
Is Arbok Good in Yellow Playthrough?
Even with a trade from Red, Arbok doesn't cover any matchups your team actually needs. The Poison-type limitations that hold it back in Red and Blue apply just the same in Yellow.
Brock's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ekans here.
Misty's typing presses Ekans's defenses.
Arbok has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.
Arbok has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.
Arbok has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Arbok has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.
Arbok has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.
Arbok trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Arbok has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.
Arbok cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 22.
- After Brock
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- After Misty
- TM08NormalBody Slam85100%15
- LV 27NormalGlare—100%30
- After Erika
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- TM40NormalSkull Bash130100%10
- TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- After Koga
- TM26GroundEarthquake100100%10
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
How to Get Arbok in Yellow
Arbok isn't available in the wild in Yellow. Start by transferring Ekans from Red & Blue, Gold & Silver, or Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. The evolution path from Ekans to Arbok is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Arbok in Y
Step 1Obtain EkansCARTRIDGE TRADEfrom Red & BlueAvailableCatch in Red & Blue via Walking · Route 9, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Gift · Goldenrod City · 700 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Walking · Route 42. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Walking · Route 11. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Walking · Route 212 · Dual-slot: FireRed. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom PlatinumNot TradeableAppears in Platinum via Walking · Route 212 · Dual-slot: FireRed. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in HeartGold & SoulSilver via Gift · Goldenrod City · 700 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Arbok ✓
Arbok Weakness
Arbok is weak to Ground, Psychic, and Bug. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ground, Psychic, Bug |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Poison |
- Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
- Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
- Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
What is Arbok Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Arbok
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Sandshrew Ground | C | |
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Kadabra builds →Confusion 2x67-81% Dig 2x38-46% | ||
Paras BugGrass | C | |
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Sandshrew Ground | C | |
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Kadabra builds →Confusion 2x67-81% Dig 2x38-46% | ||
Paras BugGrass | C | |
Butterfree Bug | C | |
In Yellow, Alakazam can KO Arbok with Psychic (138-162%).
Alakazam Psychic | S | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Arbok View Alakazam builds →Psychic 2x138-162%KO | ||
Arbok Evolutions
Arbok is the evolved form of Ekans, reached at level 22. A Poison type at 438 stats that still can't breed. Evolving from Ekans gave Arbok the biggest boost in HP (+25), bringing the total to 438 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
Y Arbok Best Moveset
MoveEarthquake provides the only real coverage worth using, but 60 Speed means going second against anything competitive. Poison TermStab has no useful targets at the top. MoveGlare for paralysis support is the one competitive niche.
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Wrap
- Earthquake
- Glare
- Hyper Beam
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
TMs define Arbok's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Acid and Poison Sting, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Normal and Dark coverage and more. That's where the options open up.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
The frightening patterns on its belly have been studied. Six variations have been confirmed.
Arbok Yellow Guide
In Yellow, Arbok can work for a story run. 438 BST is average, but Poison typing fills a niche depending on your team composition.
In Yellow, Arbok has a 438 base stat total and ranks as C-Tier: a niche pick in Yellow's meta. It works best as a balanced. Wrap anchors the moveset.
In Yellow, Arbok fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Base 80 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
For Yellow, the core moveset is Wrap, Earthquake, Glare, and Hyper Beam. Wrap leads at 0% usage. This set covers the balanced role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Arbok 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 1RBDebut

Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM

Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves