No. 0073 · Generation I · Jellyfish Pokémon
ドククラゲDokukurage · From doku (poison) and kurage (jellyfish) – a 'poison jellyfish'; doku may also hint at me no doku, a temptation
The Jellyfish Pokémon · Water/Poison type · first seen in Pokémon Red & Green (1996)
01Overview
Meet Tentacruel
Everything you need to know about the Jellyfish Pokémon — the creature behind the number.
Tentacruel is the Jellyfish Pokémon, the Water/Poison form that Tentacool grows into from level 30 – and it is very much the jellyfish you hope not to meet on a morning swim. Its dome-shaped body is clear and light blue, with a big red orb on either side of its head and a smaller one in the middle. Beneath sits a round black underside holding its eyes, two blue, beak-like appendages and a trailing curtain of grey tentacles.
Those tentacles are the stuff of legend. Pokédex entries keep returning to the number 80, though most are kept short and out of sight until it is time to hunt. Then they soak up water and stretch out into an encircling, poisonous net that its prey rarely escapes; Sapphire claims it can snare up to 80 victims at once. Oddly, age takes its toll: Sun's Pokédex says the longer a Tentacruel lives, the fewer tentacles it has.
“It has 80 tentacles that move about freely. They can sting, causing poisoning and sharp, stabbing pain.”
Pokédex · Pokémon Red (Japan), Green (Japan), FireRed & Y · 1996
The orbs are its voice. They glow when Tentacruel is excited or agitated, light up to talk to others of its kind and blink as a warning when danger is near. When they blaze brightly, watch out – that is the signal for a harsh blast of ultrasonic waves that whips the sea into rough waves. It makes its home among complex rock formations on the ocean floor, and although it is rarely seen, a mass outbreak can empty the surrounding sea of fish Pokémon.
Anime fans know exactly how fearsome it can be. In Tentacool & Tentacruel, a Tentacool hit by Team Rocket's stun sauce swells into a towering Tentacruel that floods Porta Vista in revenge for the hotel being built over its coral reef – using a captured Meowth as its mouthpiece – until Misty talks it down from a rooftop. Ash's Pokédex sums it up with a nickname: 'The Gangster of the Sea'.
In the games it is a familiar face to anyone who has surfed through Johto, Sinnoh or the Hoenn of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and its Sp. Def of 120 makes it a stubborn wall against special attacks. Hoenn Champion Wallace counts one among his Water types in Emerald, and N brings one to his all-Water spring team in Black 2 and White 2. Part Portuguese man o' war, part 1950s flying-saucer invader, Tentacruel is a sea monster with real staying power.
How big is Tentacruel?
At 1.6 m (5′03″) Tentacruel would look many adults straight in the eye, and at 55 kg (121.3 lb) it weighs about as much as a big Great Dane – that's a lot of jellyfish.
Evolution
02In the Pokédex's words
Tentacruel's Pokédex entries
24 different entries across 46 games, from 1996 to 2023. Here is how the Pokédex has described Tentacruel over the years, in the order the games came out.
Generation I
It has 80 tentacles that move about freely. They can sting, causing poisoning and sharp, stabbing pain.
Kanto Pokédex
The tentacles are normally kept short. On hunts, they are extended to ensnare and immobilize prey.
Kanto Pokédex
Its 80 tentacles can stretch and contract freely. They wrap around prey and weaken it with poison.
Kanto Pokédex
It has 80 tentacles. Once they wrap around an enemy, the tentacles will not release, no matter what.
Kanto Pokédex
Generation II
Its 80 tentacles absorb water and stretch almost endlessly to constrict its prey and enemies.
Johto Pokédex
In battle, it extends all 80 of its tentacles to entrap its opponent inside a poisonous net.
Johto Pokédex
When its 80 feelers absorb water, it stretches to become like a net to entangle its prey.
Johto Pokédex
Generation III
Tentacruel has large red orbs on its head. The orbs glow before lashing the vicinity with a harsh ultrasonic blast. This Pokémon's outburst creates rough waves around it.
Hoenn Pokédex
Tentacruel has tentacles that can be freely elongated and shortened at will. It ensnares prey with its tentacles and weakens the prey by dosing it with a harsh toxin. It can catch up to 80 prey at the same time.
