No. 0072 · Generation I · Jellyfish Pokémon
メノクラゲMenokurage · Probably from 瑪瑙 menō (agate) – a nod to its glassy red crystals – and 水母 kurage (jellyfish); 目の敵 me no kataki (enemy) or 目の毒 me no doku ('poison to the eye') may play a part too
The Jellyfish Pokémon · Water/Poison type · first seen in Pokémon Red & Green (1996)
01Overview
Meet Tentacool
Everything you need to know about the Jellyfish Pokémon — the creature behind the number.
Tentacool is the Jellyfish Pokémon, a Water- and Poison-type drifter from the original 151 that looks like a living glass paperweight bobbing on the tide. Its domed, see-through blue body carries red, crystal-like orbs – a big one on each side and a smaller one between them. Underneath sit a pointed, beak-like mouth, a cape-like flap at the back and a pair of greyish tentacles. From level 30 it grows into the far more tentacled Tentacruel.
That clear body is mostly water. Ultra Moon's Pokédex puts the figure at 99%, adding that the remaining 1% holds the organ that makes its poison. Sapphire's entry explains its party trick: Tentacool soaks up sunlight and refracts it through the water inside its body to build up beam energy, then fires it off as beams of light. Where exactly they come from is up for debate – its crystal-like eyes, a small round organ above its eyes, or glassy magenta orbs that only resemble eyes, depending on which Pokédex you read.
“Its eyes are as transparent as crystals. From them, it shoots mysterious beams of light.”
Pokédex · Pokémon Red (Japan), Green (Japan), FireRed & Violet · 1996
For a sea creature, Tentacool is no great athlete. Sword calls it not a particularly strong swimmer: it simply rides the currents across shallow seas, searching for prey. Its body blends in so well with the water that it may not be noticed until it stings, and anglers who hook one by accident are often punished for it. Its toxic tentacles break off from time to time and grow back – and if they get you, Moon's advice is to rush to the hospital.
Life at the edge of the sea has its hazards too. When the tide goes out, stranded Tentacool can be found dried out on the shore, shrivelled up like parchment – but they are often still alive, and putting one back into the water should revive it. A beached Tentacool is still just as dangerous, though, so look but don't touch.
In the games, Tentacool is a fixture of sea voyages. Surf across the waters of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Kalos or Alola and sooner or later one will bob up beside you, and it was there in the original games, waiting on Kanto's Routes 19, 20 and 21. Paldea's Toedscool may share its look – and even its base stats – but the two are biologically unrelated.
How big is Tentacool?
At 0.9 m (2′11″) Tentacool comes up to about the height of a kitchen worktop, and at 45.5 kg (100.3 lb) it weighs about as much as two suitcases packed right up to a 23 kg airline limit – hefty luggage for a creature that travels the world on ocean currents.
Evolution
02In the Pokédex's words
Tentacool's Pokédex entries
25 different entries across 44 games, from 1996 to 2023. Here is how the Pokédex has described Tentacool over the years, in the order the games came out.
Generation I
Its eyes are as transparent as crystals. From them, it shoots mysterious beams of light.
Kanto Pokédex
Drifts in shallow seas. Anglers who hook them by accident are often punished by its stinging acid.
Kanto Pokédex
It can sometimes be found all dry and shriveled up on a beach. Toss it back into the sea to revive it.
Kanto Pokédex
Fires beams of light from its clear eyes. Floats around in shallow waters and may sting unwary anglers.
Kanto Pokédex
Generation II
When the tide goes out, dehydrated Tentacool remains can be found washed up on the shore.
Johto Pokédex
It drifts aimlessly in waves. Very difficult to see in water, it may not be noticed until it stings.
Johto Pokédex
As it floats along on the waves, it uses its toxic feelers to stab anything it touches.
Johto Pokédex
Generation III
Tentacool's body is largely composed of water. If it is removed from the sea, it dries up like parchment. If this Pokémon happens to become dehydrated, put it back into the sea.
Hoenn Pokédex
Tentacool absorbs sunlight and refracts it using water inside its body to convert it into beam energy. This Pokémon shoots beams from its crystal-like eyes.
Hoenn Pokédex
Drifts in shallow seas. Anglers who hook them by accident are often punished by their stingers.
FireRed & LeafGreen Pokédex
Its body is almost entirely composed of water. It ensnares its foe with its two long tentacles, then stabs with the poison stingers at their tips.
Hoenn Pokédex
Generation IV
Its body is virtually composed of water. It shoots strange beams from its crystal-like eyes.
Sinnoh Pokédex
It drifts in sea currents. Countless fishermen are hurt by its poison stingers.
Sinnoh Pokédex
Because its body is almost entirely composed of water, it shrivels up if it is washed ashore.
Sinnoh Pokédex
Generation VI
Tentacool absorbs sunlight and refracts it using water inside its body to convert it into beam energy. This Pokémon shoots beams from the small round organ above its eyes.
Hoenn Pokédex
Generation VII
They can be found lying dehydrated on beaches, but they are often still alive. When soaked in water, they will revive.
Rotom Pokédex
It drifts in shallow seas, such as the areas near beaches. If you get bitten or stabbed by its toxic tentacles, rush to the hospital.
Rotom Pokédex
It drifts through the sea searching for prey. Its poisonous tentacles break off sometimes, but after a while, they grow back.
Rotom Pokédex
Its body is 99% water. The remaining 1% contains the organ that makes its poison.
Rotom Pokédex
Generation VIII
Tentacool is not a particularly strong swimmer. It drifts across the surface of shallow seas as it searches for prey.
Rotom Phone (Sword & Shield)
This Pokémon is mostly made of water. A Tentacool out in the ocean is very hard to spot, because its body blends in with the sea.
Rotom Phone (Sword & Shield)
Its body is mostly composed of water. It shoots strange beams from its crystal-like eyes.
Sinnoh Pokédex
It drifts in sea currents. Countless fishers are hurt by its poison stingers.
Sinnoh Pokédex
They fire beams from the glassy, magenta orbs that resemble eyes atop their heads, and they drift in shallow seas. During low tide, they can sometimes be found on beaches, desiccated.
Hisui Pokédex
Generation IX
When the tide goes out, dehydrated Tentacool can be found left behind on the shore.
Rotom Phone (Scarlet & Violet)
03Stats, moves & where to find it
Tentacool in the video games
Base stat total 335 · 24 core-series games · 21 spin-offs · every move it learns, generation by generation.
Base stats
Tentacool's base stats have never changed: 40 HP, 40 Attack, 35 Defense, 50 Sp. Atk, 100 Sp. Def and 70 Speed, a total of 335. In Generation I it had a single Special stat of 100; when Gold and Silver split Special in two, Sp. Def kept the 100 while Sp. Atk was set at 50 – so this little jellyfish shrugs off special attacks far better than it dishes them out. Its base experience yield was 105 up to Generation IV and has been 67 since Black and White, and its base friendship was 70 in Generations II to VII and is 50 today. In HeartGold and SoulSilver's Pokéathlon it rates Speed 2 (max 3), Power 2 (max 3), Technique 3 (max 5), Stamina 3 (max 4) and Jump 2 (max 3).
Abilities
- Clear Bodysince Gen III
Stops other Pokémon from lowering Tentacool's stats. - Liquid Oozesince Gen III
A foe that tries to drain Tentacool's HP with a move like Giga Drain or Leech Seed loses that HP instead of gaining it. - Rain DishHidden abilitysince Gen V
Tentacool restores a little HP at the end of every turn while it is raining.
Type matchups
How hard each attacking type hits a Water/Poison Pokémon.
In Generation I, Bug-type moves were super effective against Poison types, so Bug attacks hit Tentacool twice as hard; since Gold and Silver it resists them instead. The Steel resistance arrived with the Steel type in Gold and Silver, and the Fairy resistance with X and Y.
