What does Ekans evolve into?

Get Ekans to Arbok at level 22. At 288 BST, Ekans is just the starting point.

At what level does Ekans evolve?

Level 22 gets you Arbok . Not the fastest evolution, so consider Exp. Share or route grinding to speed it up.

In Crystal, For a casual playthrough, Ekans works as a placeholder. Poison coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Arbok . That's where the stats start mattering.

Where can you catch Ekans?

You can find Ekans in Crystal. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.

Ekans - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Balanced

DTier

55Speed · Slow

Stats & Training

You won't find a real weakness in Ekans's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Snake Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 1 Attack stat exp, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats

Below

HP35

Attack60

Defense44

Sp. Atk40

Sp. Def54

Speed55

Total288

Details

Catch Rate

Guaranteed255 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height2.0 m

Weight6.9 kg

Base XP58

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+1DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training source

Pokedex Entries

It flutters the tip of its tongue to seek out the scent of prey, then swallows the prey whole.

Crystal

Ekans Weakness

Ekans's Poison typing leaves it vulnerable to Ground and Psychic. The Poison typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. Ekans's Poison typing only leaves 2 gaps to cover.

Ekans Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Ground, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)	Grass, Fighting, Poison, Bug

Type ChartAvg

2Weak

4Resist

0Immune

Score0

Gen II Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Ground Psychic

½xResist

Grass Fighting Poison Bug

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (1)

Grass

How to Beat Ekans in Crystal (Best Counters)

Celebi PsychicGrass	A
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves ConfusionLv. 1 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Confusion 2x 83-100%KO Mud-Slap 2x 26-33% View Celebi builds →
Quagsire WaterGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 36-43% View Quagsire builds →
Onix RockGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 29-36% View Onix builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 36-43% View Geodude builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 36-43% View Sandshrew builds →

Crystal Evolution

Ekans is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Arbok. Check the evolution method below. A small partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 160 total stats over Ekans. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#023Ekans

Level 22

#024Arbok

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Ekans

Poison

Arbok

Poison

60+25

ATK

95+35

DEF

69+25

SP.ATK

65+25

SP.DEF

79+25

SPE

80+25

BST

288C-Tier

448C-Tier+160

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Ekans easily with 13 breeding partners from the Dragon and Ground egg groups. Pass egg moves like Beat Up, Crunch, Pursuit and 2 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

DragonGround

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

5moves

Breed With (best first)

Crystal Ekans Best Moveset

Best Build

Gen 2 build content has limited support (no abilities).

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Moves

The natural movepool does the job, but Beat Up and Crunch from the egg pool give Ekans something extra.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Leer

——10030Normal

Lv 1

Wrap

—158520Normal

Lv 9

Poison Sting

—1510035Poison

Lv 15

Bite

D6010025Dark

Lv 23

Glare

D—7530Normal

Lv 29

Screech

D—8540Normal

Lv 37

Acid

—4010030Poison

Lv 43

Haze

C——30Ice

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

D—10015Normal

TM03

Curse

C——10Ghost

TM28

Dig

D6010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM26

Earthquake

C10010010Ground

TM20

Endure+4

D——10Normal

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM19

Giga Drain

D751005Grass

TM02

Headbutt

D7010015Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM35

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM36

Sludge Bomb

D9010010Poison

TM13

Snore

—4010015Normal

HM04

Strength

D8010015Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM34

Swagger

C—8515Normal

TM46

Thief

D6010025Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Beat Up

——10010Dark

Egg

Crunch

D8010015Dark

Egg

Pursuit

D4010020Dark

Egg

Slam

—807520Normal

Egg

Spite

——10010Ghost

Tutor Moves

Ekans can't learn any Tutor moves

Crystal Ekans Locations

Easy grab on Ekans with high spawn rates across 11 locations in early-game areas. Two different catch methods are in play here. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.

Best Locations to Catch Ekans in Crystal

You'll find Ekans across 11 headbutt and walking encounters from Lv. 4-13, sorted by game progression. Earlier spots show up first so you can grab one as soon as it's reachable.