Hoenn Pokédex
It lives in complex rock formations on the ocean floor and traps prey using its 80 tentacles. Its red orbs glow when it grows excited or agitated.
Hoenn Pokédex
Generation IV
With 80 tentacles for ensnaring victims, it prevents escape until the prey is weakened by poison.
Sinnoh Pokédex
It alerts others to danger by stridently flashing the red orbs on its head.
Sinnoh Pokédex
It shoots poisonous needles and scatters poison to attack.
Capture Styler (Pokémon Ranger series)
It extends its 80 tentacles to form an encircling poisonous net that is difficult to escape.
Sinnoh Pokédex
It spits bubbles around itself that make Pokémon Slowed.
Capture Styler (Pokémon Ranger series)
Generation VII
Normally, it has 80 poisonous tentacles. The longer one has been alive, the fewer tentacles it will have.
Rotom Pokédex
Although these Pokémon are rare, when a large outbreak of them occurs, all fish Pokémon disappear from the surrounding sea.
Rotom Pokédex
It fires off ultrasonic waves from its red orbs to weaken its prey, and then it wraps them up in its 80 tentacles.
Rotom Pokédex
It communicates with others of its kind by lighting up the red orbs on its head. When the orbs are blinking, it's a warning sign.
Rotom Pokédex
Generation VIII
When the red orbs on Tentacruel's head glow brightly, watch out. The Pokémon is about to fire off a burst of ultrasonic waves.
Rotom Phone (Sword & Shield)
Its 80 tentacles can stretch and shrink freely. Tentacruel ensnares prey in a net of spread-out tentacles, delivering venomous stings to its catch.
Rotom Phone (Sword & Shield)
Tentacruel use ultrasonic waves to investigate their surroundings and emit light from their heads to signal danger. They seemed to react to the NEO-ONE's scans—maybe they felt familiar to them!
Photodex (New Pokémon Snap)
It has 80 tentacles, each with a venomous tip. These tentacles are also extendible, lengthening when Tentacruel attempts to catch prey. Use caution.
Hisui Pokédex
Generation IX
On the rare occasions that large outbreaks of Tentacruel occur, all fish Pokémon disappear from the surrounding sea.
Rotom Phone (Scarlet & Violet)
03Stats, moves & where to find it
Tentacruel in the video games
Base stat total 515 · 24 core-series games · 27 spin-offs · every move it learns, generation by generation.
Base stats
In Generation I Tentacruel had a single Special stat of 120. When Gold and Silver split Special in two, Tentacruel kept 120 for Sp. Def and received 80 Sp. Atk, giving the 80/70/65/80/120/100 spread (a total of 515) it still has today – no generation has changed it since. Sp. Def is its standout stat, which is also why it gives 2 Sp. Def EVs, and its Speed of 100 is quick for a jellyfish. Base experience yield was 205 in Generations I–IV and is 180 from Generation V. Base friendship was 70 in Generations II–VII and is 50 from Sword & Shield onwards. On the Slow growth curve it needs 1,250,000 Exp. Points to reach level 100. In the Pokéathlon of HeartGold and SoulSilver it is a Skill specialist (four stars), with three stars for Power, three to four for Stamina, two to three for Jump and only one to two for Speed.
Abilities
- Clear Bodysince Gen III
Stops other Pokémon from lowering Tentacruel's stats. - Liquid Oozesince Gen III
Turns HP-draining moves against the attacker: anyone who drains Tentacruel's HP loses that HP instead of gaining it. - Rain DishHidden abilitysince Gen V
Gradually restores Tentacruel's HP at the end of each turn while it is raining.
Type matchups
How hard each attacking type hits a Water/Poison Pokémon.
Generation I: Bug-type moves were super effective (2×), because Bug was then strong against Poison; from Generation II onwards Bug is resisted (½×). The Steel resistance dates from Generation II, when the Steel type arrived, and the Fairy resistance from Generation VI.
Training & breeding
- Catch rate
- 60
- Base friendship
- 50
- Base experience
- 180
- Growth rate
- Slow
- EV yield
- 2 Sp. Def
- Egg groups
- Water 3
- Egg cycles
- 20
- Colour
- Blue
- Gender ratio
- 50% male
- Body shape
- tentacles
Where to find Tentacruel
| Game | Year | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Green | 1996 | Evolve Tentacool (level 30)Not found in the wild. |
| Blue (Japan) | 1996 | Evolve Tentacool (level 30) |
| Red & Blue | 1998 | Evolve Tentacool (level 30)Not found in the wild. |
| Yellow | 1998 | Fish with the Super Rod on Routes 19, 20 and 21, or evolve TentacoolYellow lets you reel one in directly with the Super Rod. |
| Gold & Silver | 1999 | Surf, or fish with the Super Rod, across Johto and Kanto – Routes 32, 34, 40 and 41, Cherrygrove, Olivine and Cianwood City, the Whirl Islands, Union Cave, New Bark Town, and Kanto's Routes 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27, Pallet Town, Vermilion City and Cinnabar IslandIn Olivine City the Super Rod only works in the harbour. |
| Crystal | 2000 | Surf or use the Super Rod in the same Johto and Kanto waters as Gold & Silver |
| Ruby & Sapphire | 2002 | Surf or fish with the Super Rod in the Abandoned Ship |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | 2004 | Surf around the Sevii Islands – One and 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 | Surf or fish with the Super Rod in the Abandoned ShipChampion Wallace's team includes a level 55 Tentacruel (Toxic, Hydro Pump, Sludge Bomb, Ice Beam). |
| Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | Surf on Routes 205, 213, 218–224, 226 and 230, in Pastoria, Canalave and Sunyshore City, Valley Windworks, Fuego Ironworks, Iron Island and at the Pokémon LeagueWild ones sometimes hold a Poison Barb (5%). Migrated Tentacruel turn up in the Sea area of Pal Park. |
| Platinum | 2008 | Surf in the same waters as Diamond & Pearl, plus Route 212 |
| HeartGold & SoulSilver | 2009 | Surf or use the Super Rod across Johto and Kanto, as in Gold & Silver; Route 47 adds a Super Rod spot |
| Black & White | 2010 | Not found in Unova – transfer one with Poké Transfer |
| Black 2 & White 2 | 2012 | Not found in Unova – transfer one with Poké TransferIn spring, N's all-Water team at N's Castle includes a level 75 Tentacruel holding a Damp Rock. Janine brings a level 50 Tentacruel to the Pokémon World Tournament. |
| X & Y | 2013 | Evolve Tentacool |
| Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire | 2014 | Surf on Routes 124–133 and around Mossdeep City, Pacifidlog Town, Ever Grande City, Shoal Cave, Seafloor Cavern, Victory Road and the Battle ResortDuring the Delta Episode, Wallace battles you on Route 131 with a level 55 Tentacruel on his team. |
| Sun & Moon | 2016 | Surf in the Poni Wilds |
| Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon | 2017 | Surf on Routes 14 and 15 and at Poni Breaker Coast |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! | 2018 | Sea Skim on Routes 4, 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 24, and in the Seafoam IslandsKoga's Gym rematch team includes a level 56 Tentacruel, and a Tentacruel Master Trainer waits on Route 20. |
| Sword & Shield | 2019 | Not in the Galar base game (trade only, from Version 1.2.0); with the Expansion Pass, Surf around the Isle of Armor, meet it in Max Raid Battles there, or find it in Dynamax Adventures in the Crown TundraOn the Isle of Armor it surfs at Challenge Beach, Fields of Honor, Honeycalm Island and Sea, the Insular Sea, Loop Lagoon, Stepping-Stone Sea and Workout Sea, and roams Courageous Cavern. |
| Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl | 2021 | Surf in the same Sinnoh waters as Diamond & Pearl; after you defeat Candice it also appears in Grand Underground caves such as Fountainspring Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern, Swampy Cave and Bogsunk Cavern |
| Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Wild in the Cobalt Coastlands – near Islespy Shore, in Lunker's Lair, around Seagrass Haven and in mass outbreaksAn Alpha Tentacruel can be found near Lunker's Lair. |
| Scarlet & Violet | 2022 | Not in Paldea or Kitakami; trade one in (Version 3.0.0 onwards), or with The Indigo Disk find it in the Terarium's Coastal Biome and in 4★ Tera Raid Battles at Blueberry Academy |
| Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Not available |
Sprites through the ages
Spin-offs & cameos
Pokémon GO
Tentacruel has been drifting through Pokémon GO since launch day, 6 July 2016. Evolving a Tentacool costs 50 Candy, and as a buddy it earns you a Candy every 3 km. It made its raid debut as a two-star boss from 4 November 2017 to 9 February 2018 and has since returned in three-star raids. Shiny Tentacruel arrived on 19 November 2019, when Supereffective Week made Shiny Tentacool available, and Shadow Tentacruel followed on 27 January 2024. Its move pool has kept growing: Acid Spray joined its Charged Attacks on 19 March 2019, Scald on 1 September 2022 and Payback on 2 December 2025, while Poison Sting was added to its Fast Attacks on 1 June 2025. Its GO Pokédex entry borrows Ruby's warning about orbs that glow before an ultrasonic blast.
