Is Tentacruel Good in Crystal Playthrough?
Fast for a Water-type with good special bulk. Tentacruel can handle Will's Psychic-types through sheer bulk and contributes against Chuck. But Crystal gives you Starmie, Lanturn, and Quagsire for the Water slot, all with better matchup coverage.
Tentacool resists most of Falkner's coverage and hits back hard.
Tentacool has the type edge here and should clean up Bugsy's team.
Tentacool trades roughly evenly with Whitney's team.
Morty's team hits Tentacool's weaknesses hard.
Chuck's typing presses Tentacool's defenses.
Tentacruel has the type edge here and should clean up Jasmine's team.
Tentacool trades roughly evenly with Pryce's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Tentacruel has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Janine's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.
Tentacruel has the type edge here and should clean up Brock's team.
Tentacruel resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Will's team.
Tentacruel trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.
Tentacruel has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Tentacruel has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.
Catch Tentacruel on New Bark Town (Surf, Lv 20-40, uncommon).
- STARTING (Lv 20)
- LV 20PoisonAcid60100%30
- After Bugsy
- TM14IceBlizzard11070%5
- LV 25WaterBubble Beam98100%20
- After Morty
- HM03WaterSurf135100%15
- After Pryce
- TM16IceIcy Wind5595%15
- After Jasmine
- TM36PoisonSludge Bomb135100%10
- TM10NormalHidden Power60100%15
- LV 55WaterHydro Pump16580%5
Catch Tentacool on New Bark Town (Surf, Lv 15-24, common).
- After Bugsy
- TM14IceBlizzard11070%5
- LV 19PoisonAcid60100%30
- LV 25WaterBubble Beam98100%20
- After Morty
- HM03WaterSurf135100%15
- After Pryce
- TM16IceIcy Wind5595%15
- After Jasmine
- TM36PoisonSludge Bomb135100%10
- TM10NormalHidden Power60100%15
- LV 49WaterHydro Pump16580%5
How to Get Tentacruel in Crystal
Tentacruel's scattered across 30 spots in mid-game water routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Where To Catch Tentacruel in C
Tentacool is your first catch on the way to Tentacruel. You'll find surfing and fishing encounters from Lv. 10-40 across 76 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch TentacoolCianwood CityLv.15-24Surfing on waterRate 90%New Bark TownLv.15-24Surfing on waterRate 90%Olivine CityLv.15-24Surfing on waterRate 90%Olivine City - HarborLv.15-24Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 34Lv.15-24Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 40Lv.15-24Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 27Lv.15-24Surfing on waterRate 90%Cherrygrove CityLv.15-24Surfing on waterRate 60%Route 32Lv.15-19Surfing on waterRate 60%Union Cave - B2FLv.15-19Surfing on waterRate 60%New Bark TownLv.10Old RodRate 15%Olivine City - HarborLv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 32Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Pallet TownLv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 12Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 13Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 26Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 27Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Vermilion City - CityLv.10Old RodRate 15%Vermilion City - HarborLv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 26Lv.25-34Surfing on waterRate 90%Cinnabar Island - GymLv.30-39Surfing on waterRate 90%Pallet TownLv.30-39Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 19Lv.30-39Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 20Lv.30-39Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 21Lv.30-39Surfing on waterRate 90%Vermilion City - CityLv.30-39Surfing on waterRate 90%Vermilion City - HarborLv.30-39Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 32Lv.20Good RodRate 65%Route 12Lv.20Good RodRate 65%Route 13Lv.20Good RodRate 65%Route 41Lv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 60%Whirl Islands - 1FLv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 60%Whirl Islands - B2FLv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 60%Route 12Lv.25-29Surfing on waterRate 60%Route 13Lv.25-29Surfing on waterRate 60%New Bark TownLv.20Good RodRate 35%Olivine City - HarborLv.20Good RodRate 35%Pallet TownLv.20Good RodRate 35%Route 26Lv.20Good RodRate 35%Route 27Lv.20Good RodRate 35%Vermilion City - CityLv.20Good RodRate 35%Vermilion City - HarborLv.20Good RodRate 35%Route 32Lv.40Super RodRate 70%Route 12Lv.40Super RodRate 70%Route 13Lv.40Super RodRate 70%
Step 2Tentacruel ✓Route 41Lv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 30%Cherrygrove CityLv.20-40Surfing on waterRate 10%Cianwood CityLv.20-40Surfing on waterRate 10%New Bark TownLv.20-40Surfing on waterRate 10%Olivine CityLv.20-40Surfing on waterRate 10%Olivine City - HarborLv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 32Lv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 34Lv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 40Lv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 10%Union Cave - B2FLv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 10%Whirl Islands - 1FLv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 10%Whirl Islands - B2F Inner CaveLv.20-28Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 27Lv.20-24Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 12Lv.25-29Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 13Lv.25-29Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 26Lv.30-34Surfing on waterRate 10%New Bark TownLv.40Super RodRate 20%Olivine City - HarborLv.40Super RodRate 20%Pallet TownLv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 26Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 27Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Vermilion City - CityLv.40Super RodRate 20%Vermilion City - HarborLv.40Super RodRate 20%Cinnabar Island - GymLv.35-39Surfing on waterRate 10%Pallet TownLv.35-39Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 19Lv.35-39Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 20Lv.35-39Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 21Lv.35-39Surfing on waterRate 10%Vermilion City - CityLv.35-39Surfing on waterRate 10%Vermilion City - HarborLv.35-39Surfing on waterRate 10%or evolve from Tentacool (Step 1)
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 |
- 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 Tentacruel Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Tentacruel
 Elekid Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Elekid builds →Thunder Punch 2x39-48% Mud-Slap 2x14-18% | ||
 Slowpoke WaterPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing | ||
 Drowzee Psychic | B | |
 Wooper WaterGround | C | |
 Pichu Electric | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Pichu builds →Thunder Shock 2x18-21% Mud-Slap 2x11-14% | ||
 Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Confusion 2x44-53% Thunder Punch 2x41-50% | ||
Elekid Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Elekid builds →Thunder 2x63-75% Mud-Slap 2x12-15% | ||
 Cubone Ground | C | |
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Cubone builds →Bone Club 2x44-53% Thunder Punch 2x19-24% | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
Pichu Electric | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Pichu builds →Thunder 2x44-53% Mud-Slap 2x9-12% | ||
 Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Jolteon builds →Thunder 2x87-102%KO Mud-Slap 2x12-15% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Psybeam 2x52-62% Thunder Punch 2x41-49% Dig 2x22-27% | ||
 Magnemite ElectricSteel | C | |
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x89-105%KO Thunder Punch 2x39-46% Dig 2x22-26% | ||
 Celebi PsychicGrass | C | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Celebi builds →Future Sight 2x76-90% Mud-Slap 2x15-18% | ||
 Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Jolteon builds →Thunder 2x81-96% Mud-Slap 2x11-14% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x86-102%KO Thunder Punch 2x38-45% Dig 2x21-25% | ||
Celebi PsychicGrass | C | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Celebi builds →Future Sight 2x74-87% Mud-Slap 2x15-17% | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Jolteon builds →Thunder 2x82-96% Mud-Slap 2x11-14% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x86-102%KO Thunder Punch 2x38-45% Dig 2x21-25% | ||
Celebi PsychicGrass | C | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Celebi builds →Future Sight 2x74-87% Mud-Slap 2x15-17% | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Jolteon builds →Thunder 2x82-96% Mud-Slap 2x11-14% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x86-102%KO Thunder Punch 2x38-45% Dig 2x21-25% | ||
Celebi PsychicGrass | C | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Celebi builds →Future Sight 2x74-87% Mud-Slap 2x15-17% | ||
Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Jolteon builds →Thunder 2x82-96% Mud-Slap 2x11-14% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
 Marowak Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x87-103%KO Thunder Punch 2x19-23% | ||
 Lugia Psychic | S | |
Obtain MethodWhirl Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Lugia builds →Dream Eater 2x58-68% Earthquake 2x64-75% Thunder 2x46-54% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | B | |
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Slowbro builds →Dream Eater 2x64-75% Earthquake 2x55-65% Zap Cannon 2x42-50% | ||
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x89-104%KO Thunder Punch 2x38-45% Dig 2x20-24% | ||
In Crystal, Cloyster's Explosion hits Tentacruel for 81-95%. Tyranitar threatens a KO with Earthquake (87-103%). Zapdos deals 54-64% with Thunder.
S | ||
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Cloyster builds →Surf8-10% Explosion81-95% | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Tyranitar builds →Rock Slide33-39% Earthquake 2x87-103%KO Fire Blast11-13% | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Zapdos builds →Thunder 2x54-64% | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Gengar builds →Explosion60-70% Thunderbolt 2x47-55% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Tentacruel View Forretress builds →Explosion77-91% Rapid Spin16-19% | ||
Tentacruel Evolutions
Evolved from Tentacool. Tentacruel is the final form in this two-stage line. A small 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 13 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Aurora Beam, Haze, Mirror Coat and 2 more.
C Tentacruel Best Moveset
120 Sp. Def from the stat split absorbs special attackers effectively. MoveRapid Spin clears MoveSpikes for hazard removal, and MoveSurf fires from 80 Sp. Atk for solid Water TermStab. MoveSludge Bomb adds Poison coverage. Held ItemLeftovers sustains. Special tank with hazard removal utility in one slot.
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Surf
- Sludge Bomb
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Don't skip the egg moves. Tentacruel picks up Aurora Beam and Haze 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.
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
When its 80 feelers absorb water, it stretches to become like a net to entangle its prey.
Tentacruel Crystal Guide
For Crystal, we rate Tentacruel B-Tier: a solid option in Crystal for the right team. At 515 BST, it fits the pivot role. Surf with Leftovers is the standard set.
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 Crystal, run Surf, Sludge Bomb, Substitute, and Swords Dance on Tentacruel. Surf is the most common pick at 0% usage. Surf provides reliable STAB damage.
For Crystal, 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 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