Tirtouga Best Moveset
Water/Rock pre-evo with 103 Defense and AbilitySolid Rock reducing super-effective damage by 25%. 78 Attack at 22 Speed goes dead last against everything. AbilitySwift Swim in rain doubles the Speed to 44, still barely functional. The moveset waits for Carracosta.
Tirtouga saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). This was Tirtouga's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Sturdy with Stickybarb, favoring a Hardy nature.
Best Moves
Best Build
Tirtouga best EVs are Attack
Utility Moveset
- Dive
- Dig
Recommended Teammates
Tirtouga saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Tirtouga maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sturdy with Berryjuice, favoring a Adamant nature.
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Waterfall
- Shell Smash
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Recommended Teammates
Tirtouga saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Tirtouga maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sturdy with Stickybarb, favoring a Hardy nature.
Utility Moveset
- Dive
- Dig
Recommended Teammates
Tirtouga saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Tirtouga maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sturdy with Stickybarb, favoring a Hardy nature.
Utility Moveset
- Dig
- Dive
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Tirtouga Weakness
Tirtouga is weak to Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground. Watch out for Grass attacks, those deal 4x damage. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Solid Rock reduces SE moves damage, further improving the defensive spread. Tirtouga's physical bulk (base 103 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Grass |
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire |
What is Tirtouga Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Tirtouga
Jolteon can KO Tirtouga with Thunderbolt (295-347%). Machamp threatens a KO with Close Combat (170-200%). Garchomp's Earthquake also KOs at 129-152%.
 Jolteon Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Tirtouga View Jolteon builds →Volt Switch 2x230-271%KO Thunderbolt 2x295-347%KO Shadow Ball87-103%KO | ||
 Machamp Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNoguard ItemFlame Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Tirtouga View Machamp builds →Bullet Punch19-22% Close Combat 2x170-200%KO Stone Edge47-55% | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Tirtouga View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x129-152%KO | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemLife Orb NatureNaive Moves
Damage vs Tirtouga View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 4x402-473%KO Sludge Bomb60-71% | ||
Evolution
Tirtouga evolves into Carracosta. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are slow to hatch. Evolving adds up to 140 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
How to Get Tirtouga
Tirtouga starts showing up in endgame routes at moderate rates across 28 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Tirtouga in SwSh
Tirtouga is your first catch on the way to Tirtouga. You'll find walking and surfing encounters from Lv. 60-65 across 28 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Tirtouga ✓Frigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%ThunderstormFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%SnowstormFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%OvercastFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%Heavy FogFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%SnowingFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Normal WeatherFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%ThunderstormFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%OvercastFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%RainingFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%SnowingFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%Normal WeatherFrigid SeaLv.60-65Surfing on waterRate 10%RainingFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%SnowstormFrigid SeaLv.60-65OverworldRate 10%Heavy Fog
Step 2Evolve into CarracostaBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Carracosta egg.
No searching required for Tirtouga. You receive it at Route 8 from an NPC. No wild encounters exist in this game, so just head to the right spot when you're ready and it's yours.
How to Obtain Tirtouga in USUM
Step 1Tirtouga ✓Route 8 - Fossil Restoration CenterLv.15Gift from NPCRevive Cover Fossil
Step 2Evolve into Carracosta
No searching required for Tirtouga. You receive it at Route 8 from an NPC. No wild encounters exist in this game, so just head to the right spot when you're ready and it's yours.
How to Obtain Tirtouga in SM
- Step 1Tirtouga ✓Route 8 - Fossil Restoration CenterLv.15Gift from NPCSunRevive Cover Fossil
- Step 2Evolve into CarracostaBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Carracosta egg.
No searching required for Tirtouga. You receive it at Rustboro City from an NPC. No wild encounters exist in this game, so just head to the right spot when you're ready and it's yours.
How to Obtain Tirtouga in ORAS
Step 1Tirtouga ✓Rustboro City - Devon CorporationLv.20Gift from NPCOne-timeRevive Cover Fossil
Step 2Evolve into Carracosta
Base Stats
Tirtouga's all-in on Defense at the expense of Speed. The physical lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 1 Defense EV and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Tirtouga is considered to be the ancestor of many turtle Pokémon. It was restored to life from a fossil.
Tirtouga Guide
Tirtouga isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Carracosta to unlock its full potential. At 355 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
Tirtouga's biggest threats include Venusaur (Grass), Jolteon (Electric), and Machamp (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Venusaur is the most dangerous since Grass moves deal 4x damage. Ground-type attackers are also a problem. At base 22 Speed, Tirtouga won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Run Swift Swim on Tirtouga. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Tirtouga also gets Solid Rock and Sturdy, but they don't compare.
Swift Swim is the hidden ability. It doubles Speed during rain. Worth hunting for if you want Tirtouga to compete at a higher level.
Tirtouga fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 78 Attack. Base 22 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Game Availability
Introduced in Black & White, Tirtouga has appeared in 7 games across 6 generations. Later debuts mean fewer total appearances, but it's been a consistent presence since its introduction.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
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 5BWDebut
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