Stats & Training
Relicanth's all-in on Defense at the expense of Sp. Atk. The physical lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 2 HP and Defense EVs and follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Its form has remained the same for one hundred million years. Its body is filled with fat, so it can withstand the water pressure of the deep sea.
It was fortuitously discovered during a deep sea expedition. Its teeth have atrophied, so it now survives on microscopic organisms it sucks up.
Relicanth Weakness
Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground moves hit Relicanth for super-effective damage. Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Relicanth's physical bulk (base 130 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Grass |
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire |
 Whimsicott GrassFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 4x181-213%KO Energy Ball 4x137-161%KO Mega Drain 4x64-75% | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Exeggutor builds →Leaf Storm 4x288-339%KO Wood Hammer 4x122-144%KO Solar Beam 4x268-315%KO Energy Ball 4x201-237%KO | ||
 Decidueye GrassGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Iki Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Decidueye builds →Solar Beam 4x221-261%KO Leaf Blade 4x102-120%KO Energy Ball 4x166-195%KO Low Sweep 2x25-30% | ||
 Meganium Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Meganium builds →Petal Dance 4x189-223%KO Solar Beam 4x189-223%KO Petal Blizzard 4x81-96% Energy Ball 4x142-168%KO | ||
 Leafeon Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Leafeon builds →Solar Beam 4x149-175%KO Leaf Blade 4x105-123%KO Energy Ball 4x113-134%KO Giga Drain 4x96-113%KO | ||
In Sun & Moon, Cobalion's Close Combat hits Relicanth for 61-72%. Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt also KOs at 125-147%.
 Cobalion SteelFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemFightiniumz NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Cobalion builds →Close Combat 2x61-72% Stone Edge17-20% | ||
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureSassy Moves View Ferrothorn builds →
| ||
 Tapu Koko ElectricFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityElectric Surge ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Tapu Koko builds →Thunderbolt 2x125-147%KO Volt Switch 2x97-114%KO Dazzling Gleam55-65% | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Swampert builds →Earthquake 2x83-97% Scald31-37% Waterfall33-39% | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemFocus Sash NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Relicanth View Breloom builds →Mach Punch 2x29-34% Bullet Seed 4x36-43% | ||
Sun & Moon Evolution
What you see is what you get. Relicanth sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and plenty of partners from two egg groups. Eggs are takes forever to hatch. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Relicanth with 95 breeding partners from the Water1 and Water2 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Aqua Tail, Brine and 9 more to offspring.
Sun & Moon Relicanth Best Moveset
The recommended build leans into Relicanth's strengths as a physical attacker. Life Orb provides extra damage on every hit for a health trade, and max HP and Attack EVs back that up. Rockhead rounds out the package.
Best Build
Relicanth best EVs are HP and Attack
Doubles Physical Tank Moveset
- Head Smash
- Aqua Tail
- Earthquake
- Zen Headbutt
Recommended Teammates
Physical Tank Moveset
- Head Smash
- Earthquake
- Waterfall
- Double Edge
Moves
Don't skip the egg moves. Relicanth picks up Amnesia and Aqua Tail only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Head Smash and Hydro Pump while Normal and Ice coverage and more adds range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Sun & Moon Relicanth Locations
4 encounter spots for Relicanth at moderate rates starting from early-game fishing spots. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Best Locations to Catch Relicanth in Sun & Moon
Catching Relicanth here means fishing. All 4 encounters require Super Rod at Lv. 10-43, and there aren't any overworld spawns in this game.
Relicanth Guide
In Sun & Moon, Don't let Relicanth's 485 base stat total fool you. Swift Swim is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier. Head Smash with Life Orb is the standard set.
In Sun & Moon, Run Swift Swim on Relicanth. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Relicanth also gets Rock Head and Sturdy, but they don't compare.
In Sun & Moon, Relicanth fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 90 Attack. At base 55 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.
In Sun & Moon, run Head Smash, Aquatail, Earthquake, and Zenheadbutt on Relicanth. Head Smash is the most common pick at 25% usage. This set covers the balanced role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Relicanth first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 14 games across 8 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 3RSDebut
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 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves