For Emerald, we rate Tentacruel C-Tier: a niche pick in Emerald's meta. At 515 BST, it fits the pivot role. Surf with Leftovers is the standard set.

What is Tentacruel weak to?

In Emerald, watch for Raikou (Electric), Golem (Ground), and Starmie (Psychic) when using Tentacruel. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.

What is the best ability for Tentacruel?

Clear Body prevents stats from being lowered by other Pokémon. That's the one you want on Tentacruel. Rain Dish is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Liquid Ooze works too if your team needs something different.

What role does Tentacruel play in battle?

Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Tentacruel is a mixed attacker with base 70 Attack and 80 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a pivot.

What are the best moves for Tentacruel?

In Emerald, run Surf, Ice Beam, Rapid Spin, and Toxic on Tentacruel. Surf is the most common pick at 17% usage. Surf provides reliable STAB damage.

Tentacruel - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Mixed

Pivot

CTier

100Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

Sp. Def and Speed carry most of Tentacruel's stat budget. Defense's the obvious dump stat. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Sp. Def EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats

High

HP80

Attack70

Defense65

Sp. Atk80

Sp. Def120

Speed100

Total515

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging60 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.6 m

Weight55.0 kg

Base XP180

Abilities

Clear BodyPopular

Prevents stats from being lowered by other Pokémon.

Liquid OozePopular

Damages opponents using leeching moves for as much as they would heal.

Rain DishHANot in game

Heals for 1/16 max HP after each turn during rain.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpD+2Spe

Special Defense training target

Pokedex Entries

It lives in complex rock formations on the ocean floor and traps prey using its 80 tentacles. Its red orbs glow when it grows excited or agitated.

Emerald

Tentacruel Weakness

Electric, Ground, and Psychic moves hit Tentacruel for super-effective damage. With 7 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Tentacruel's special bulk (base 120 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Tentacruel Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Ground, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Steel

Type ChartGood

3Weak

7Resist

0Immune

Score+1

Gen III Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Ground Psychic

½xResist

Fire Water Ice Fighting Poison Bug Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (4)

Fire Ground Rock Grass

How to Beat Tentacruel in Emerald (Best Counters)

Magneton ElectricSteel	A
Available Moves Moves ThunderboltTM24 SparkLv. 26 Shock WaveTM34 Thunder ShockLv. 6 Damage vs Tentacruel Thunderbolt 2x 69-82% Spark 2x 50-59% Shock Wave 2x 48-57% Thunder Shock 2x 33-40% View Magneton builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Obtain MethodMeteor Falls Surfing Available Moves Moves PsychicTM29 ConfusionLv. 7 Damage vs Tentacruel Psychic 2x 38-45% Confusion 2x 24-28% View Solrock builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
TM Move Moves DigTM28 Damage vs Tentacruel Dig 2x 72-85% View Geodude builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
TM Move Moves DigTM28 Damage vs Tentacruel Dig 2x 67-79% View Sandshrew builds →
Baltoy GroundPsychic	D
Available Moves Moves PsychicTM29 DigTM28 PsybeamLv. 11 ConfusionLv. 1 Damage vs Tentacruel Psychic 2x 31-37% Dig 2x 42-51% Psybeam 2x 24-28% Confusion 2x 19-23% View Baltoy builds →

Emerald Evolution

Evolved from Tentacool. Tentacruel is the final form in this two-stage line. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. HP grew the most through evolution (+40 over Tentacool), and Tentacruel peaks at 515 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#072Tentacool

Level 30

#073Tentacruel

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Tentacool

WaterPoison

Tentacruel

WaterPoison

80+40

ATK

70+30

DEF

65+30

SP.ATK

80+30

SP.DEF

100

120+20

SPE

100+30

BST

335C-Tier

515B-Tier+180

ROLE

Balanced

Pivot

TYPE

Utility

Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Tentacruel to get Tentacool eggs easily using 19 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Aurora Beam, Confuse Ray, Haze and 3 more.

Egg Groups

Water3

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

6moves

Breed With (best first)

Emerald Tentacruel Best Moveset

Hasty nature gives Tentacruel the fast mixed lean it needs to trade hits effectively. Leftovers adds passive recovery each turn, max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs split the difference, and utility options punishes anything trying to wall it.

Best Build

Solid pick

Special Sweeper

Ability

Liquid Ooze

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Tentacruel

Hasty+SPE

Tentacruel best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Atk

SpA

Spe

Special Sweeper Moveset

SurfSTAB
Ice Beam
Rapid Spin
ToxicUtility

Recommended Teammates

GengarDecent

WeezingDecent

VenusaurDecent

Moves

Don't skip the egg moves. Tentacruel picks up Aurora Beam and Confuse Ray only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Hydro Pump and Sludge Bomb while Normal and Ice coverage and more adds range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Constrict

