No. 0024 · Generation I · Cobra Pokémon
アーボックĀbokku · 'Cobra' spelled backwards with a K – the same reversed word as the English name, written in katakana
The Cobra Pokémon · Poison type · first seen in Pokémon Red & Green (1996)
01Overview
Meet Arbok
Everything you need to know about the Cobra Pokémon — the creature behind the number.
Meet Arbok, the Cobra Pokémon: a long purple serpent with narrow eyes, a mouthful of sharp teeth and, just below its head, a broad hood painted with a startling face. It evolves from Ekans at level 22, it is pure Poison type, and at National Pokédex #0024 it sits snugly between its own pre-evolution and Pikachu.
That face is not a face at all. The classic version has two red-and-yellow eyespots ringed in black, a wide black 'mouth' and a black V-shaped stripe above, and Arbok uses it as a weapon. Faced with an enemy, it rears up, spreads its chest wide and blasts air from its mouth to make eerie noises – and weak foes simply flee. Prey that stays put is frozen in fear, then wrapped in coils strong enough to flatten steel oil drums and finished off with venom.
“The pattern on its belly appears to be a frightening face. Weak foes will flee just at the sight of the pattern.”
Pokédex · Pokémon Red (Japan), Green (Japan), FireRed, X, Scarlet & Pokopia · 1996
Arbok is territorial and famously vengeful: once it picks a target, it will not give up the chase, however far it has to go. It lives in grassy savannas and plains, forests and desolate wastelands alongside Ekans, hunting smaller Pokémon such as Wooper and raiding Pidgey and Spearow nests for their Eggs. It has even been spotted sleeping belly-up, possibly flashing its markings on purpose to keep visitors away.
The pattern is also a running mystery. The very first English Pokédex whispered that the markings differ from area to area, Yellow confirmed six variations, and Ultra Sun's researchers counted more than 20. The games play along: Arbok's hood looks different in Gold, Silver and Crystal and in Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald than it does in the Kanto games and everything from Diamond & Pearl onwards.
In the original games Arbok was a Red-version exclusive and a member of Elite Four Agatha's team, but most fans know it best as Jessie's loyal partner. Her Ekans evolved in Dig Those Diglett!, and Arbok hissed its way through years of Team Rocket schemes until Jessie set it free alongside James's Weezing in A Poached Ego!, so the pair could protect a band of young wild Ekans and Koffing from a poacher – a bittersweet farewell to Team Rocket's most faithful snake.
How big is Arbok?
Stretched out, Arbok's 3.5 m (11′06″) is about the length of a small city car, yet at 65.0 kg (143.3 lb) it weighs roughly the same as an average adult.
Evolution
02In the Pokédex's words
Arbok's Pokédex entries
16 different entries across 41 games, from 1996 to 2023. Here is how the Pokédex has described Arbok over the years, in the order the games came out.
Generation I
The pattern on its belly appears to be a frightening face. Weak foes will flee just at the sight of the pattern.
Kanto Pokédex
It is rumored that the ferocious warning markings on its belly differ from area to area.
Kanto Pokédex
The frightening patterns on its belly have been studied. Six variations have been confirmed.
Kanto Pokédex
If it encounters an enemy, it raises its head, intimidating the opponent with the frightening pattern on its body.
Kanto Pokédex
Generation II
Transfixing prey with the face-like pattern on its belly, it binds and poisons the frightened victim.
Johto Pokédex
With a very vengeful nature, it won't give up the chase, no matter how far, once it targets its prey.
Johto Pokédex
To intimidate foes, it spreads its chest wide and makes eerie sounds by expelling air from its mouth.
Johto Pokédex
Generation III
This Pokémon is terrifically strong in order to constrict things with its body. It can even flatten steel oil drums. Once Arbok wraps its body around its foe, escaping its crunching embrace is impossible.
Hoenn Pokédex
This Pokémon has a terrifically strong constricting power. It can even flatten steel oil drums. Once it wraps its body around its foe, escaping is impossible.
Hoenn Pokédex
Generation IV
Arbok will try to avoid capture by spitting devastating blobs of poison.
Capture Styler (Pokémon Ranger series)
The pattern on its belly is for intimidation. It constricts foes while they are frozen in fear.
Sinnoh Pokédex
Generation VII
The latest research has determined that there are over 20 possible arrangements of the patterns on its stomach.
Rotom Pokédex
After stunning its opponents with the pattern on its stomach, it quickly wraps them up in its body and waits for them to stop moving.
Rotom Pokédex
Generation VIII
It must take some serious skill to sleep so securely on tree branches in the jungle! Arbok also displays the face-like pattern on its hood when it wants to intimidate foes.
Photodex (New Pokémon Snap)
Generation IX
It's been seen displaying its belly while sleeping. Perhaps Arbok is showing its fearsome markings on purpose to keep other Pokémon from coming near it.
This Pokémon is very tenacious. Once it targets its prey, it won't give up the chase, no matter how far the prey goes.
Rotom Phone (Scarlet & Violet)
03Stats, moves & where to find it
Arbok in the video games
Base stat total 448 · 24 core-series games · 27 spin-offs · every move it learns, generation by generation.
Base stats
From Sun & Moon (Generation VII) onwards Arbok's Attack rose from 85 to 95, lifting its base stat total from 438 to 448; nothing else has changed. In Generation I it had a single Special stat of 65 – when Gold & Silver split Special in two, Sp. Atk stayed at 65 and Sp. Def became 79. Base experience was 147 up to Generation IV, 153 in Generations V–VI and has been 157 since; base friendship was 70 in Generations II–VII and has been 50 since Generation VIII.
Abilities
- Intimidatesince Gen III
Lowers the Attack of opposing Pokémon the moment Arbok enters battle. - Shed Skinsince Gen III
At the end of each turn Arbok has roughly a one-in-three chance of shedding a status condition such as poison or paralysis. - UnnerveHidden abilitysince Gen V
Makes opposing Pokémon too nervous to eat their held Berries.
Type matchups
How hard each attacking type hits a Poison Pokémon.
Generation I: Bug-type moves were super effective (2×) against Poison types, so Arbok was weak to Bug instead of resisting it; the Bug resistance dates from Gold & Silver. The Fairy resistance applies from Generation VI, when the Fairy type was introduced.
Training & breeding
- Catch rate
- 90
- Base friendship
- 50
- Base experience
- 157
- Growth rate
- Medium Fast
- EV yield
- 2 Atk
- Egg groups
- Field, Dragon
- Egg cycles
- 20
- Colour
- Purple
- Gender ratio
- 50% male
- Body shape
- serpentine
Where to find Arbok
| Game | Year | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Green | 1996 | Red only: Route 23 and Cerulean Cave; trade into GreenAgatha of the Elite Four uses one. |
| Blue (Japan) | 1996 | Trade only |
| Red & Blue | 1998 | Red only: Route 23 and Cerulean Cave; trade into BlueAgatha of the Elite Four uses one. |
| Yellow | 1998 | Trade onlyJessie and James's Arbok battles you at Pokémon Tower (Lv. 27) and again at Silph Co. (Lv. 31). |
| Gold & Silver | 1999 | Silver: Routes 3, 4, 26 and 27; Gold: evolve EkansThe female Team Rocket Executive (later named Ariana) uses one. |
| Crystal | 2000 | Routes 3, 4, 26, 27, 28 and 42, and Mt. Silver |
| Ruby & Sapphire | 2002 | Trade only |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | 2004 | FireRed only: Route 23 and Victory Road; trade into LeafGreenAgatha still keeps one on her Elite Four team, and Team Rocket Admin Ariana uses one too. |
| Emerald | 2004 | Trade only |
| Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | Great Marsh, with FireRed in the DS's Game Boy Advance slot (dual-slot mode)Arbok migrated from a Generation III game turns up in Pal Park's Forest area. |
| Platinum | 2008 | Great Marsh, with FireRed in the DS's Game Boy Advance slot (dual-slot mode) |
| HeartGold & SoulSilver | 2009 | Johto Safari Zone (Marshland); SoulSilver also on Routes 3, 4, 26 and 27Team Rocket Executive Ariana uses one. |
| Black & White | 2010 | Transfer from a Generation IV game with Poké Transfer |
| Black 2 & White 2 | 2012 | Transfer from a Generation IV game with Poké TransferJanine uses one in the Pokémon World Tournament. |
| X & Y | 2013 | Route 19 (Horde Encounters) |
| Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire | 2014 | Trade only |
| Sun & Moon | 2016 | Trade only (not in the Alola Pokédex) |
| Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon | 2017 | Evolve Ekans; in-game trade in the Route 8 Pokémon CenterA Backpacker swaps a Trumbeak for a level 22 Arbok nicknamed Arbo, holding a Balm Mushroom. |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! | 2018 | Let's Go, Eevee!: evolve Ekans; trade into Let's Go, Pikachu!Jessie's Arbok teams up with James's Weezing for Double Battles, from the Team Rocket Hideout onwards. A Shiny Arbok was given out online to Chinese-region players for the Year of the Snake (29 January – 12 February 2025). |
| Sword & Shield | 2019 | Unobtainable |
| Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl | 2021 | Brilliant Diamond: evolve Ekans; trade into Shining Pearl |
| Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Unobtainable |
| Scarlet & Violet | 2022 | The Teal Mask (2023): Mossfell Confluence, Fellhorn Gorge and Oni's Maw in KitakamiCan also be traded in from Version 2.0.1 onwards. |
| Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Wild Zone 10 (Bleu District) and Rouge Sector 8 (Rouge District); an Alpha Arbok at Lysandre Labs (Magenta District)Mega Dimension DLC: also in Hyperspace Lumiose's 3★ Poison-type wild zones. Corbeau has an Arbok on his team in every battle against him. |
Sprites through the ages
Spin-offs & cameos
Super Smash Bros.
Arbok has never been a fighter, a Poké Ball Pokémon or a trophy, but it finally slithered into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) as a spirit. It is a one-star, Attack-type primary spirit with a single support slot, earned from the Spirit Board or bought in the shop. Its spirit battle is a neat bit of casting: you face a long-tailed, purple Ridley on Melee's Yoshi's Island stage, the floor is poisonous, and your attack power is lowered from the start – fitting for a Pokémon whose signature Ability is Intimidate.
Pokémon GO
Arbok has been in Pokémon GO since launch day in 2016, evolving from Ekans with Ekans Candy, and as a buddy it earns Candy every 3 km. Its moveset has grown over the years: Bite and Acid were joined by Dragon Tail (February 2019) and Poison Sting (June 2025), while Dark Pulse, Sludge Wave and Gunk Shot gained Acid Spray (March 2019) and, from 8 September 2026, Wrap and Brutal Swing. Shiny Ekans arrived on 25 July 2019 with the Team GO Rocket event, a Shiny Shadow Ekans followed on 10 July 2020, and from 3 March 2026 Shiny Arbok itself can be encountered in the wild. In a nice nod to the anime, when Jessie turns up in GO she leads with a Shadow Ekans – beat her and you can catch it. Shadow Arbok knows Frustration, while a purified one can learn Return.
Arbok can't be caught directly – evolve an Ekans on the table to add it to your Pokédex.
One of the original 151 battling in full 3D, complete with its own Stadium Pokédex entry about rearing up to scare opponents.
Arbok is one of the three Pokémon Jessie and James bring to their puzzle battles.
Back for more 3D battles – and its Pokédex text changes depending on which Game Boy cartridge is plugged in.
Cipher Peon Smarton uses a Shadow Arbok in the Cipher Key Lair, and you can snag it to purify.
Evolve an Ekans to get one for your team; it lives in the Wild Plains friend area and warns 'Don't mistake this pattern as my real face!'
Fiore Browser #152 lurks in the Sekra Range and spits blobs of poison to avoid capture.
Arbok is the 'A' in Team AWD, a trio taking on the challenges of Zero Isle, and wild ones lurk on the first nine floors of Shimmer Desert.
Team AWD return as the main villains of the special episode 'Here Comes Team Charm!'.
Arbok lives in the kingdom of Viperia, and its perfect partners are the warriors Dōsan and Yazaemon.
Stage 560 in Prasino Woods; its Poison skill leaves the opponent poisoned.
Guards the entrance of the Black Realm's Obsidian Shrine as a boss.
Complete Weavile's Connection Orb mission to recruit it – it introduces itself as a Team AWD thief who is 'incredibly vindictive!'
Solve Area 11, Stage 07 to catch it; its Scatter Reveal skill uncovers squares at random.
In the game since launch day; Jessie leads her battles with a Shadow Ekans, and Shiny Arbok can now be found in the wild.
A one-star Attack spirit whose Spirit Board battle pits you against Ridley on a poisonous floor, starting with your attack power lowered.
Found on the Rowlet Sea, the Bulbasaur Sea and the final Rowlet Sea.
Partners Jessie (from July 2020, in the Double Trouble and Blasting Off Again events), Agatha (from May 2023) and Ariana – and an Egg Ekans can evolve into one.
Wild Arbok slither through Magma Cavern, Buried Relic, Wish Cave, Joyous Tower and Purity Forest.
Photodex #045, found in Founja Jungle and on the Mightywide River (by day) – its entry marvels at how securely it sleeps on jungle branches.
A Dozing-type Berry specialist that gathers Chesto Berries, with sleep styles including Coiled Sleep and the belly-flashing Atop-Belly Sleep.
Listed as #147 in the Pokopia Pokédex, reusing its FireRed entry about the frightening face on its belly.
Moves
In Red and Green, Arbok was a no-nonsense snake: Wrap, Leer and Poison Sting to start, then Bite, Glare, Screech and a level-47 Acid, backed by 18 TMs and HMs. Gold and Silver turned Bite Dark-type and added Haze as a new finale, and the Generation III games slipped in the Stockpile, Swallow and Spit Up trio, while Pokémon XD's Shadow Arbok came with a Refresh that no other Arbok can learn.
Diamond and Pearl were its big upgrade: three elemental fangs from the start, Crunch at level 22, Mud Bomb, Gastro Acid and a Gunk Shot finale, followed by Acid Spray and Coil in Black and White and a 120-power Belch in X and Y. Since Sun and Moon, Crunch comes the instant Ekans evolves, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl swapped Mud Bomb for Sludge Bomb, and Scarlet and Violet stretch the TM list to 54. Legends: Z-A rewires it again with Brutal Swing, Toxic and Leech Life, though Arbok sat out Sword and Shield and Legends: Arceus entirely.
Signature moves
The classic constrictor squeeze, trapping the target for several turns. It has been one of Arbok's very first moves in every main-series game from Red and Green to Scarlet and Violet; only Legends: Z-A swaps it for Tackle.
The snake's paralysing stare is in every Arbok level-up list from Red and Green to Legends: Z-A, and it has sharpened with age: 75% accurate at first, 90% from Black and White and a full 100% since X and Y.