Its Fossil card, complete with Jellyfish Sting, can be pulled from the Laboratory booster packs.
Available as a rental Pokémon, and its Stadium Pokédex entry warns that once its tentacles wrap around an enemy, they will not let go, no matter what.
You can't catch one outright – evolve a Tentacool to add it to your Pokédex.
In the Gym Leader Castle, Janine brings one to her Round 1 team in Kanto, and Ice-type Leader Pryce slots one into his Round 2 team in Johto.
The Fossil card returns in the Japan-only sequel, this time in the Legendary Power booster packs.
Again it has to be earned: evolve a Tentacool on the table.
There's no snagging one, but opponents still use it – one fights in Round 4 of the Under Colosseum tournament beneath Pyrite Town.
Purpsix – the Poison-loving member of the Hexagon Brothers, six colour-coded Cipher Peon sextuplets – sends one out at the Cipher Lab.
Recruit one in Stormy Sea, Silver Trench or Grand Sea – it settles in the Bountiful Sea friend area and boasts, 'Know how many of these tentacles I have? Eighty!' A Tentacruel is also part of the rescue team Team Constrictor.
Lurks in the watery depths of Surrounded Sea, Miracle Sea and Bottomless Sea.
Found in the Sea of Wailord; once befriended, it lends a Water-type Poké Assist and can Crush obstacles in the field.
Still drifting through Surrounded Sea, Miracle Sea and Bottomless Sea in the expanded Explorers adventure.
Patrols the Eastern Sea, spitting out bubbles that leave Pokémon Slowed.
Appears in the battle called Unidentified Flying Objects – fitting for a Pokémon with a flying-saucer silhouette.
Found on Stage 546 in Nacht Carnival; its Poison Pact skill boosts the damage done by Poison types in a combo.
Blastoise introduces it: complete his Connection Orb request and Tentacruel joins you, musing, 'Relaxing on the ocean surface is nice. It's so soothing, isn't it?'
Around since launch day: evolve a Tentacool with 50 Candy, battle it in raids, or hunt for its Shiny form, available since 2019.
Reimagined as a cube, it appears in Farside Fjord on stages 10-2 and 10-4, alongside Tentacool.
No sync pair uses one, but a Tentacool hatched from an Egg can grow into Tentacruel.
Recruitable in several of the remake's sea dungeons, and it can also be found in Mystery Houses.
Pose-ready on the Lental Seafloor from research level 2, where Tentacruel seem to react to the NEO-ONE's scans – as if they felt familiar.
Moves
Tentacruel's toolkit has always been about squeezing and stinging. In Red and Blue it started with Acid, Supersonic and Wrap, worked through Poison Sting, Water Gun, Constrict, Barrier and Screech, and finished with a level-50 Hydro Pump, while TMs and HMs added Ice Beam, Blizzard and Surf. Gold and Silver brought its first egg moves (Aurora Beam, Haze, Mirror Coat, Rapid Spin and Safeguard), and Diamond and Pearl gave it a nastier edge with Toxic Spikes, Poison Jab and a wringing Wring Out finale.
Black and White piled on Acid Spray, Hex and Sludge Wave, and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire slipped Brine into its level-up list. Then Sword and Shield rewrote the script: Barrier, Constrict and Wring Out were gone, Acid Armor and Surf came in, and Hydro Pump was the level-58 finale once more. Legends: Arceus trimmed things to seven level-up moves for life in the Cobalt Coastlands, and Scarlet and Violet keep the Sword and Shield list while stretching its TMs to 44, from Chilling Water to Gunk Shot. Quite the arsenal for a Pokémon the Pokédex credits with up to 80 tentacles.
