No. 0023 · Generation I · Snake Pokémon
アーボĀbo · Trademarked as Arbo: 'boa' (ボア) read backwards, possibly with a nod to 'cobra' too – the same back-to-front trick as its English name.
The Snake Pokémon · Poison type · first seen in Pokémon Red & Green (1996)
01Overview
Meet Ekans
Everything you need to know about the Snake Pokémon — the creature behind the number.
Ekans is the Snake Pokémon, and it wears its identity on its sleeve – or rather, in its name, which is simply 'snake' spelled backwards. This purple Poison-type serpent has been slithering through tall grass since Pokémon Red and Green, and at level 22 it grows into the hooded, intimidating Arbok.
Its look is pure classic-cartoon snake: a long purple body ringed with three pairs of black bands, a bright yellow belly, a yellow collar around its neck and a yellow rattle on the tip of its tail. Yellow, slit-pupilled eyes are underlined by black markings that sweep towards its nose, and its huge mouth shows no visible fangs at all – just a round pink tongue that flicks in and out to taste the air for danger and the scent of prey.
“Moves silently and stealthily. Eats the eggs of birds, such as Pidgey and Spearow, whole.”
Pokédex · Pokémon Red & Blue · 1996
Ekans is a stealth hunter. It glides through grass without a sound, strikes unsuspecting prey from behind and has a particular weakness for raiding the nests of Pidgey and Spearow. It can unhinge its jaw to swallow meals bigger than itself, though its greed can backfire: a huge feast can leave it too heavy to move, and an egg wedged in its throat has been known to make it faint. A newborn Ekans has no venom yet, so its bite hurts but does no lasting harm.
The older an Ekans gets, the longer it grows. At night it drapes itself around tree branches to rest, and on the ground it coils into a tight spiral with its head raised, ready to fix a glare on a threat from any direction. It is no surprise that, before Gold and Silver, Ekans and Arbok were the only Pokémon that could learn Glare.
For many fans, Ekans will always be Jessie's partner, hissing at Ash and Pikachu from the second episode of the anime until it evolved to please her. In the games it was the classic Pokémon Red exclusive – Blue players got Sandshrew instead – and with the maximum catch rate of 255 it is one of the easiest Pokémon to pop into a Poké Ball, if you can spot it before it spots you. Since then it has slithered far beyond Kanto's tall grass, from Mystery Dungeon's bullying Team Meanies to the aptly named kingdom of Viperia in Pokémon Conquest.
How big is Ekans?
Stretched out to its full 2 metres, Ekans is as long as a front door is tall – yet at 6.9 kg it weighs about the same as a large Christmas turkey.
Evolution
02In the Pokédex's words
Ekans's Pokédex entries
16 different entries across 38 games, from 1996 to 2025. Here is how the Pokédex has described Ekans over the years, in the order the games came out.
Generation I
Moves silently and stealthily. Eats the eggs of birds, such as Pidgey and Spearow, whole.
Kanto Pokédex
The older it gets, the longer it grows. At night, it wraps its long body around tree branches to rest.
Kanto Pokédex
Slithers silently through grass, searching for its favorite food–Pidgey and Spearow eggs.
Kanto Pokédex
Generation II
It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however.
Johto Pokédex
It always hides in grass. When first born, it has no poison, so its bite is painful, but harmless.
Johto Pokédex
It flutters the tip of its tongue to seek out the scent of prey, then swallows the prey whole.
Johto Pokédex
Generation III
Ekans curls itself up in a spiral while it rests. Assuming this position allows it to quickly respond to a threat from any direction with a glare from its upraised head.
Hoenn Pokédex
A very common sight in grassland, etc. It flicks its tongue in and out to sense danger in its surroundings.
FireRed & LeafGreen Pokédex
Moving silently and stealthily, it eats the eggs of birds, such as Pidgey and Spearow, whole.
FireRed & LeafGreen Pokédex
An Ekans curls itself up in a spiral while it rests. This position allows it to quickly respond to an enemy from any direction with a threat from its upraised head.
Hoenn Pokédex
If it spots a Capture Disc, Ekans will slither straight toward it.
Capture Styler (Pokémon Ranger series)
Generation IV
It sneaks through grass without making a sound and strikes unsuspecting prey from behind.
Sinnoh Pokédex
Generation VII
By dislocating its jaw, it can swallow prey larger than itself. After a meal, it curls up and rests.
Rotom Pokédex
The eggs of bird Pokémon are its favorite food. It swallows eggs whole, so sometimes an egg gets stuck, and Ekans faints.
Rotom Pokédex
Generation IX
A very common sight in grasslands and such. It flicks its tongue in and out to sense danger in its surroundings.
Rotom Phone (Scarlet & Violet)
As it matures, it grows longer. At night, it wraps its long body around tree branches to rest.
Rotom Phone (Legends: Z-A)
03Stats, moves & where to find it
Ekans in the video games
Base stat total 288 · 24 core-series games · 24 spin-offs · every move it learns, generation by generation.
Base stats
Its base stats total 288 and have never been changed. In Red, Green, Blue and Yellow it had a single Special stat of 40; when Gold and Silver split Special in two, Ekans kept 40 as its Special Attack and gained a slightly sturdier 54 Special Defence. Its base experience yield was 62 before Black and White and has been 58 since.
Abilities
- Intimidatesince Gen III
As soon as Ekans enters battle, it glares at its opponents and lowers their Attack by one stage. - Shed Skinsince Gen III
At the end of each turn Ekans has a one-in-three chance of sloughing off a status condition such as poison, burn or paralysis. - UnnerveHidden abilitysince Gen V
Makes opposing Pokémon too nervous to eat their held Berries while Ekans is on the field.
Type matchups
How hard each attacking type hits a Poison Pokémon.
In Red, Green, Blue and Yellow, Bug-type moves were super effective against Poison types instead of resisted, and Fairy-type moves (and the resistance to them) only arrived with X and Y. As a Poison type, Ekans cannot normally be poisoned or badly poisoned.
Training & breeding
- Catch rate
- 255
- Base friendship
- 70
- Base experience
- 58
- Growth rate
- Medium Fast
- EV yield
- 1 Attack
- Egg groups
- Field, Dragon
- Egg cycles
- 20
- Colour
- Purple
- Gender ratio
- 50% male
- Body shape
- serpentine
Where to find Ekans
| Game | Year | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Green | 1996 | Red only: wild on Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 23Green has Sandshrew in its place, so Green players must trade for Ekans. |
| Blue (Japan) | 1996 | Not found in the wild – trade only |
| Red & Blue | 1998 | Red only: wild on Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 23Blue players meet Sandshrew instead and need a Red-owning friend to complete the set. |
| Yellow | 1998 | Not found in the wild – trade onlyJessie and James send out an Ekans when they ambush you in Mt. Moon and again in the Team Rocket Hideout. |
| Gold & Silver | 1999 | Gold: a prize at the Goldenrod Game Corner; Silver: wild on Kanto Routes 3 and 4 and Johto Routes 32 and 33 |
| Crystal | 2000 | Wild in the morning and daytime on Kanto Routes 3 and 4 and Johto Routes 32, 33 and 42; also in Headbutt trees on Routes 26, 27, 32, 33 and 42 and in Azalea Town |
| Ruby & Sapphire | 2002 | Not found in Hoenn – trade or event only |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | 2004 | FireRed only: wild on Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 23; LeafGreen: trade or event onlyAt Pokémon Trade and Battle Day in the United States on 25 September 2004, fans could pick up a level 14 Ekans. |
| Emerald | 2004 | Not found in Hoenn – trade or event onlyJapan's Gather More Pokémon! Third Campaign handed out a level 10 Ekans for Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen from 14 to 29 January 2006. |
| Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | Route 212, with Pokémon FireRed inserted in the DS's Game Boy Advance slotIt can also be migrated from a Game Boy Advance game through Pal Park's Forest area. |
| Platinum | 2008 | Route 212, with Pokémon FireRed inserted in the DS's Game Boy Advance slot |
| HeartGold & SoulSilver | 2009 | HeartGold: a prize at the Goldenrod Game Corner; SoulSilver: wild on Kanto Routes 3 and 4 and Johto Routes 32 and 33; both: tall grass in the Johto Safari Zone's Marshland area |
| Black & White | 2010 | Not found in Unova – bring it over with Poké TransferIt could also be met in the Pokémon Dream World's Dream Park. |
| Black 2 & White 2 | 2012 | Not found in Unova – bring it over with Poké Transfer |
| X & Y | 2013 | Horde Encounters on Route 14 |
| Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire | 2014 | Not found in Hoenn – trade only |
| Sun & Moon | 2016 | Not found in Alola – trade or Pokémon Bank only |
| Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon | 2017 | Wild on Route 2 on Melemele Island |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! | 2018 | Let's Go, Eevee! only: wild on Routes 3 and 4In both versions Jessie battles you with an Ekans alongside James's Weezing in Mt. Moon, and it later evolves into Arbok. |
| Sword & Shield | 2019 | Not available |
| Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl | 2021 | Brilliant Diamond only: in the Grand Underground's Grassland, Swampy, Riverbank, Still-Water, Sunlit and Bogsunk Caverns after you obtain the National Pokédex; Shining Pearl: trade only |
| Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Not available |
| Scarlet & Violet | 2022 | Not found in Paldea (trade in from Version 2.0.1); wild in Kitakami in The Teal Mask – Kitakami Road, Apple Hills, Loyalty Plaza, Reveler's Road, Mossfell Confluence, Fellhorn Gorge, Oni Mountain and Wistful Fields – and in 1★ and 3★ Tera Raid Battles |
| Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Wild in Lumiose City: Magenta Sectors 2 and 3, Lysandre Labs, Rouge Sectors 3 and 8, Wild Zone 4, and Jaune Sectors 2 and 3The Mega Dimension expansion adds Ekans to the 1★ and 3★ Poison-type zones of Hyperspace Lumiose. |
Sprites through the ages
Spin-offs & cameos
Super Smash Bros.
Ekans itself has never slithered into Super Smash Bros. – no trophy, sticker or spirit to its name. Its evolution Arbok finally made the cut in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a Novice-class primary spirit (No. 426), won on the Spirit Board or bought from the Vault shop for 500 gold. Its spirit battle pits you against Ridley on a poisonous floor, and the Arbok spirit is also one of the three cores needed to summon Hewdraw, the three-headed serpent from Kid Icarus.
Pokémon GO
Ekans has been hissing on the Pokémon GO map since launch day in July 2016. It takes 50 Candy to evolve into Arbok and earns a Candy every 3 km as a buddy. It fights with Poison Sting or Acid, backed by Wrap, Poison Fang or Sludge Bomb; Gunk Shot was dropped from its moveset on 16 February 2017, the day Poison Fang joined it. Team GO Rocket naturally took a shine to this Team Rocket favourite: Shiny Ekans first slithered in on 25 July 2019 as Team GO Rocket began disrupting PokéStops, Shadow Ekans – stuck with Frustration until it is purified and learns Return – could be found Shiny from 10 July 2020, and Shiny Arbok started appearing in the wild from 3 March 2026.
Its Fossil card, complete with Spit Poison and Wrap, can be pulled from the Laboratory booster packs.
Ekans gets a whole mini-game to itself: in Ekans' Hoop Hurl, players fling Ekans like hoops to ring the Diglett popping out of their holes – keep an eye out for the rare golden Diglett.
On the Red Field it can be caught at Pewter City, Vermilion Seaside, Rock Mountain, Lavender Town and Indigo Plateau; on the Blue Field at Mt. Moon and Saffron City.
Battles in 3D once more, with a Pokédex entry that switches between the Gold and Silver texts depending on the connected Game Boy game.
The Fossil card returns in the Japan-only sequel, found in the Island of Fossil pack.
A common piece in Huge Storage 4, Endless Level 51, Pair Trozei and Mr. Who's Den.
Rides with Gengar and Medicham as part of the bullying Team Meanies, and a wild one can be recruited on B3F–B5F of Western Cave before moving into the Wild Plains friend area – boasting 'The poison in my fangs is wicked!'
Slithers through the Olive Jungle, and its Browser entry warns that it will make a beeline for any Capture Disc it spots.
Can be recruited on 1F–9F of the Shimmer Desert.
Still basking on 1F–9F of the Shimmer Desert.
Found in Cragspur, Valora, Dragnor and – fittingly – the snake-themed kingdom of Viperia, it fights with Poison Sting and evolves into Arbok once its Attack reaches 59.
Waiting in Prasino Woods (Stage 556), its Constrict skill delays your opponent's disruptions even more.
Found in every area of the Obsidian Shrine in the Black Realm.
Linked to Gengar in the Connection Orb, it joins once you complete its rescue mission – and it's eager to show off: 'I'm good at swallowing things whole! Do you want me to demonstrate?'
Common in the wild, it needs 50 Candy to evolve and fights with Poison Sting or Acid backed by Wrap, Poison Fang or Sludge Bomb; its Shiny form arrived in July 2019.
Can hatch from Eggs during Poison-themed Egg events, teaming up with your own player character as a sync pair.
Recruitable in Wish Cave on 4F–7F and again deep down on 97F–98F.
A Dozing-type Berry specialist that gathers Chesto Berries, brings Bean Sausage, Fancy Eggs and Fiery Herbs, and uses Charge Energy S to recharge its own energy. True to its Pokédex entries, it is often found sleeping fully coiled.
Listed as #146 in Pokopia's Pokédex, reusing the tongue-flicking entry from Pokémon Violet.
Moves
Back in Red and Green, Ekans kept things simple: seven level-up moves, from a coiling Wrap and a hard Leer through Poison Sting, Bite and the paralysing Glare to Acid at level 38, plus a TM case that let this little snake learn Earthquake and even Fissure. Gold and Silver added Haze and the first egg moves (Crunch only in Crystal), and Ruby and Sapphire gave it a whole digestive system: Stockpile, Swallow and Spit Up, with fellow serpent Seviper on hand to pass down Poison Fang.
Diamond and Pearl were the big turning point, speeding the whole list up and adding Mud Bomb, Gastro Acid and a thumping Gunk Shot. Black and White brought Acid Spray and a properly snakey Coil, X and Y a level-38 Belch, and that line-up has barely budged since, Sludge Bomb taking over from Mud Bomb in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Scarlet and Violet stretch the TM list to 43 moves, Fire Fang and Psychic Fangs included, while Let's Go and Legends: Z-A rewrite the script entirely, bringing in Poison Jab, Toxic, Brutal Swing and Leech Life.
Signature moves
The original snake squeeze. Ekans has known it from level 1 in every main-series game from Red and Green to Scarlet and Violet, Let's Go included; only Legends: Z-A swaps it for a plain Tackle.
That paralysing stare is in Ekans's level-up list in every game it appears in: level 24 in Red and Blue and level 12 in most games since Diamond and Pearl, and its accuracy has climbed from 75 to 90 in Black and White and 100 since X and Y.
A Normal-type nip at level 17 in Red and Blue, it turned Dark-type in Gold and Silver and has been a level-9 move in every game since Diamond and Pearl apart from Let's Go.
The first taste of venom: level 10 in Red and Blue, creeping earlier until it settled at level 4 from Diamond and Pearl. Let's Go hands it over at level 1, and it packs 30 power in Legends: Z-A.
A trio that arrived together at level 37 in Ruby and Sapphire and has come at level 25 ever since Diamond and Pearl: store up power, then gulp it down to heal or spit it out at the foe.
What else would a snake do? Ekans has coiled up at level 44 in every main-series game since Black and White, except the reshuffled lists of Let's Go and Legends: Z-A.
The big finale. It debuted as Ekans's level-41 move in Diamond and Pearl, has sat at level 49 in every game since Black and White apart from Let's Go, and is also a tutor move in Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver, Black 2 and White 2, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and a TM in Scarlet and Violet and Legends: Z-A.
Complete learnsets
Generation I · Red, Green, Blue & Yellow7 level-up · 17 TM/HM
Ekans is a Red Version exclusive in the West: in Red it slithers through Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 23, while Blue and Yellow have no wild Ekans, so there it has to be traded in. All four games share one short level-up list of seven moves, opening with Wrap and Leer and building through Poison Sting, Bite and the paralysing Glare to Screech at 31 and Acid at 38. In the first three generations a move's category follows its type, so Poison Sting and Acid are physical, and Bite is a Normal-type move here. The 17 TMs include a surprisingly earthy streak (Earthquake, Fissure and Dig) alongside Rock Slide, Mega Drain and HM04 Strength. Three moves from Gold, Silver and Crystal (Haze, Headbutt and Slam) can be carried back 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 |
| 10 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 17 | Bite | Normal | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 24 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 31 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 38 | 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 |
| 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 & Crystal8 level-up · 21 TM/HM · 5 egg
Silver has wild Ekans on Routes 3, 4, 32 and 33, Crystal adds Route 42 and Headbutt trees on Routes 26, 27, 32, 33 and 42 and in Azalea Town, and in Gold it is a prize at the Goldenrod Game Corner. Bite turns Dark-type, every move arrives a little earlier, and Haze becomes the new level-43 finale. Breeding brings five egg moves: Beat Up from Sneasel, Pursuit, Slam, Spite from Dunsparce and Crunch, which Ekans can only inherit in Crystal, from Girafarig, Houndour or Houndoom. Categories still follow type, so Bite, Crunch, Pursuit and Thief are special, while Curse is the mysterious ???-type. Eleven older moves from Red, Blue and Yellow, including Body Slam, Fissure and Skull Bash, can come forward through the Time Capsule.
By level-up
| GSC | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 9 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 15 | Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 23 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 29 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 37 | Acid | Poison | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 43 | 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 |
| 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 (tutor data also covers XD)11 level-up · 21 TM/HM · 5 egg · 9 tutor
FireRed keeps Ekans on Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 23, while in Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and LeafGreen it has to be traded in or received at an event. One level-up list covers all five handheld games, and it gains a whole stomach's worth of moves: Stockpile, Swallow and Spit Up all arrive together at level 37, pushing Haze back to 44. Fellow serpent Seviper can pass on Poison Fang, Crunch drops off the egg list, and Treecko's line and Zangoose join the parents for Pursuit and Slam. Iron Tail, Torment, Facade and Snatch are among the new TMs. Emerald's tutors are the most generous, adding Endure, Sleep Talk, Snore and Swagger to the Body Slam, Double-Edge, Mimic, Rock Slide and Substitute that FireRed and LeafGreen teach, and Pokémon XD's tutors cover five of them. Categories still follow type, so Bite and Thief are special and every Poison-type attack is physical.
By level-up
| RSE/FRLG | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 8 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 13 | Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 20 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 25 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 32 | Acid | Poison | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 37 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 37 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 37 | Spit Up | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| 44 | 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 |
| 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, Grovyle, Sceptile |
| 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 |
Generation IV · Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver14 level-up · 32 TM/HM · 9 egg · 7 tutor
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum hide Ekans on Route 212 when FireRed is in the DS's Game Boy Advance slot. HeartGold offers it at the Goldenrod Game Corner and SoulSilver on Routes 3, 4, 32 and 33, both games have it in the Marshland area of the Johto Safari Zone, and older Ekans can come over through Pal Park's Forest area. The level-up list grows longer and quicker: Poison Sting at 4, Acid at 20, the Stockpile trio at 25, then three brand-new moves, Mud Bomb at 28, Gastro Acid at 33 and the mighty Gunk Shot as the level-41 finale. From now on each move has its own physical or special category, so Bite becomes physical and Acid special. Disable, Poison Tail and Scary Face join the egg moves, with Switcheroo only in HeartGold and SoulSilver. Dark Pulse, Payback and Poison Jab arrive as TMs, and the tutors of Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver teach Aqua Tail, Gastro Acid, Gunk Shot, Seed Bomb, Snore and Spite, plus Headbutt in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
By level-up
| DPPt/HGSS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 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 |
| 25 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 25 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 25 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Mud Bomb | Ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| 33 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 36 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 41 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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, Buizel, Floatzel |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Raticate, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Flareon, Snubbull, Granbull, Ursaring, Donphan, Poochyena, Mightyena, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Mamoswine |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Raichu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy, Donphan, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile |
| 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) |
Generation V · Black, White, Black 2 & White 216 level-up · 27 TM/HM · 12 egg · 12 tutor · 2 event
There are no wild Ekans anywhere in Unova: it arrives through Poké Transfer, or from the Dream World's Dream Park, where it can come with Beat Up or Dark Pulse. Acid Spray at 28 and the very snake-like Coil at 44 join the level-up list, pushing Gunk Shot back to 49, and Glare's accuracy rises to 90. Venoshock, Sludge Wave, Round and Bulldoze are new TMs. Iron Tail becomes an egg move that has to be chain-bred, while Snatch and Sucker Punch join the egg list. Black 2 and White 2's tutors teach twelve moves, from Aqua Tail and Bind to Iron Tail and Seed Bomb; Black and White have no tutor moves for Ekans. Eight older moves, such as Body Slam, Captivate and Secret Power, can be transferred.
By level-up
| BW/B2W2 | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 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 |
| 25 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 25 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 25 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Mud Bomb | Ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| 36 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 41 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 44 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 49 | 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 |
| 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 |
| TM78 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 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, Buizel, Floatzel, Purrloin, Liepard, Blitzle, Zebstrika, Zorua, Zoroark, Emolga, Bouffalant |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Raticate, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Flareon, Snubbull, Granbull, Ursaring, Donphan, Poochyena, Mightyena, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Mamoswine, Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile, Scraggy, Scrafty, Zorua, Zoroark, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus, Druddigon, Bouffalant, Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy, Donphan, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Snivy, Servine, Serperior, Patrat, Watchog, Minccino, Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon |
| 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, Kecleon, Absol, Glameow, Purrloin, Liepard |
| 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 |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Beat Up | Dream World: Dream Park |
| Dark Pulse | Dream World: Dream Park |
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) |
| Secret Power | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM) |
Generation VI · X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire17 level-up · 32 TM/HM · 12 egg · 10 tutor
X and Y bring Ekans back to the wild, slithering about in hordes on Route 14, while Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire have none, so there it has to be traded in. Belch arrives at level 38, Glare's accuracy climbs to 100 and Gunk Shot becomes more reliable at 80. Infestation and Confide are new TMs, Dark Pulse and Sleep Talk return to the TM case, and Secret Power is TM94 only in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Those two games' tutors teach ten moves, including Aqua Tail, Bind, Iron Tail and Seed Bomb; X and Y have no tutor moves for Ekans. Skrelp and Dragalge can now pass on Poison Tail, and Furfrou, Meowstic and Delphox join the breeding parents.
By level-up
| XY/ORAS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 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 |
| 25 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 25 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 25 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Mud Bomb | Ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| 36 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 38 | Belch | Poison | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| 41 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 44 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 49 | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| TM78 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 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, Buizel, Floatzel, Purrloin, Liepard, Blitzle, Zebstrika, Zorua, Zoroark, Emolga, Bouffalant |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Raticate, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Flareon, Snubbull, Granbull, Ursaring, Donphan, Poochyena, Mightyena, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Mamoswine, Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile, Scraggy, Scrafty, Zorua, Zoroark, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus, Druddigon, Bouffalant, Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy, Donphan, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Snivy, Servine, Serperior, Patrat, Watchog, Minccino, Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon |
| 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, Kecleon, Absol, Glameow, Purrloin, Liepard, Furfrou, Meowstic |
| 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) |
Generation VII · Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon17 level-up · 30 TM/HM · 12 egg · 10 tutor
Sun and Moon have no Ekans, but Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon add it to Route 2. Its level-up list is exactly the same as in X and Y. With HMs gone, Strength leaves the TM list, Dig and Secret Power go too, and Brutal Swing arrives as TM59. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's tutors teach the same ten moves as Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire's; Sun and Moon have none for Ekans. Passimian, Yungoos, Litten, Komala and Jangmo-o join the breeding parents, along with several Alolan forms, and eighteen moves from earlier generations can be transferred, from Red and Blue's Bide and Fissure to the Crunch that only Crystal's breeding could pass on.
By level-up
| SM/USUM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 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 |
| 25 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 25 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 25 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Mud Bomb | Ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| 36 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 38 | Belch | Poison | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| 41 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 44 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 49 | 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 |
| 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 |
| TM78 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 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, Grovyle, Sceptile, Zangoose, Absol, Buizel, Floatzel, Purrloin, Liepard, Blitzle, Zebstrika, Zorua, Zoroark, Emolga, Bouffalant, Yungoos, Gumshoos |
| Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Raticate, Alolan Raticate, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Tauros, Gyarados, Flareon, Snubbull, Granbull, Ursaring, Donphan, Poochyena, Mightyena, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Mamoswine, Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile, Scraggy, Scrafty, Zorua, Zoroark, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus, Druddigon, Bouffalant, Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon, Litten, Torracat, Incineroar, Yungoos, Gumshoos, Rockruff, Lycanroc (Midday Form), Lycanroc (Midnight Form), Lycanroc (Dusk Form), Passimian, Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, Kommo-o |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy, Donphan, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Snivy, Servine, Serperior, Patrat, Watchog, Minccino, Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon, Komala |
| 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, Poochyena, Mightyena, Mawile, Spinda, Kecleon, Absol, Glameow, Stunky, Skuntank, Purrloin, Liepard, Furfrou, Meowstic, Komala |
| 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 |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Body Slam | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Crunch | Gen II (breeding) |
| 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) |
| 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!11 level-up · 14 TM/HM
Ekans is exclusive to Let's Go, Eevee!, where it is wild on Routes 3 and 4. Its level-up list is completely reshuffled: Wrap and Poison Sting come first, then Leer, Acid at 8, Bite at 12 and Haze at 16, with three moves it normally gets only from TMs or breeding, Poison Jab at 24, Slam at 28 and Toxic as the level-36 finale. Its fourteen TMs include Iron Tail, Dark Pulse, Earthquake and Sludge Bomb, and Mega Drain hits for 75 power in these games. There is no breeding, and Ekans has no tutor moves.
By level-up
| LGPE | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 4 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 8 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 12 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| 16 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 20 | Glare | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 24 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 28 | Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 |
| 32 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 36 | 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 |
| 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 |
| TM52 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM53 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
Generation VIII · Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl17 level-up · 25 TM/HM · 9 egg
Ekans is not in Sword and Shield (expansions included) or Legends: Arceus, so its only Generation VIII home is Brilliant Diamond, where it lurks in the Grand Underground's caves once you have the National Pokédex; Shining Pearl has none. The level-up list keeps the X and Y order but swaps Mud Bomb for Sludge Bomb at level 33. Toxic, Venoshock and Sludge Wave are missing from the TM list, while Iron Tail is back as TM23 and Strength becomes TM96. Nine egg moves remain, with Vulpix and Ninetales among the new parents, and there are no tutor moves.
By level-up
| BDSP | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 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 |
| 25 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 25 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 25 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| 36 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 38 | Belch | Poison | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| 41 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 44 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 49 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 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 |
| 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, Snubbull, Granbull, Ursaring, Donphan, Poochyena, Mightyena, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray |
| Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 | Pikachu, Raichu, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Sentret, Furret, Wooper, Quagsire, Phanpy, Donphan, Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Vulpix, Ninetales |
| Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 | Rattata, Raticate, Diglett, Dugtrio, Sentret, Furret, Poochyena, Mightyena, Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry, Slaking, Mawile, Spinda, Kecleon, Absol, Glameow, Purugly, Stunky, Skuntank |
| Switcheroo | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Persian, Linoone |
Generation IX · Scarlet & Violet (incl. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero)17 level-up · 43 TM/HM · 6 egg
Ekans can be traded into Scarlet and Violet from Version 2.0.1, and in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero it is wild right across Kitakami, from Kitakami Road and Apple Hills to Oni Mountain and Wistful Fields, as well as turning up in Tera Raid Battles. The level-up list is identical to Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's, but the TM list balloons to 43 moves, adding Fire Fang, Psychic Fangs, Crunch, Knock Off, Scale Shot and Skitter Smack, while Toxic returns as TM175 and Haze and Spite also become TMs. Six egg moves remain: Poison Fang, Poison Tail, Scary Face, Spite, Sucker Punch and Switcheroo, with Shroodle, Grafaiai, Clodsire and Maschiff among the new parents. There are no tutor moves.
By level-up
| SV | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 1 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 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 |
| 25 | Stockpile | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 25 | Swallow | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| 25 | Spit Up | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| 36 | Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 38 | Belch | Poison | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| 41 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 44 | Coil | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 49 | 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 |
| 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 |
| TM030 | Snarl | Dark | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| TM035 | Mud Shot | Ground | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| TM036 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| 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 |
| TM070 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM071 | Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM083 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| TM204 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| TM214 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| TM219 | Skitter Smack | Bug | Physical | 70 | 90 | 10 |
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, Gyarados, Flareon, Snubbull, Granbull, Ursaring, Ursaluna, Donphan, Poochyena, Mightyena, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile, Scraggy, Scrafty, Zorua, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus, Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon, Litten, Torracat, Incineroar, Yungoos, Gumshoos, Rockruff, Lycanroc, Passimian, Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, Kommo-o, Skeledirge, Maschiff, Mabosstiff |
| Spite | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Vulpix, Ninetales, Zorua, Zoroark |
| Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 | Diglett, Dugtrio, Sentret, Furret, Poochyena, Mightyena, Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry, Slaking, Stunky, Skuntank, Samurott, Espurr, Meowstic, Lycanroc, Komala, Sobble, Drizzile, Inteleon |
| Switcheroo | Dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Persian, Zangoose, Delphox, Shroodle, Grafaiai |
Pokémon Legends: Z-A · Legends: Z-A12 level-up · 28 TM/HM
In Legends: Z-A, Ekans lives in Lumiose City's Magenta, Rouge and Jaune Districts, including Lysandre Labs and Wild Zone 4, and the Mega Dimension adds it to Hyperspace Lumiose. Moves work differently in this game: each has a cooldown, the tables carry no accuracy or PP figures, and the Plus column gives the level at which a move becomes a Plus Move. The level-up list is rebuilt around Tackle and Leer, with Brutal Swing at 15, Toxic at 25, Leech Life at 33 and Poison Jab at 36 joining old favourites Bite, Glare, Screech, Haze and Gunk Shot, and Poison Sting hits for 30 power. Its 28 TMs include all three elemental fangs plus Poison Fang and Psychic Fangs, and several moves carry different power figures from Scarlet and Violet, such as Seed Bomb at 35 and Trailblaze at 40. There is no breeding and there are no tutors.
By level-up
| Learn | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — | — |
| 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 | — | — |
| TM045 | Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | — | — |
| TM046 | Mud Shot | Ground | Special | 55 | — | — |
| TM053 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | — | — |
| 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
Ekans in the anime
Debut EP002Pokémon Emergency! · Its appearances on screen, and 3 other trainers who raised one.
Ekans has been part of the anime since its second episode, and for most fans it will always mean one thing: Jessie's snake. It was Team Rocket's first line of attack in Viridian City, the partner that tunnelled, bit and wrapped its way through the early Kanto episodes, and the Pokémon that refused to turn on Ash's team when Meowth gave the orders. It evolved into Arbok on a wave of Team Rocket tears and stayed with Jessie until she let it go to protect a group of wild Ekans in Hoenn.
Beyond Team Rocket, Ekans has slithered through every era of the show. Goh caught one in Vermilion City, a Team Skull Grunt's Ekans kept running into Ilima's Eevee in Alola, and wild ones have popped up in Pokémon Centers, forests, movies and flashbacks, including a run-in with a Pichu. Ash has never owned one, although he did catch an Ekans for a race in The Power of Us. Remarkably, after all those years on screen, it is still waiting for its first anime Pokédex entry.
Other trainers’ Ekans
First seen: EP002Pokémon Emergency!
Evolved: EP031Dig Those Diglett!
Now: Released as an Arbok in the Petalburg Woods area of Hoenn, where it stayed to guard a group of wild Ekans and Koffing (AG006)
Long before Ash set foot outside Pallet Town, Jessie already had her snake. It was a present, a chūgen gift from the traditional midsummer gift-giving season in the original Japanese and a birthday present in the English dub, though who gave it to her has never been revealed (EP017). It became her trademark partner from Team Rocket's very first scheme.
That scheme was the raid on the Viridian City Pokémon Center (EP002). Ekans tore into the computers while Koffing smoked out the halls, then chased Ash, Misty and Nurse Joy around the building. Ash tried to fend it off with a Pidgey, a Rattata and even an empty Poké Ball, all in vain, until Pikachu and the Center's own Pikachu unleashed a Thunder Shock that ignited Koffing's gas and blasted Team Rocket away.
The rematch in Viridian Forest was Ekans's best battle as an Ekans (EP003). It used Dig to duck under Pidgeotto's Quick Attack and, with Koffing's help, knocked Ash's new catch out. Then Ash sent out Caterpie, Team Rocket laughed, and Caterpie had the last laugh: String Shot tied Ekans up and a Tackle sent Koffing crashing into it. Bite followed at Mt. Moon, where Ash's Butterfree and Brock's Zubat blew the pair away with Whirlwind and Supersonic (EP006), and Wrap came out against A.J.'s Sandshrew, which dodged everything and ended the fight with Fissure (EP008).
Its most heartfelt episode came after the St. Anne went down. Ekans had already used Acid to cut an escape hole in the upturned ship, flooding the corridor and washing its own team away (EP016). When a school of Gyarados then scattered everyone across the Island of the Giant Pokémon, Ekans and Koffing found themselves with Meowth and Ash's Pokémon. Ordered to attack, they refused: Ash was not their Trainer, and they were not bad Pokémon, just Pokémon who followed bad orders. The two groups teamed up to find their Trainers, and Ekans was back with Jessie by the end of the episode (EP017).
Team Rocket's schemes often made Ekans the joke. It squeezed into an Omastar costume with Koffing for a beach beauty and costume contest, only for Gary and his cheerleaders to drag them off the stage (EP018). At Maiden's Peak, the Gastly behind the ghost story conjured up a mongoose, the snake's oldest enemy, and Ekans fled (EP020). And at the Salon Roquet it modelled a fancy outfit, turned a Seismic Toss from Brock's Geodude into a spinning wheel attack on Pikachu, then tripped over its own costume before Suzie's Vulpix blasted the trio away with Fire Spin (EP028).
Evolution, when it came, had nothing to do with battling (EP031). Reading up on how to evolve their Pokémon, Jessie and James realised that their partners would change once they did, and that they might miss the old Ekans and Koffing. They hugged their Pokémon and burst into tears, and both evolved on the spot, the first time two main characters' Pokémon had evolved in the same episode. Team Rocket even boasted that Arbok and Weezing were appearing "for the first time on TV".
As Arbok it learned Glare and Poison Sting (EP033), fought its way to the final of the Princess Festival contest (EP052), stood in as the Viridian Gym's battler while Jessie played Gym Leader (EP063) and followed Jessie through Johto. Its journey ended in Hoenn, where a poacher named Rico had caged a group of wild Ekans and Koffing. Arbok and Weezing helped free them, and then Jessie and James told their partners to stay behind and protect the young Pokémon. Arbok and Weezing went, in tears (AG006).
Personality
Jessie's Ekans was every inch a villain's snake: hissing, rattling and intimidating, a handy digger and a surprisingly strong swimmer. Underneath, it was fiercely devoted to Jessie and had a code of its own. Stranded without its Trainer on the Island of the Giant Pokémon, it flatly refused to take orders from Meowth, insisted that it and Koffing were not bad guys, only Pokémon following their Trainers' bad orders, and looked genuinely stricken at the suggestion that Jessie might have abandoned it (EP017).
Moves usedDigBiteWrapAcid
Key battles
- EP002Pokémon Emergency! · vs Pikachu and the Pokémon Center's Pikachu (also a Pidgey, a Rattata and Misty's Goldeen) Lost
- EP003Ash Catches a Pokémon · vs Pidgeotto and Pikachu Won
- EP003Ash Catches a Pokémon · vs Caterpie Lost
- EP006Clefairy and the Moon Stone · vs Butterfree and Zubat Lost
- EP008The Path to the Pokémon League · vs Sandshrew Lost
- EP020The Ghost of Maiden's Peak · vs Gastly Lost
- EP025Primeape Goes Bananas · vs Primeape Unknown
- EP028Pokémon Fashion Flash · vs Pikachu, Geodude and Vulpix Lost
First seen: JN020Dreams Are Made of These!
Goh, the boy who wants to catch every Pokémon there is, picked up his Ekans during a Pokémon Orienteering event in Vermilion City, catching it right after a Grimer on a busy day of collecting (JN020). It joined the fast-growing roster he was building on his way to Mew. Its moves have never been revealed.
First seen: SM065Turning Heads and Training Hard!
A Team Skull Grunt's Ekans had the misfortune of meeting Ilima's Eevee twice. It was part of the horde of Team Skull Pokémon that Eevee cut straight through with Quick Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes and Swift, leaving only Zipp, Tupp and Rapp standing (SM065). It was back for the Battle Royal of the Manalo Conference, where Eevee knocked out the Team Skull Grunts with a single Last Resort (SM129).
- SM065Turning Heads and Training Hard! · vs Eevee Lost
- SM129Battle Royal 151! · vs Eevee Lost
Ash & Ekans
Ash has never added an Ekans to his team, but he spent his first weeks on the road being chased by one. Jessie's Ekans ambushed him at the Viridian City Pokémon Center (EP002), knocked out his brand-new Pidgeotto in Viridian Forest and was then trussed up by his Caterpie's String Shot (EP003), and kept coming back until it evolved into Arbok (EP031). His closest brush with catching one came in The Power of Us, when he wasted no time at the start of the Pokémon Catch Race, overpowering a wild Ekans and catching it, if only for the duration of the race (M21).
Featured episodes
- AG006A Poached Ego!In the Petalburg Woods, the poacher Rico has caged a group of wild Ekans and Koffing for a client who pays extra for evolved ones. Jessie briefly dreams of an Ekans army, but Team Rocket end up freeing them, and Arbok and Weezing stay behind to protect the youngsters.
More appearances
- EP164Carrying On! A sick Ekans is being cared for at the Pokémon Center on Way Away Island.
- DP006Different Strokes for Different Blokes An Ekans lives in Bewilder Forest.
- JN001Enter Pikachu! In a flashback, an Ekans attacks a Pichu but flees when the little Pokémon fights back.
- JN058A Rollicking Roll… Eyes on the Goal! A Trainer's Ekans ends up stuck in a Gulpin's giant ball.
Beyond the main series
Anime gallery
Anime trivia
- Ekans has never had a Pokédex entry in the anime. It debuted in the second episode (EP002), which makes it the Pokémon that has gone the most episodes after its debut without one.
- Jessie's Ekans was a gift. In the Japanese version it was a chūgen present, from the traditional midsummer gift-giving season, while the English dub made it a birthday present (EP017).
- In Island of the Giant Pokémon, Jessie's Ekans declared that there is no such thing as an evil Pokémon, only Pokémon following their Trainers' orders. In the Japanese version it uses a first-person pronoun that is almost exclusively used by males, the only hint at its gender (EP017).
- Jessie's Ekans and James's Koffing evolved together in Dig Those Diglett!, the first time two main characters' Pokémon evolved in the same episode. Tears, not battles, did the trick (EP031).
- In Primeape Goes Bananas, an animation slip gave Jessie's Ekans yellow bands all along its body instead of just the one on its neck, which happens to look like Ekans's early prototype design (EP025).
- The Gastly of Maiden's Peak scared off Jessie's Ekans by conjuring up a mongoose, the snake's classic natural enemy (EP020).
- Counting its years as an Arbok, Jessie's Ekans appeared in 143 main-series episodes, more than any of her other Pokémon except Wobbuffet.
- When Team Rocket found a cage of wild Ekans in A Poached Ego!, Arbok was reluctant to use Acid on the cage because its own pre-evolved form was inside. Jessie wanted to keep them all as an Ekans army, until Meowth pointed out that they could not afford to feed them (AG006).
05On the big screen
Ekans in the movies
1 film featuring Ekans.
Ekans has never headlined a Pokémon film, but it gets one memorable big-screen moment. In The Power of Us, Fula City's Pokémon Catch Race sends Trainers after Pokémon marked with special stickers, and an Ekans is the very first Pokémon Ash nets, caught for the length of the race and released afterwards.
Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us
M21 · 2018
A wild Ekans caught (and later released) by Ash in the Pokémon Catch Race
Ekans gets its best big-screen moment at Fula City's Wind Festival. In the Pokémon Catch Race, Trainers hunt down Pokémon marked with special stickers using blue Catch Race Poké Balls, and an Ekans is the very first Pokémon Ash catches. The catch is only on loan, since every Pokémon goes free when the race ends, and Ash finishes as runner-up to Callahan.
06Trading Card Game · every card
Ekans in the Pokémon TCG
23 cards since 1999, oldest first. Tap any card to see it full size.
Ekans skipped Base Set and slithered into the card game with Fossil, arriving in Japan's Mystery of the Fossils in June 1997 and in English packs in October 1999. Since then it has had 17 English cards, and its type has changed almost as often as it sheds its skin: Grass until 2004, a Fire-type Delta Species in EX Dragon Frontiers, Psychic from Great Encounters to Hidden Fates, and Darkness since Champion's Path in 2020. It has never had an ex, V or any other rule-box card, leaving the limelight to Arbok, but it has enjoyed a little villainy of its own: an Ekans in the original Team Rocket set, Koga's Ekans in Gym Challenge and, in 2025, a Team Rocket's Ekans in Destined Rivals with a Grunt at its side.
Its moves have barely changed in nearly three decades. Poison Sting, Bite, Wrap and coin-flip Paralysis are the snake's bread and butter, with flourishes such as Koga's double-whammy Fast-Acting Poison and Great Encounters' Shed Skin. Ken Sugimori drew it three times between 2000 and 2008, Kagemaru Himeno illustrated the Fossil original that later starred in both Game Boy card games, and Midori Harada's EX Sandstorm Ekans, one of the few cards printed in English before Japan, was revived in TCG Pocket in 2025. Pocket has also brought back MAHOU's Hidden Fates art and added a Shiny Ekans by SATOSHI NAKAI, Krgc's drop-event promo and Gemi's Team Rocket's Ekans.
Cards to know
- Fossil 46/62 — Ekans's debut: Kagemaru Himeno's 40 HP snake skipped Base Set and slithered in with the fossils instead, then starred in both Game Boy card games.
- Gym Challenge 77/132 — Koga's Ekans, whose Fast-Acting Poison can leave a foe Confused and Poisoned at once, a proper ninja's trick.
- EX Sandstorm 64/100 — A rare case of an Ekans printed in English before Japan, and its Midori Harada art made a comeback in TCG Pocket in 2025.
- EX Dragon Frontiers 47/101 — Ekans δ, the Delta Species twist that made the Poison snake a Fire type.
- 151 023/165 — Card number 023 for Pokédex number 023, with an Energy-melting Acid Spray.
- Destined Rivals 112/182 — The first Team Rocket's Ekans, finally pairing the snake with the villains it has served since the very first episodes.
Every English-language card
Promo cards
Pokémon TCG Pocket
Digital card games
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy Color): Kagemaru Himeno's Fossil Ekans, card D01, in the Laboratory booster pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): the same Fossil Ekans, card C01, in the Island of Fossil pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Ken Sugimori's Team Rocket Ekans, card G01, in the We Are Team Rocket pack.
The artists behind the cards
- Ken Sugimori: 3 cards (Team Rocket 56, Koga's Ekans in Gym Challenge 77 and Great Encounters 66)
- Midori Harada: 1 paper card (EX Sandstorm 64), whose art returned in TCG Pocket's Shining Revelry
- MAHOU: 1 paper card (Hidden Fates 25), whose art returned in TCG Pocket's Genetic Apex
- Kagemaru Himeno: 1 card (Fossil 46), also playable in both Game Boy card games
- Shigenori Negishi: 1 card (XY 47, reprinted in the XY Trainer Kit)
- One card each: Kyoko Umemoto (Expedition), Atsuko Nishida (EX Team Rocket Returns), Yuka Morii (Ekans δ), DemizuPosuka (Shining Legends), Yumi (Unbroken Bonds), Masakazu Fukuda (Hidden Fates 26), Uta (Champion's Path), Kedamahadaitai Yawarakai (151), Shimaris Yukichi (Temporal Forces) and KEIICHIRO ITO (Team Rocket's Ekans, Destined Rivals)
- TCG Pocket only: SATOSHI NAKAI (Shiny Ekans, Eevee Grove), Krgc (Promo-A 056) and Gemi (Team Rocket's Ekans, Team Rocket's Ambition)
07On the page & beyond
Ekans in manga, books & other media
From the earliest manga to story books and songs.
Ekans was causing trouble in print almost from the start. Kosaku Anakubo's Pocket Monsters had it in a gang of Pokémon robbers by May 1997, biting Clefairy before ending up stuck in a bottle, and Magical Pokémon Journey turned it into the Ekans Brothers, two bullies who end up as friends. Jessie's Ekans slips into The Electric Tale of Pikachu and evolves one chapter later, while Pokémon Adventures hands Ekans to the villains: it rides on Koga's arm and spits Acid for Team Rocket's Harry. On the bookshelf it menaces a Weedle in a Japanese picture book and plays its Team Rocket role in Scholastic's chapter books. It's in the music too: it leaps through the first openings in Japan and the West, chants its own name in Pokémon Ondo and gets a spot in the Pokérap.
Manga
Books
Other media
More from the page
08Did you know?
Ekans trivia
Name origins, design secrets and the facts that make Ekans such a fan favourite.
What’s in a name?
'Ekans' is 'snake' spelled backwards – a little joke confirmed by The Pokémon Company's president, Tsunekazu Ishihara, and printed in The Official Pokémon Handbook. Its Japanese name, アーボ Ābo (trademarked as Arbo), plays the same trick on 'boa' (ボア), and may also hint at 'cobra'. During the English localisation of Red and Green, Ekans was briefly known as Nagahis or Arbo before the reversed name stuck – and its evolution Arbok carries the family tradition on.
Design origins
Ekans is a patchwork of real snakes. Its rattle and venomous bite come from the rattlesnake, while its toothless-looking mouth and taste for eggs point to the African egg-eating snakes of the genus Dasypeltis. The single yellow band around its neck recalls the ring-necked snake, and the black line joining its eyes echoes the marking on the back of an Indian cobra's hood – a hint of the Arbok to come. Its place in the Dragon Egg Group and its signature stare, Glare, may nod to the basilisk, the legendary serpent-king said to kill with a look. Ken Sugimori's original artwork for Red and Blue painted every one of its body bands yellow; later art settled on just the yellow collar.
Names around the world
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アーボ Arbo | From ボア boa spelled backwards |
| French | Abo | An anagram of boa |
| Spanish | Ekans | Same as the English name |
| German | Rettan | From Natter (colubrid snake) spelled backwards |
| Italian | Ekans | Same as the English name |
| Korean | 아보 Abo | From 보아 boa spelled backwards |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 阿柏蛇 Ābóshé | A transcription of the Japanese name plus 蛇 shé (snake) |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 阿柏蛇 Ábaaksèh | A transcription of the Japanese name plus 蛇 sèh (snake) |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Ekans | Same as the English name |
| Hebrew | אקנס Ekans | Transcription of the English name |
| Hindi | ऐकंस Ekans | Transcription of the English name |
| Lithuanian | Ekansas | From the English name |
| Russian | Эканс Ekans | Transcription of the English name |
| Thai | อาร์โบ Abo | Transcription of the Japanese name |
Did you know?
- Ekans's name is simply 'snake' backwards, and its Japanese name Arbo reverses 'boa' – its evolution Arbok keeps up the family habit of back-to-front names.
- Its romanised Japanese name, Arbo, is identical to the name it had during development.
- Before Gold and Silver, Ekans and Arbok were the only Pokémon that could learn Glare.
- In the original Red, Green, Blue and Yellow, Bug-type moves were super effective against it; from Gold and Silver onwards they became resisted.
- An Ekans caught in Red or Blue arrives in Gold, Silver or Crystal holding a Berry.
- Despite debuting in only the second episode of the anime, Ekans has never received a Pokédex entry in the animated series – no Pokémon has gone longer after its debut without one.
- Jessie's Ekans was a gift she received before the series began, and it evolved into Arbok in Dig Those Diglett! just to make her happy.
- Ekans was originally planned for Pokémon Snap: an early test shot of an environment that was cut from the finished game shows one.
- Pokémon Stadium gave Ekans its own mini-game, Ekans' Hoop Hurl, in which Ekans are flung like hoops over Diglett popping out of their holes.
- Ekans is one of only fourteen Pokémon whose foreign-language Pokédex entries can be collected in Diamond and Pearl.
- In early official artwork, every band on Ekans's body was yellow; later art shows only the band around its neck in yellow.
- In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon anime special Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!, Gengar calls his Team Meanies sidekick Ekans 'Arbok' – a deliberate jab in Japanese that earns him a telling-off, while the English dub played it as a genuine slip and fixed the line in reruns.
- Its catch rate is 255, the highest possible value, making it one of the easiest Pokémon to catch.
- In Pokémon Sleep, Ekans is observed sleeping with its body fully coiled, ready to face danger from every side even while napping.
- In Pokémon Conquest, Ekans can be found in Viperia, the kingdom named after vipers.
09Quizzes, archive & further reading
More Ekans
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 Ekans 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.