Physical
Balanced
CTier
80Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

Arbok's stats barely vary. 2 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 2 Attack EVs, medium-fast 1M XP curve to max.

Base Stats
Above
HP60
C
Attack85
C
Defense69
C
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def79
C
Speed80
C
Total438
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging90 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height3.5 m
11'06"Tall
Weight65.0 kg
143.3 lbsStandard
Base XP157
Average
Abilities
IntimidateTop Pick
Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
Shed SkinRare
Has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn.
UnnerveHA
Prevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

The pattern on its belly is for intimidation. It constricts foes while they are frozen in fear.

Arbok Weakness

Arbok is weak to Ground and Psychic. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Arbok Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ground, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Fighting, Poison, Bug
Type ChartAvg
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
GroundPsychic
½xResist
GrassFightingPoisonBug
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
STAB (1)
Grass
How to Beat Arbok in Black 2 & White 2 (Best Counters)

In Black 2 & White 2, Garchomp can KO Arbok with Earthquake (170-200%). Excadrill threatens a KO with Earthquake (175-206%).

Garchomp
Garchomp
DragonGround
S
Recommended Build
AbilityRough Skin
ItemFocus Sash
NatureJolly
Moves
  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • OutrageSTAB
  • Swords Dance
  • Stealth Rock
Damage vs Arbok
Earthquake 2x
170-200%KO
Outrage
102-119%KO
View Garchomp builds →

Black 2 & White 2 Evolution

Arbok is the evolved form of Ekans. Breeding produces Ekans eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Ekans gave Arbok the biggest boost in HP (+25), bringing the total to 438 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Ekans
#023Ekans
22
Level 22
Arbok
#024Arbok
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Ekans
Poison
Arbok
Poison
HP
35
60+25
ATK
60
95+35
DEF
44
69+25
SP.ATK
40
65+25
SP.DEF
54
79+25
SPE
55
80+25
BST
288C-Tier
448C-Tier+160
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Arbok to get Ekans eggs easily using 39 partners from the Dragon and Ground egg groups. Notable egg moves include Beat Up, Disable, Iron Tail and 9 more.

Egg Groups
DragonGround
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
12moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosraichupikachucharizardkingdrasceptileflygonmiloticnidokinggolduckampharosaltaria
12 of 39·

Black 2 & White 2 Arbok Best Moveset

Coil is the main STAB option after a Coil boost. Black Sludge gives Arbok Poison-type passive recovery to survive the setup turn, and max Attack and Speed EVs make the boosted hits count. Ground coverage catches resists.

Best Build

Experimental
Physical Setup Sweeper
Ability
Intimidate
Item
Black SludgeSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Arbok
Adamant+ATK

Arbok best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset

  • CoilSetup
  • Sucker Punch
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Gunk ShotSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Aggron
AggronGood
Milotic
MiloticDecent

Moves

The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 11 types means almost nothing walls Arbok cleanly, with Gunk Shot and Sludge Wave anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bite
D6010025Dark
Lv 1
Fire Fang
A659515Fire
Lv 1
Ice Fang
D659515Ice
Lv 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 1
Poison Sting
—1510035Poison
Lv 1
Thunder Fang
D659515Electric
Lv 1
Wrap
D159020Normal
Lv 4
Poison Sting
—1510035Poison
Lv 9
Bite
D6010025Dark
Lv 12
Glare
D—9030Normal
Lv 17
Screech
——8540Normal
Lv 20
Acid
—4010030Poison
Lv 22
Crunch
A8010015Dark
Lv 27
Spit Up
——10010Normal
Lv 27
Stockpile
D——20Normal
Lv 27
Swallow
D——10Normal
Lv 32
Acid Spray
—4010020Poison
Lv 39
Mud Bomb
—658510Ground
Lv 44
Gastro Acid
——10010Poison
Lv 51
Haze
C——30Ice
Lv 56
Coil
S——20Poison
Lv 63
Gunk Shot
A120705Poison

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
C—10015Normal
TM78
Bulldoze
D6010020Ground
TM28
Dig
C8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM82
Dragon Tail-6
D609010Dragon
TM26
Earthquake
A10010010Ground
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
——10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
C150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM66
Payback
D5010010Dark
TM84
Poison Jab
A8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
D759010Rock
TM39
Rock Tomb
—609510Rock
TM48
Round
—6010015Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
C9010010Poison
TM34
Sludge Wave
C9510010Poison
HM04
Strength
C8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
——9015Normal
TM46
Thief
—6010010Dark
TM41
Torment
——10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
C—9010Poison
TM09
Venoshock
—6510010Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Beat Up
——10010Dark
Egg
Disable
D—10020Normal
Egg
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
Egg
Poison Fang
—5010015Poison
Egg
Poison Tail
—5010025Poison
Egg
Pursuit
D4010020Dark
Egg
Scary Face
——10010Normal
Egg
Slam
—807520Normal
Egg
Snatch+4
———10Dark
Egg
Spite
——10010Ghost
Egg
Sucker Punch+1
A801005Dark
Egg
Switcheroo
D—10010Dark

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Aqua Tail
C909010Water
Tutor
Bind
—158520Normal
Tutor
Dark Pulse
D8010015Dark
Tutor
Gastro Acid
——10010Poison
Tutor
Giga Drain
D7510010Grass
Tutor
Gunk Shot
A120705Poison
Tutor
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
Tutor
Seed Bomb
C8010015Grass
Tutor
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Tutor
Snatch+4
———10Dark
Tutor
Snore
—4010015Normal
Tutor
Spite
——10010Ghost

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 3
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Gen 4
Captivate
——10020Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
D——10Normal
Gen 4
Headbutt
D7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
———10Normal
Gen 4
Natural Gift
——10015Normal
Gen 4
Secret Power
—7010020Normal

How to Get Arbok in Black 2 & White 2

Arbok can't be caught in Black 2 & White 2. Transfer Ekans from Red, Gold, or Brilliant Diamond and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.

How to Obtain Arbok in Black 2 & White 2

  1. Ekans
    Step 1Obtain Ekans

    Also found in:

    RedGoldCrystalFireRedDiamondPlatinum
  2. Arbok
    Step 2Arbok ✓

Arbok Guide

  • In Black 2 & White 2, Arbok's biggest threats include Golem (Ground) and Starmie (Psychic), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • In Black 2 & White 2, Ekans evolves into Arbok at level 22. Arbok is the fully evolved form. It sits at 438 BST in its evolved form.

  • In Black 2 & White 2, Arbok can work for a story run. 438 BST is average, but Poison typing fills a niche depending on your team composition.

  • In Black 2 & White 2, Don't let Arbok's 438 base stat total fool you. Intimidate is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier. Coil with Black Sludge is the standard set.

  • In Black 2 & White 2, Run Intimidate on Arbok. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Arbok also gets Shed Skin and Unnerve, but they don't compare.

Game Availability

Arbok has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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