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.
It has a brave and trustworthy nature. It fearlessly stands up to bigger and stronger foes.
Extremely loyal, it will fearlessly bark at any opponent to protect its own Trainer from harm.
Growlithe Weakness
Type-wise, Growlithe takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. 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 type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Water Pulse 2x83-100%KO Water Gun 2x58-69% | ||
 Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Whiscash builds →Mud Bomb 2x83-100%KO Rock Tomb 2x52-63% Water Gun 2x52-63% Mud-Slap 2x31-38% | ||
 Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Rock Tomb 2x58-69% Rock Throw 2x52-63% | ||
 Slowpoke WaterPsychic | D | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Water Pulse 2x83-98% Water Gun 2x57-67% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Whiscash builds →Mud Bomb 2x83-98% Rock Tomb 2x55-66% Water Gun 2x52-62% Mud-Slap 2x29-36% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Qwilfish builds →Water Gun 2x43-52% Rollout 2x34-41% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Rock Tomb 2x60-72% Rock Throw 2x52-62% | ||
Slowpoke WaterPsychic | D | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x123-146%KO Water Pulse 2x83-99% Water Gun 2x57-69% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x113-133%KO Mud Bomb 2x83-99% Water Pulse 2x76-90% Rock Tomb 2x53-63% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x90-107%KO Water Gun 2x43-51% Rollout 2x33-40% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Dig 2x76-90% Rock Tomb 2x57-69% Rock Throw 2x50-60% | ||
 Buizel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Buizel builds →Surf 2x94-111%KO Dig 2x63-74% Rock Tomb 2x49-57% Water Gun 2x43-51% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x118-139%KO Water Pulse 2x81-96% Water Gun 2x54-64% Whirlpool 2x48-57% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x108-129%KO Mud Bomb 2x79-93% Water Pulse 2x73-86% Rock Tomb 2x52-62% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x85-100%KO Water Gun 2x39-46% Whirlpool 2x36-43% Rollout 2x32-38% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Graveler builds →Dig 2x121-143%KO Rock Tomb 2x94-111%KO Rock Throw 2x79-93% Rollout 2x48-57% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Dig 2x73-86% Rock Tomb 2x54-64% Rock Throw 2x48-57% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x121-144%KO Water Pulse 2x81-96% Water Gun 2x56-67% Whirlpool 2x48-57% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x111-131%KO Mud Bomb 2x81-96% Water Pulse 2x76-89% Rock Tomb 2x54-64% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x89-105%KO Brine 2x65-77% Water Gun 2x40-48% Whirlpool 2x37-45% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x154-182%KO Dig 2x124-147%KO Rock Tomb 2x95-112%KO Rock Throw 2x78-93% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Dig 2x72-86% Rock Tomb 2x56-67% Rock Throw 2x48-57% | ||
 Gyarados Water | A | |
Obtain MethodLake Of Rage Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x89-105%KO Whirlpool 2x38-46% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x118-138%KO Water Pulse 2x78-92% Water Gun 2x53-63% Whirlpool 2x47-56% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x105-125%KO Mud Bomb 2x78-92% Water Pulse 2x73-86% Rock Tomb 2x52-62% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x84-99% Brine 2x62-73% Water Gun 2x38-46% Whirlpool 2x36-43% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x151-178%KO Dig 2x120-142%KO Rock Tomb 2x92-109%KO Rock Throw 2x78-92% | ||
Gyarados Water | A | |
Obtain MethodLake Of Rage Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x175-207%KO Surf 2x91-108%KO Waterfall 2x156-184%KO Whirlpool 2x38-45% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x120-142%KO Waterfall 2x115-136%KO Brine 2x86-102%KO Water Pulse 2x81-96% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Whiscash builds →Aqua Tail 2x120-142%KO Surf 2x110-130%KO Waterfall 2x106-125%KO Mud Bomb 2x81-96% | ||
Qwilfish WaterPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Qwilfish builds →Surf 2x86-102%KO Waterfall 2x125-147%KO Brine 2x64-76% Water Gun 2x41-48% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x156-184%KO Dig 2x125-147%KO Rock Tomb 2x93-110%KO Rock Throw 2x79-93% | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Empoleon can KO Growlithe with Hydro Pump (245-288%). Gliscor threatens a KO with Earthquake (155-183%). Aerodactyl's Stone Edge also KOs at 211-249%.
 Empoleon WaterSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemFocus Sash NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Empoleon builds →Ice Beam33-39% Hydro Pump 2x245-288%KO Aqua Jet 2x52-61% | ||
 Gliscor Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityHypercutter ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gliscor builds →Earthquake 2x155-183%KO Ice Fang17-20% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake 2x141-166%KO Stone Edge 2x211-249%KO | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver 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 131 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Body Slam, Crunch, Double-Edge and 7 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Growlithe Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The egg pool carries weight here. Body Slam and Crunch aren't available any other way for Growlithe, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Overheat and Flare Blitz for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Growlithe Locations
Growlithe's scattered across 10 spots in early-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations to Catch Growlithe in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Growlithe shows up in 10 walking spots from Lv. 13-25. Plenty of options, and the list is sorted so the highest-rate locations at each progression stage come first.
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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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