Is Cyndaquil Good in Crystal Playthrough?
Even more important in Crystal than in Gold and Silver. Vulpix isn't available and Mankey is gone too, removing two options that complemented the other starters. Fire coverage is scarcer in Crystal than in any other Gen 2 game. Pick Cyndaquil unless you know exactly how to build around not having one.
Cyndaquil trades roughly evenly with Falkner's team.
Quilava resists most of Bugsy's coverage and hits back hard.
Quilava trades roughly evenly with Whitney's team.
Quilava has the type edge here and should clean up Morty's team.
Chuck's team hits Quilava's weaknesses hard.
Quilava resists most of Jasmine's coverage and hits back hard.
Quilava has the type edge here and should clean up Pryce's team.
Clair's team hits Typhlosion's weaknesses hard.
Typhlosion has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.
Typhlosion has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Typhlosion resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.
Typhlosion has the type edge here and should clean up Janine's team.
Typhlosion trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.
Typhlosion trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.
Typhlosion trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.
Typhlosion trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.
Typhlosion has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.
Typhlosion resists most of Koga's coverage and hits back hard.
Typhlosion trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.
Typhlosion has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.
Cyndaquil is available as a starter at Lv 5.
- After Falkner
- TM02NormalHeadbutt70100%15
- LV 12FireEmber60100%25
- After Bugsy
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- LV 27FireFlame Wheel90100%25
- After Jasmine
- TM23SteelIron Tail10075%15
- LV 36NormalSwift60100%20
- LV 46FireFlamethrower135100%15
Your Cyndaquil should hit Level 14 before you reach Bugsy, at typical leveling pace.
- STARTING (Lv 14)
- LV 14FireEmber60100%25
- After Falkner
- TM02NormalHeadbutt70100%15
- After Bugsy
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- After Whitney
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- LV 31FireFlame Wheel90100%25
- After Jasmine
- TM23SteelIron Tail10075%15
- LV 54FireFlamethrower135100%15
Your Quilava should hit Level 36 before you reach Clair, at typical leveling pace.
- STARTING (Lv 36)
- LV 36FireFlame Wheel90100%25
- After Bugsy
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- TM48FireFire Punch113100%15
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- TM41ElectricThunder Punch75100%15
- After Whitney
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- After Jasmine
- TM23SteelIron Tail10075%15
- LV 60FireFlamethrower135100%15
How to Get Cyndaquil in Crystal
Cyndaquil is a gift in this game. Pick it up at New Bark Town — no wild encounters or spawn rates to deal with. The details below cover exactly when it becomes available.
How to Obtain Cyndaquil in C
Step 1Cyndaquil ✓New Bark TownLv.5Gift from NPCLimitedStarter choice
Step 2Evolve into QuilavaBREEDINGAvailableLeave Typhlosion with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Quilava egg.
Step 3Evolve into Typhlosion
Cyndaquil Weakness
Cyndaquil's Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, and Rock. The Fire typing picks up 5 resistances to work with.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
What is Cyndaquil Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Cyndaquil
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Geodude builds →Rock Throw 2x81-98% Mud-Slap 2x35-42% | ||
 Marill Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Marill builds →Water Gun 2x35-42% Rollout 2x19-23% Mud-Slap 2x14-19% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Onix builds →Rock Throw 2x58-70% Mud-Slap 2x28-35% | ||
 Poliwag Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEcruteak City Surfing | ||
 Totodile Water | C | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Totodile builds →Water Gun 2x47-56% Mud-Slap 2x23-28% | ||
 Cubone Ground | C | |
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift | ||
 Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Azumarill builds →Water Gun 2x55-65% Rollout 2x25-31% Mud-Slap 2x20-24% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Geodude builds →Rock Throw 2x84-100%KO Mud-Slap 2x39-47% | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Quagsire builds →Water Gun 2x55-65% Mud-Slap 2x39-47% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter | ||
Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x110-131%KO Rollout 2x24-29% Mud-Slap 2x18-23% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Quagsire builds →Surf 2x118-140%KO Dig 2x102-121%KO Rollout 2x35-42% | ||
 Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Psyduck builds →Surf 2x118-140%KO Dig 2x48-58% | ||
 Croconaw Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Totodile (New Bark Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Croconaw builds →Surf 2x110-131%KO Dig 2x65-77% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x172-203%KO Mud-Slap 2x20-24% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter | ||
Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x109-130%KO Rollout 2x24-30% Mud-Slap 2x18-22% | ||
 Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Poliwag (Ecruteak City Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Poliwrath builds →Surf 2x123-146%KO Mud-Slap 2x24-30% | ||
 Marowak Ground | B | |
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x171-201%KO Mud-Slap 2x20-24% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter | ||
Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x107-126%KO Rollout 2x24-29% Mud-Slap 2x17-21% | ||
Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Poliwag (Ecruteak City Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Poliwrath builds →Surf 2x120-142%KO Mud-Slap 2x26-32% | ||
Marowak Ground | B | |
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x171-201%KO Mud-Slap 2x20-24% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter | ||
Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x107-126%KO Rollout 2x24-29% Mud-Slap 2x17-21% | ||
Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Poliwag (Ecruteak City Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Poliwrath builds →Surf 2x120-142%KO Mud-Slap 2x26-32% | ||
Marowak Ground | B | |
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x171-201%KO Mud-Slap 2x20-24% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter | ||
Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x107-126%KO Rollout 2x24-29% Mud-Slap 2x17-21% | ||
Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Poliwag (Ecruteak City Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Poliwrath builds →Surf 2x120-142%KO Mud-Slap 2x26-32% | ||
Marowak Ground | B | |
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Vaporeon builds →Hydro Pump 2x222-262%KO Mud-Slap 2x20-24% | ||
Marowak Ground | B | |
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x238-280%KO Rollout 2x73-87% Surf 2x59-70% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Tyranitar builds →Rock Slide 2x183-216%KO Earthquake 2x162-191%KO Surf 2x104-123%KO | ||
Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x109-129%KO Rollout 2x24-28% Mud-Slap 2x16-19% | ||
In Crystal, Gyarados can KO Cyndaquil with Hydro Pump (124-147%).
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Cyndaquil View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x102-121%KO Hydro Pump 2x124-147%KO Body Slam65-77% | ||
Cyndaquil Evolutions
Cyndaquil kicks off a three-stage evolution line through Quilava all the way to Typhlosion. For breeding, average hatch time with plenty of partners via one egg group. The evolved forms gain up to 225 total stats over Cyndaquil. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
C Cyndaquil Best Moveset
Fire starter pre-evolution. MoveFire Blast runs off Sp. Atk too low to compete. Typhlosion is the eventual destination where Fire TermStab actually matters.
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Quick Attack
- Double Edge
- Swift
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
You'll want to breed for Foresight and Fury Swipes on Cyndaquil. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Fire Blast and Flamethrower, they expand what Cyndaquil can actually threaten in practice.
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 fire that spouts from its back burns hottest when it is angry. The flaring flames intimidate foes.
Cyndaquil Crystal Guide
In Crystal, For a casual playthrough, Cyndaquil works as a placeholder. Fire coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Quilava. That's where the stats start mattering.
Game Availability
Debuting in Gold & Silver, Cyndaquil appears in 17 games across 9 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
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