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.
Its hard shell repels any kind of attack. It is vulnerable only when its shell is open.
Clamping on to an opponent reveals its vulnerable parts, so it uses this move only as a last resort.
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 |
 Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roselia builds →Magical Leaf 2x165-194%KO Mega Drain 2x110-131%KO Absorb 2x58-69% | ||
 Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Skiddo builds →Razor Leaf 2x46-56% Vine Whip 2x42-50% | ||
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
 Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodLumiose City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x42-50% Vine Whip 2x35-44% | ||
 Pansage Grass | D | |
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x200-237%KO Magical Leaf 2x161-190%KO Mega Drain 2x111-131%KO Absorb 2x56-68% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x63-76% Razor Leaf 2x46-55% Vine Whip 2x39-46% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x89-106%KO Absorb 2x46-55% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodLumiose City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x39-46% Vine Whip 2x31-38% | ||
Pansage Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Pansage builds →Seed Bomb 2x54-63% Vine Whip 2x31-38% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x200-237%KO Magical Leaf 2x161-190%KO Mega Drain 2x111-131%KO Absorb 2x56-68% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x63-76% Razor Leaf 2x46-55% Vine Whip 2x39-46% | ||
 Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x89-106%KO Absorb 2x46-55% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodLumiose City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x39-46% Vine Whip 2x31-38% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x200-237%KO Magical Leaf 2x161-190%KO Mega Drain 2x111-131%KO Absorb 2x56-68% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x63-76% Razor Leaf 2x46-55% Vine Whip 2x39-46% | ||
Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x89-106%KO Absorb 2x46-55% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodLumiose City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x39-46% Vine Whip 2x31-38% | ||
 Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Carnivine builds →Leaf Tornado 2x171-201%KO Vine Whip 2x52-62% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roselia builds →Petal Dance 2x338-399%KO Giga Drain 2x213-252%KO Magical Leaf 2x171-201%KO Mega Drain 2x115-135%KO | ||
 Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x65-77% Razor Leaf 2x46-55% Vine Whip 2x37-44% | ||
 Pumpkaboo GhostGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Pumpkaboo builds →Razor Leaf 2x46-55% Charge Beam 2x54-63% Bullet Seed 2x24-29% | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 2x124-147%KO Razor Leaf 2x59-70% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Carnivine builds →Leaf Tornado 2x171-202%KO Vine Whip 2x52-63% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roselia builds →Petal Dance 2x341-401%KO Giga Drain 2x213-251%KO Magical Leaf 2x171-202%KO Mega Drain 2x115-136%KO | ||
Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Weepinbell builds →Razor Leaf 2x59-70% Vine Whip 2x47-56% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x65-77% Razor Leaf 2x47-56% Vine Whip 2x38-45% | ||
 Amoonguss GrassPoison | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Amoonguss builds →Solar Beam 2x303-357%KO Giga Drain 2x191-226%KO Mega Drain 2x104-123%KO Absorb 2x53-63% | ||
Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 2x124-146%KO Razor Leaf 2x58-69% | ||
 Trevenant GhostGrass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Trevenant builds →Wood Hammer 2x143-169%KO | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Carnivine builds →Power Whip 2x130-154%KO Leaf Tornado 2x172-203%KO Vine Whip 2x50-60% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Roselia builds →Petal Dance 2x345-406%KO Petal Blizzard 2x68-80% Giga Drain 2x218-257%KO Magical Leaf 2x174-206%KO | ||
In X & Y, Magnezone threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (402-473%). Rotom's Volt Switch also KOs at 252-297%.
 Whimsicott GrassFairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPrankster ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves View Whimsicott builds →
| ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Magnezone builds →Flash Cannon89-105%KO Volt Switch 2x313-369%KO Thunderbolt 2x402-473%KO | ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Shellder View Rotom builds →Volt Switch 2x252-297%KO Shadow Ball144-169%KO | ||
X & Y 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 29 breeding partners from the Water3 egg group. Pass egg moves like Aqua Ring, Avalanche, Barrier and 9 more to offspring.
X & Y Shellder Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.
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
X & Y Shellder Locations
Shellder appears at decent spawn rates across 1 spots in mid-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 X & Y
Shellder Guide
Shellder evolves into Cloyster using a Water Stone. One evolution, no branching. Solid jump from 305 BST.
In X & Y, 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 X & Y. 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 X & Y. 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