Stats & Training
The stat budget goes to damage. Attack and Sp. Atk carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. A Puppy Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 1 Attack EV per KO.
While it’s quite friendly toward humans once it’s grown used to them, in the wild it must be quite fierce to defend its territory from Rockruff.
It has lived alongside humans since ages ago. Its bones have been found in excavations of ruins from the Stone Age.
Growlithe Weakness
Type-wise, Growlithe takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy |
 Primarina WaterFairy | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Route 1 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Primarina builds →Hydro Pump 2x200-235%KO Sparkling Aria 2x165-194%KO Bubble Beam 2x119-141%KO Water Gun 2x74-88% | ||
 Pelipper Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Pelipper builds →Hydro Pump 2x158-187%KO Brine 2x94-111%KO Water Pulse 2x88-104%KO Water Gun 2x58-69% | ||
 Golduck Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Golduck builds →Hydro Pump 2x158-187%KO Aqua Tail 2x125-148%KO Water Pulse 2x88-104%KO Water Gun 2x58-69% | ||
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Slowbro builds →Water Pulse 2x92-108%KO Water Gun 2x62-74% | ||
 Lycanroc Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lycanroc builds →Stone Edge 2x182-215%KO Rock Slide 2x137-162%KO Rock Tomb 2x109-129%KO Rock Throw 2x92-108%KO | ||
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Excadrill can KO Growlithe with Earthquake (252-296%). Greninja threatens a KO with Hydro Pump (317-373%). Tentacruel's Scald also KOs at 99-117%.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x252-296%KO Rapid Spin42-50% | ||
 Greninja WaterDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBattlebond ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse115-135%KO Ice Beam43-51% Hydro Pump 2x317-373%KO | ||
 Tentacruel WaterPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Tentacruel builds →Scald 2x99-117%KO Rapid Spin18-22% Sludge Bomb56-66% | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Terrakion builds →Close Combat218-257%KO Stone Edge 2x363-428%KO Earthquake 2x242-285%KO | ||
 Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhyperior builds →Earthquake 2x239-282%KO Stone Edge 2x239-282%KO | ||
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Evolution
Growlithe doesn't evolve by leveling. You'll need an evolution item to push it forward to Arcanine. Evolving adds up to 205 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Growlithe easily with 218 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Body Slam, Burn Up, Close Combat and 11 more to offspring.
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Growlithe Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The egg pool carries weight here. Body Slam and Burn Up aren't available any other way for Growlithe, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Overheat and Burn Up for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Growlithe Locations
Growlithe starts showing up in early-game routes at moderate rates across 2 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations to Catch Growlithe in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Growlithe Guide
Growlithe is meant to evolve into Arcanine. At 350 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Intimidate is what you want on Growlithe. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Flash Fire, Justified) work on paper but Intimidate is what makes Growlithe worth using.
At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Growlithe is a mixed attacker with base 70 Attack and 70 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Fragile, can't afford to take many hits.
For Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, you can run Growlithe through the first few routes without issues. 350 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Arcanine as fast as you can.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Growlithe has appeared in 21 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received a Hisuian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
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 4DP
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 8PLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves