Base Stats
Abilities
Type Matchups
View full type chart →Damage multipliers vs. water / ground typing. Ability-based immunities (e.g. Levitate) are not included.
Forms · 2 variations
Evolution Line
Battle & Lore Hub
Battle Strategy
Gastrodon functions as a premier defensive pivot and anti-meta wall, utilizing its Storm Drain ability to provide a crucial immunity to Water-type attacks. It excels at disrupting offensive momentum by absorbing hits from powerful attackers and retaliating with chip damage or status conditions.
Best Used In
Gastrodon excels in VGC formats to hard-counter Kyogre or Dracovish, and performs well in Smogon singles tiers like OU or UU as a specialized wall for rain teams and Electric-type attackers.
Strengths
- ›Storm Drain ability provides immunity to Water-type moves and a Special Attack boost
- ›Excellent defensive typing with only one weakness to Grass
- ›Access to reliable recovery in Recover and entry hazard utility with Stealth Rock
- ›Effective mixed bulk that allows it to wall specific threats like Chi-Yu or Heatran
- ›Great natural HP stat for sustaining hits
Weaknesses
- ›Extreme 4x weakness to Grass-type moves which are common coverage options
- ›Relatively low Speed stat makes it perpetually dependent on taking a hit first
- ›Passive offensive presence can allow setup sweepers to use it as fodder
- ›Vulnerable to entry hazards and status like Toxic since it lacks natural immunity
- ›Relies heavily on its item for longevity or utility
Competitive Tips
- ›Run Storm Drain over Sticky Hold to shut down Urshifu-Rapid-Strike and Ogerpon-Wellspring
- ›Equip Leftovers for passive healing or Rocky Helmet to punish physical attackers like Maushold
- ›Utilize Earth Power and Ice Beam for wide coverage, hitting Garchomp and Electric-types hard
- ›Use Yawn to force switches or put a dangerous setup sweeper to sleep
- ›Consider Tera Fire or Tera Poison to flip its Grass-type weakness during critical turns
Recommended Teammates
Corviknight
Resists Grass-type moves and provides Defog support to keep Gastrodon healthy
Heatran
Forms a defensive core that covers Fire and Grass weaknesses while providing hazard pressure
Rillaboom
Provides Grassy Terrain for passive recovery, though Gastrodon must be careful of the Ground-type move nerf
Gholdengo
Blocks Rapid Spin and Defog, helping Gastrodon maintain its entry hazards on the field
Iron Valiant
Applies offensive pressure that Gastrodon lacks, benefiting from Gastrodon's ability to switch into its counters
Game History
Gastrodon was introduced in Generation 4 as a regional variant precursor, featuring distinct West Sea (pink) and East Sea (blue) forms depending on which side of Sinnoh it was caught. It has been a staple in competitive play since its debut, famously used by Paul in the anime and proving essential in various VGC formats to counter rain teams.
Trivia
- ◆Gastrodon and Shellos were originally designed for Generation 3 but were cut due to time constraints
- ◆The two forms have no mechanical differences, only aesthetic ones representing geographic isolation
- ◆In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it is one of the few Pokémon found in both the cobalt Coastlands and Coronet Highlands
- ◆Its design is based on sea slugs, specifically the Opisthobranchia group
- ◆Pokedex entries suggest it once had a large shell on its back that evolved away for greater mobility
- ◆It is the only Pokémon with the Water/Ground typing that can have the Storm Drain ability
Moves · 79 total
Level-Up
8 movesTM / HM
68 movesMove Tutor
3 movesWhere to find· 20 games
Diamond
6 spots- •Fuego Ironworks
- •Sinnoh Route 218
- •Sinnoh Route 221
- •Sinnoh Route 222
- •Sinnoh Route 224
- •Sinnoh Sea Route 230
Pearl
6 spots- •Fuego Ironworks
- •Sinnoh Route 218
- •Sinnoh Route 221
- •Sinnoh Route 222
- •Sinnoh Route 224
- •Sinnoh Sea Route 230
Platinum
9 spots- •Canalave City
- •Fuego Ironworks
- •Pastoria City
- •Sinnoh Route 205 South Towards Floaroma Town
- •Sinnoh Route 212 East Towards Pastoria City
- •Sinnoh Route 213
- •Sinnoh Route 218
- •Sinnoh Route 224
- •Valley Windworks
HeartGold
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
SoulSilver
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Black
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
White
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Black 2
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
White 2
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
X
1 spot- •Friend Safari Ground
Y
1 spot- •Friend Safari Ground
Omega Ruby
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Alpha Sapphire
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Sun
3 spots- •Ancient Poni Path
- •Exeggutor Island
- •Poni Wilds
Moon
3 spots- •Ancient Poni Path
- •Exeggutor Island
- •Poni Wilds
Ultra Sun
4 spots- •Ancient Poni Path
- •Exeggutor Island
- •Poni Breaker Coast
- •Poni Wilds
Ultra Moon
4 spots- •Ancient Poni Path
- •Exeggutor Island
- •Poni Breaker Coast
- •Poni Wilds
Sword
3 spots- •Galar Mine No 2
- •Galar Route 9 Circhester Bay
- •Galar Route 9 Main
Shield
3 spots- •Galar Mine No 2
- •Galar Route 9 Circhester Bay
- •Galar Route 9 Main
Legends: Arceus
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.