Stats & Training
Gastrodon's spread is anchored by HP, with balanced defenses backing it up. Speed is the clear weak point. Worth 2 HP EVs per KO, and the medium-fast 1M XP curve keeps leveling painless.
When its natural enemy attacks, it oozes purple fluid and escapes.
When its natural enemy attacks, it oozes purple fluid and escapes.
Gastrodon Weakness
Gastrodon's Water/Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to Grass. Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Storm Drain grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. With 111 HP and balanced defenses, Gastrodon can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Poison, Rock, Steel |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Gastrodon View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave8-9% | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves View Roserade builds →
| ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
Gastrodon is the evolved form of Shellos. Breeding produces Shellos eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Shellos gave Gastrodon the biggest boost in HP (+35), bringing the total to 475 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Gastrodon to get Shellos eggs easily using 31 partners from the Indeterminate and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Amnesia, Counter, Curse and 9 more.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Gastrodon Best Moveset
Stickyhold gives Gastrodon passive value while it walls. Careful nature boosts Sp. Def, max HP and Sp. Def EVs maximize the special wall profile, and Leftovers keeps it in the game.
Best Build
Gastrodon best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Recover
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Earth Power
Recommended Teammates
Moves
The natural movepool does the job, but Amnesia and Counter from the egg pool give Gastrodon something extra. Pair those with Earthquake and Muddy Water for STAB and Normal and Ice coverage and more for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Gastrodon in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Gastrodon can't be caught in HeartGold & SoulSilver. Transfer Shellos from Diamond, Platinum, or Sword and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Gastrodon in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Step 1Obtain ShellosCatch in the wild in:
Then trade to HeartGold & SoulSilver to continue the evolution chain.
Also found in:
Step 2Gastrodon ✓
Gastrodon Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Don't let Gastrodon's 475 base stat total fool you. Storm Drain is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier as a trick room. Recover with Leftovers is the standard set.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, watch for Roserade (Grass) when using Gastrodon. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Roserade is the most dangerous since Grass moves deal 4x damage. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. At base 39 Speed, Gastrodon won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Run Storm Drain on Gastrodon. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Gastrodon also gets Sticky Hold and Sand Force, but they don't compare.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Gastrodon fills the trick room role. It's a mixed attacker with base 83 Attack and 92 Sp. Atk. Base 39 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
For HeartGold & SoulSilver, Gastrodon has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Grass-type attackers hit hardest.
Game Availability
Gastrodon first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 13 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves