What does Shellder evolve into?

Shellder evolves into Cloyster using a Water Stone. One evolution, no branching. Solid jump from 305 BST.

Should I use Shellder?

In Sword & Shield, 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.

Where can you catch Shellder?

Shellder is catchable in Sword & Shield. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.

What games is Shellder in?

Shellder is available in Sword & Shield. Across the full series, it appears in 20 games total.

Shellder - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Balanced

DTier

40Speed · Very Slow

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.

Base Stats

Avg

HP30

Attack65

Defense100

Sp. Atk45

Sp. Def25

Speed40

Total305

Details

Catch Rate

Easy190 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height0.3 m

Weight4.0 kg

Base XP61

Abilities

Shell Armor

Protects against critical hits.

Skill Link

Extends two-to-five-hit moves and triple kick to their full length every time.

OvercoatHA

Protects against damage from weather.

EV Yield

HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe

Defense training source

Pokedex Entries

It swims facing backward by opening and closing its two-piece shell. It is surprisingly fast.

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.

Shellder Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Water, Ice, Steel

Type ChartGood

2Weak

4Resist

0Immune

Score0

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Grass

½xResist

Fire Water Ice Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (3)

Fire Ground Rock

How to Beat Shellder in Sword & Shield (Best Counters)

Maractus Grass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Petal BlizzardLv. 36 Giga DrainLv. 24 Mega DrainLv. 8 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 340-400%KO Petal Blizzard 2x 84-100%KO Giga Drain 2x 214-253%KO Mega Drain 2x 116-137%KO View Maractus builds →
Eldegoss Grass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Leaf TornadoLv. 23 Magical LeafTM10 Razor LeafLv. 12 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 271-320%KO Leaf Tornado 2x 150-177%KO Magical Leaf 2x 138-163%KO Razor Leaf 2x 37-43% View Eldegoss builds →
Shiinotic GrassFairy	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 32 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 297-350%KO Giga Drain 2x 187-220%KO Mega Drain 2x 101-120%KO Absorb 2x 53-63% View Shiinotic builds →
Gloom GrassPoison	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 20 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 283-333%KO Giga Drain 2x 178-210%KO Mega Drain 2x 96-113%KO Absorb 2x 50-60% View Gloom builds →
Roselia GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 30 Magical LeafTM10 Mega DrainLv. 5 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 322-380%KO Giga Drain 2x 203-240%KO Magical Leaf 2x 163-193%KO Mega Drain 2x 110-130%KO View Roselia builds →

Sword & Shield 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

2 Forms

#090Shellder

Water Stone

#091Cloyster

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Shellder

Water

Cloyster

WaterIce

50+20

ATK

95+30

DEF

100

180+80

SP.ATK

85+40

SP.DEF

45+20

SPE

70+30

BST

305B-Tier

525B-Tier+220

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Physical

Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Shellder easily with 32 breeding partners from the Water3 egg group. Pass egg moves like Aqua Ring, Bubble Beam, Life Dew and 1 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Water3

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

4moves

Breed With (best first)

Sword & Shield Shellder Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Moves

The egg pool carries weight here. Aqua Ring and Bubble Beam 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

Lv 1

Tackle

D4010035Normal

Lv 1

Water Gun

—4010025Water

Lv 4

Withdraw

———40Water

Lv 8

Ice Shard+1

D4010030Ice

Lv 12

Leer

D—10030Normal

Lv 16

Whirlpool

D358515Water

Lv 20

Supersonic

D—5520Normal

Lv 24

Aurora Beam

D6510020Ice

Lv 28

Protect+4

C——10Normal

Lv 32

Razor Shell

C759510Water

Lv 36

Iron Defense

C——15Steel

Lv 40

Ice Beam

D9010010Ice

Lv 44

Shell Smash

C——15Normal

Lv 48

Hydro Pump

D110805Water

TM Moves

TM31

Attract

C—10015Normal

TM64

Avalanche-4

D6010010Ice

TR06

Blizzard

D110705Ice

TM55

Brine

D6510010Water

TM45

Dive

C8010010Water

TR26

Endure+4

C——10Normal

TM39

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM35

Hail

C——10Ice

TR03

Hydro Pump

D110805Water

TR05

Ice Beam

D9010010Ice

TM51

Icicle Spear

D2510030Ice

TM27

Icy Wind

D559515Ice

TR46

Iron Defense

C——15Steel

TR98

Liquidation

C8510010Water

TM53

Mud Shot

D559515Ground

TM57

Payback

D5010010Dark

TM25

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM33

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM83

Razor Shell

C759510Water

TM21

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM54

Rock Blast

D259010Rock

TM76

Round

D6010015Normal

TM16

Screech

D—8540Normal

TM20

Self-Destruct

B2001005Normal

TR27

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM24

Snore

—5010015Normal

TR20

Substitute

C——10Normal

TR04

Surf

C9010015Water

TM40

Swift

D60—20Normal

TR19

Tri Attack

D8010010Normal

TM36

Whirlpool

D358515Water

Egg Moves

Egg

Aqua Ring

D——20Water

Egg

Bubble Beam

D6510020Water

Egg

Life Dew

D——10Water

Egg

Water Pulse

D6010020Water

Tutor Moves

Shellder can't learn any Tutor moves

Sword & Shield Shellder Locations

high spawn rates in early-game water routes across 28 locations. Shellder's one of the easier catches on the list. Two different catch methods are in play here. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.

Best Locations to Catch Shellder in Sword & Shield

You can catch Shellder through 28 surfing and fishing encounters from Lv. 8-43, but availability differs between Shield and Sword. Some spots are exclusive to one version.

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSuper Rod Lv.8-12 Cave

20%Early

East Lake Axewell

SwordSuper Rod Lv.8-12 Cave

20%Early

Giant's Seat

ShieldSuper Rod Lv.30-35 Water

60%Mid

Giant's Seat

SwordSuper Rod Lv.30-35 Water

60%Mid

Courageous Cavern

ShieldSuper Rod Lv.16-21 Cave

40%Mid

Courageous Cavern

SwordSuper Rod Lv.16-21 Cave

40%Mid

Loop Lagoon

SwordSuper Rod Lv.19-24

40%Mid

Loop Lagoon

ShieldSuper Rod Lv.19-24

40%Mid

East Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

45%Late

Raining

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

45%Late

Raining

East Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

30%Late

Sandstorm

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

30%Late

Sandstorm

West Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.38-40 Cave

25%Late

Snowing

West Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.38-40 Cave

25%Late

Snowing

East Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

20%Late

Snowing

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

20%Late

Snowing

East Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

15%Late

Overcast

East Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

15%Late

Normal Weather

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

15%Late

Overcast

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

15%Late

Normal Weather

East Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

10%Late

Intense Sun

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

10%Late

Thunderstorm

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

10%Late

Intense Sun

East Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

10%Late

Thunderstorm

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

5%Late

Snowstorm

East Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

5%Late

Heavy Fog

East Lake Axewell

SwordSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

5%Late

Snowstorm

East Lake Axewell

ShieldSurfing on water Lv.40-43 Cave

5%Late

Heavy Fog

Shellder Guide

Shellder evolves into Cloyster using a Water Stone. One evolution, no branching. Solid jump from 305 BST.
In Sword & Shield, 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 Sword & Shield. 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 Sword & Shield. 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

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Gloom GrassPoison	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 20 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 281-331%KO Giga Drain 2x 179-213%KO Mega Drain 2x 100-119%KO Absorb 2x 52-63% View Gloom builds →
Roselia GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Magical LeafTM10 Mega DrainLv. 5 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 319-375%KO Magical Leaf 2x 165-194%KO Mega Drain 2x 110-131%KO Absorb 2x 58-69% View Roselia builds →
Lombre WaterGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 223-263%KO Mega Drain 2x 79-94% Absorb 2x 42-50% View Lombre builds →
Nuzleaf GrassDark	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Razor LeafLv. 1 Mega DrainLv. 18 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 223-263%KO Razor Leaf 2x 52-63% Mega Drain 2x 79-94% Absorb 2x 42-50% View Nuzleaf builds →
Pumpkaboo GhostGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Razor LeafLv. 12 Bullet SeedLv. 20 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 179-213%KO Razor Leaf 2x 46-56% Bullet Seed 2x 25-31% View Pumpkaboo builds →

Gloom GrassPoison	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 20 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 278-327%KO Giga Drain 2x 175-207%KO Mega Drain 2x 96-115%KO Absorb 2x 51-60% View Gloom builds →
Roselia GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Magical LeafTM10 Mega DrainLv. 5 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 315-371%KO Magical Leaf 2x 162-191%KO Mega Drain 2x 111-131%KO Absorb 2x 60-71% View Roselia builds →
Lombre WaterGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 216-256%KO Mega Drain 2x 78-93% Absorb 2x 40-49% View Lombre builds →
Nuzleaf GrassDark	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Razor LeafLv. 1 Mega DrainLv. 18 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 216-256%KO Razor Leaf 2x 51-60% Mega Drain 2x 78-93% Absorb 2x 40-49% View Nuzleaf builds →
Pumpkaboo GhostGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Razor LeafLv. 12 Bullet SeedLv. 20 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 175-207%KO Razor Leaf 2x 45-55% Bullet Seed 2x 27-33% View Pumpkaboo builds →

Gloom GrassPoison	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 20 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 279-330%KO Giga Drain 2x 175-207%KO Mega Drain 2x 95-113%KO Absorb 2x 49-59% View Gloom builds →
Roselia GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Magical LeafTM10 Mega DrainLv. 5 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 316-374%KO Magical Leaf 2x 162-192%KO Mega Drain 2x 108-128%KO Absorb 2x 57-69% View Roselia builds →
Lombre WaterGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 213-251%KO Mega Drain 2x 74-89% Absorb 2x 41-49% View Lombre builds →
Nuzleaf GrassDark	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Razor LeafLv. 1 Mega DrainLv. 18 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 213-251%KO Razor Leaf 2x 49-59% Mega Drain 2x 74-89% Absorb 2x 41-49% View Nuzleaf builds →
Pumpkaboo GhostGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Razor LeafLv. 12 Bullet SeedLv. 20 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 175-207%KO Razor Leaf 2x 46-54% Bullet Seed 2x 25-30% View Pumpkaboo builds →

Maractus Grass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Petal BlizzardLv. 36 Giga DrainLv. 24 Mega DrainLv. 8 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 342-404%KO Petal Blizzard 2x 87-104%KO Giga Drain 2x 215-254%KO Mega Drain 2x 117-138%KO View Maractus builds →
Eldegoss Grass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Leaf TornadoLv. 23 Magical LeafTM10 Razor LeafLv. 12 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 274-323%KO Leaf Tornado 2x 150-177%KO Magical Leaf 2x 140-165%KO Razor Leaf 2x 38-46% View Eldegoss builds →
Gloom GrassPoison	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 20 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 287-338%KO Giga Drain 2x 182-215%KO Mega Drain 2x 97-115%KO Absorb 2x 51-62% View Gloom builds →
Roselia GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 30 Magical LeafTM10 Mega DrainLv. 5 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 329-388%KO Giga Drain 2x 209-246%KO Magical Leaf 2x 167-196%KO Mega Drain 2x 114-135%KO View Roselia builds →
Lombre WaterGrass	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 36 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 222-262%KO Giga Drain 2x 140-165%KO Mega Drain 2x 78-92% Absorb 2x 42-50% View Lombre builds →

Dhelmise GhostGrass	B
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 28 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 295-348%KO Giga Drain 2x 184-217%KO Mega Drain 2x 100-118%KO Absorb 2x 51-61% View Dhelmise builds →
Maractus Grass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Petal BlizzardLv. 36 Giga DrainLv. 24 Mega DrainLv. 8 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 347-409%KO Petal Blizzard 2x 86-102%KO Giga Drain 2x 219-259%KO Mega Drain 2x 119-140%KO View Maractus builds →
Eldegoss Grass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Leaf TornadoLv. 23 Magical LeafTM10 Razor LeafLv. 12 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 279-329%KO Leaf Tornado 2x 151-179%KO Magical Leaf 2x 140-166%KO Razor Leaf 2x 37-45% View Eldegoss builds →
Shiinotic GrassFairy	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 32 Mega DrainLv. 12 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 303-357%KO Giga Drain 2x 193-227%KO Mega Drain 2x 102-121%KO Absorb 2x 54-64% View Shiinotic builds →
Roselia GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM11 Giga DrainLv. 30 Magical LeafTM10 Mega DrainLv. 5 Damage vs Shellder Solar Beam 2x 331-389%KO Giga Drain 2x 209-246%KO Magical Leaf 2x 168-198%KO Mega Drain 2x 114-134%KO View Roselia builds →

Zarude DarkGrass	A
Recommended Build AbilityLeafguard ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves Darkest Lariat Power Whip U Turn Close Combat Damage vs Shellder U Turn 36-43% Close Combat 62-73% View Zarude builds →
Regieleki Electric	A
Recommended Build AbilityTransistor ItemMagnet NatureTimid Moves Volt Switch ProtectPriority ElectrowebSTAB ThunderboltSTAB Damage vs Shellder Volt Switch 2x 261-307%KO Electroweb 2x 205-242%KO Thunderbolt 2x 335-394%KO View Regieleki builds →
Kartana GrassSteel	A
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves Leaf Blade Sacred Sword Knock Off Smart Strike Damage vs Shellder Knock Off 45-54% View Kartana builds →
Rotom ElectricGhost	C
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemAssault Vest NatureTimid Moves Dark Pulse DischargeSTAB HexSTAB Nasty Plot Damage vs Shellder Dark Pulse 96-113%KO Discharge 2x 288-339%KO Hex 117-138%KO View Rotom builds →