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.
It extends its 80 tentacles to form an encircling poisonous net that is difficult to escape.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ground, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Lunatone RockPsychic | C | |
 Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
 Pachirisu Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Pachirisu builds →Thunderbolt 2x37-44% Spark 2x44-53% | ||
 Cubone Ground | D | |
 Electrike Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Electrike builds →Thunderbolt 2x49-57% Spark 2x44-53% | ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodOld Chateau Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Rotom builds →Thunderbolt 2x56-67% Shock Wave 2x39-46% Thunder Shock 2x26-32% | ||
 Gligar Ground | C | |
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
 Gible DragonGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gible builds →Earthquake 2x80-95% Sand Tomb 2x29-35% | ||
Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodOld Chateau Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Rotom builds →Thunder 2x70-84% Thunderbolt 2x58-68% Shock Wave 2x39-46% Thunder Shock 2x29-34% | ||
Gligar Ground | C | |
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Onix RockGround | C | |
Gible DragonGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gible builds →Earthquake 2x81-96% Sand Tomb 2x31-37% | ||
 Bronzong SteelPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Bronzong builds →Dream Eater 2x55-65% Earthquake 2x64-76% Psychic 2x49-59% Extrasensory 2x44-53% | ||
Lunatone RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Lunatone builds →Dream Eater 2x65-77% Earthquake 2x45-54% Psychic 2x58-68% Confusion 2x34-40% | ||
Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodOld Chateau Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Rotom builds →Thunder 2x70-84% Dream Eater 2x43-52% Thunderbolt 2x58-68% Shock Wave 2x39-46% | ||
Gligar Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gligar builds →Earthquake 2x87-102%KO Dig 2x68-80% | ||
Gible DragonGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gible builds →Earthquake 2x81-96% Dig 2x65-77% Sand Tomb 2x31-37% | ||
Bronzong SteelPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Bronzong builds →Dream Eater 2x54-63% Earthquake 2x62-73% Psychic 2x47-56% Extrasensory 2x43-51% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodCanalave City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x89-105%KO Dig 2x70-83% Mud Bomb 2x39-46% Mud-Slap 2x14-17% | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x91-107%KO Dig 2x72-85% Mud Bomb 2x31-37% Mud Shot 2x27-32% | ||
Lunatone RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Lunatone builds →Dream Eater 2x62-73% Earthquake 2x42-50% Psychic 2x55-66% Confusion 2x33-39% | ||
Gible DragonGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gible builds →Earthquake 2x78-93% Dig 2x62-73% Sand Tomb 2x28-34% | ||
Bronzong SteelPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Bronzong builds →Dream Eater 2x52-61% Earthquake 2x61-73% Psychic 2x48-57% Extrasensory 2x42-50% | ||
Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodCanalave City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x86-102%KO Dig 2x69-82% Mud Bomb 2x39-45% Mud-Slap 2x13-16% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x89-105%KO Dig 2x71-84% Mud Bomb 2x30-36% Mud Shot 2x27-32% | ||
 Steelix SteelGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Steelix builds →Earthquake 2x89-105%KO Dig 2x71-84% Thunder Fang 2x39-45% | ||
Gible DragonGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gible builds →Earthquake 2x77-91% Dig 2x61-73% Sand Tomb 2x29-34% | ||
Bronzong SteelPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Bronzong builds →Future Sight 2x64-75% Dream Eater 2x54-64% Earthquake 2x63-75% Psychic 2x49-58% | ||
Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodCanalave City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x90-106%KO Dig 2x72-85% Mud Bomb 2x39-46% Mud-Slap 2x14-17% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x92-108%KO Dig 2x74-87% Mud Bomb 2x31-37% Mud Shot 2x26-31% | ||
Steelix SteelGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Steelix builds →Earthquake 2x92-108%KO Dig 2x74-87% Thunder Fang 2x40-48% | ||
Gible DragonGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gible builds →Earthquake 2x79-93% Dig 2x64-75% Sand Tomb 2x29-35% | ||
In Platinum, Scizor's Superpower hits Tentacruel for 37-43%.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Infernape builds →Close Combat29-34% U Turn11-13% Fire Blast10-12% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Scizor builds →Bullet Punch18-22% Superpower37-43% U Turn32-38% Pursuit25-29% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityKeeneye ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemFocus Sash NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Empoleon builds →Ice Beam9-11% Hydro Pump17-20% Aqua Jet6-7% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves View Roserade builds →
| ||
Platinum 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
Breeding
Breed with Tentacruel to get Tentacool eggs easily using 21 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Acupressure, Aurora Beam, Confuse Ray and 5 more.