Training & breeding
- Catch rate
- 190
- Base friendship
- 50
- Base experience
- 67
- Growth rate
- Slow
- EV yield
- 1 Sp. Def
- Egg groups
- Water 3
- Egg cycles
- 20
- Colour
- Blue
- Gender ratio
- 50% male
- Body shape
- tentacles
Where to find Tentacool
| Game | Year | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Green | 1996 | Surfing on Routes 19, 20 and 21, or fishing with the Super Rod on Routes 12, 13, 17 and 18 and in Pallet Town and Viridian City |
| Blue (Japan) | 1996 | Surfing on Routes 19, 20 and 21, or fishing with the Super Rod on Routes 12, 13, 17 and 18 and in Pallet Town and Viridian City |
| Red & Blue | 1998 | Surfing on Routes 19, 20 and 21, or fishing with the Super Rod on Routes 12, 13, 17 and 18 and in Pallet Town and Viridian City |
| Yellow | 1998 | Surfing on Routes 19, 20 and 21 and in the Seafoam Islands; Super Rod on Routes 11, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, in Pallet Town and Vermilion City and on Cinnabar Island |
| Gold & Silver | 1999 | Surfing on Routes 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32, 34, 40 and 41, off New Bark Town, Cherrygrove City, Olivine City, Cianwood City, Pallet Town, Vermilion City and Cinnabar Island, and in Whirl Islands (1F) and Union Cave (B2F)It also bites on the Old and Good Rods on Routes 20, 21, 26, 27 and 41 and around New Bark Town, Pallet Town, Vermilion City, Olivine City and Cinnabar Island, and can be fished on Routes 12, 13 and 32. |
| Crystal | 2000 | The same seas as Gold and Silver – Surfing on Routes 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32, 34, 40 and 41, around the coastal towns of Johto and Kanto, and in Whirl Islands (1F) and Union Cave (B2F)The Old and Good Rods work in the same spots as in Gold and Silver. |
| Ruby & Sapphire | 2002 | Surfing, or fishing with the Old or Good Rod, on Routes 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 115, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133 and 134, off Slateport City, Dewford Town, Lilycove City, Mossdeep City and Pacifidlog Town, and in Shoal Cave and the Seafloor CavernIt also turns up on Route 128 and at Ever Grande City (Surfing or Old Rod), in Sootopolis City (Old Rod) and at the Abandoned Ship. |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | 2004 | Surfing on Routes 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21 and 24, off Pallet Town, Cerulean City, Vermilion City and Cinnabar Island, and all around the Sevii Islands – One Island, Five Island, Treasure Beach, Kindle Road, Bond Bridge, Five Isle Meadow, Memorial Pillar, Water Labyrinth, Resort Gorgeous, Water Path, Green Path, Outcast Island, Tanoby Ruins, Icefall Cave and Trainer Tower |
| Emerald | 2004 | The same Hoenn waters as Ruby and Sapphire – Surfing, or fishing with the Old or Good Rod, on Routes 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 115, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133 and 134, off Slateport City, Dewford Town, Lilycove City, Mossdeep City and Pacifidlog Town, and in Shoal Cave and the Seafloor CavernRoute 128 and Ever Grande City (Surfing or Old Rod), Sootopolis City (Old Rod) and the Abandoned Ship have it too. |
| Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | Surfing on Routes 205, 213, 218, 219, 220, 221 and 222, off Canalave City and Pastoria City, and at Fuego Ironworks, Valley Windworks and Iron IslandTentacool brought over from a Generation III game turns up in Pal Park's Sea area. |
| Platinum | 2008 | Surfing on Routes 205, 212, 213, 218, 219, 220, 221 and 222, off Canalave City, Pastoria City and Sunyshore City, and at Fuego Ironworks, Valley Windworks and Iron Island |
| HeartGold & SoulSilver | 2009 | Surfing on Routes 13, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32, 34, 40, 41 and 47, off New Bark Town, Cherrygrove City, Olivine City, Cianwood City, Pallet Town, Vermilion City and Cinnabar Island, and in Union Cave (3F) and Whirl Islands (1F–B2F); Old and Good Rods on Routes 20, 21, 26, 27, 41 and 47 and around New Bark Town, Pallet Town, Vermilion City and Cinnabar Island, and fishing on Routes 12, 13 and 32A Tentacool is also given away in Cianwood City to players who have only one Pokémon in their party and an empty PC, and the Pokéwalker's Blue Lake course can turn one up. |
| Black & White | 2010 | Not found in the wild – bring one over with Poké TransferIt could also be met in the Sparkling Sea of the online Pokémon Dream World. |
| Black 2 & White 2 | 2012 | Not found in the wild – bring one over with Poké Transfer |
| X & Y | 2013 | Surfing on Routes 8 and 12, off Ambrette Town, Cyllage City and Shalour City, and in Azure BayNo. 025 in the Coastal Kalos Pokédex. |
| Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire | 2014 | Surfing or fishing with the Old or Good Rod on Routes 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 115, 118, 122, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133 and 134, off Dewford Town, Slateport City, Lilycove City, Mossdeep City and Pacifidlog Town, and at Sea Mauville, Shoal Cave, the Sealed Chamber and Team Magma's (Omega Ruby) or Team Aqua's (Alpha Sapphire) HideoutRoute 120, the Seafloor Cavern and the Battle Resort have it on the Old and Good Rods, and Routes 119 and 128, Victory Road and Ever Grande City by Surfing or Old Rod. |
| Sun & Moon | 2016 | Surfing on Routes 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15, off Hau'oli City, and in the Melemele Sea, Kala'e Bay, Brooklet Hill, Hano Beach and Secluded ShoreNo. 106 in the Alola Pokédex. |
| Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon | 2017 | Surfing on Routes 1, 7 and 8, off Hau'oli City, and in the Melemele Sea, Kala'e Bay, Brooklet Hill and Hano BeachNo. 129 in the Alola Pokédex. |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! | 2018 | Sea Skimming on Routes 4, 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 24 and in the Seafoam Islands |
| Sword & Shield | 2019 | The Isle of Armor (2020): Surfing at Challenge Beach, Courageous Cavern, Fields of Honor, Honeycalm Sea, Honeycalm Island, Insular Sea, Loop Lagoon, Stepping-Stone Sea and Workout Sea, and in Max Raid Battles at Fields of Honor, Soothing Wetlands, Forest of Focus, Challenge Beach, Loop Lagoon and Insular SeaNot part of the original Galar line-up – it can be traded into the base game from version 1.2.0. No. 040 in the Isle of Armor Pokédex. |
| Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl | 2021 | Surfing on Routes 205, 213, 218, 219, 220, 221 and 222, off Canalave City and Pastoria City, and at Fuego Ironworks, Valley Windworks and Iron IslandAfter you beat Candice, it also lives in the Grand Underground's Fountainspring Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern, Swampy Cave and Bogsunk Cavern. |
| Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Cobalt Coastlands – near Islespy Shore, Lunker's Lair and Seagrass Haven – and in massive mass outbreaksNo. 170 in the Hisui Pokédex. |
| Scarlet & Violet | 2022 | The Indigo Disk (2023): the Coastal Biome of Blueberry Academy's Terarium, plus 2★ Tera Raid Battles thereNot part of the original Paldea line-up – it can be traded into the base game from version 3.0.0. No. 050 in the Blueberry Pokédex. |
| Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Not obtainable |
Sprites through the ages
Spin-offs & cameos
Pokémon GO
Tentacool has been drifting through Pokémon GO since launch day on 6 July 2016, and it evolves into Tentacruel for 50 Candy. Its Shiny form surfaced on 19 November 2019 during Supereffective Week, and it had a Spotlight Hour all to itself on 15 September 2020. It made its debut as a one-star raid boss from 9 to 24 May 2023, and Shadow Tentacool arrived on 27 January 2024, when Team GO Rocket's Sierra started using it – and it could be Shiny from the start. As a buddy it earns you a Candy every 3 km, and its GO Pokédex entry borrows Ruby's advice: if a Tentacool dries out, put it back into the sea.
Catch it at Viridian City on the Red Field, or in Pallet Town, on Cycling Road (Route 17) and in the Seafoam Islands on the Blue Field.
Its Stadium Pokédex entry warns that it fires beams of light from its clear eyes and may sting unwary anglers.
Its Pokédex entry depends on the Game Boy cartridge you plug in, switching between the Gold and Silver texts.
Can be caught in the Ocean area of the Sapphire Field.
A Common piece that turns up in Secret Storage 1, Secret Storage 13, Endless Level 8 and Mr. Who's Den.
Recruit it in Stormy Sea (B1F–B8F), Silver Trench, Grand Sea, Marvelous Sea or Fantasy Strait (B1F–B9F); it lives in the Bountiful Sea friend area and proudly announces: "I shoot weird beams! They're really weird!"
Lurks in Brine Cave (B6F–B9F) and Lower Brine Cave (B1F–B5F).
Still waiting in Brine Cave (B6F–B9F) and Lower Brine Cave (B1F–B5F).
Browser No. 276, found in the Eastern Sea, with a Water-type Poké Assist.
Stage 541 in Nacht Carnival. Its Toxic Stress skill deals more damage when it triggers several times in a row, and its attack power climbs from 50 to 100.
Joins once you complete Poliwhirl's Connection Orb mission – and it isn't shy about its talents: "I can shoot beams from my eyes! How cool is that?"
Available since launch day, with Shiny and Shadow forms, a Spotlight Hour in 2020 and one-star raids in 2023.
Cook up Mulligan Stew, Blue Soda or Mouth-Watering Dip à la Cube to attract one. It can learn Barrier, Bubble, Poison Sting, Sludge Bomb and Whirlpool.
Swims up in Charizard Sea, Mewtwo Sea, Zygarde Sea and Bulbasaur Sea.
Could hatch from an Egg during the Poison- and Rock-Type Egg Event, to become a sync partner for your own player character.
Recruit it in Stormy Sea, Silver Trench or Grand Sea (1F–9F); a fainted Tentacool can also be found in Silver Trench.
Moves
Tentacool has always fought like a jellyfish should: stinging, squeezing and spraying. Red and Blue opened with Acid and built up through Supersonic, Wrap, Poison Sting, Constrict and a shimmering Barrier to a 120-power Hydro Pump at level 48, while Surf, Ice Beam and Blizzard made it a handful well beyond the waves. Gold and Silver added its first egg moves, Rapid Spin and Mirror Coat among them, and Crystal's tutor kept Ice Beam on the menu.
Diamond and Pearl armed it with Toxic Spikes, Poison Jab and the vice-like Wring Out, and Black and White piled on Acid Spray, Hex and Sludge Wave, stretching its level-up list to 16 moves. Sword and Shield then cleared out Constrict and Barrier for a tidier 14-move list with Acid Armor, Surf and a level-48 Hydro Pump, the same list Scarlet and Violet use today, while Legends: Arceus trimmed it to just seven moves. Not bad for a drifting jellyfish.
Signature moves
The first jab of the tentacles. Red and Blue made Tentacool wait until level 18, but from Gold and Silver onwards it is a starting move in every game, Let's Go and Legends: Arceus included.
Tentacool's starting move in Red and Blue, and a level-up move in every main-series game since, arriving at level 4 from Sword and Shield onwards. Legends: Arceus leaves it out.
A squeeze from all those tentacles. It sits on Tentacool's level-up list in every game except Legends: Arceus, from level 13 in Red and Blue to level 8 in Sword, Shield, Scarlet and Violet.
A shimmering protective wall, learned by levelling up in every game from Red and Blue (level 33) to Let's Go (level 31). Sword and Shield retired it, and it has been missing from Tentacool's list ever since.
Diamond and Pearl's gift to a Pokémon that likes to lurk: a level-15 move that scatters poison on the opponent's side of the field. It later became TR54 in Sword and Shield and TM091 in Scarlet and Violet.
The big splash. It was the finale in Red and Blue (level 48, 120 power) and still tops the level-up list in Let's Go (45), Sword and Shield, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Scarlet and Violet (48) and Legends: Arceus (43).
A whirl that shakes off traps and binding moves. It has been an egg move in every generation since Gold and Silver, usually from Kabuto or Kabutops, and in Scarlet and Violet it is passed on with a Mirror Herb.
Complete learnsets
Generation I · Red, Green, Blue & Yellow9 level-up · 19 TM/HM
Tentacool is waiting on Kanto's sea routes in Red, Blue and Yellow: Surf on Routes 19, 20 or 21 and you will meet it (Yellow adds the Seafoam Islands), and it bites on the Super Rod in several spots too. One level column covers all four games: Acid from the start, then Supersonic, Wrap, Poison Sting, Water Gun, Constrict and Barrier, with Screech at 40 and a 120-power Hydro Pump at 48. Its TMs and HMs include Surf, Ice Beam, Blizzard and BubbleBeam. In Generations I to III a move's category follows its type, so Poison-type Acid and Poison Sting count as physical and Water-type moves as special; non-damaging moves are listed as Status. Move names keep their original spellings (BubbleBeam). 'By transfer' lists Generation II moves a Tentacool can bring back through the Time Capsule: Aurora Beam and Haze by breeding, and Confuse Ray from the event Tentacool handed out at the Pokémon Center New York.
By level-up
| RGBY | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acid | Poison | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 7 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 13 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 18 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 22 | Water Gun | Water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 27 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 33 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 40 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 48 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 120 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM03 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM09 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| TM10 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | BubbleBeam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| TM12 | Water Gun | Water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| TM13 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| TM14 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 120 | 90 | 5 |
| TM20 | Rage | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| TM21 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Mimic | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM33 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM34 | Bide | Normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| TM40 | Skull Bash | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM50 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM03 | Surf | Water | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Aurora Beam | Gen II (breeding) |
| Confuse Ray | Gen II (event: Pokémon Center New York) |
| Haze | Gen II (breeding) |
Generation II · Gold, Silver & Crystal9 level-up · 21 TM/HM · 5 egg · 1 tutor · 1 event
Gold, Silver and Crystal put Tentacool on water all over Johto and Kanto, from New Bark Town, Cherrygrove City and the Whirl Islands to the Kanto sea routes, whether you Surf or fish with the Old or Good Rod. Its level-up list is reshuffled: Poison Sting now comes first, Acid moves to 19 and BubbleBeam joins at 25, with Hydro Pump at 49. Categories still follow type, Hidden Power's depends on the type it rolls, and Curse has the mystery ??? type. Haze, Rapid Spin and Safeguard need chain breeding. Crystal's move tutor can teach Ice Beam, which no TM teaches in these games. The Pokémon Center New York gave out Tentacool knowing Confuse Ray between 12 July and 8 August 2002. 'By transfer' lists Red, Blue and Yellow moves (TMs, plus Water Gun) that can come forward through the Time Capsule.
By level-up
| GSC | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 6 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 12 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 19 | Acid | Poison | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 25 | BubbleBeam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| 30 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 36 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 43 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 49 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 120 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM03 | Curse | ??? | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM13 | Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| TM14 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 120 | 70 | 5 |
| TM16 | Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| TM20 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| 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 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM03 | Surf | Water | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| HM06 | Whirlpool | Water | Special | 15 | 70 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | Omanyte, Omastar (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | Corsola |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 40 | Kabuto, Kabutops (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Safeguard | Normal | Status | — | — | 25 | Corsola (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 | Crystal |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Confuse Ray | Confuse Ray Tentacool (Pokémon Center New York, 2002) |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Substitute | Gen I (TM) |
| Swords Dance | Gen I (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
| Water Gun | Gen I (level-up, TM) |
Generation III · Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed & LeafGreen (tutor data also covers XD)9 level-up · 22 TM/HM · 6 egg · 9 tutor
Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald put Tentacool on most of Hoenn's water routes and seaside towns, from Slateport City to Pacifidlog Town, whether you Surf or cast an Old or Good Rod. FireRed and LeafGreen put it back on Kanto's waters. It can't be caught in Colosseum or XD, though one traded into XD can still use that game's tutors. The level-up list is the same as in Gold and Silver. New TMs and HMs bring Water Pulse, Waterfall and Dive, and Confuse Ray (from Lileep or Cradily) becomes an egg move; Haze, Rapid Spin and Safeguard still need chain breeding. Categories follow type, and Hidden Power's category depends on its type. Tutor games are FireRed/LeafGreen, Emerald and XD. Moves from Generations I and II can't come along, because those games can't trade with Generation III. Contest data is left out.
By level-up
| RSE/FRLG | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 6 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 12 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 19 | Acid | Poison | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 25 | BubbleBeam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| 30 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 36 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 43 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 49 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 120 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM03 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM07 | Hail | Ice | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM13 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| TM14 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 120 | 70 | 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 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Physical | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| 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 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM03 | Surf | Water | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| HM07 | Waterfall | Water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| HM08 | Dive | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 10 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Lileep, Cradily |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | Omanyte, Omastar (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | Corsola |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 40 | Kabuto, Kabutops (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Safeguard | Normal | Status | — | — | 25 | Corsola (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 | Emerald, XD |
| Mimic | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| 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 |
| Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | FRLG, Emerald |
Generation IV · Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver13 level-up · 32 TM/HM · 9 egg · 5 tutor
Diamond and Pearl put Tentacool on Sinnoh's waters (Routes 205, 213 and 218 to 222, Canalave City, Pastoria City, Iron Island and more), Platinum adds Route 212 and Sunyshore City, and HeartGold and SoulSilver bring back its Johto and Kanto haunts. It also lives in Pal Park's Sea area and on the Pokéwalker's Blue Lake course. This is the first generation in which each move has its own physical or special category, so Acid becomes a special move, while Poison Jab, new at level 33, gives Tentacool a physical Poison attack. Toxic Spikes (15) and Wring Out (43) join the list too. One level column covers all five games. Whirlpool is HM05 only in HeartGold and SoulSilver, and Muddy Water is a HeartGold/SoulSilver-only egg move. Acupressure and Knock Off are new egg moves, and Haze, Muddy Water, Rapid Spin and Safeguard need chain breeding. There are no tutor moves for it in Diamond and Pearl; Platinum teaches four and HeartGold and SoulSilver add Magic Coat. 'By transfer' lists Generation III tutor moves. Contest data is left out.
By level-up
| DPPt/HGSS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 5 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 8 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 12 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 15 | Toxic Spikes | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 19 | BubbleBeam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| 22 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 26 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 29 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 36 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 40 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 120 | 80 | 5 |
| 43 | Wring Out | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM03 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 | |
| TM07 | Hail | Ice | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM13 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM14 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 120 | 70 | 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 | |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | |
| 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 | |
| TM55 | Brine | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | |
| TM78 | Captivate | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | |
| 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 | |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 | |
| HM03 | Surf | Water | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 | |
| HM05 | Whirlpool | Water | Special | 15 | 70 | 15 | HGSS |
| HM07 | Waterfall | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupressure | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | Skorupi, Drapion |
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Lileep, Cradily |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | Krabby, Kingler, Omanyte, Omastar (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 | Corphish, Crawdaunt, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | Corsola |
| Muddy Water | Water | Special | 95 | 85 | 10 | Omanyte, Omastar (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 40 | Shellder, Cloyster, Kabuto, Kabutops, Anorith, Armaldo (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Safeguard | Normal | Status | — | — | 25 | Corsola (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dive | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
| Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 | Pt, HGSS |
| Magic Coat | Psychic | Status | — | — | 15 | HGSS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
Generation V · Black, White, Black 2 & White 216 level-up · 29 TM/HM · 11 egg · 7 tutor · 2 event
No wild Tentacool live in Unova, so in Black, White, Black 2 and White 2 it has to come over by Poké Transfer, or from the Pokémon Dream World's Sparkling Sea, where it can arrive knowing Giga Drain or Acupressure (listed under events). One level column covers all four games. Acid Spray (26), Hex (43) and Sludge Wave (50) are new, Hydro Pump moves to 47 and Wring Out to 54, and Wrap is now 90% accurate. Scald, Venoshock and Sludge Wave are new TMs, and Safeguard moves from the egg list to TM20. Aqua Ring, Bubble and Tickle are new egg moves, while Haze, Muddy Water and Rapid Spin need chain breeding. Every tutor move is a Black 2/White 2 extra. 'By transfer' lists moves from Generations III and IV.
By level-up
| BW/B2W2 | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 5 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 8 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 12 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 15 | Toxic Spikes | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 19 | BubbleBeam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| 22 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 26 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 29 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 33 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| 36 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 40 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 43 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| 47 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 120 | 80 | 5 |
| 50 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 54 | Wring Out | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM07 | Hail | Ice | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM13 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| TM14 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 120 | 70 | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM20 | Safeguard | Normal | Status | — | — | 25 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| TM55 | Scald | Water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM84 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM03 | Surf | Water | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| HM05 | Waterfall | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| HM06 | Dive | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupressure | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | Skorupi, Drapion |
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Aqua Ring | Water | Status | — | — | 20 | Corsola |
| Bubble | Water | Special | 20 | 100 | 30 | Krabby, Kingler, Corsola, Corphish, Crawdaunt |
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Lileep, Cradily |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | Omanyte (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 | Corphish, Crawdaunt, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | Corsola |
| Muddy Water | Water | Special | 95 | 85 | 10 | Omanyte (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 40 | Kabuto (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Tickle | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Omanyte, Omastar |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bind | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 | B2W2 |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 | B2W2 |
| Magic Coat | Psychic | Status | — | — | 15 | B2W2 |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Giga Drain | Pokémon Dream World (Sparkling Sea) |
| Acupressure | Pokémon Dream World (Sparkling Sea) |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Brine | Gen IV (TM) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III–IV (TM) |
| Whirlpool | Gen IV (HM) |
Generation VI · X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire17 level-up · 34 TM/HM · 11 egg · 7 tutor
X and Y put Tentacool on Kalos Routes 8 and 12 and around Ambrette Town, Cyllage City, Shalour City and Azure Bay, while Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire fill Hoenn's seas with it again, by Surfing or with the Old and Good Rods. There are two level columns: X and Y keep the Black and White levels, while Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire bring most moves forward, move Water Pulse up to 16 and add Brine at 34. Hydro Pump drops to 110 power, Ice Beam to 90 and Blizzard to 110, and Hex rises to 65. Infestation, Dazzling Gleam and Confide are new TMs. TM94 (Secret Power) and HM07 (Dive) are Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire only, and every tutor move is an Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire extra. Clauncher and Clawitzer can now pass on Bubble and Muddy Water, while Haze and Rapid Spin still need chain breeding. Contest data is left out.
