All 13 Turtle Pokémon: Including Moves, Abilities & Weaknesses

As Professor Oak once said, the world of Pokémon is full of amazing creatures. Throughout the eight generations, players and fans have been introduced to a variety of different creatures, each of them resembling different animals, objects, or some other more abstract concepts. In this article, we will remain in the animal kingdom as we bring you a list of all the turtle-like Pokémon in the franchise.
We will rank these Pokémon based on their PokéDex numbers and provide you with some basic information on each of them, including their moves, abilities, and weaknesses. We will also answer some additional questions about each of the Pokémon. Let us begin!
Editor’s Note: This Pokémon list was updated in December 2023.
1. Squirtle
Number | #007 |
Generation | I |
Types | Water |
Abilities | Torrent: Powers up Water-type moves when the Pokémon’s HP is low. Rain Dish: The Pokémon gradually regains HP in rain. |
Weaknesses | Grass, Electric |
Squirtle is a semi-aquatic Pokémon with a bluish hue, resembling a turtle. Its soft and elastic shell hardens over time, providing protection against threats. It can release high-pressure water from within its shell when feeling endangered. The shell’s rounded shape and indentations reduce water resistance, allowing Squirtle to swim at high speeds. Aside from water jets, it can shoot foam and use its hard shell for attacks. Squirtles are often found near bodies of water, showcasing their aquatic nature.
2. Wartortle
Number | #008 |
Generation | I |
Types | Water |
Abilities | Torrent: Powers up Water-type moves when the Pokémon’s HP is low. Rain Dish: The Pokémon gradually regains HP in rain. |
Weaknesses | Grass, Electric |
Wartortle, a semi-aquatic turtle with a darker bluish hue than Squirtle, is regarded as a symbol of longevity, potentially living up to 10 thousand years. Recognizable by algae on its shell, Wartortle hides in water to swiftly hunt prey. It relies on its large, furry ears, strong legs, and long tail for balance while swimming. When threatened, it retreats into its shell, using its exposed tail for defense. Battle scars on its shell showcase its combat prowess. Like Squirtle, Wartortle is known for shooting pressurized water jets and resides near bodies of water, whether fresh or saltwater.
3. Blastoise
Number | #009 |
Generation | I |
Types | Water |
Abilities | Torrent: Powers up Water-type moves when the Pokémon’s HP is low. Rain Dish: The Pokémon gradually regains HP in the rain. Mega Launcher: Powers up the aura and pulse moves. |
Weaknesses | Grass, Electric |
Blastoise, inspired by a turtle with two cannons, can shoot highly accurate water bullets up to 50 meters away. Although it struggles with very close targets, its power surpasses that of a fire hose, making it valuable for firefighting. Blastoise’s cannons have the strength to easily extinguish fires, earning it a place in many fire teams. In addition to its water-based attacks, Blastoise can retreat into its shell for protection or use its substantial weight to crush opponents, providing multiple defensive strategies.
4. Torkoal
Number | #324 |
Generation | III |
Types | Fire |
Abilities | White Smoke: The Pokémon is protected by its white smoke, which prevents other Pokémon from lowering its stats. Drought: Turns the sunlight harsh when the Pokémon enters a battle. Shell Armor: A hard shell protects the Pokémon from critical hits. |
Weaknesses | Ground, Rock, Water |
Torkoal, inspired by a giant tortoise and a charcoal oven, digs for coal in mountains and disused mines alongside its kin. Filling its shell with coal, Torkoal burns it to generate energy. Before the battle, Torkoal intensifies its coal burning and, when attacked, expeles thick black smoke for a strategic retreat. Emitting locomotive-like sounds while blowing smoke from its nostrils, Torkoal’s health is indicated by the strength of smoke expelled from its back. Strong smoke signals peak health while weakening smoke signifies vulnerability. Torkoal, if living in a house, may unintentionally cause fires due to its fiery nature.
5. Turtwig
Number | #387 |
Generation | IV |
Types | Grass |
Abilities | Overgrow Powers up Grass-type moves when the Pokémon’s HP is low. Shell Armor: A hard shell protects the Pokémon from critical hits. |
Weaknesses | Flying, Poison, Bug, Fire, Ice |
Turtwig is a Pokémon inspired by a small tortoise and a sprout, featuring a stem with leaves on its head. Its earthy brown shell, composed of soil, moistens and hardens when it drinks water, crucial for maintaining its head leaves. Turtwig is typically found in areas near rivers, relying on water for the well-being of its leaves. These leaves enable it to conduct photosynthesis, eliminating the need for constant food searching. Despite being challenging to encounter in the wild, Turtwig is a common choice among trainers in the Sinnoh region as a Starter Pokémon.
6. Grotle
Number | #388 |
Generation | IV |
Types | Grass |
Abilities | Overgrow Powers up Grass-type moves when the Pokémon’s HP is low. Shell Armor: A hard shell protects the Pokémon from critical hits. |
Weaknesses | Flying, Poison, Bug, Fire, Ice |
Grotle, resembling a snapping turtle, boasts an ocher-colored shell that covers its back, head, and tail, incorporating minerals and soil. The sprout from Turtwig’s head has evolved into a pair of bushes on Grotle’s back. Found in forests near water sources, Grotle wallows in mud to strengthen its shell with minerals. It seeks sunlight on its back during the day, where berries often grow in the spring, attracting other Pokémon to climb on its back for collection. Grotle can locate pure water springs and carries friendly Pokémon on its back to these hidden crystalline springs, known only to Grotle.
7. Torterra
Number | #389 |
Generation | IV |
Types | Grass, Ground |
Abilities | Overgrow Powers up Grass-type moves when the Pokémon’s HP is low. Shell Armor: A hard shell protects the Pokémon from critical hits. |
Weaknesses | Flying, Bug, Fire, Ice |
Torterra is commonly found in dense forests, featuring a leafy tree on its back that serves as a nesting spot for flying Pokémon. Known for its serene and attentive nature, Torterra watches over the Pokémon living on its back. Acquiring the Ground type upon evolution, Torterra’s tree produces berries when provided with necessary nutrients, serving as food for both Torterra and its inhabitants.
To sustain its tree, Torterra constantly needs water, residing in mountainous areas near springs. The tree’s remarkable nutritional qualities require periodic pruning to prevent discomfort. Wild Torterra manage themselves, while those owned by trainers receive care. They enjoy being pruned as a relaxing experience. Torterra, inspired by the mythological Genbu, symbolizes the Black Tortoise or North Tortoise from Chinese constellations, representing winter. Physically resembling an ankylosaur, Torterra has features reminiscent of the Great A’Tuin, a giant Torterra supporting the planet in past beliefs. With a lifespan of over 500 years and no natural predators, Torterra thrives in forested areas with nearby water sources.
8. Tirtouga
Number | #564 |
Generation | V |
Types | Water, Rock |
Abilities | Solid Rock: Reduces the power of supereffective attacks taken. Sturdy: It cannot be knocked out with one hit. One-hit KO moves cannot knock it out, either. Swift Swim: Boosts the Pokémon’s Speed stat in rain. |
Weaknesses | Fighting, Ground, Grass, Electric |
Tirtouga is inspired by prehistoric Protostega tortoises, the second-largest ever recorded, after Archelon. Revived from a fossil, Tirtouga inhabited marine waters in temperate zones around 100 million years ago and is considered the predecessor of contemporary turtle Pokémon. While primarily a sea dweller, Tirtouga could venture onto land for prey but preferred hunting in the ocean. Its hard shell and bone structure enabled it to dive up to 1,000 meters in search of prey.
9. Carracosta
Number | #565 |
Generation | V |
Types | Water, Rock |
Abilities | Solid Rock: Reduces the power of supereffective attacks taken. Sturdy: It cannot be knocked out with one hit. One-hit KO moves cannot knock it out, either. Swift Swim: Boosts the Pokémon’s Speed stat in rain. |
Weaknesses | Fighting, Ground, Grass, Electric |
Carracosta is modeled after Archelon, the largest known tortoise, with a shell resembling that of the leatherback sea turtle and a front part resembling a bulletproof vest. Leading groups of up to 20 Tirtouga, Carracosta lived in warm, humid seas, feeding on algae, shellfish, and other aquatic Pokémon like Krabby and Lileep. Though slow, Carracosta was dangerous, with a deadly bite.
Occasionally venturing onto dry land, Carracosta hunted prey and dragged it to sea for a decisive finish. Its front fins had hard claws capable of puncturing an oil tanker or rendering rivals unconscious. Carracosta’s powerful jaws could easily crush bones, rocks, and even the shells of Omastar and Omanyte, using the nutrients to fortify its own shell.
10. Turtonator
Number | #776 |
Generation | VII |
Types | Fire, Dragon |
Abilities | Shell Armor: A hard shell protects the Pokémon from critical hits. |
Weaknesses | Ground, Rock, Dragon |
Turtonator is inspired by the Matamata turtle and a landmine, residing in volcanic areas where it consumes sulfur and other volcanic substances. Its shell is coated with an explosive layer. Upon being attacked, the spikes on its shell spark, triggering a powerful explosion. Turtonator can camouflage itself as a rock near volcanic craters, remaining unnoticed until prey steps on its shell. It explodes by striking the shell with its tail, releasing the blast through the belly hole. While effective, the belly hole serves as Turtonator’s weak point, making attacks in that area more damaging.
11. Chewtle
Number | #833 |
Generation | VIII |
Types | Water |
Abilities | Strong Jaw: The Pokémon’s strong jaw boosts the power of its biting moves. Shell Armor: A hard shell protects the Pokémon from critical hits. Swift Swim: Boosts the Pokémon’s Speed stat in rain. |
Weaknesses | Grass, Electric |
Chewtle is a Pokémon resembling a baby snapping turtle, characterized by its small size with a disproportionately large head. The predominant turquoise color is visible on its head, legs, and shell top, while orange markings adorn its cheeks, tongue, and the upper horn of its head. The lower stripe of its shell is brown, and it has a single claw at the ends of each foot. Chewtle experiences great pain as its incisors grow, prompting it to bite anything for relief. Known for having teeth that can break almost anything, Chewtle also uses its hard horn to attack opponents, gripping onto them when lowering its guard.
12. Drednaw
Number | #834 |
Generation | VIII |
Types | Water, Ground |
Abilities | Strong Jaw: The Pokémon’s strong jaw boosts the power of its biting moves. Shell Armor: A hard shell protects the Pokémon from critical hits. Swift Swim: Boosts the Pokémon’s Speed stat in rain. |
Weaknesses | Grass, Electric, Fighting, Ground |
Drednaw is inspired by an alligator turtle, featuring a muscular, scaly, bluish body with a pale lower jaw and chest. Its rocky, brown shell is adorned with sharp rocks on its horn-like head, arms, and tail. Drednaw’s jaw boasts saw-toothed edges capable of cutting through iron and rock. Despite its heavy shell, it possesses remarkable muscle strength, allowing for swift movement. Known for its aggression, Drednaw tests the skills and values of trainers, with only the most experienced able to tame it. Some trainers, realizing their inability to handle it, opt to return Drednaw to the wild.
13. Shuckle
Number | #0213 |
Generation | II |
Types | Bug/Rock |
Abilities | Sturdy: The Pokémon’ is unaffected by one-hit knockout moves Gluttony: Eats berries prematurely Contrary: inverts all changes to the stat stages |
Weaknesses | Rock, Steel, Water |
Shuckle is a slender Pokémon with a yellow, seemingly soft body and initially limp limbs. Encased in a very hard red shell adorned with holes rimmed in white, Shuckle differs from other Pokémon by collecting Berries instead of actively hunting. It stores the Berries in its shell, where they undergo liquefaction and fermentation by Shuckle’s digestive juices. Shuckle then consumes the resulting mixture. The Pokémon also uses its digestive juices to dissolve rocks, creating hiding spots underneath them. Shuckle is commonly found in mountainous areas.
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