Sturdy and reliable through the mid-game, Wartortle holds its own until becoming Blastoise at level 36.
390HP59Attack63Defense80Speed58Sp.Def65Sp.Atk65
Squirtle
Wartortle
Blastoise
Weak to
Special
Balanced
58Speed · Slow

Is Wartortle Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Solid through the mid-game. Tough enough to take hits and dish out consistent Water damage. Evolves into Blastoise at 36, which is around the time the difficulty starts ramping up.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadSTGTGESSESGEGSquirtleStarterBrockGym 1WartortleEvolveMistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4BlastoiseEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Strong

Squirtle resists most of Brock's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
Other strong Pokemon you can catch and use for Gym 1
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Wartortle's defenses.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Good

Wartortle has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Even
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's team hits Wartortle's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
Even
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Risky
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Blastoise has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
You Win
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Blastoise trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
Even
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Even
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Strong

Blastoise resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
Easy KO
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Easy KO
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Strong

Blastoise resists most of Giovanni's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
Easy KO
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
Easy KO
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
Easy KO
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Blastoise trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Strong

Blastoise resists most of Bruno's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Blastoise has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Blastoise trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Good

Blastoise has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.

You Win
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 61
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 63
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberLeerTake Down
Risky
Venusaur
Lv 65
GrassPoison
Overgrow
Razor LeafGrowthMega DrainSolar Beam

Starter

Starter evolution
Type
Water
Tier
E

Squirtle is available as a starter.

View Squirtle locations

Evolve Squirtle to Wartortle

Level 16
Type
Water
Tier
E

Squirtle evolves into Wartortle at Level 16. Your Squirtle should hit Level 16 before you reach Misty, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

Evolve Wartortle to Blastoise

Level 36
Type
Water
Tier
C

Wartortle evolves into Blastoise at Level 36. Your Wartortle should hit Level 36 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Wartortle in Red & Blue

Squirtle evolves into Wartortle at level 16. You will never run into a wild Wartortle in Red or Blue; it only comes from raising the starter.

Catch Squirtle at any of these 1 spot to eventually evolve into Wartortle.

  1. 1
    Catch Squirtle
  2. 2
    Evolve Wartortleat Lv.16
  3. 3
    Evolve Blastoiseat Lv.36

How to Obtain Wartortle in RB

  1. Wartortle
    Step 2Wartortle ✓
  2. Blastoise
    Step 3Evolve into Blastoise

Wartortle Weakness

Wartortle is weak to Electric and Grass. Not many exploitable gaps in the Water typing defensive chart. Wartortle's Water typing only leaves 2 gaps to cover.

Wartortle Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Wartortle Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Wartortle Strong Against

3Strong
3Resisted
0Immune
Score0
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Wartortle

Ivysaur
Ivysaur
GrassPoison
C
Pikachu
Pikachu
Electric
C

Wartortle Evolutions

Wartortle sits between Squirtle and Blastoise in this three-stage chain. A Water type at 390 stats that can't breed. HP has grown the most so far (+15), but there's still another 140 stats to gain in the final evolution. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Wartortle
Water
HP
44
59+15
79+20
ATK
48
63+15
83+20
DEF
65
80+15
100+20
SP.ATK
50
65+15
85+20
SP.DEF
64
80+16
105+25
SPE
43
58+15
78+20
BST
314E-Tier
405E-Tier+91
530C-Tier+125
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Mixed
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Wartortle Best Moveset

Water middle stage with 65 Special, below Blastoise's already-outclassed 85. MoveSurf and MoveBlizzard at reduced power. The moves point toward Blastoise, which itself points toward Starmie.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Wartortle
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • BlizzardCoverage
  • Mega Kick
  • Body Slam

Moves List

Most of Wartortle's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Hydro Pump and Surf, but Normal and Dark and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bubble
—3010030Water
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 8
Bubble
—3010030Water
Lv 15
Water Gun
B6010025Water
Lv 24
Bite
D6010025Normal
Lv 31
Withdraw
A——40Water
Lv 39
Skull Bash
C10010010Normal
Lv 47
Hydro Pump
S180805Water

TM Moves

All 24 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
B110905Ice
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
B8510015Normal
TM11B9710020Water
TM18
Counter-5Celadon Department Storebadge 3
D—10020Fighting
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
TM13A9510010Ice
TM05
Mega KickCeladon Department Storebadge 3
B120755Normal
TM01
Mega PunchMt. Moonbadge 1
D808520Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM19
Seismic TossRoute 25badge 1
D—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
C10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
D808025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
C14210015Water
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
B6010025Water

Tutor Moves

Wartortle can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP59
D
Attack63
C
Defense80
C
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def65
C
Speed58
D
Total390
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height1.0 m
Weight22.5 kg
Base XP142
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+1SpASpD+1Spe
Defense training target
Pokedex Entry

Often hides in water to stalk unwary prey. For swimming fast, it moves its ears to maintain balance.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Wartortle Red & Blue Guide

  • In Red & Blue, for a casual playthrough, Wartortle works as a placeholder. Water coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Blastoise. That's where the stats start mattering.

  • In Red & Blue, Wartortle plays as a balanced. Not the fastest, so pick your spots carefully.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Wartortle appears in 21 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Wartortle have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Explore

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