Arbok's original grand finale, learned at level 47 in Red and Blue. It has crept steadily earlier ever since, settling at level 20 from Diamond and Pearl to Scarlet and Violet, and Let's Go hands it over from the start.
It began as a Crystal-only egg move, became Arbok's own level-22 move in Diamond and Pearl, and since Sun and Moon it is the move Arbok learns the moment it evolves.
A three-part digestive trick: store up power, then either swallow it to heal or spit it out as an attack. All three arrive at the same level in every learnset from the Generation III games (level 46) to Scarlet and Violet (level 27), Let's Go aside.
Diamond and Pearl gave Arbok a full set of elemental fangs to start with, and they have been level-1 moves ever since (Let's Go excepted). Scarlet and Violet also sell all three as TMs, the only way to teach them in Legends: Z-A.
Arbok's heaviest Poison-type hit at 120 power: the level-56 finale in Diamond and Pearl, pushed to level 63 from Black and White onwards and learned at 49 in Legends: Z-A. Its accuracy rose from 70% to 80% in X and Y.
Complete learnsets
Generation I · Red, Green, Blue & Yellow8 level-up · 18 TM/HM
In Red, Arbok can be caught on Route 23 and deep in Cerulean Cave; Blue and Yellow have no wild Arbok, so players of those versions have to trade for one. It starts with Wrap, Leer and Poison Sting, picks up Poison Sting again at level 10, then bites at 17, glares at 27, screeches at 36 and finishes with Acid at level 47. Its 18 TMs and HMs run from Body Slam, Earthquake and Rock Slide to Fissure, Mega Drain and Strength. Before the physical/special split a move's category followed its type, so every Normal- and Poison-type attack here is physical. Haze, Headbutt and Slam can only come from Gold, Silver and Crystal through the Time Capsule.
By level-up
| RGBY | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 10 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 17 | Bite | Normal | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 27 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 36 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 47 | Acid | Poison | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM08 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| TM09 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| TM10 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM20 | Rage | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| TM21 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM26 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Fissure | Ground | Physical | — | 30 | 5 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Mimic | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM34 | Bide | Normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| TM40 | Skull Bash | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM48 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM50 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Haze | Gen II (level-up) |
| Headbutt | Gen II (TM) |
| Slam | Gen II (breeding) |
Generation II · Gold, Silver & Crystal10 level-up · 22 TM/HM · 5 egg
Gold has no wild Arbok, so it means evolving an Ekans there, while Silver lets you catch one outright on Kanto's Routes 3, 4, 26 and 27. Crystal adds Route 28, Route 42 in Johto and Mt. Silver. Bite turns Dark-type and joins the starting moves, the rest of the list arrives a little earlier, and Haze becomes the new level-51 finale. Arbok can use 22 TMs and HMs, now including Sludge Bomb, Giga Drain, Headbutt and Curse, and its first egg moves are Beat Up, Pursuit, Slam and Spite, plus Crunch in Crystal only. Eleven old Red and Blue TM moves, such as Body Slam, Rock Slide and Skull Bash, can be brought over through the Time Capsule. Categories still follow type, so Bite, Crunch, Pursuit and Thief count as special.
By level-up
| GSC | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 9 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 15 | Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 25 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 33 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 43 | Acid | Poison | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 51 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM02 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM03 | Curse | ??? | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM13 | Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| TM20 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM26 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM34 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM35 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Physical | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat Up | Dark | Special | 10 | 100 | 10 | Sneasel |
| Crunch | Dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | Girafarig, Houndour, Houndoom |
| Pursuit | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Rattata, Raticate, Tauros, Umbreon, Dunsparce |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Raichu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Dunsparce |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Body Slam | Gen I (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM) |
| Fissure | Gen I (TM) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Rock Slide | Gen I (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Substitute | Gen I (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
Generation III · Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed & LeafGreen (plus Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness)13 level-up · 22 TM/HM · 5 egg · 9 tutor · 1 event
There is no Arbok to catch in Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald, but FireRed has it on Route 23 and in Victory Road (LeafGreen players have to trade).Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness has a level-33 Shadow Arbok to snag in the Cipher Key Lair, armed with Shadow Half, Shadow Rush, Refresh, Sludge Bomb, Glare and Bite, and that Refresh cannot be learned any other way. The level-up list gains the Stockpile, Swallow and Spit Up trio at level 46, with Haze moving to 56. New TMs include Iron Tail, Torment, Snatch, Facade and Secret Power, Poison Fang joins the egg moves by way of Seviper, and the tutors of FireRed, LeafGreen, Emerald and XD teach nine moves between them. Categories still follow type, so Acid, Sludge Bomb and Poison Fang are physical while Bite is special.
By level-up
| RSE/FRLG | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 8 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 13 | Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 20 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 28 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 38 | Acid | Poison | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 46 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 46 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 46 | Spit Up | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| 56 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM23 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| TM26 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Physical | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM49 | Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat Up | Dark | Special | 10 | 100 | 10 | Sneasel |
| Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 | Seviper |
| Pursuit | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Rattata, Raticate, Tauros, Umbreon, Dunsparce, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Zangoose |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Raichu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Treecko and 2 more |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Dunsparce |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Mimic | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | FRLG, Emerald |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | Emerald |
| Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | Emerald, XD |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Refresh | Shadow Arbok, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness |
Generation IV · Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver20 level-up · 34 TM/HM · 9 egg · 7 tutor
In Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, Arbok slithers into the Great Marsh only when FireRed sits in the DS's Game Boy Advance slot. HeartGold has it in the Marshland area of the Johto Safari Zone, SoulSilver adds Kanto's Routes 3, 4, 26 and 27, and Pal Park's Forest area has it too. This is where Arbok bares its fangs: Ice Fang, Thunder Fang and Fire Fang join its starting moves, Crunch arrives at level 22 (the level at which Ekans evolves), and Mud Bomb, Gastro Acid and a level-56 Gunk Shot are new. Every move now has its own category, so Poison Sting and Gunk Shot are physical while Acid is special. The TM list grows to 34 with Poison Jab, Dark Pulse, Payback and Giga Impact, the egg moves add Disable, Poison Tail, Scary Face and (in HeartGold and SoulSilver only) Switcheroo, and Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver tutors teach Aqua Tail, Gunk Shot, Seed Bomb and more, with Headbutt in HeartGold and SoulSilver only. Body Slam, Double-Edge, Mimic and Refresh can only come from Generation III.
By level-up
| DPPt/HGSS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ice Fang | Ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Thunder Fang | Electric | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 4 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 9 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 12 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 17 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 20 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 22 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 28 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 28 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 28 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 34 | Mud Bomb | Ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| 42 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 48 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 56 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 70 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM23 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| TM26 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 50 | 80 | 10 |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM49 | Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM78 | Captivate | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM79 | Dark Pulse | Dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM83 | Natural Gift | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM84 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | 10 | 100 | 10 | Sneasel, Weavile, Houndour, Houndoom |
| Disable | Normal | Status | — | 80 | 20 | Psyduck, Golduck |
| Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 | Seviper |
| Poison Tail | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 | Seviper |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Rattata, Raticate, Tauros, Umbreon, Dunsparce, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Zangoose, Absol and 2 more |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Raticate, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Flareon, Snubbull and 12 more |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Raichu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy and 4 more |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Dunsparce |
| Switcheroo | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Persian, Linoone |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua Tail | Water | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
| Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
| Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 70 | 5 | Pt, HGSS |
| Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 | HGSS |
| Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Body Slam | Gen III (tutor) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Refresh | Gen III (event, Pokémon XD) |
Generation V · Black, White, Black 2 & White 222 level-up · 30 TM/HM · 12 egg · 12 tutor
There is no wild Arbok anywhere in Unova, so in Black, White, Black 2 and White 2 it has to arrive through Poké Transfer. Acid Spray (level 32) and Coil (level 56) join the level-up list, Gunk Shot moves to level 63, and Glare becomes more reliable at 90% accuracy. New TMs include Venoshock, Sludge Wave, Bulldoze and Dragon Tail, while Iron Tail, Giga Drain and Dark Pulse move to the tutors of Black 2 and White 2, which teach Arbok 12 moves in all; Black and White have none. Iron Tail (by chain breeding), Snatch and Sucker Punch are new egg moves. Nine moves, among them Captivate, Natural Gift, Secret Power and Refresh, can only be brought over from earlier games.
By level-up
| BW/B2W2 | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ice Fang | Ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Thunder Fang | Electric | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 4 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 9 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 12 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 30 |
| 17 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 20 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 22 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 27 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 27 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 27 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 32 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 39 | Mud Bomb | Ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| 44 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 51 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 56 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 63 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 70 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM26 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM34 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 50 | 80 | 10 |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM78 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM82 | Dragon Tail | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 90 | 10 |
| TM84 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | Sneasel, Houndour, Houndoom |
| Disable | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Psyduck, Golduck |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | Nidoran♂, Rhyhorn, Mareep, Gible, Axew, Druddigon (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 | Seviper |
| Poison Tail | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 | Seviper |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Rattata, Raticate, Tauros, Umbreon, Dunsparce, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Zangoose, Absol and 10 more |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Raticate, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Flareon, Snubbull and 27 more |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy, Donphan and 12 more |
| Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | Purrloin, Liepard, Heatmor |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Dunsparce |
| Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 5 | Rattata, Raticate, Diglett, Dugtrio, Sentret, Furret, Poochyena, Mightyena, Mawile, Spinda and 5 more |
| Switcheroo | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Persian, Linoone |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua Tail | Water | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Bind | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 | B2W2 |
| Dark Pulse | Dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 70 | 5 | B2W2 |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 |
| Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Body Slam | Gen III (tutor) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Headbutt | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Refresh | Gen III (event, Pokémon XD) |
| Secret Power | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM) |
Generation VI · X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire23 level-up · 35 TM/HM · 12 egg · 10 tutor
X and Y have Arbok on Route 19, where it turns up in Horde Encounters; Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire have none in the wild, so it has to be traded in. Belch, a 120-power burp, joins the list at level 48, Glare now hits with 100% accuracy and Gunk Shot rises to 80%. Infestation and Confide are new TMs, Dark Pulse becomes TM97, and Secret Power returns as TM94 in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire only. Only Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire have tutor moves for Arbok, ten of them. Eight moves, from Body Slam to Refresh, can only come from earlier games.
By level-up
| XY/ORAS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ice Fang | Ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Thunder Fang | Electric | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 4 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 9 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 12 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 17 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 20 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 22 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 27 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 27 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 27 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 32 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 39 | Mud Bomb | Ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| 44 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 48 | Belch | Poison | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| 51 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 56 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 63 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 | |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 | |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM26 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM34 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 | |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 | |
| TM78 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | |
| TM82 | Dragon Tail | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 90 | 10 | |
| TM83 | Infestation | Bug | Special | 20 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM84 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM94 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
| TM97 | Dark Pulse | Dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | Sneasel, Houndour, Houndoom |
| Disable | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Psyduck, Golduck |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | Nidoran♂, Rhyhorn, Mareep, Gible, Axew, Druddigon (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 | Seviper |
| Poison Tail | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 | Seviper, Skrelp, Dragalge |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Rattata, Raticate, Tauros, Umbreon, Dunsparce, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Zangoose, Absol and 10 more |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Raticate, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Flareon, Snubbull and 27 more |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy, Donphan and 12 more |
| Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | Sneasel, Weavile, Purrloin, Liepard, Heatmor |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Dunsparce |
| Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 5 | Rattata, Raticate, Diglett, Dugtrio, Sentret, Furret, Poochyena, Mightyena, Mawile, Spinda and 7 more |
| Switcheroo | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Persian, Linoone, Delphox |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua Tail | Water | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 | ORAS |
| Bind | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 | ORAS |
| Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
| Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 | ORAS |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | ORAS |
| Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
| Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | ORAS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Body Slam | Gen III (tutor) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Headbutt | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Refresh | Gen III (event, Pokémon XD) |
Generation VII · Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon24 level-up · 33 TM/HM · 12 egg · 12 tutor
Sun and Moon have no Arbok to find, so it has to come over through Pokémon Bank or a trade. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon bring it back: evolve an Ekans, or pick one up in an in-game trade for a Trumbeak on Route 8. Crunch is now learned the moment Arbok evolves as well as at level 1, and the rest of the list is unchanged. Brutal Swing is a new TM, but Dig, Strength and Secret Power are no longer TMs, which puts them among the 18 moves that only an Arbok from an earlier game can bring along. The tutors of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon teach 12 moves, Stomping Tantrum and Throat Chop among them; Sun and Moon have none.
By level-up
| SM/USUM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 1 | Ice Fang | Ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Thunder Fang | Electric | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| Evo. | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 4 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 9 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 12 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 17 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 20 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 27 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 27 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 27 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 32 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 39 | Mud Bomb | Ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| 44 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 48 | Belch | Poison | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| 51 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 56 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 63 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM26 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM34 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM59 | Brutal Swing | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM78 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM82 | Dragon Tail | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 90 | 10 |
| TM83 | Infestation | Bug | Special | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| TM84 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM97 | Dark Pulse | Dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | Sneasel, Houndour, Houndoom, Passimian |
| Disable | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Psyduck, Golduck |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | Nidoran♂, Rhyhorn, Mareep, Gible, Axew, Druddigon (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 | Seviper |
| Poison Tail | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 | Seviper, Skrelp, Dragalge |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Rattata, Alolan Rattata, Raticate, Alolan Raticate, Mankey, Primeape, Tauros, Umbreon, Dunsparce, Treecko and 16 more |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Raticate, Alolan Raticate, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Gyarados and 42 more |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy, Donphan and 13 more |
| Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | Sneasel, Weavile, Purrloin, Liepard, Heatmor |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Dunsparce |
| Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 | Rattata, Alolan Rattata, Raticate, Alolan Raticate, Diglett, Alolan Diglett, Dugtrio, Alolan Dugtrio, Sentret, Furret and 14 more |
| Switcheroo | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Persian, Alolan Persian, Linoone, Delphox |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua Tail | Water | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 | USUM |
| Bind | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 | USUM |
| Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 | USUM |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | USUM |
| Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 | USUM |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | USUM |
| Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
| Snatch | Dark | Status | — | — | 10 | USUM |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | USUM |
| Stomping Tantrum | Ground | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 | USUM |
| Throat Chop | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Body Slam | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Curse | Gen II (TM) |
| Dig | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Fissure | Gen I (TM) |
| Headbutt | Gen II (TM), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Refresh | Gen III (event, Pokémon XD) |
| Secret Power | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Strength | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! · Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee!16 level-up · 16 TM/HM
Ekans and Arbok belong to Let's Go, Eevee!, where Arbok comes from evolving an Ekans; Let's Go, Pikachu! players have to trade. The list is reshuffled: Sucker Punch, Crunch and Acid are among its starting moves, followed by Bite at 12, Haze at 16, Glare at 20, Poison Jab at 28, Slam at 36, Screech at 44 and Toxic at 52. Arbok can use 16 TMs, from Dig and Iron Tail to Sludge Bomb and Earthquake, and Mega Drain hits for 75 in these games. There is no breeding here, and no tutor moves.
By level-up
| LGPE | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 1 | Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| Evo. | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 4 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 9 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 12 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 16 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 20 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 28 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 36 | Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 |
| 44 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 52 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM05 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM07 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM08 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM10 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM12 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM17 | Dragon Tail | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 90 | 10 |
| TM19 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| TM20 | Dark Pulse | Dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM22 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM26 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM41 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM48 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM52 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM53 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
Generation VIII · Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl24 level-up · 27 TM/HM · 9 egg
Arbok is not in Sword and Shield or Legends: Arceus, so its only Generation VIII home is Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: Brilliant Diamond players get one by evolving Ekans, while Shining Pearl players have to trade. The level-up list matches the modern one except that Sludge Bomb replaces Mud Bomb at level 39. The TM list shrinks to 27, with Strength now TM96, nine egg moves remain, and there are no tutor moves.
By level-up
| BDSP | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 1 | Ice Fang | Ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Thunder Fang | Electric | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| Evo. | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 4 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 9 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 12 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 17 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 20 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 27 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 27 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 27 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 32 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 39 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| 44 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 48 | Belch | Poison | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| 51 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 56 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 63 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| TM23 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| TM26 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| TM41 | Torment | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM79 | Dark Pulse | Dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM83 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM84 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM96 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | Sneasel, Weavile, Houndour, Houndoom |
| Disable | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Vulpix, Ninetales, Psyduck, Golduck, Kecleon |
| Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 | Seviper |
| Poison Tail | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 | Seviper |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Raticate, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Gyarados, Flareon and 12 more |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Raichu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy and 4 more |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Vulpix, Ninetales |
| Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 | Rattata, Raticate, Diglett, Dugtrio, Sentret, Furret, Poochyena, Mightyena, Seedot, Nuzleaf and 10 more |
| Switcheroo | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Persian, Linoone |
Generation IX · Scarlet & Violet (Version 2.0.1+ / The Teal Mask)21 level-up · 54 TM/HM · 6 egg · 1 event
Arbok joined Scarlet and Violet with Version 2.0.1: it can be traded in, and in The Teal Mask it lives wild in Kitakami at Mossfell Confluence, Fellhorn Gorge and Oni's Maw. Its level-up list is the familiar one, minus the second Poison Sting and Bite, with Crunch learned on evolving and Gunk Shot still the level-63 finale. The TM list balloons to 54, with Psychic Fangs, Knock Off, Lash Out, Scale Shot, Breaking Swipe, Toxic Spikes and Tera Blast among the newcomers, while the egg moves are trimmed to six. A wild Tera Arbok may also know Poison Tail.
By level-up
| SV | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 1 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Ice Fang | Ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 1 | Thunder Fang | Electric | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| Evo. | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| 12 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 17 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 20 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 27 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 27 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 27 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 32 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 39 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| 44 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 48 | Belch | Poison | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| 51 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 56 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 63 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM001 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| TM005 | Mud-Slap | Ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| TM006 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM007 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM008 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| TM009 | Thunder Fang | Electric | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| TM010 | Ice Fang | Ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| TM013 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| TM018 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| TM020 | Trailblaze | Grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| TM025 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM026 | Poison Tail | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 |
| TM028 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM030 | Snarl | Dark | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| TM035 | Mud Shot | Ground | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| TM036 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| TM044 | Dragon Tail | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 90 | 10 |
| TM045 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM047 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM049 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM050 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM055 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM063 | Psychic Fangs | Psychic | Physical | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| TM066 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| TM070 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM071 | Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM083 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| TM084 | Stomping Tantrum | Ground | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| TM085 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM086 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM091 | Toxic Spikes | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM094 | Dark Pulse | Dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM095 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM102 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 |
| TM103 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM108 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM111 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| TM148 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM149 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM152 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM163 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM171 | Tera Blast | Normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM174 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM175 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM177 | Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM181 | Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| TM199 | Lash Out | Dark | Physical | 75 | 100 | 5 |
| TM200 | Scale Shot | Dragon | Physical | 25 | 90 | 20 |
| TM202 | Pain Split | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM204 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| TM214 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| TM219 | Skitter Smack | Bug | Physical | 70 | 90 | 10 |
| TM221 | Throat Chop | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM222 | Breaking Swipe | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 | Seviper, Salandit, Shroodle, Grafaiai |
| Poison Tail | Poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 | Wooper, Clodsire, Seviper, Skrelp, Dragalge, Goodra |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Paldean Tauros (Combat Breed), Paldean Tauros (Blaze Breed), Paldean Tauros (Aqua Breed) and 43 more |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Vulpix, Alolan Vulpix, Ninetales, Alolan Ninetales, Hisuian Zorua, Hisuian Zoroark |
| Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 | Diglett, Alolan Diglett, Dugtrio, Alolan Dugtrio, Sentret, Furret, Poochyena, Mightyena, Seedot, Nuzleaf and 13 more |
| Switcheroo | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Persian, Alolan Persian, Zangoose, Delphox, Shroodle, Grafaiai |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Poison Tail | Wild Tera Pokémon |
Pokémon Legends: Z-A · Legends: Z-A (incl. Mega Dimension)13 level-up · 32 TM/HM
In Legends: Z-A, Arbok lives in Wild Zone 10 in Bleu District and Rouge Sector 8 in Rouge District, an Alpha Arbok lurks in Lysandre Labs in Magenta District, and the Mega Dimension expansion adds it to Hyperspace Lumiose's 3★ Poison-type wild zones. Moves here have a learning level, a Plus level (when the move can become a Plus Move) and a cooldown instead of accuracy and PP. Tackle replaces Wrap, Crunch comes on evolving, and Brutal Swing (15), Toxic (25) and Leech Life (33) are new, with Gunk Shot closing the list at level 49. Several moves are retuned: Poison Sting hits for 30, Seed Bomb for 35 and Scale Shot for 15. There is no breeding and there are no tutors.
By level-up
| Learn | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evo. | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | — | — |
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 | — | — |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| 7 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 30 | — | — |
| 9 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | — |
| 12 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| 15 | Brutal Swing | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | — |
| 17 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| 25 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | — | — |
| 33 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | — | — |
| 36 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | — | — |
| 41 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | — |
| 49 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | — | — |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM007 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | — | — |
| TM012 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | — | — |
| TM014 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | — | — |
| TM015 | Ice Fang | Ice | Physical | 65 | — | — |
| TM017 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM021 | Thunder Fang | Electric | Physical | 65 | — | — |
| TM025 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | — | — |
| TM028 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | — | — |
| TM033 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | — | — |
| TM035 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM036 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | — | — |
| TM042 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | — | — |
| TM044 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | — | — |
| TM045 | Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | — | — |
| TM046 | Mud Shot | Ground | Special | 55 | — | — |
| TM053 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | — | — |
| TM055 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | — | — |
| TM056 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | — | — |
| TM069 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | — | — |
| TM077 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | — | — |
| TM078 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | — | — |
| TM085 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM087 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | — | — |
| TM090 | Dark Pulse | Dark | Special | 80 | — | — |
| TM100 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | — | — |
| TM109 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | — | — |
| TM112 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | — | — |
| TM115 | Trailblaze | Grass | Physical | 40 | — | — |
| TM123 | Poison Fang | Poison | Physical | 50 | — | — |
| TM124 | Psychic Fangs | Psychic | Physical | 85 | — | — |
| TM128 | Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 35 | — | — |
| TM143 | Scale Shot | Dragon | Physical | 15 | — | — |
04On screen
Arbok in the anime
Debut EP031Dig Those Diglett! · Its appearances on screen, and 3 other trainers who raised one.
For most fans, Arbok means one Pokémon: Jessie's. The hooded cobra burst on to the screen in Dig Those Diglett!, evolving from Jessie's Ekans at the same moment James's Koffing became Weezing, and for the next five years it was Team Rocket's front-line muscle, digging, Glaring and Wrapping its way through Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto across 143 episodes. Pikachu blasted it off more times than anyone could count, but it was never just a henchman: it stood up for Pokémon in trouble and was utterly devoted to Jessie.
Its story ended with one of the series' most surprising acts of heroism. In A Poached Ego!, Arbok and Weezing helped free a herd of wild Ekans and Koffing from a poacher, and Jessie and James tearfully ordered them to stay in Petalburg Woods and keep the youngsters safe. Arbok has turned up elsewhere too: in Ash's hands for a single exam battle, on Agatha's Elite Four team in Pokémon Generations, in Red's collection in Pokémon Origins and, in Pokémon Horizons, as the partner of Team Wriggle's egg-thieving Snake.
Other trainers’ Arbok
First seen: EP002Pokémon Emergency!
Evolved: EP031Dig Those Diglett!
Released: AG006A Poached Ego!
Now: Released in Petalburg Woods in Hoenn, where it stays with James's Weezing to protect a wild herd of Ekans and Koffing
Jessie's partner began life as an Ekans, a birthday present (a chūgen gift, a traditional midsummer present, in the Japanese version) that was at her side from Team Rocket's very first raid on the Viridian City Pokémon Center (EP002). Its years as an Ekans are told on our Ekans page; this is the story of the Arbok it became.
Ekans and Koffing finally evolved together in Dig Those Diglett! (EP031), and Team Rocket celebrated with fireworks right up until a horde of Diglett and Dugtrio threw them out of the ground. Arbok soon showed off its Glare (EP033), staged a convincing defeat so Cassandra's Paras could find the confidence to evolve (EP044) and, with Weezing, refused to attack the Chansey that had patched them up (EP047). It carried Jessie to the final of the Queen of the Princess Festival before Pikachu, battling for Misty, made short work of it (EP052), was frozen by the Cerulean Gym's freshly evolved Dewgong in an underwater heist (EP061), and fell to a single Thunderbolt when Jessie played Viridian Gym Leader (EP063).
In the Orange Islands, Butch and Cassidy's Drowzee hypnotised Arbok into turning on its own Trainer, until Ash and Pikachu broke the spell and everyone teamed up against the Drowzee (EP086). It also proved a loyal friend to Meowth, chasing off a giant Pidgeot with Wrap and Bite (EP104), just as it had helped him stand up to his old gang of alley cats (EP070).
In Johto, Arbok was Jessie's go-to battler, chosen over Lickitung and later Wobbuffet. It danced to a stolen whistle and tried to rope in a flock of Ledyba (EP128), was thrown out of a beauty contest by Officer Jenny (EP169) and popped rival balloons with Poison Sting in a balloon race (EP202). Its record against named opponents was grim: a Hitmonlee's kicks at the Wobbuffet Festival (EP173), Duplica's shape-shifting Ditto (EP174), Morty's vanishing Gengar and its Shadow Ball (EP181) and Cassidy's Houndour, whose Flamethrower overpowered Poison Sting in a squabble over the Lugia Silver (EP220).
Arbok's time ended in Hoenn. It was forced straight back into its Poké Ball by a Team Magma Houndoom's Roar (AG002), fought Ash for the last time in In the Knicker of Time! (AG005) and then, in A Poached Ego! (AG006), came across a herd of Ekans and Koffing caught by the poacher Rico, who wanted Arbok and Weezing for his client too. Arbok clamped Fearow's beak shut with Wrap, then knocked it out with Headbutt so Meowth could free the prisoners. As Rico's Tyranitar closed in, Jessie and James ordered Arbok and Weezing to lead the young Pokémon to safety and stay with them, and the pair fled into the forest in tears while their Trainers held off Tyranitar alone.
That was Arbok's final appearance in person, though Team Rocket have never forgotten it: it returns in a fantasy as Jessie, James and Meowth remember the Pokémon they once had in Rocket Revengers! (JN145).
Personality
Jessie sent Arbok out again and again for its intimidating presence and its talent for tunnelling and swimming, but away from the fighting it was devoted to her, and she never stopped cheering it on, even after it flunked a movie audition (EP069). It had a moral compass of its own, too. As an Ekans it told Meowth that there are no bad Pokémon, only bad Trainers (EP017), and as Arbok it refused to attack a Chansey that had nursed its wounds (EP047) or to make trouble at an oasis where humans were not welcome (EP207).
Moves usedDigBiteWrapAcidGlarePoison StingToxicDouble-EdgeTackleHeadbuttTake Down
Key battles
- EP031Dig Those Diglett! · vs Pikachu; Diglett and Dugtrio Lost
- EP044The Problem with Paras · vs Paras Lost
- EP052Princess vs. Princess · vs Pikachu (on loan) Lost
- EP061The Misty Mermaid · vs Seel → Dewgong Lost
- EP063The Battle of the Badge · vs Pikachu Lost
- EP173Wobbu-Palooza! · vs Hitmonlee Lost
- EP174Imitation Confrontation · vs Ditto (Mini-Dit) Lost
- EP181A Ghost of a Chance · vs Gengar Lost
- EP220The Mystery is History · vs Houndour Lost
- AG002A Ruin with a View · vs Houndoom Lost
- AG005In the Knicker of Time! · vs Pikachu Lost
- AG006A Poached Ego! · vs Fearow Won
First seen: HZ096Crash! Team Dragon Rampage!
Snake belongs to Team Wriggle, a gang at odds with Team Dragon Rampage, and his Arbok is his partner in crime. On a mountain path, Liko and her friends caught him using Arbok to steal an egg from a nest; it hatched straight into a Dratini, which he promptly caged. Arbok was sharp enough to sidestep a surprise Shadow Sneak from Ult's Sableye, and a Seviper soon joined the fight, but Liko's Meowscarada pinned the two snakes in place and a combined attack sent Team Wriggle running (HZ096).
- HZ096Crash! Team Dragon Rampage! · vs Meowscarada, Sableye and friends Lost
First seen: PG03The Challenger
Kanto's Elite Four veteran Agatha keeps an Arbok on her Ghost-heavy team, just as she does in Pokémon Red and Blue. When Blue takes her on in The Challenger (PG03), she sends it out only briefly, and his Rhydon beats it.
- PG03The Challenger · vs Rhydon Lost
Ash & Arbok
Ash has never caught an Arbok, and his only turn at training one lasted a single battle. At the Pokémon League entrance exam he was handed three mystery Poké Balls that turned out to hold Weezing, Arbok and Meowth, Team Rocket's own line-up; Arbok stopped the instructor's Jolteon in its tracks with Glare, but was hurt by its spikes when it tried Wrap and fell to Thunder (EP056). Otherwise his history with the species is one long feud with Jessie's Arbok, usually settled by a jolt from Pikachu (EP063, AG005).
More appearances
- EP194Ring Masters An Arbok competes in the Sumo Conference in Rikishii Town.
- AG015Gonna Rule the School! The Pokémon Trainers' School lends an Arbok to its younger students for lessons.
- AG167What I Did for Love! A Coordinator's Arbok performs in the Performance Stage of the Gardenia Contest.
- DP091One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team! The Pokémon Summer Academy lends an Arbok to a student for the first leg of the Pokémon Triathlon.
- SM127Chasing Memories, Creating Dreams! A Trainer's Arbok watches Professor Kukui announce that Manalo Stadium is finished.
Beyond the main series
Anime gallery
Anime trivia
- Arbok and Weezing made their debut by breaking the fourth wall: Team Rocket unveiled their freshly evolved partners by boasting that viewers were seeing them for the first time on TV (EP031).
- Arbok's Glare in The Flame Pokémon-athon! (EP033) was the first time a main character's Pokémon used a signature move in the anime.
- With 143 main-series episodes, Jessie's Arbok has appeared more often than any of her Pokémon except Wobbuffet, and its eleven moves on screen are the most of any Pokémon Jessie or James has owned.
- When Ash sat the Pokémon League entrance exam, his three mystery Poké Balls held Team Rocket's usual trio of Arbok, Weezing and Meowth, while James drew Pikachu, Ivysaur and Charizard (EP056).
- Arbok weighs 65 kg in the games, well under the 80 kg minimum for the Sumo Conference in Rikishii Town, yet one still competed in Ring Masters (EP194).
- The arrow-shaped marking on the neck of Jessie's Arbok is drawn differently from episode to episode: sometimes its ends stretch right to the eye-like markings, and some episodes give it two red dots that others leave out.
- Pokémon Horizons' Snake of Team Wriggle teams an Arbok with a Seviper, the same pair of Poison-type snakes Jessie has owned (HZ096).
05On the big screen
Arbok in the movies
2 films, 2 Pikachu shorts featuring Arbok.
On the big screen, Arbok is mostly Jessie's. Her loyal snake gets its biggest film moment in The Power of One, trying (and failing) to Poison Sting Zapdos out of its cage, and in I Choose You! an Arbok is among the Pokémon that fall under Marshadow's control. The shorts are more fun. In Pikachu's Vacation, Jessie's Arbok and James's Weezing just want a quiet nap, and the POKÉTOON short Blossom's Dream turns a wild Arbok into a proper villain.
Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One
M02 · 1999
Jessie's Arbok; several other Arbok
Arbok's biggest big-screen moment belongs to Jessie's partner. With the collector Lawrence III locking up the legendary birds, Jessie sends Arbok to break Zapdos out with Poison Sting, but its barbs can't pierce the prison. Several other Arbok are among the Pokémon that sense the chaos Lawrence is causing in the natural world.
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
M20 · 2017
An Arbok controlled by Marshadow
The 20th-anniversary retelling of Ash's journey gives Arbok a sinister walk-on part: an Arbok is among the Pokémon that fall under Marshadow's control. It's a fleeting role in a film that belongs to Ash, Pikachu and Ho-Oh.
Pikachu shorts
- PK01Pikachu's Vacation (1998) · Jessie's Arbok (with James's Weezing); another Arbok at the Pokémon Theme Park
Jessie and James stay off-screen, but their Pokémon get a day out at the Pokémon Theme Park. All Jessie's Arbok and James's Weezing want is a nap, and Pikachu and Raichu's rowdy chase keeps waking them up; another Arbok is among the park's visitors. The end-credits hot-spring scene hints that Arbok is male (a Jynx bathes on the other side of the divider), and in many countries the short reached cinemas before Ekans's evolution had aired, so it gave the surprise away. - PT03Blossom's Dream (POKÉTOON) (2021) · A wild Arbok
This POKÉTOON web short gives Arbok a proper villain role. A wild Arbok ambushes a Nidoran♂, and young Blossom throws her last Poké Ball to save him, only for the snake to break out and swat Nidoran away with its tail. When Blossom shields him, the little Nidoran charges and knocks the Arbok out.
06Trading Card Game · every card
Arbok in the Pokémon TCG
29 cards since 1999, oldest first. Tap any card to see it full size.
Arbok slithered into the TCG in Japan's Mystery of the Fossils in June 1997 and reached English players in Fossil in October 1999, as a 60 HP Grass Stage 1 by Ken Sugimori. For its first decade it was a Grass-type poisoner with a sneaky streak: Team Rocket's Dark Arbok, Koga's Arbok poisoning itself for power, an e-Reader card in Expedition and a Dark Arbok comeback in EX Team Rocket Returns. Dragon Frontiers even gave it a Fire-type Delta Species form. From Great Encounters to Hidden Fates it hissed as a Psychic type, and since Champion's Path in 2020 it has been a Darkness Pokémon. It waited until 151 in 2023 for its first Pokémon ex, a 270 HP brute, and it has never had an EX, GX, V or Mega card.
Team Rocket is never far away. Jessie herself appears on the Hidden Fates card, a Team Rocket Grunt shares the spotlight on Destined Rivals' Team Rocket's Arbok, and Pokémon TCG Pocket has a Team Rocket's Arbok of its own. The art has travelled a long way too, from Sugimori's clean official poses and Mitsuhiro Arita's moody Dark Arbok to Midori Harada's EX-era painting and the full-art era, from Eske Yoshinob's Arbok ex to OKUBO's Temporal Forces Illustration Rare. Japan kept a couple of extras for itself, a vending-machine Arbok by Naoyo Kimura and Janine's Arbok from the VS set. Pocket keeps the snake busy as well, bringing back the XY and EX Sandstorm art and adding a Shiny Arbok.
Cards to know
- Fossil 31/62 — Where it all began: Ken Sugimori's Arbok, whose Terror Strike can frighten the Defending Pokémon right off the front line.
- Team Rocket 2/82 (Dark Arbok) — Mitsuhiro Arita's sinister holo has a hypnotic Stare that shuts down Poké-Powers, plus a printing slip that dates its copyright to the year 23000.
- Gym Challenge 25/132 (Koga's Arbok) — A proper ninja trick: it Poisons itself on purpose to double the power of its own attack.
- EX Dragon Frontiers 13/101 (Arbok δ) — A Fire-type Arbok! The Delta Species version spits venom that Burns and Poisons at the same time.
- Hidden Fates 27/68 — Jessie herself turns up in the artwork, and Rocket Tail hits much harder when Jessie & James is in your discard pile.
- 151 185/165 (Arbok ex) — Arbok's first and only Pokémon ex, a 270 HP bruiser, in a full-art Ultra Rare by Eske Yoshinob.
Every English-language card
Promo cards
Japan-exclusive cards
Pokémon TCG Pocket
Digital card games
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy Color): Arbok from Fossil (Ken Sugimori), card D02, found in the Laboratory booster pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): the same Fossil Arbok, card D05, in the Psychic Battle pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Naoyo Kimura's vending-machine Arbok from Expansion Sheet 3, card C02, Rare, in the Island of Fossil pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Mitsuhiro Arita's Dark Arbok from Team Rocket, card G02, in the We Are Team Rocket pack.
The artists behind the cards
- Ken Sugimori: 3 artworks (Fossil 31, Koga's Arbok in Gym Challenge, Great Encounters 33)
- Eske Yoshinob: 2 (Arbok ex in 151, regular and full-art Ultra Rare)
- Naoki Saito: 1 paper card (XY 48), reused in TCG Pocket's Genetic Apex
- Midori Harada: 1 paper card (EX Sandstorm 29), reused in TCG Pocket's Shining Revelry
- One artwork each: Mitsuhiro Arita (Dark Arbok in Team Rocket), Kyoko Umemoto (Expedition), Nakaoka (Dark Arbok in EX Team Rocket Returns), Hisao Nakamura (Arbok δ), kodama, Yukiko Baba, kirisAki, nagimiso, Minato, OKUBO and Teeziro; Japan-only art by Naoyo Kimura (vending sheet) and Tomokazu Komiya (Janine's Arbok); TCG Pocket originals by SATOSHI NAKAI (Shiny Arbok) and Kazuki Minami (Team Rocket's Arbok)
07On the page & beyond
Arbok in manga, books & other media
From the earliest manga to story books and songs.
In print, Arbok is usually the heavy. Pokémon Adventures gives one to Koga that regrows after being sliced in half, one to Agatha whose belly patterns switch its powers on and off, and one to Team Rocket's Ariana that nearly swallows Silver whole. Jessie's Arbok follows her into The Electric Tale of Pikachu and Ash & Pikachu, while Magical Pokémon Journey turns the cobra into a shy romantic who woos Wigglytuff with roses. Off the page, Arbok has the honour of being the very last name in the English Pokérap ('That's all, folks!'), and its ever-changing chest face has turned up everywhere from a 1996 guidebook to a paisley shirt fabric.
Manga
Books
Other media
More from the page
08Did you know?
Arbok trivia
Name origins, design secrets and the facts that make Arbok such a fan favourite.
What’s in a name?
Arbok's name is one of the neatest tricks in the Pokédex: it is 'cobra' spelled backwards, with the C swapped for a K – a reading confirmed in The Official Pokémon Handbook. The Japanese name アーボック (Ābokku) is the very same reversed word written in katakana, and most languages keep it unchanged, from French, German, Italian and Spanish to Korean (아보크); Lithuanian simply adds an ending to make Arbokas. Chinese stands apart: 阿柏怪 sounds out the Japanese name and adds 怪, 'monster'. It could have been very different – during Red & Green's development Arbok carried the English placeholder name 'Nagaasp' – and the 1999 Pokémon Activity Book had fun with the reversal by describing it as the opposite of 'aren't-bok'.
Design origins
Arbok is, first and foremost, a cobra – most likely the Indian cobra, whose venomous bite and boldly marked hood it shares, with a touch of the king cobra, the largest venomous snake in the world. Real cobras don't crush their prey, though: Arbok's crushing coils borrow from boas, pythons and anacondas. The face on its belly recalls masks and face paint, while its place in the Dragon Egg Group and its old monopoly on Glare hint at the basilisk, the legendary serpent king said to kill with a single look. The pattern itself has never been fixed: the Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia drew separate 'invulnerability', 'attack' and 'speed' hoods, and around eighteen distinct designs are known across games, anime, manga and cards.
Names around the world
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アーボック Ābokku | 'Cobra' spelled backwards (trademarked as Arbok) |
| French | Arbok | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| Spanish | Arbok | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| German | Arbok | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| Italian | Arbok | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| Korean | 아보크 Arbok | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 阿柏怪 Ābóguài | Transcription of the Japanese name plus 怪 guài (monster) |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 阿柏怪 Abaakgwaai | Transcription of the Japanese name plus 怪 gwaai (monster) |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Arbok | Same as the English/Japanese name |
| Hebrew | ארבוק Arbok | Transcription of the English name |
| Hindi | आरबॉक Arbok | Transcription of the English name |
| Lithuanian | Arbokas | From the English name |
| Russian | Арбок Arbok | Transcription of the English name |
| Thai | อาร์บ็อก Abok | Transcription of the Japanese name |
Did you know?
- Arbok is 'cobra' spelled backwards with a K – and its pre-evolution Ekans is 'snake' backwards, so the whole family speaks in reverse.
- Before Gold & Silver, Ekans and Arbok were the only Pokémon in the world that could learn Glare.
- Arbok's hood changes between games: Gold, Silver and Crystal and Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald show different faces from the Kanto games, matching the Pokédex claim that its markings vary by area.
- The Pokédex keeps revising the count: Yellow says six hood patterns have been confirmed, while Ultra Sun puts the number at over 20.
- Around eighteen hood designs are known in total, nine of them in games and five in the core series alone.
- Sun & Moon gave Arbok its only stat change ever: its Attack rose from 85 to 95.
- In Red & Green's development, Arbok's working English name was 'Nagaasp'.
- Pokémon's 1999 Activity Book joked that Arbok is the opposite of 'aren't-bok'.
- In Pokémon Adventures, Koga's Arbok is sliced in two by Blue's Charmeleon – but in that manga an Arbok can regrow any lost part except its head within a few weeks.
- Agatha's Arbok in Pokémon Adventures can switch between speed, attack and invulnerability patterns, the last of which shrugs off poison.
- For the Team Rocket TCG set, artist Mitsuhiro Arita gave Dark Arbok a brand-new, suitably evil hood pattern.
- Jessie and James released Arbok and Weezing in Petalburg Woods in A Poached Ego!, so they could guard young wild Ekans and Koffing from a poacher.
- In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Arbok is the 'A' in Team AWD alongside Weavile and Drapion – and in Super Mystery Dungeon it proudly calls itself 'incredibly vindictive!'
- Arbok sat out Sword & Shield and Legends: Arceus, then turned up in the wild again in Kitakami in Scarlet & Violet's The Teal Mask.
- Arbok appears on the box art of the Pokémon mini game Pokémon Zany Cards, but not in the game itself.
- Ash has never owned an Arbok, but he did command one in The Ultimate Test during the Pokémon League admissions exam – it lost to the examiner's Jolteon.
09Quizzes, archive & further reading
More Arbok
Test yourself
Professor Oak's Kanto Quiz: BeginnerProfessor Oak has a few questions before you set foot in the tall grass. How well do you know the region where it all began?Take the quiz →
Who's That Pokémon? Kanto: BeginnerIt's the classic challenge! Can you name these original 151 Pokémon from their silhouettes alone?Take the quiz →
Indigo League Anime: IntermediateGrab your cap and set off on Ash's very first adventure. How much do you remember from the Indigo League days?Take the quiz →
Pokémon Horizons Anime: BeginnerAll aboard for a brand-new adventure! See how well you know Liko, Roy and the crew of Pokémon Horizons: The Series.Take the quiz →
Pokémon Movies: IntermediateFrom a mysterious island showdown to a city where people and Pokémon live side by side, how well do you know Pokémon on the big screen?Take the quiz →
Pokémon General Knowledge: ExpertOnly seasoned Pokémon Masters need apply. These tough but fair questions dig into designers, glitches, evolution quirks and deep-cut trivia.Take the quiz →From the archive: Gengar’s Online Pokédex
Before this page, Pokémon Dungeon was home to Gengar’s Online Pokédex, the classic fan Pokédex for Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver & Crystal by Curtis Alumbaugh (Gengar) with Ian Alumbaugh (Haunter). Its Arbok entry is preserved in full, with its original art, moves and locations.
Further reading
Pokémon and all related names, artwork, sprites, screenshots and card images are © Nintendo, Creatures Inc., GAME FREAK inc. and The Pokémon Company, used here for fan commentary. Images via the Bulbagarden Archives. Page updated 24 October 2026.