Route 32

Grass Lv.4 Route

30%Early

Route 42

Grass Lv.13 Route

30%Early

Morning/day

Route 3

Grass Lv.8 Route

20%Early

Route 4

Grass Lv.8 Route

20%Early

Azalea Town

Headbutting trees Lv.10 City

15%Early

Route 32

Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route

15%Early

Route 33

Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route

15%Early

Route 42

Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route

15%Early

Route 26

Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route

15%Early

Route 27

Headbutting trees Lv.10 Route

15%Early

Route 33

Grass Lv.7 Route

5%Early

Morning/day

Ekans Guide

Get Ekans to Arbok at level 22. At 288 BST, Ekans is just the starting point.
Level 22 gets you Arbok. Not the fastest evolution, so consider Exp. Share or route grinding to speed it up.
In Crystal, For a casual playthrough, Ekans works as a placeholder. Poison coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Arbok. That's where the stats start mattering.
You can find Ekans in Crystal. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Ekans appears in 20 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Ekans have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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Donphan Ground	B
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeLv. 49 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Earthquake 2x 226-267%KO Mud-Slap 2x 48-57% View Donphan builds →
Nidoking PoisonGround	B
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 41-49% View Nidoking builds →
Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeLv. 35 DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Earthquake 2x 171-202%KO Dig 2x 136-161%KO Mud-Slap 2x 36-44% View Quagsire builds →
Sandslash Ground	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 157-185%KO Mud-Slap 2x 41-49% View Sandslash builds →
Nidoqueen PoisonGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 39-46% View Nidoqueen builds →

Quagsire WaterGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 40-48% View Quagsire builds →
Onix RockGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 30-36% View Onix builds →
Cubone Ground	C
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves Bone ClubLv. 9 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Bone Club 2x 80-96% Mud-Slap 2x 30-36% View Cubone builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 40-48% View Geodude builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Mud-Slap 2x 34-42% View Sandshrew builds →

Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 140-165%KO Mud-Slap 2x 37-45% View Quagsire builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 88-105%KO Mud-Slap 2x 25-30% View Onix builds →
Cubone Ground	C
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Bone ClubLv. 9 BonemerangLv. 25 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 93-110%KO Bone Club 2x 75-90% Bonemerang 2x 63-75% Mud-Slap 2x 28-35% View Cubone builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 132-155%KO Mud-Slap 2x 37-45% View Geodude builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 127-150%KO Mud-Slap 2x 37-45% View Sandshrew builds →

Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 133-158%KO Mud-Slap 2x 39-46% View Quagsire builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 144-171%KO Mud-Slap 2x 39-46% View Graveler builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 85-100%KO Mud-Slap 2x 24-29% View Onix builds →
Cubone Ground	C
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Bone ClubLv. 9 BonemerangLv. 25 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 92-108%KO Bone Club 2x 74-88% Bonemerang 2x 60-71% Mud-Slap 2x 28-33% View Cubone builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 124-146%KO Mud-Slap 2x 35-42% View Sandshrew builds →

Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 127-150%KO Mud-Slap 2x 34-41% View Quagsire builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 141-166%KO Mud-Slap 2x 38-45% View Graveler builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 82-97% Mud-Slap 2x 23-28% View Onix builds →
Cubone Ground	C
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Bone ClubLv. 9 BonemerangLv. 25 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 85-101%KO Bone Club 2x 72-85% Bonemerang 2x 54-65% Mud-Slap 2x 23-28% View Cubone builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Ekans Dig 2x 116-138%KO Mud-Slap 2x 34-41% View Sandshrew builds →

Jynx IcePsychic	B
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves Ice Beam Lovely Kiss PsychicSTAB Thief Damage vs Ekans Ice Beam 85-100%KO Psychic 2x 170-200%KO Thief 38-45% View Jynx builds →
Rhydon GroundRock	B
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves Rock Slide EarthquakeSTAB RoarUtility CurseSetup Damage vs Ekans Rock Slide 91-108%KO Earthquake 2x 244-287%KO View Rhydon builds →