Stats & Training
Shellder's spread isn't flashy. Defense leads, Sp. Def trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Common in the wild and worth 1 Defense EV, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It swims backward by opening and closing its two shells. Its large tongue is always kept hanging out.
It swims backward by opening and closing its two shells. Its large tongue is always kept hanging out.
Shellder Weakness
Type-wise, Shellder takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Shellder's physical bulk (base 100 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift | ||
 Sewaddle BugGrass | D | |
Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Snivy builds →Energy Ball 2x125-150%KO Vine Whip 2x33-42% | ||
 Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Sunkern builds →Energy Ball 2x106-125%KO Mega Drain 2x47-58% Absorb 2x28-33% | ||
 Mareep Electric | D | |
 Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Magnemite builds →Thunder Shock 2x97-117%KO | ||
 Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x187-222%KO Mega Drain 2x87-104%KO | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Energy Ball 2x243-287%KO Mega Drain 2x111-130%KO | ||
Sewaddle BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Sewaddle builds →Energy Ball 2x126-150%KO Razor Leaf 2x43-52% | ||
Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Snivy builds →Energy Ball 2x126-150%KO Leaf Tornado 2x93-111%KO Vine Whip 2x33-39% | ||
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Sunkern builds →Energy Ball 2x104-124%KO Razor Leaf 2x33-39% Mega Drain 2x48-59% Absorb 2x26-33% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x204-242%KO Mega Drain 2x94-112%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Energy Ball 2x270-318%KO Mega Drain 2x121-143%KO | ||
 Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Maractus builds →Energy Ball 2x258-304%KO Giga Drain 2x216-255%KO Needle Arm 2x60-72% Mega Drain 2x118-139%KO | ||
Sewaddle BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Sewaddle builds →Energy Ball 2x133-157%KO Razor Leaf 2x42-49% | ||
Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Snivy builds →Leaf Blade 2x57-67% Energy Ball 2x140-166%KO Leaf Tornado 2x101-121%KO Vine Whip 2x30-36% | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roserade builds →Energy Ball 2x296-349%KO Magical Leaf 2x199-235%KO Mega Drain 2x134-158%KO | ||
 Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Leavanny builds →Energy Ball 2x189-223%KO Razor Leaf 2x61-73% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x199-235%KO Mega Drain 2x92-109%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Energy Ball 2x265-312%KO Mega Drain 2x120-142%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Maractus builds →Energy Ball 2x258-304%KO Giga Drain 2x216-255%KO Needle Arm 2x61-73% Mega Drain 2x116-138%KO | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roserade builds →Energy Ball 2x296-350%KO Magical Leaf 2x200-236%KO Mega Drain 2x136-161%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Leavanny builds →Leaf Blade 2x100-118%KO Energy Ball 2x188-221%KO Razor Leaf 2x63-75% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x202-239%KO Mega Drain 2x94-111%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Lilligant builds →Energy Ball 2x267-314%KO Mega Drain 2x121-143%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Maractus builds →Petal Dance 2x345-407%KO Energy Ball 2x261-307%KO Giga Drain 2x218-257%KO Needle Arm 2x61-71% | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roserade builds →Energy Ball 2x313-368%KO Magical Leaf 2x209-247%KO Mega Drain 2x141-166%KO | ||
 Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 11 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Virizion builds →Energy Ball 2x240-282%KO Giga Drain 2x199-235%KO Magical Leaf 2x161-190%KO | ||
 Tangrowth Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Tangrowth builds →Energy Ball 2x280-330%KO Giga Drain 2x235-276%KO Vine Whip 2x50-59% Mega Drain 2x126-149%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Leavanny builds →Leaf Blade 2x101-119%KO Energy Ball 2x196-232%KO Razor Leaf 2x62-74% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x209-247%KO Mega Drain 2x95-113%KO | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roserade builds →Energy Ball 2x312-369%KO Magical Leaf 2x210-249%KO Mega Drain 2x140-166%KO | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 11 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Virizion builds →Energy Ball 2x237-280%KO Giga Drain 2x199-234%KO Magical Leaf 2x160-189%KO | ||
Tangrowth Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Tangrowth builds →Energy Ball 2x281-331%KO Giga Drain 2x235-277%KO Vine Whip 2x50-60% Mega Drain 2x126-149%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Leavanny builds →Leaf Storm 2x281-331%KO Leaf Blade 2x102-120%KO Energy Ball 2x196-231%KO Razor Leaf 2x63-74% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x210-249%KO Mega Drain 2x94-111%KO | ||
In Black 2 & White 2, Magnezone can KO Shellder with Thunderbolt (441-519%). Breloom's Bullet Seed hits Shellder for 61-72%. Rotom's Thunderbolt also KOs at 324-382%.
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemAir Balloon NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Magnezone builds →Thunderbolt 2x441-519%KO Flash Cannon98-115%KO Volt Switch 2x344-404%KO | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Breloom builds →Mach Punch48-56% Bullet Seed 2x61-72% | ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Rotom builds →Volt Switch 2x252-297%KO Shadow Ball144-169%KO Thunderbolt 2x324-382%KO | ||
Black 2 & White 2 Evolution
Evolving Shellder into Cloyster takes an evolution item. It's not a simple level-up, so check the chain details below. Evolving adds up to 220 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Shellder easily with 25 breeding partners from the Water3 egg group. Pass egg moves like Aqua Ring, Avalanche, Barrier and 9 more to offspring.
Black 2 & White 2 Shellder Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The egg pool carries weight here. Aqua Ring and Avalanche aren't available any other way for Shellder, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Hydro Pump and Surf for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Black 2 & White 2 Shellder Locations
Shellder appears at high spawn rates across 16 spots in late-game fishing spots. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Best Locations to Catch Shellder in Black 2 & White 2
Shellder is a fishing-only catch in this game. 16 spots at Lv. 40-70 using Super Rod, so bring the right rod and check the rates on each location.
Shellder Guide
Shellder evolves into Cloyster using a Water Stone. One evolution, no branching. Solid jump from 305 BST.
In Black 2 & White 2, Shellder does the job early-game if you need a Water type on your team. Evolve it into Cloyster before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Shellder is catchable in Black 2 & White 2. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.
Shellder is available in Black 2 & White 2. Across the full series, it appears in 20 games total.
Game Availability
Shellder has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
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 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves