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 stat exp per KO.
It controls a big territory. If it detects an unknown smell, it roars loudly to force out the intruder.
Growlithe Weakness
Type-wise, Growlithe takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Standard number of weaknesses for the Fire typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- 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
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Quagsire builds →Water Gun 2x46-56% Mud-Slap 2x31-38% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Rock Throw 2x52-63% Mud-Slap 2x25-31% | ||
 Slowpoke WaterPsychic | D | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Slowpoke builds →Water Gun 2x35-44% Mud-Slap 2x21-25% | ||
 Totodile Water | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Totodile builds →Water Gun 2x42-50% Mud-Slap 2x21-25% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Quagsire builds →Water Gun 2x48-57% Mud-Slap 2x34-41% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Rock Throw 2x52-62% Mud-Slap 2x26-31% | ||
Slowpoke WaterPsychic | D | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Slowpoke builds →Water Gun 2x34-41% Mud-Slap 2x19-24% | ||
Totodile Water | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Totodile builds →Water Gun 2x38-47% Mud-Slap 2x19-24% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x123-146%KO Water Gun 2x57-69% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Quagsire builds →Surf 2x101-120%KO Dig 2x116-137%KO Water Gun 2x47-56% Rollout 2x31-37% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Dig 2x76-90% Rock Throw 2x50-60% Mud-Slap 2x21-26% | ||
 Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Psyduck builds →Surf 2x101-120%KO Dig 2x53-63% Mud-Slap 2x16-20% | ||
Slowpoke WaterPsychic | D | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Slowpoke builds →Surf 2x73-86% Dig 2x63-74% Water Gun 2x36-43% Mud-Slap 2x19-23% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x118-139%KO Water Gun 2x54-64% Whirlpool 2x48-57% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Quagsire builds →Surf 2x96-114%KO Dig 2x112-132%KO Water Gun 2x45-54% Whirlpool 2x39-46% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Graveler builds →Dig 2x121-143%KO Rock Throw 2x79-93% Rollout 2x48-57% Mud-Slap 2x33-39% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Dig 2x73-86% Rock Throw 2x48-57% Mud-Slap 2x20-25% | ||
Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Psyduck builds →Surf 2x96-114%KO Dig 2x52-62% Whirlpool 2x39-46% Mud-Slap 2x15-19% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x114-134%KO Water Gun 2x52-62% Whirlpool 2x46-55% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Quagsire builds →Surf 2x93-110%KO Dig 2x108-128%KO Water Gun 2x44-52% Whirlpool 2x38-45% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Graveler builds →Dig 2x120-141%KO Rock Throw 2x76-90% Rollout 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x32-38% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Dig 2x70-83% Rock Throw 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x20-24% | ||
Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Psyduck builds →Surf 2x93-110%KO Dig 2x52-62% Whirlpool 2x38-45% Mud-Slap 2x15-18% | ||
 Gyarados Water | C | |
Obtain MethodLake Of Rage Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x91-107%KO Whirlpool 2x38-45% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x114-134%KO Water Gun 2x52-62% Whirlpool 2x46-55% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Quagsire builds →Surf 2x93-110%KO Dig 2x108-128%KO Water Gun 2x44-52% Whirlpool 2x38-45% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Graveler builds →Dig 2x120-141%KO Rock Throw 2x76-90% Rollout 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x32-38% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Onix builds →Dig 2x70-83% Rock Throw 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x20-24% | ||
Gyarados Water | C | |
Obtain MethodLake Of Rage Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x91-107%KO Waterfall 2x78-93% Whirlpool 2x38-45% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Lapras builds →Surf 2x114-134%KO Water Gun 2x52-62% Whirlpool 2x46-55% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Quagsire builds →Surf 2x93-110%KO Dig 2x108-128%KO Water Gun 2x44-52% Whirlpool 2x38-45% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Graveler builds →Dig 2x120-141%KO Rock Throw 2x76-90% Rollout 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x32-38% | ||
 Poliwhirl Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEcruteak City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Poliwhirl builds →Surf 2x78-93% Waterfall 2x70-83% Bubble 2x38-45% Water Gun 2x38-45% | ||
In Crystal, Vaporeon can KO Growlithe with Surf (146-172%). Rhydon threatens a KO with Earthquake (202-238%). Aerodactyl's Earthquake also KOs at 112-132%.
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x146-172%KO | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhydon builds →Rock Slide 2x152-179%KO Earthquake 2x202-238%KO | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake 2x112-132%KO | ||
Crystal 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 66 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Body Slam, Crunch, Fire Spin and 2 more to offspring.
Crystal Growlithe 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 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 Fire Blast and Flamethrower for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Crystal Growlithe Locations
Growlithe's scattered across 5 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 Crystal
Walking encounters at Lv. 5-17 across 5 spots for Growlithe. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.
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.
At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Growlithe is a special attacker with base 70 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Fragile, can't afford to take many hits.
For Crystal, 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.
Growlithe's best stat is Attack at base 70. Fire typing resists 5 types, so it can switch in safely on a lot of moves.
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