—1010035Normal

Lv 1

Poison Sting

—1510035Poison

Lv 1

Supersonic

——5520Normal

Lv 6

Supersonic

——5520Normal

Lv 12

Constrict

—1010035Normal

Lv 19

Acid

—4010030Poison

Lv 25

Bubble Beam

—6510020Water

Lv 30

Wrap

D158520Normal

Lv 38

Barrier

D——30Psychic

Lv 47

Screech

D—8540Normal

Lv 55

Hydro Pump

B120805Water

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM14

Blizzard

C120705Ice

HM01

Cut

—509530Normal

HM08

Dive

—6010010Water

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM19

Giga Drain

B751005Grass

TM07

Hail

———10Ice

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TM13

Ice Beam

A9510010Ice

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM36

Sludge Bomb

A9010010Poison

HM03

Surf

S9510015Water

TM46

Thief

D6010025Dark

TM06

Toxic

A—8510Poison

TM03

Water Pulse

—6010020Water

HM07

Waterfall

C8010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg

Aurora Beam

—6510020Ice

Egg

Confuse Ray

D—10010Ghost

Egg

Haze

D——30Ice

Egg

Mirror Coat-5

——10020Psychic

Egg

Rapid Spin

A5010040Normal

Egg

Safeguard

D——25Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

Tutor

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Tutor

Icy Wind

—559515Ice

Tutor

Mimic

———10Normal

Tutor

Sleep Talk

D——10Normal

Tutor

Snore

—4010015Normal

Tutor

Substitute

C——10Normal

Tutor

Swagger

——9015Normal

Tutor

Swords Dance

C——30Normal

How to Get Tentacruel in Emerald

A handful of locations for Tentacruel with decent spawn rates across mid-game fishing spots. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.

Where To Catch Tentacruel in Emerald

To get Tentacruel, start by catching Tentacool through fishing and surfing encounters at Lv. 5-35. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

Step 1Catch Tentacool
Abandoned Ship - B1F
Surfing on water Lv.5-35
99%Early
Abandoned Ship - B2F
Surfing on water Lv.5-35
99%Early
Ever Grande City
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 City
60%Early
Lilycove City
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 City
60%Early
Mossdeep City
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 City
60%Early
Pacifidlog Town
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 City
60%Early
Route 103
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 105 - Outside
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 106
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 107
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 108
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 109
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 110
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 115
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 118
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 119
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 121
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 122
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 123
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 124
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 125
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 126
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 127
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 128
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 129
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 130
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 131
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 132
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 133
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Route 134
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Route
60%Early
Seafloor Cavern - Entrance
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Cave
60%Early
Seafloor Cavern - Room 6
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Cave
60%Early
Seafloor Cavern - Room 7
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Cave
60%Early
Shoal Cave - 1F Room 1, High Tide
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Cave
60%Early
Shoal Cave - 1F Room 2, High Tide
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 Cave
60%Early
Slateport City
Surfing on water Lv.5-35 City
60%Early
Abandoned Ship - B1F
Good Rod Lv.10-30
40%Early
Abandoned Ship - B2F
Good Rod Lv.10-30
40%Early
Abandoned Ship - B1F
Old Rod Lv.5-10
30%Early
Abandoned Ship - B2F
Old Rod Lv.5-10
30%Early
Dewford Town
Old Rod Lv.5-10 City
30%Early
Ever Grande City
Old Rod Lv.5-10 City
30%Early
Lilycove City
Old Rod Lv.5-10 City
30%Early
Mossdeep City
Old Rod Lv.5-10 City
30%Early
Pacifidlog Town
Old Rod Lv.5-10 City
30%Early
Route 103
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 105 - Outside
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 106
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 107
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 108
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 109
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 110
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 115
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 121
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 122
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 123
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 124
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 125
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 126
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 127
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 128
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 129
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 130
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 131
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 132
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 133
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Route 134
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Route
30%Early
Seafloor Cavern - Entrance
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Cave
30%Early
Seafloor Cavern - Room 6
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Cave
30%Early
Seafloor Cavern - Room 7
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Cave
30%Early
Shoal Cave - 1F Room 1, High Tide
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Cave
30%Early
Shoal Cave - 1F Room 2, High Tide
Old Rod Lv.5-10 Cave
30%Early
Slateport City
Old Rod Lv.5-10 City
30%Early
Sootopolis City
Old Rod Lv.5-10 City
30%Early
Dewford Town
Good Rod Lv.10-30 City
20%Early
Lilycove City
Good Rod Lv.10-30 City
20%Early
Mossdeep City
Good Rod Lv.10-30 City
20%Early
Pacifidlog Town
Good Rod Lv.10-30 City
20%Early
Route 103
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 105 - Outside
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 106
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 107
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 108
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 109
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 110
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 115
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 118
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 119
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 121
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 122
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 123
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 124
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 125
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 126
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 127
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 129
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 130
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 131
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 132
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 133
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Route 134
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Route
20%Early
Seafloor Cavern - Entrance
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Cave
20%Early
Seafloor Cavern - Room 6
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Cave
20%Early
Seafloor Cavern - Room 7
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Cave
20%Early
Shoal Cave - 1F Room 1, High Tide
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Cave
20%Early
Shoal Cave - 1F Room 2, High Tide
Good Rod Lv.10-30 Cave
20%Early
Slateport City
Good Rod Lv.10-30 City
20%Early
Abandoned Ship - B1F
Super Rod Lv.25-35
80%Mid
Abandoned Ship - B2F
Super Rod Lv.25-35
80%Mid
Train until Level 30
Step 2Tentacruel ✓
Abandoned Ship - B1F
Super Rod Lv.20-35
20%Mid
Abandoned Ship - B2F
Super Rod Lv.20-35
20%Mid
Abandoned Ship - B1F
Surfing on water Lv.30-35
1%Mid
Abandoned Ship - B2F
Surfing on water Lv.30-35
1%Mid
or evolve from Tentacool (Step 1)

