drake
NextWeezing 4Muk 3Dustox 3

Best pair

Swalot + Crobat8/13 togetherall Poison picks: 10

After the creditsOnly after you beat WallaceCounted in no fight

  • AriadosAfter the Hall of Fame

At which gym or league fight does a Poison team need backup?

Plan other types for Roxanne, Wattson and Phoebe.

The best Poison pick you can have by each fight, Roxanne to Wallace. First with none: Roxanne.

Gyms

  1. Closest: Dustox

    Team

    1. GeodudeLv 12RockGround
    2. GeodudeLv 12RockGround
    3. NosepassLv 15RockAce

    No clear edge (1)Dustox

    Full fight

  2. Dustox

    Team

    1. MachopLv 16Fighting
    2. MedititeLv 16FightingPsychic
    3. MakuhitaLv 19FightingAce

    Does well (1)DustoxMoves: Gust

    No clear edge (2)Crobatas ZubatTentacruelas Tentacool

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Gulpin

    Team

    1. VoltorbLv 20Electric
    2. ElectrikeLv 20Electric
    3. MagnetonLv 22ElectricSteel
    4. ManectricLv 24ElectricAce

    No clear edge (1)Swalotas Gulpin

    Has trouble (3)CrobatTentacruelas TentacoolDustox

    Full fight

  4. Crobat+2 more

    Team

    1. NumelLv 24FireGround
    2. SlugmaLv 24Fire
    3. CameruptLv 26FireGround
    4. TorkoalLv 29FireAce

    Does well (3)CrobatMoves: Wing AttackTentacruelas TentacoolMoves: Bubble BeamSeviperMoves: Dig

    No clear edge (3)SwalotMukas GrimerWeezingas Koffing

    Has trouble (1)Dustox

    Full fight

  5. Swalot+1 more

    Team

    1. SpindaLv 27Normal
    2. VigorothLv 27Normal
    3. LinooneLv 29Normal
    4. SlakingLv 31NormalAce

    Does well (2)SwalotMoves: Rock SmashSeviperMoves: Rock Smash

    No clear edge (4)CrobatWeezingas KoffingMukas GrimerDustox

    Has trouble (1)Tentacruelas Tentacool

    Full fight

  6. Tentacruel+3 more

    Team

    1. SwabluLv 29NormalFlying
    2. TropiusLv 29GrassFlying
    3. PelipperLv 30WaterFlying
    4. SkarmoryLv 31SteelFlying
    5. AltariaLv 33DragonFlyingAce

    Does well (4)TentacruelMoves: Blizzard, Sludge Bomb and SurfSwalotMoves: Shock Wave and Ice BeamSeviperMoves: Sludge Bomb and FlamethrowerWeezingas KoffingMoves: Thunder, Sludge Bomb and Rollout

    No clear edge (4)CrobatMukas GrimerVileplumeDustox

    Full fight

  7. Tentacruel

    Team

    1. ClaydolLv 41GroundPsychic
    2. XatuLv 41PsychicFlying
    3. LunatoneLv 42RockPsychicAce
    4. SolrockLv 42RockPsychicAce

    Does well (1)TentacruelMoves: Surf and Thief

    No clear edge (3)VileplumeCrobatDustox

    Has trouble (4)SeviperSwalotWeezingMuk

    Full fight

  8. Crobat+7 more

    Team

    1. LuvdiscLv 41Water
    2. WhiscashLv 41WaterGround
    3. SealeoLv 43IceWater
    4. CrawdauntLv 43WaterDark
    5. KingdraLv 46WaterDragonAce

    Does well (8)CrobatMoves: Giga Drain, Leech Life and FlyVileplumeMoves: Petal DanceSwalotMoves: Shock Wave, Solar Beam and Sludge BombDustoxMoves: Solar Beam and Silver WindTentacruelMoves: Giga Drain and Sludge BombSeviperMoves: Giga Drain, Rock Smash and Fury CutterWeezingMoves: Thunder, Thief and Sludge BombMukMoves: Thunder, Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb

League

  1. Crobat+7 more

    Team

    1. MightyenaLv 46Dark
    2. ShiftryLv 48GrassDark
    3. CacturneLv 46GrassDark
    4. CrawdauntLv 48WaterDark
    5. AbsolLv 49DarkAce

    Does well (8)CrobatMoves: Leech LifeSwalotMoves: Dynamic Punch, Sludge Bomb and Shock WaveMukMoves: Focus Punch, Sludge Bomb and ThunderDustoxMoves: Silver WindWeezingMoves: Sludge Bomb and ThunderVileplumeMoves: Petal Dance and Sludge BombSeviperMoves: Fury CutterTentacruelMoves: Sludge Bomb and Giga Drain

    Full fight

  2. Closest: Crobat

    Team

    1. DusclopsLv 48Ghost
    2. BanetteLv 49Ghost
    3. SableyeLv 50DarkGhost
    4. BanetteLv 49Ghost
    5. DusclopsLv 51GhostAce

    No clear edge (6)CrobatTentacruelVileplumeSwalotSeviperWeezing

    Has trouble (2)MukDustox

    Full fight

  3. Crobat+5 more

    Team

    1. SealeoLv 50IceWater
    2. GlalieLv 50Ice
    3. SealeoLv 52IceWater
    4. GlalieLv 52Ice
    5. WalreinLv 53IceWaterAce

    Does well (6)CrobatMoves: Giga Drain and Steel WingVileplumeMoves: Petal DanceWeezingMoves: Thunder and Fire BlastSwalotMoves: Shock Wave and Dynamic PunchMukMoves: Thunder and Focus PunchSeviperMoves: Rock Smash

    No clear edge (2)TentacruelDustox

    Full fight

  4. Swalot

    Team

    1. ShelgonLv 52Dragon
    2. AltariaLv 54DragonFlying
    3. KingdraLv 53WaterDragon
    4. FlygonLv 53GroundDragon
    5. SalamenceLv 55DragonFlyingAce

    Does well (1)SwalotMoves: Ice Beam and Sludge Bomb

    No clear edge (6)TentacruelCrobatWeezingMukSeviperVileplume

    Has trouble (1)Dustox

    Full fight

  5. Crobat+1 more

    Team

    1. WailordLv 57Water
    2. TentacruelLv 55WaterPoison
    3. LudicoloLv 56WaterGrass
    4. WhiscashLv 56WaterGround
    5. GyaradosLv 56WaterFlying
    6. MiloticLv 58WaterAce

    Does well (2)CrobatMoves: Giga Drain and FlyVileplumeMoves: Petal Dance and Sludge Bomb

    No clear edge (6)SwalotMukSeviperWeezingTentacruelDustox

Which hits harder with Poison moves, Crobat or Vileplume?

Crobat hits harder with Poison moves: 90 Attack against 80 for Vileplume, which has more Sp. Atk than Crobat.

Even so, Vileplume helps in 4 fights, so keep raising it.

Each card can change a Poison team: move stats.

  • Poison moves use Attack
    • SeviperAttack 100, used by Poison movesSp. Atk 100, not used by Poison moves
    • SwalotAttack 73, used by Poison movesSp. Atk 73, not used by Poison moves
    • CrobatAttack 90, used by Poison movesSp. Atk 70, not used by Poison moves
    • TentacruelAttack 70, used by Poison movesSp. Atk 80, not used by Poison moves
    • VileplumeAttack 80, used by Poison movesSp. Atk 100, used by Grass moves
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback