Stats & Training
Torkoal's all-in on Defense at the expense of Speed. The mixed lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 2 Defense EVs and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
TORKOAL digs through mountains in search of coal. If it finds some, it fills hollow spaces on its shell with the coal and burns it. If it is attacked, this POKéMON spouts thick black smoke to beat a retreat.
TORKOAL generates energy by burning coal. It grows weaker as the fire dies down. When it is preparing for battle, this POKéMON burns more coal.
Torkoal Weakness
Torkoal is weak to Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Torkoal's physical bulk (base 140 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
 Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x66-78% Rock Tomb 2x22-28% Water Gun 2x34-42% Mud-Slap 2x10-12% | ||
 Wingull Water | D | |
 Surskit BugWater | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 102 Surfing | ||
 Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x33-39% Rock Throw 2x28-34% | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Anorith builds →Rock Tomb 2x36-44% Water Gun 2x18-23% | ||
 Aron SteelRock | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Aron builds →Rock Tomb 2x33-39% Mud-Slap 2x10-13% | ||
Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x57-69% Rock Tomb 2x21-26% Water Gun 2x28-34% Mud-Slap 2x10-13% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x35-42% Rock Throw 2x28-33% | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Anorith builds →Rock Tomb 2x39-46% Water Gun 2x18-22% | ||
Aron SteelRock | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Aron builds →Rock Tomb 2x31-38% Mud-Slap 2x8-11% | ||
Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x60-71% Rock Tomb 2x21-25% Water Gun 2x31-38% Mud-Slap 2x8-11% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Geodude builds →Dig 2x43-51% Rock Tomb 2x32-38% Rock Throw 2x28-34% Rollout 2x17-20% | ||
 Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x58-68% Dig 2x25-30% Rock Tomb 2x19-23% Water Gun 2x28-34% | ||
 Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Numel builds →Dig 2x34-41% Rock Tomb 2x17-20% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Geodude builds →Dig 2x43-51% Rock Tomb 2x32-38% Rock Throw 2x27-32% Rollout 2x18-22% | ||
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x56-67% Dig 2x24-30% Rock Tomb 2x19-23% Water Gun 2x27-32% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Numel builds →Dig 2x35-41% Rock Tomb 2x18-21% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Geodude builds →Dig 2x43-52% Rock Tomb 2x33-39% Rock Throw 2x28-33% Rollout 2x17-21% | ||
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x59-70% Dig 2x25-30% Rock Tomb 2x20-24% Water Gun 2x28-33% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Numel builds →Dig 2x35-42% Rock Tomb 2x18-22% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
 Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Rhyhorn builds →Dig 2x43-51% Rock Tomb 2x34-41% Rock Blast 2x14-18% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x52-61% Dig 2x43-51% Rock Tomb 2x32-38% Rock Throw 2x28-33% | ||
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x58-69% Dig 2x25-31% Dive 2x52-61% Rock Tomb 2x19-24% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Numel builds →Earthquake 2x43-51% Dig 2x34-41% Rock Tomb 2x17-20% | ||
Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Rhyhorn builds →Earthquake 2x54-64% Dig 2x44-52% Rock Tomb 2x34-40% Rock Blast 2x16-19% | ||
Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Lombre builds →Surf 2x64-76% Waterfall 2x56-67% Dive 2x56-67% Water Pulse 2x44-52% | ||
Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Mudkip builds →Hydro Pump 2x68-81% Surf 2x56-67% Waterfall 2x50-60% Dig 2x25-30% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Numel builds →Earthquake 2x42-50% Dig 2x34-40% Rock Tomb 2x17-21% | ||
In Ruby & Sapphire, Aerodactyl's Rock Slide hits Torkoal for 70-82%. Starmie threatens a KO with Surf (97-114%). Claydol deals 51-60% with Earthquake.
 Aerodactyl Rock | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRockhead ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake 2x62-73% Rock Slide 2x70-82% Double Edge37-43% | ||
 Starmie WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Starmie builds →Rapid Spin6-7% Ice Beam16-19% Thunderbolt32-38% Surf 2x97-114%KO | ||
 Claydol GroundPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Torkoal View Claydol builds →Rapid Spin8-10% Earthquake 2x51-60% Explosion42-50% Psychic27-31% | ||
Ruby & Sapphire Evolution
What you see is what you get. Torkoal sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and a massive partner pool from one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Torkoal easily with 102 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Endure, Eruption, Sleep Talk and 1 more to offspring.
Ruby & Sapphire Torkoal Best Moveset
Whitesmoke helps Torkoal stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, max HP and Sp. Atk EVs for the right balance, and Flamethrower as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Torkoal best EVs are Sp. Atk and HP
Special Tank Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Explosion
- Overheat
- Body Slam
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Torkoal gets Endure and Eruption exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Poison and Normal coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Eruption and Overheat.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Ruby & Sapphire Torkoal Locations
2 encounter spots for Torkoal at decent spawn rates starting from early-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Best Locations to Catch Torkoal in Ruby & Sapphire
Torkoal Guide
In Ruby & Sapphire, Don't let Torkoal's 470 base stat total fool you. Drought is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier as a trick room. Flamethrower with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Ruby & Sapphire, Run Drought on Torkoal. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Torkoal also gets White Smoke and Shell Armor, but they don't compare.
In Ruby & Sapphire, Torkoal fills the trick room role. It's a special attacker with base 85 Sp. Atk. Base 20 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.
In Ruby & Sapphire, the best way to handle Torkoal: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Water, Ground, and Rock-type attackers hit hardest.
Game Availability
Torkoal first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 15 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves