Between Thick Fat and Ice/Water typing, Walrein carves out a strong competitive niche. It halves incoming Fire and Ice damage, which gives it an edge most Pokemon in its stat range don't have. Can go either physical or special depending on the set.
Walrein's built to absorb hits, not race for knockouts. Balanced defenses with HP doing the heavy lifting. And the 1.06M XP medium-slow curve means it won't take forever to bring up, worth 3 HP EVs.
Its thick tusks are strong enough to shatter drift ice. They have been known to break, but they will grow back by the next year. The Hisui region is well known for these broken tusks.
Walrein Weakness
VulnerableElectric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock-type moves hit Walrein for super-effective damage. Thick Fat reduces Fire/Ice damage, further improving the defensive spread. Walrein's overall bulk (110/90/90) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
The three-stage chain from Spheal through Sealeo ends here at Walrein. Want more? Breed for Spheal eggs. A massive partner pool available via two egg groups. The evolution from Spheal pushed Walrein to 530 total stats. HP saw the largest single gain at +40.
How to Evolve
Breed with Walrein to get Spheal eggs easily using 278 partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups.
Walrein doesn't rely on pure speed. Leftovers gives it passive recovery each turn to stay healthy, and Modest nature still pushes offense. Blizzard and double STAB keep the pressure on while max HP and Sp. Atk EVs balance power and survivability.
Best Build
Best Walrein Moveset
- Blizzard
- Liquidation
- Yawn
- Surf
Recommended Teammates
The offense anchors on Blizzard and Ice Beam, with Rock and Ground coverage and more adding reach. It's a workable movepool for Walrein that handles most situations. Ice Beam and Blizzard give it enough punch where it matters.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Without breeding, Walrein misses out on Aqua Ring and Belly Drum. That's 9 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Blizzard and Surf, with Dark and Rock coverage and more rounding things out.
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Walrein's Dark and Rock coverage and more all comes from technical machines, built on top of Blizzard and Hydro Pump for same-type damage. Surf and Blizzard are the payoff moves.
Without breeding, Walrein misses out on Aqua Ring and Belly Drum. That's 13 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Blizzard and Ice Beam, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.
Walrein appears at decent spawn rates across 2 spots in mid-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Walrein in Legends: Arceus
Spheal is your first catch on the way to Walrein. You'll find walking encounters from walking across 4 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch SphealEASYGinkgo LandingGrassUncommon
Step 3Walrein ✓EASYGinkgo LandingGrassUncommonEASYIslespy ShoreGrassUncommonor evolve from Sealeo (Step 2)
Walrein starts showing up in endgame routes at moderate rates across 6 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Walrein in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Spheal is your first catch on the way to Walrein. You'll find walking and surfing encounters from Lv. 35-63 across 16 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch SphealEASYRoute 226Surfing on waterLv.35-4530%LateRouteEASYRoute 230Surfing on waterLv.35-4530%LateRouteGlacial CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameIcy CaveGrassLv.58-63PostIcePost-gameWhiteout CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Step 2Catch or Evolve SealeoHARDRoute 226Surfing on waterLv.40-555%LateRouteHARDRoute 230Surfing on waterLv.40-555%LateRouteGlacial CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameIcy CaveGrassLv.58-63PostIcePost-gameWhiteout CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameor evolve from Spheal (Step 1)
Step 3Walrein ✓Glacial CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameGlacial CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameIcy CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostIcePost-gameIcy CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostIcePost-gameWhiteout CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameWhiteout CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameor evolve from Sealeo (Step 2)
Can't catch Walrein directly. Start with Spheal at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 44. The 3-stage chain from Spheal to Walrein is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Walrein in Sword & Shield
Spheal is your first catch on the way to Walrein. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 60-65 across 32 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch SphealEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaSwordOverworldLv.60-65100%PostWaterIntense SunEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaSwordOverworldLv.60-65100%PostWaterSandstormEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaShieldOverworldLv.60-65100%PostWaterIntense SunEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaShieldOverworldLv.60-65100%PostWaterSandstormEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaSwordOverworldLv.60-6545%PostWaterNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaShieldOverworldLv.60-6537%PostWaterNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaShieldGrassLv.60-6533%PostWaterNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaSwordGrassLv.60-6533%PostWaterOvercastEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaSwordGrassLv.60-6533%PostWaterNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaShieldGrassLv.60-6533%PostWaterOvercastEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaSwordOverworldLv.60-6532%PostWaterHeavy FogEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaSwordOverworldLv.60-6530%PostWaterSnowingEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaSwordOverworldLv.60-6530%PostWaterRainingEFFORTLESSFrigid SeaSwordOverworldLv.60-6530%PostWaterOvercastEASYFrigid SeaSwordOverworldLv.60-6527%PostWaterSnowstormEASYFrigid SeaShieldGrassLv.60-6525%PostWaterSnowstormEASYFrigid SeaSwordGrassLv.60-6525%PostWaterSnowingEASYFrigid SeaShieldOverworldLv.60-6525%PostWaterHeavy FogEASYFrigid SeaSwordOverworldLv.60-6525%PostWaterThunderstormEASYFrigid SeaSwordGrassLv.60-6525%PostWaterRainingEASYFrigid SeaSwordGrassLv.60-6525%PostWaterHeavy FogEASYFrigid SeaSwordGrassLv.60-6525%PostWaterSnowstormEASYFrigid SeaShieldGrassLv.60-6525%PostWaterSnowingEASYFrigid SeaShieldGrassLv.60-6525%PostWaterRainingEASYFrigid SeaShieldGrassLv.60-6525%PostWaterHeavy FogEASYFrigid SeaShieldOverworldLv.60-6522%PostWaterRainingEASYFrigid SeaShieldOverworldLv.60-6522%PostWaterOvercastEASYFrigid SeaShieldOverworldLv.60-6522%PostWaterSnowingEASYFrigid SeaSwordGrassLv.60-6520%PostWaterThunderstormEASYFrigid SeaShieldOverworldLv.60-6520%PostWaterSnowstormEASYFrigid SeaShieldGrassLv.60-6520%PostWaterThunderstormEASYFrigid SeaShieldOverworldLv.60-6517%PostWaterThunderstorm
Step 2Evolve into Sealeo
Step 3Walrein ✓
You're catching Spheal first, not Walrein. Spheal appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 3-stage chain with evolution methods between each stage.
Walrein looks average on paper at 530 BST. But Thick Fat is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier on our tier list.
Walrein gets Thick Fat, Ice Body, and Oblivious. But Thick Fat is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Walrein is a special attacker with base 95 Sp. Atk. Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — at base 65 Speed, it won't be moving first often.
Walrein appears in 15 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Walrein appears in 15 games across 7 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through wild encounters.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A