By level-up
| XY | ORAS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 5 | 4 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 8 | 7 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 12 | 10 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 15 | 13 | Toxic Spikes | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 33 | 16 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| 22 | 19 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 26 | 22 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 19 | 25 | Bubble Beam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| 29 | 28 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 36 | 31 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| — | 34 | Brine | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 40 | 37 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 43 | 40 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 50 | 43 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 47 | 46 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
| 54 | 49 | Wring Out | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 | |
| TM07 | Hail | Ice | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM13 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM14 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 | |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM20 | Safeguard | Normal | Status | — | — | 25 | |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| TM55 | Scald | Water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| 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 |
| TM99 | Dazzling Gleam | Fairy | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 | |
| HM03 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 | |
| HM05 | Waterfall | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| HM07 | Dive | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupressure | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | Skorupi, Drapion |
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Aqua Ring | Water | Status | — | — | 20 | Corsola |
| Bubble | Water | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 | Krabby, Kingler, Corsola, Corphish, Crawdaunt, Clauncher, Clawitzer |
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Lileep, Cradily |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | Omanyte (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | Corphish, Crawdaunt, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | Corsola |
| Muddy Water | Water | Special | 90 | 85 | 10 | Clauncher, Clawitzer |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 40 | Kabuto (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Tickle | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Omanyte, Omastar |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bind | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 | ORAS |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
| Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 | ORAS |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
| Magic Coat | Psychic | Status | — | — | 15 | ORAS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
| Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Whirlpool | Gen IV (HM) |
Generation VII · Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon17 level-up · 31 TM/HM · 11 egg · 7 tutor
Tentacool can be found by Surfing across Alola: Routes 1, 7 and 8, Hau'oli City, the Melemele Sea, Kala'e Bay, Brooklet Hill and Hano Beach, with Routes 14 and 15 and Secluded Shore on top in Sun and Moon. One level-up list covers all four games and matches Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. With HMs gone, Surf and Waterfall become TM94 and TM98, while Cut and Dive only come with a Tentacool sent from an earlier game. Every tutor move is an Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon extra. Crabrawler and Crabominable can now pass on Bubble, and Haze and Rapid Spin still need chain breeding. Swagger is now 85% accurate. 'By transfer' reaches back to Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver and Crystal, whose Virtual Console releases can send Pokémon forward.
By level-up
| SM/USUM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 4 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 7 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 10 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 13 | Toxic Spikes | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 16 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| 19 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 22 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 25 | Bubble Beam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| 28 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 31 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 34 | Brine | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 37 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 40 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 43 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 46 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
| 49 | Wring Out | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM07 | Hail | Ice | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM13 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM14 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM20 | Safeguard | Normal | Status | — | — | 25 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| TM55 | Scald | Water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 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 |
| TM94 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| TM98 | Waterfall | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM99 | Dazzling Gleam | Fairy | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupressure | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | Skorupi, Drapion |
| Aqua Ring | Water | Status | — | — | 20 | Corsola |
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Bubble | Water | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 | Krabby, Kingler, Corsola, Corphish, Crawdaunt, Clauncher, Clawitzer, Crabrawler, Crabominable |
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Lileep, Cradily |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | Krabby, Omanyte (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | Corphish, Crawdaunt, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | Corsola |
| Muddy Water | Water | Special | 90 | 85 | 10 | Clauncher, Clawitzer |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 40 | Shellder, Kabuto, Anorith (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Tickle | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Omanyte, Omastar |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bind | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 | USUM |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | USUM |
| Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 | USUM |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | USUM |
| Magic Coat | Psychic | Status | — | — | 15 | USUM |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
| Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 | USUM |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Curse | Gen II (TM) |
| Cut | Gen I–II, V–VI (HM) |
| Dive | Gen III (HM), Gen IV (tutor), Gen V–VI (HM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III–IV, VI (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
| Water Gun | Gen I (level-up, TM) |
| Whirlpool | Gen II, IV (HM) |
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!11 level-up · 16 TM/HM
Let's Go writes Tentacool a fresh list of 11 moves, with Surf at level 27 and Hydro Pump as the level-45 finale. You meet it while Sea Skimming on Routes 4, 10, 12, 13, 18 to 21 and 24 and around the Seafoam Islands. There is no breeding and there are no move tutors in these games. Its 16 TMs include Headbutt, Reflect and Mega Drain, and Mega Drain has 75 power here.
By level-up
| LGPE | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 4 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 9 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 13 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 18 | Bubble Beam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| 22 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 27 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| 31 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 36 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 40 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 45 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
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 |
| TM09 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM12 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM25 | Waterfall | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM26 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM29 | Scald | Water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Dazzling Gleam | Fairy | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM47 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| TM51 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 |
| TM52 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM53 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| TM55 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
Generation VIII · Sword & Shield (Version 1.2.0+ and Expansion Pass), Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl14 level-up · 64 TM/HM · 19 egg
Tentacool isn't in the base Sword and Shield Pokédex: it arrives by trade from Version 1.2.0, and the Isle of Armor half of the Expansion Pass puts it on the water at the Fields of Honor, Challenge Beach, Loop Lagoon, the Insular Sea, the Workout Sea and more, and in Max Raid Battles. In Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl it is back on Sinnoh's waters, and after you beat Candice it also appears in Grand Underground caves. One level-up list serves both pairs: Water Gun joins Poison Sting at level 1, Acid comes at 4, Acid Armor is new at 32 and Surf arrives at 40, with Hydro Pump closing at 48. Constrict, Barrier, Toxic Spikes, Acid Spray, Brine and Wring Out have left the level-up list. TMs, TRs and egg moves are marked SwSh or BDSP; TRs are Sword and Shield's single-use Technical Records. Toxic can't be taught in either pair, and neither has tutor moves for Tentacool. Haze, Rapid Spin and Tickle need chain breeding, and so does the Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl-only egg move Muddy Water. 'By transfer' gathers older moves that only come with a Tentacool moved up from an earlier game; many of them, such as Barrier, Constrict and Hidden Power, can't be used in Sword and Shield.
By level-up
| SwSh/BDSP | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Water Gun | Water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 4 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 8 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 12 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 16 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| 20 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 24 | Bubble Beam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| 28 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 32 | Acid Armor | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 36 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 40 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| 44 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 48 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM16 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 | SwSh |
| TM19 | Safeguard | Normal | Status | — | — | 25 | SwSh |
| TM21 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TM23 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | SwSh |
| TM24 | Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM25 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TM27 | Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM28 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM31 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM33 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | SwSh |
| TM35 | Hail | Ice | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TM36 | Whirlpool | Water | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM39 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | SwSh |
| TM45 | Dive | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM55 | Brine | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM57 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM73 | Cross Poison | Poison | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | SwSh |
| TM74 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM76 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM77 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM97 | Brutal Swing | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | SwSh |
| TR00 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | SwSh |
| TR03 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 | SwSh |
| TR04 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR05 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR06 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 | SwSh |
| TR16 | Waterfall | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR20 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TR22 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR26 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TR27 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TR45 | Muddy Water | Water | Special | 90 | 85 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR54 | Toxic Spikes | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 | SwSh |
| TR57 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 | SwSh |
| TR78 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR84 | Scald | Water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR92 | Dazzling Gleam | Fairy | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM03 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 | BDSP |
| TM07 | Hail | Ice | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM13 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM14 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 | BDSP |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | BDSP |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM20 | Safeguard | Normal | Status | — | — | 25 | BDSP |
| TM21 | Dazzling Gleam | Fairy | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | BDSP |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | BDSP |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | BDSP |
| TM49 | Scald | Water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM55 | Brine | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM66 | Payback | Dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | BDSP |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM84 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 | BDSP |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM93 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 | BDSP |
| TM95 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM99 | Waterfall | Water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupressure | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | SwSh | Skorupi, Drapion |
| Aqua Ring | Water | Status | — | — | 20 | SwSh | Corsola |
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | SwSh | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | SwSh | Lileep, Cradily |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | SwSh | Omanyte, Omastar, Galarian Corsola, Cursola (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | SwSh | Corphish, Crawdaunt, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | SwSh | Corsola, Galarian Corsola, Cursola |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 50 | 100 | 40 | SwSh | Kabuto, Kabutops (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Tickle | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | SwSh | Omanyte, Omastar (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Acupressure | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | BDSP | Skorupi, Drapion |
| Aqua Ring | Water | Status | — | — | 20 | BDSP | Corsola |
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | BDSP | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | BDSP | Lileep, Cradily |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | BDSP | Omanyte, Omastar (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | BDSP | Corphish, Crawdaunt, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | BDSP | Corsola |
| Muddy Water | Water | Special | 90 | 85 | 10 | BDSP | Omanyte, Omastar (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 50 | 100 | 40 | BDSP | Kabuto, Kabutops (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
| Tickle | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | BDSP | Omanyte, Omastar (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an egg move) |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Acid Spray | Gen V–VII (level-up) |
| Barrier | Gen I–VII (level-up) |
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Bind | Gen V–VII (tutor) |
| Bubble | Gen V–VII (breeding) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Confide | Gen VI–VII (TM) |
| Constrict | Gen I–VII (level-up) |
| Curse | Gen II (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Frustration | Gen II–VII (TM) |
| Headbutt | Let's Go (TM) |
| Hidden Power | Gen II–VII (TM) |
| Infestation | Gen VI–VII (TM) |
| Magic Coat | Gen IV–VII (tutor) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM), Let's Go (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM), Let's Go (TM) |
| Return | Gen II–VII (TM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III–IV, VI (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
| Toxic | Gen I–VII (TM) |
| Wring Out | Gen IV–VII (level-up) |
Pokémon Legends: Arceus7 level-up · 7 tutor
Tentacool lives in the Cobalt Coastlands, near Islespy Shore, Lunker's Lair and Seagrass Haven, and also appears there in mass outbreaks. Moves work differently in Legends: Arceus: each has a level at which it is learnt and a higher level at which it is mastered, after which it can be used in strong or agile style. Power is given for normal, strong and agile style, and accuracy for normal and strong style. The list is just seven moves: Poison Sting, Bubble, Water Pulse, Hex, Poison Jab, Acid Armor and a level-43 Hydro Pump. There are no TMs or breeding; the move tutor teaches seven moves, including Ice Beam, Sludge Bomb and Dazzling Gleam.
By level-up
| Learn | Master | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. normal / strong / agile |
Acc. normal / strong |
PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 30 / 40 / 20 | 100 | 20 |
| 6 | 15 | Bubble | Water | Special | 40 / 50 / 30 | 100 | 25 |
| 11 | 20 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 / 75 / 45 | — | 20 |
| 18 | 28 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 65 / 80 / 50 | 100 | 15 |
| 25 | 35 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 |
| 34 | 45 | Acid Armor | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 43 | 54 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 100 / 120 / 80 | 85 / 95 | 5 |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. normal / strong / agile |
Acc. normal / strong |
PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dazzling Gleam | Fairy | Special | 75 / 90 / 60 | 100 | 10 | Legends: Arceus |
| Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 | Legends: Arceus |
| Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 60 / 75 / 45 | 95 / 100 | 20 | Legends: Arceus |
| Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 | Legends: Arceus |
| Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | Legends: Arceus |
| Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 | Legends: Arceus |
| Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 / 75 / 45 | — | 20 | Legends: Arceus |
Generation IX · Scarlet & Violet (Version 3.0.0+ / The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero)14 level-up · 39 TM/HM · 9 egg
Tentacool joined Scarlet and Violet in Version 3.0.0. Any copy can trade for one, and in The Indigo Disk, the second part of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, it lives in the Coastal Biome of Blueberry Academy's Terarium and turns up in 2★ Tera Raid Battles. The level-up list is the same as in Sword and Shield, and its 39 TMs include Liquidation, Flip Turn, Gunk Shot and Chilling Water. Acupressure, Aqua Ring, Mirror Coat, Rapid Spin and Tickle can only be passed on with a Mirror Herb. Confuse Ray and Haze can be bred from a Tentacool or Tentacruel that learned them by TM, or copied with a Mirror Herb, while Aurora Beam comes from Shellder or Cloyster and Knock Off from Corphish or Crawdaunt. There are no tutor, event or transfer-only moves to list. Tentacool isn't in Legends: Z-A, so it has no Legends: Z-A learnset.
By level-up
| SV | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Water Gun | Water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 4 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 8 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| 12 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 16 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| 20 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 24 | Bubble Beam | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| 28 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 32 | Acid Armor | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 36 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 40 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| 44 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 48 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM007 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM011 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM013 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| TM017 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM018 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| TM021 | Pounce | Bug | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| TM022 | Chilling Water | Water | Special | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| TM025 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM029 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM032 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| TM034 | Icy Wind | Ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| TM035 | Mud Shot | Ground | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| TM045 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM047 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM050 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM070 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM079 | Dazzling Gleam | Fairy | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM083 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| TM085 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM088 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM091 | Toxic Spikes | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM102 | Gunk Shot | Poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 |
| TM103 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM110 | Liquidation | Water | Physical | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| TM111 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| TM123 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| TM135 | Ice Beam | Ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM142 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
| TM143 | Blizzard | Ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 |
| TM148 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM171 | Tera Blast | Normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM174 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM175 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM181 | Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| TM196 | Flip Turn | Water | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM208 | Whirlpool | Water | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| TM209 | Muddy Water | Water | Special | 90 | 85 | 10 |
| TM214 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| TM221 | Throat Chop | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupressure | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | Mirror Herb only: the Pokémon must hold a Mirror Herb to copy this move from another Pokémon |
| Aqua Ring | Water | Status | — | — | 20 | Mirror Herb only: the Pokémon must hold a Mirror Herb to copy this move from another Pokémon |
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | No Pokémon in the Water 3 Egg Group learns it by levelling up, but a Tentacool or Tentacruel taught it with TM017 can pass it on, or it can be copied with a Mirror Herb |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | No Pokémon in the Water 3 Egg Group learns it by levelling up, but a Tentacool or Tentacruel taught it with TM174 can pass it on, or it can be copied with a Mirror Herb |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | Corphish, Crawdaunt |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | Mirror Herb only: the Pokémon must hold a Mirror Herb to copy this move from another Pokémon |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 50 | 100 | 40 | Mirror Herb only: the Pokémon must hold a Mirror Herb to copy this move from another Pokémon |
| Tickle | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Mirror Herb only: the Pokémon must hold a Mirror Herb to copy this move from another Pokémon |
04On screen
Tentacool in the anime
Debut EP019Tentacool & Tentacruel · Its appearances on screen, and 1 other trainer who raised one.
Tentacool's anime career started with a tidal wave. In Tentacool & Tentacruel (EP019), a swarm of Tentacool defends its coral reef from Nastina's luxury hotel plans, surrounds Team Rocket's boat, and sees one of its own transformed into a giant Tentacruel that floods Porta Vista. The swarm even uses a captive Meowth to speak to the humans, and the jellyfish only head back out to sea once Misty, who adores them, promises that their reef will be left alone. Ash and Brock never quite understood what she saw in them.
Since then, Tentacool has been a familiar face in the waves. It has turned up at a fishing competition, a Pokémon Contest, in an aquarium tank, at a holiday resort, and in an embarrassing story from May's childhood, when her mother tried to catch her because her swimming cap looked like one. Goh caught one off the coast of Vermilion City in Pokémon Journeys and later used it to freeze floodwaters at Cerise Park, while Red adds one to his collection in Pokémon Origins.
Other trainers’ Tentacool
First seen: JN008The Sinnoh Iceberg Race!
Goh's Tentacool came from a big school of Tentacool bobbing off the coast of Vermilion City (JN008). Ash had just been blasted by one of them when Goh decided to add the species to his collection and threw a curveball Poké Ball. The Tentacool he was aiming at dodged it, and the ball caught a different one instead. It later came in handy at Cerise Park, where Goh had it and his Dewgong freeze over the floodwaters so that he and Ash could rush to where they were needed (JN023). Ice Beam is its only known move, and it turns up again alongside Goh's other catches in later Journeys episodes.
Ash & Tentacool
Ash has never owned a Tentacool, and his first meeting with them was not exactly friendly. In Porta Vista, he and Brock were keen to claim Nastina's reward for driving the swarm away from her building site, while Misty stormed off in disgust (EP019). Years later, off the coast of Vermilion City, he excitedly poked a wild Tentacool, discovered that it was soft and squishy, and got a Bubble Beam in the face for his trouble, just before Goh caught one (JN008).
Featured episodes
- EP019Tentacool & TentacruelNastina wants to build a luxury hotel on the coral reef where the Tentacool live, so they keep attacking her construction site, and she offers a million dollars to anyone who can wipe them out. When Team Rocket set out to dose them with stun sauce, thousands of angry Tentacool surround the boat. One of them blasts the sauce with a ray-like attack that wrecks the boat, and the sauce splashes back on to it. Instead of being stunned, it evolves into a giant Tentacruel. The rest swarm ashore, and with the giant Tentacruel holding Meowth captive, the Tentacool use him to speak for them. Ash and his friends drive some of them back into the sea, but it takes Misty's promise that the hotel will not be built on the reef to end the attack. The Tentacool follow the giant Tentacruel back into the ocean, and Misty declares that she still loves Tentacool, much to Ash and Brock's confusion.
- AG103A Cacturne for the WorseIn the final round of the Purika Contest, Harley plays a recording of Max telling an embarrassing story from May's childhood: out swimming, she found herself surrounded by a school of Tentacool and cried for help. Her blue swimming cap looked so much like a Tentacool that her mother, Caroline, took out a Poké Ball and tried to catch her. May shakes off the distraction and still wins the Purika Ribbon.
More appearances
- EP080Friends to the End A Tentacool uses Bubble during Ritchie and Assunta's Full Battle at the Indigo Plateau Conference, and another Trainer's Tentacool attends the closing ceremony.
- EP168Hook, Line, and Stinker A Trainer's Tentacool takes part in the annual Seaking Catching Competition.
- EP206The Joy of Water Pokémon A Tentacool lives in Lake Lucid.
- EP214Mantine Overboard! Two Tentacool live in the sea near Ogi City.
- AG191Once More With Reeling! A Coordinator's Tentacool competes in the Terracotta Contest.
- DP089Up Close and Personable! A Tentacool lives in the lake near the Pokémon Summer Academy.
- XY022Going for the Gold! Two Tentacool are on display at the Ambrette Aquarium.
- XY040Day Three Blockbusters! At the summer camp's fishing contest, Tierno and Shauna can only reel in a Magikarp and a Tentacool, while Trevor lands a Wailord for Team Squirtle.
- SM086I Choose Paradise! Two Trainers' Tentacool are at the Pokémon Paradise Resort.
Beyond the main series
Anime gallery
Anime trivia
- In the English dub of Tentacool & Tentacruel, Ash calls Tentacool ugly while he checks his Pokédex. In the Japanese original, he just sighs (EP019).
- When the giant Tentacruel takes Meowth captive, Brock assumes it is controlling him, but it is really a Tentacool on Meowth that does the talking (EP019).
- Team Rocket's stun sauce was created for the English dub. In the Japanese version, the barrel holds a triple-flavour vinaigrette, and the dub replaced the size label on the barrel with a picture of a Tentacool under a no symbol (EP019).
- Whose Tentacool was it? A Tentacool uses Bubble during Ritchie and Assunta's Full Battle in Friends to the End, and it belongs to one of them. Ritchie and Assunta each turn out to own either a Spearow or a Tentacool, but the episode never says which (EP080).
- Tentacool had its own Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture at the end of the Japanese version of Once in a Blue Moon. Oak's senryū pictures it drifting lazily along, morning, noon and night (EP127).
- In In the Knicker of Time!, costume-loving Trainer Nicholai calls himself a Tentacool while wearing a Tentacruel suit. The Finnish, Norwegian and Polish dubs fixed the slip (AG005).
- The Pokémon Trainer's Choice quiz in Saved by the Beldum asked viewers what Tentacool evolves into: Octillery, Tentacruel or Remoraid. The answer was Tentacruel (AG126).
- In the Japanese version of Uncrushing Defeat!, Jessie gives a proverb about one misfortune following another a Pokémon twist by ending it with Menokurage, Tentacool's Japanese name. It comes out as something like 'When it rains, it pours Tentacool' (DP133).
“Tentacool, a Jellyfish Pokémon. 99% of its body is made up of water.”
Ash's Pokédex · EP019
05On the big screen
Tentacool in the movies
featuring Tentacool.
On the big screen Tentacool has stayed in the background, drifting through several films, Pikachu shorts and opening montages without a scene of its own. Its film role is on paper instead: in the comic version of Mewtwo Strikes Back, one of the Trainers crossing the sea to New Island is a girl riding her Tentacool.
06Trading Card Game · every card
Tentacool in the Pokémon TCG
20 cards since 1999, oldest first. Tap any card to see it full size.
Tentacool floated into the card game with Japan's Mystery of the Fossils expansion in June 1997 and washed up in English Fossil in October 1999, armed with Acid and a Pokémon Power called Cowardice that lets it bolt back into your hand when trouble looms. It has stayed a humble Basic ever since, a cheap stinger that poisons, paralyses, wraps and slaps for one or two Energy, with the odd surprise: a full-heal Recover, a free-retreat Poké-Body, a Crystal Barrier that can block a whole attack and a Bubble Jutsu powered up by Janine. Misty brought her own Tentacool to Gym Heroes in 2000, with a Jellyfish Pod attack that gathers the whole family from your deck, and Japanese readers of CoroCoro Comic got one of her cards with a fresh drawing. It has swum through five English theme decks, from Turmoil in 2002 to Verdant Frost in 2010.
The art has drifted with the tides. Kagemaru Himeno drew the original card, Ken Sugimori drew all three Misty's Tentacool and came back for Team Up in 2019, and Hajime Kusajima, Hisao Nakamura, Tomoaki Imakuni, Atsuko Nishida and Sachiko Adachi each gave it a turn through the e-Card, EX, Diamond & Pearl and HeartGold & SoulSilver years. Primal Clash turned it Psychic, the card game's home for Poison Pokémon at the time, and later artists gave it a sense of place, with Janine at its side in Shin Nagasawa's Unbroken Bonds card and Challenge Beach on the Isle of Armor for SATOSHI NAKAI, before miki kudo drew it for 151. TCG Pocket has three Tentacool so far, Shinya Komatsu's new Vermilion Port scene in Genetic Apex plus the Guardians Rising and Aquapolis pictures brought back for Shining Revelry and Secluded Springs.
Cards to know
- Fossil 56/62 — Kagemaru Himeno's original Tentacool, whose Cowardice power lets you scoop it back into your hand when the going gets tough.
- Gym Heroes 32/132 — Misty's Tentacool and its Jellyfish Pod attack, which pulls any number of Tentacool and Tentacruel, Misty's included, straight out of your deck: a whole bloom in one go.
- Primal Clash 70/160 — Tentacool printed as a Psychic type to reflect its poison, and Lost in the Waves sends it drifting back into your hand after it attacks.
- Unbroken Bonds 40/214 — Janine joins Tentacool in the picture, and Bubble Jutsu jumps from 10 to 60 damage on the turn you play her card.
- Evolving Skies 026/203 — SATOSHI NAKAI sets Tentacool on the Isle of Armor's Challenge Beach, on the stretch that leads to the Tower of Waters.
- Genetic Apex 062/226 (TCG Pocket) — Part of TCG Pocket's Touring the Kanto Region collection, with Vermilion Port in the picture.
Every English-language card
Japan-exclusive cards
Pokémon TCG Pocket
Digital card games
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy Color): Tentacool (Fossil art, Kagemaru Himeno), card D19 in the Laboratory booster pack. Joshua of the Water Club plays two in his Sound of the Waves Deck.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Tentacool (Fossil art, Kagemaru Himeno), card B20 in the Legendary Power pack. Amanda of the Water Club packs three in her Beach Deck (which the Auto Deck Machine also offers once you win the Starmie Coin), the rival Ronald brings three to his first duel in his Uncool Deck, and Magician, one of the Ghost Masters of the Sealed Fort on GR Island, plays two in his Immortal Pokémon Deck.
The artists behind the cards
- Ken Sugimori — 4 (both Misty's Tentacool in Gym Heroes, the Japanese CoroCoro promo of Misty's Tentacool, and Team Up)
- Kagemaru Himeno — 1 (Fossil, reprinted in Legendary Collection and used in both Game Boy Color card games)
- Hajime Kusajima — 1 (Aquapolis, reused in TCG Pocket's Secluded Springs)
- Shibuzoh. — 1 (Guardians Rising, reused in TCG Pocket's Shining Revelry)
- One artwork each: Hisao Nakamura, Tomoaki Imakuni, Atsuko Nishida, Sachiko Adachi, Yukiko Baba, Mizue, Shin Nagasawa, SATOSHI NAKAI and miki kudo; TCG Pocket's Genetic Apex card by Shinya Komatsu
07On the page & beyond
Tentacool in manga, books & other media
From the earliest manga to story books and songs.
Tentacool's best work away from the TV series is on paper. Pokémon Adventures gives it a proper little adventure in the Yellow arc, where Yellow frees a baby Tentacool pinned under a boulder. The same manga makes it the bath-time companion of A, a recurring minor character who vows never to bathe with it again (in the English editions, at least) and then does exactly that. Toshihiro Ono's comic of Mewtwo Strikes Back has a girl ride one across the sea to New Island, and in Pokémon Horizon a Rockruff desperate to get stronger takes one on at sea, badly outmatched. Off the page, Tentacool even got a song of its own in 2017, Tentacool Bobbing Up and Down, made for Japan's official Pokémon fan club.
Manga
Other media
More from the page
08Did you know?
Tentacool trivia
Name origins, design secrets and the facts that make Tentacool such a fan favourite.
What’s in a name?
Tentacool looks like a splash of 'tentacle' and 'cool' – and possibly Tentaculata, a class of comb jellies. Its Japanese name, Menokurage, probably joins 瑪瑙 menō (agate), a fitting word for its glassy red crystals, with 水母 kurage (jellyfish); it may also hide 目の敵 me no kataki (enemy) or 目の毒 me no doku, 'temptation' – literally 'poison to the eye'. Chinese follows the agate idea with 瑪瑙水母, the 'agate jellyfish', while the Korean Wangnunhe blends 'big eye', 'sea' and 'jellyfish', and older Cantonese media called it 大眼水母, the 'big-eyed jellyfish'. French, Spanish, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese all keep the English name, and in German it is Tentacha, from Tentakel (tentacle).
Design origins
Tentacool was designed by Ken Sugimori. The jellyfish inspiration is plain to see – possibly a box jellyfish such as Chironex fleckeri or Carukia barnesi – while its single pair of tentacles may come from the Tentaculata, a class of comb jellies most of which catch their prey with two long tentacles. There's a dash of squid in the mix too. And with its glinting gems and its habit of firing beams of light, Tentacool also recalls the bug-eyed monsters and alien invaders of 1950s B-movies. In early English beta material it went by a very different name: Jilly.
Names around the world
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | メノクラゲ Menokurage | Probably from 瑪瑙 menō (agate) and 水母 kurage (jellyfish); may also involve 目の敵 me no kataki (enemy) or 目の毒 me no doku (temptation) |
| French | Tentacool | Same as the English name |
| Spanish | Tentacool | Same as the English name |
| German | Tentacha | From Tentakel (tentacle) and Acht (outlawry) |
| Italian | Tentacool | Same as the English name |
| Korean | 왕눈해 Wangnunhe | From 왕눈 wangnun (big eye), 해 (海) hae (sea) and 해파리 haepari (jellyfish) |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 瑪瑙水母 / 玛瑙水母 Mǎnǎoshuǐmǔ | From 瑪瑙 mǎnǎo (agate) and 水母 shuǐmǔ (jellyfish) |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 瑪瑙水母 Máhnóuhséuimóuh | From 瑪瑙 máhnóuh (agate) and 水母 séuimóuh (jellyfish); older media used 大眼水母 Daaihngáahnséuimóuh, from 大眼 daaih ngáahn (big eye) and 水母 séuimóuh (jellyfish) |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Tentacool | Same as the English name |
| Arabic | تينتاكول Tintakul | Transcription of the English name |
| Hebrew | טנטקול Tentacool | Transcription of the English name |
| Hindi | टेंटाकूल Tentacool | Transcription of the English name |
| Russian | Тентакул Tentakul | Transcription of the English name |
| Thai | เมโนคุราเกะ Menokhurake | Transcription of the Japanese name |
| Vietnamese | Menokurage | From the Japanese name |
Did you know?
- Paldea's Toedscool looks so much like Tentacool that the two are easily mistaken for relatives – but they are biologically unrelated.
- Tentacool and Toedscool even share exactly the same base stats, laid out the same way: 40 HP, 40 Attack, 35 Defense, 50 Sp. Atk, 100 Sp. Def and 70 Speed.
- Their types mirror each other too: Tentacool's Water beats Toedscool's Ground but loses to its Grass, while Tentacool's Poison beats Grass and loses to Ground.
- Ash's Pokédex called Tentacool 99% water in its debut episode in 1997, and Ultra Moon's Pokédex later used the same figure.
- The Pokédex can't agree where its beams come from: its crystal-like eyes (Sapphire, Diamond), a small round organ above its eyes (Alpha Sapphire) or glassy magenta orbs that only resemble eyes (Legends: Arceus).
- The Japanese title of its debut episode, Tentacool & Tentacruel, is simply the two Pokémon's Japanese names run together: Menokurage Dokukurage.
- In HeartGold and SoulSilver, a Tentacool is given away in Cianwood City to players who have only one Pokémon in their party and an empty PC.
- In early English beta material, Tentacool was called Jilly.
- Tentacool's Sp. Def of 100 is 30 points higher than any of its other base stats – and the same number as the single Special stat it had in Generation I.
- In many games since Diamond and Pearl, a wild Tentacool has a 5% chance of carrying a Poison Barb.
- It couldn't be caught in Black and White or Black 2 and White 2 – but in the online Pokémon Dream World it could be found in the Sparkling Sea.
- Tentacool missed the launch of both Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet: it arrived in version 1.2.0 with The Isle of Armor, and in version 3.0.0 with The Indigo Disk.
- In 2002, Pokémon Center New York's Gotta Catch 'Em All Station! handed out a level 5 'Confuse Ray Tentacool' for Gold, Silver and Crystal from 12 July to 8 August.
- Its first card, Fossil's Tentacool, has a Poké-Power called Cowardice – and in Japanese, that Poké-Power shares its name with the Timid Nature.
09Quizzes, archive & further reading
More Tentacool
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 TCG: IntermediateShuffle up and draw! From the very first booster packs to the digital age, how well do you know the Pokémon Trading Card Game?Take the quiz →
Pokémon General Knowledge: IntermediateReady to dig deeper? Test what you know about where Pokémon came from, the people behind it and its many spin-offs.Take the quiz →
Pokémon General Knowledge: BeginnerFancy yourself a Pokémon fan? Warm up with these fun questions about the games, the anime and everything in between.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 Tentacool 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 29 October 2026.