Tentacruel Guide

For Emerald, we rate Tentacruel C-Tier: a niche pick in Emerald's meta. At 515 BST, it fits the pivot role. Surf with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Emerald, watch for Raikou (Electric), Golem (Ground), and Starmie (Psychic) when using Tentacruel. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Clear Body prevents stats from being lowered by other Pokémon. That's the one you want on Tentacruel. Rain Dish is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Liquid Ooze works too if your team needs something different.
Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Tentacruel is a mixed attacker with base 70 Attack and 80 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a pivot.
In Emerald, run Surf, Ice Beam, Rapid Spin, and Toxic on Tentacruel. Surf is the most common pick at 17% usage. Surf provides reliable STAB damage.

Game Availability

One of the original 151, Tentacruel has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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Abra Psychic	C
Upcoming Move Moves View Abra builds →
Ralts Psychic	D
Available Move Moves ConfusionLv. 6 Damage vs Tentacruel Confusion 2x 28-34% View Ralts builds →
Nincada BugGround	D
Upcoming Move Moves Mud-SlapLv. 31 Learns Mud-Slap at Level 31 View Nincada builds →

Geodude RockGround	C
Upcoming Move Moves EarthquakeLv. 36 Learns Earthquake at Level 36 View Geodude builds →
Abra Psychic	C
Upcoming Move Moves View Abra builds →
Ralts Psychic	D
Available Move Moves ConfusionLv. 6 Damage vs Tentacruel Confusion 2x 23-28% View Ralts builds →
Nincada BugGround	D
Upcoming Move Moves Mud-SlapLv. 31 Learns Mud-Slap at Level 31 View Nincada builds →

Geodude RockGround	C
Upcoming Move Moves EarthquakeLv. 36 Learns Earthquake at Level 36 View Geodude builds →
Plusle Electric	D
Available Move Moves SparkLv. 19 Damage vs Tentacruel Spark 2x 38-46% View Plusle builds →
Minun Electric	D
Available Move Moves SparkLv. 19 Damage vs Tentacruel Spark 2x 35-42% View Minun builds →
Electrike Electric	D
Available Move Moves SparkLv. 20 Damage vs Tentacruel Spark 2x 32-38% View Electrike builds →
Ralts Psychic	D
Available Move Moves ConfusionLv. 6 Damage vs Tentacruel Confusion 2x 22-27% View Ralts builds →

Solrock RockPsychic	C
Obtain MethodMeteor Falls Surfing Available Moves Moves PsychicTM29 ConfusionLv. 7 Damage vs Tentacruel Psychic 2x 37-45% Confusion 2x 23-29% View Solrock builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
TM Move Moves DigTM28 Damage vs Tentacruel Dig 2x 70-83% View Geodude builds →
Trapinch Ground	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Sand TombLv. 25 Damage vs Tentacruel Dig 2x 81-96% Sand Tomb 2x 37-45% View Trapinch builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
TM Move Moves DigTM28 Damage vs Tentacruel Dig 2x 67-80% View Sandshrew builds →
Baltoy GroundPsychic	D
Available Moves Moves PsychicTM29 DigTM28 PsybeamLv. 11 ConfusionLv. 1 Damage vs Tentacruel Psychic 2x 32-38% Dig 2x 46-54% Psybeam 2x 23-29% Confusion 2x 18-22% View Baltoy builds →

Magneton ElectricSteel	A
Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 ThunderboltTM24 SparkLv. 26 Shock WaveTM34 Damage vs Tentacruel Thunder 2x 83-98% Thunderbolt 2x 68-81% Spark 2x 50-60% Shock Wave 2x 46-55% View Magneton builds →
Solrock RockPsychic	C
Obtain MethodMeteor Falls Surfing Available Moves Moves PsychicTM29 ConfusionLv. 7 Damage vs Tentacruel Psychic 2x 38-45% Confusion 2x 22-26% View Solrock builds →
Gligar GroundFlying	C
TM Move Moves DigTM28 Damage vs Tentacruel Dig 2x 68-81% View Gligar builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeLv. 36 DigTM28 Damage vs Tentacruel Earthquake 2x 89-105%KO Dig 2x 71-83% View Geodude builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
TM Move Moves DigTM28 Damage vs Tentacruel Dig 2x 68-81% View Sandshrew builds →