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 stat exp, 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
Abilities were introduced in Generation III. Shown below for reference.
Intimidate
Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
Shed Skin
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

It is rumored that the ferocious warning markings on its belly differ from area to area.

Arbok Weakness

Arbok is weak to Ground, Psychic, and Bug. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.

Arbok Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ground, Psychic, Bug
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Fighting, Poison
Type ChartVulnerable
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-3
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
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
GroundPsychicBug
½xResist
GrassFightingPoison
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
STAB (2)
GrassBug
How to Beat Arbok in Red & Blue (Best Counters)
Sandslash
Sandslash
Ground
C
Available Moves
Moves
  • EarthquakeTM26
  • DigTM28
Damage vs Arbok
Earthquake 2x
115-136%KO
Dig 2x
92-109%KO
View Sandslash builds →

Red & Blue Evolution

Arbok is the evolved form of Ekans, reached at level 22. A Poison type at 438 stats that still can't breed. 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 not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Red & Blue Arbok Best Moveset

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 1
Item
Not in Gen 1
Nature
Not in Gen 1

Utility Moveset

  • WrapCoverage
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • GlareUtility
  • Hyper Beam

Recommended Teammates

Victreebel
VictreebelGood
Dragonite
DragoniteGood
Tauros
TaurosDecent

Moves

TMs define Arbok's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Acid and Poison Sting, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Normal and Dark coverage and more. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 1
Poison Sting
—1510035Poison
Lv 1
Wrap
S158520Normal
Lv 10
Poison Sting
—1510035Poison
Lv 17
Bite
D6010025Normal
Lv 27
Glare
S—7530Normal
Lv 36
Screech
D—8540Normal
Lv 47
Acid
D4010030Poison

TM Moves

TM
TM34
Bide+1
———10Normal
TM08
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
TM28
Dig
—10010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
TM26
Earthquake
S10010010Ground
TM27
Fissure
——305Ground
TM15
Hyper Beam
A150905Normal
TM21
Mega Drain
D4010010Grass
TM31
Mimic
———10Normal
TM20
Rage
—2010020Normal
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM48
Rock Slide
D759010Rock
TM40
Skull Bash
C10010010Normal
HM04
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM50
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM09
Take Down
—908520Normal
TM06
Toxic
B—9010Poison

Egg Moves

Arbok doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Arbok can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Arbok in Red & Blue

moderate rates across 3 locations for Arbok in late-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.

Where To Catch Arbok in Red & Blue

The path to Arbok starts with Ekans at Lv. 6-57 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Ekans
    Step 1Catch Ekans
    Route 4
    Grass Lv.6-12 Route
    30%Early
    Route 10
    Grass Lv.11-17 Route
    30%Early
    Route 9
    Grass Lv.11-17 Route
    30%Early
    Route 11
    Grass Lv.12-15 Route
    25%Early
    Route 23
    Grass Lv.26 Route
    20%Mid
    Route 8
    Grass Lv.17-19 Route
    15%Mid
  2. Arbok
    Step 2Arbok ✓
    Route 23
    Grass Lv.41 Route
    5%Late
    Cerulean Cave - 1F
    Grass Lv.52 Cave
    10%Post
    Cerulean Cave - B1F
    Grass Lv.57 Cave
    5%Post
    or evolve from Ekans (Step 1)

Arbok Guide

  • In Red & Blue, Arbok's biggest threats include Golem (Ground), Starmie (Psychic), and Scyther (Bug), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

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

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

  • In Red & Blue, Arbok has a 438 base stat total and ranks as C-Tier: a niche pick in Red & Blue's meta. It works best as a balanced. Wrap anchors the moveset.

  • In Red & Blue, Poison typing gives Arbok 3 resistances. Base 85 Attack is the standout stat. 438 BST gives it a workable foundation.

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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