Platinum Tentacruel Best Moveset
Lead with Tentacruel, set Toxic Spikes, and keep pressure on. Liquidooze and Black Sludge buy the time it needs, with spread EVs letting it take hits while controlling the hazard game.
Best Build
Tentacruel best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
- Toxic Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Don't skip the egg moves. Tentacruel picks up Acupressure and Aurora Beam 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
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Tentacruel in Platinum
Tentacruel is available from mid-game water routes onward at high spawn rates. 19 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.
Where To Catch Tentacruel in Platinum
To get Tentacruel, start by catching Tentacool through surfing encounters at Lv. 20-55. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch TentacoolCanalave CitySurfing on water Lv.20-30 City60%MidPastoria CitySurfing on water Lv.20-30 City60%MidRoute 218Surfing on water Lv.20-30 Route60%MidRoute 219Surfing on water Lv.20-30 Route60%MidRoute 220Surfing on water Lv.20-30 Route60%MidRoute 221Surfing on water Lv.20-30 Route60%MidRoute 222Surfing on water Lv.30-40 Route60%MidSunyshore CitySurfing on water Lv.30-40 City60%MidFuego IronworksSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Power-plantCommonMidIron Island - OutsideSurfing on water Lv.20-30 WaterCommonMidRoute 205 - SouthSurfing on water Lv.20-30 RouteCommonMidRoute 212 - SouthSurfing on water Lv.20-30 RouteCommonMidRoute 213Surfing on water Lv.20-30 RouteCommonMidValley WindworksSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Power-plantCommonMid
Step 2Tentacruel ✓Route 223Surfing on water Lv.30-50 Route60%MidSunyshore CitySurfing on water Lv.30-50 City60%MidCanalave CitySurfing on water Lv.20-40 City5%MidFuego IronworksSurfing on water Lv.20-40 Power-plantRareMidIron Island - OutsideSurfing on water Lv.20-40 WaterRareMidPastoria CitySurfing on water Lv.20-40 City5%MidRoute 205 - SouthSurfing on water Lv.20-40 RouteRareMidRoute 212 - SouthSurfing on water Lv.20-40 RouteRareMidRoute 213Surfing on water Lv.20-40 RouteRareMidRoute 218Surfing on water Lv.20-40 Route5%MidRoute 219Surfing on water Lv.20-40 Route5%MidRoute 220Surfing on water Lv.20-40 Route5%MidRoute 221Surfing on water Lv.20-40 Route5%MidValley WindworksSurfing on water Lv.20-40 Power-plantRareMidPokémon LeagueSurfing on water Lv.30-50RareMidRoute 222Surfing on water Lv.30-50 Route5%MidRoute 224Surfing on water Lv.35-55 RouteCommonLateRoute 226Surfing on water Lv.35-55 Route5%LateRoute 230Surfing on water Lv.35-55 Route5%Lateor evolve from Tentacool (Step 1)
Tentacruel Guide
For Platinum, we rate Tentacruel B-Tier: a solid option in Platinum for the right team. At 515 BST, it fits the pivot role. Rapid Spin with Black Sludge is the standard set.
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 special attacker with base 80 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a pivot.
For Platinum, Tentacruel has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Electric, Ground, and Psychic-type attackers hit hardest.
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
- 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