Signature moves
The original tentacle squeeze. It is a starting move in Red and Blue, waits until level 30 in Gold and Silver, and has been back at level 1 since Sword and Shield. Every main-series game puts it on Tentacruel's level-up list except Legends: Arceus.
The jellyfish's trademark jab, learned at level 18 in Red and Blue and a starting move ever since Gold and Silver. Like Hydro Pump, it is on every Tentacruel level-up list, Let's Go and Legends: Arceus included.
A surprising Psychic-type shield for a sea creature: learned at level 35 in Red and Blue and on every list up to Sun, Moon and Let's Go. When Sword and Shield retired the move, Acid Armor took over as its defence boost at level 34.
Diamond and Pearl's sneaky addition at level 15: poisonous barbs scattered on the opponent's side of the field. It stayed on the level-up list until Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, then became TR54 in Sword and Shield and TM091 in Scarlet and Violet.
A crushing squeeze that hits harder the healthier the target is. It arrived as the level-55 finale in Diamond and Pearl, and from X and Y onwards it is listed twice, at level 1 and as the last move, until Sword and Shield retired it.
A tidal wave of toxic sludge that hits everything around it. Black and White teach it at level 56 (and as TM34), Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire bring it forward to 48, as do the Alola games, and Sword, Shield, Scarlet and Violet settle on 52.
The big finish. It closes the list in Red and Blue (level 50), Gold, Silver, Ruby and Sapphire (55), Let's Go (65), Sword, Shield, Scarlet and Violet (58) and Legends: Arceus (43), and it is on every Tentacruel level-up list.
Complete learnsets
Generation I · Red, Green, Blue & Yellow11 level-up · 20 TM/HM
Red and Blue have no wild Tentacruel, so you evolve a Tentacool at level 30; in Yellow you can fish one up with the Super Rod on Routes 19, 20 and 21. One level column covers all four games. It starts with Acid, Supersonic and Wrap (listed again at levels 7 and 13), adds Poison Sting at 18 and Water Gun at 22, then Constrict, Barrier and Screech, and finishes with a level-50 Hydro Pump. Its TMs and HMs include Ice Beam, Blizzard, BubbleBeam and HM03 Surf. Move categories in this generation follow the move's type (Water, Ice, Grass and Psychic are special; Normal and Poison are physical), and non-damaging moves are listed as Status. Move names keep the original spellings (BubbleBeam). 'By transfer' lists Generation II moves a Tentacruel can bring back through the Time Capsule: Aurora Beam and Haze as egg moves, and Confuse Ray from the Tentacool handed out at the New York City Pokémon Center.
By level-up
| RGBY | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acid | Poison | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| 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 |
| 35 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 43 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 50 | 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 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Physical | 150 | 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 Tentacool from the New York City Pokémon Center) |
| Haze | Gen II (breeding) |
Generation II · Gold, Silver & Crystal11 level-up · 22 TM/HM · 5 egg · 1 tutor
Gold, Silver and Crystal have Tentacruel all over the water in Johto and Kanto, met by Surfing or with the Super Rod. Its level-up list is reshuffled: Poison Sting, Supersonic and Constrict at level 1, Acid at 19, BubbleBeam at 25, Wrap at 30, Barrier at 38, Screech at 47 and Hydro Pump at 55. Categories still follow the move's type; Hidden Power's category depends on its type, and Curse has the mystery type it kept until it became Ghost-type in Generation V. New TMs and HMs include Icy Wind, Sludge Bomb and HM06 Whirlpool, and Crystal's move tutor teaches Ice Beam. Egg moves are passed on to Tentacool when it hatches; Haze, Rapid Spin and Safeguard need chain breeding. Confuse Ray came only on a Tentacool given away at the New York City Pokémon Center. 'By transfer' lists Red, Blue and Yellow TM moves brought over through the Time Capsule.
By level-up
| GSC | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 1 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 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 |
| 38 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 47 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 55 | 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 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 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 |
From its pre-evolution
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Learnt as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | Tentacool · event Tentacool from the New York City Pokémon Center · GSC |
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)11 level-up · 23 TM/HM · 6 egg · 9 tutor
Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald keep Tentacruel at the Abandoned Ship, where you Surf or use the Super Rod; FireRed and LeafGreen have it in the waters of the Sevii Islands, around One Island, the Water Path and the Tanoby Ruins among others. Its level-up list is the same as in Gold and Silver. New TMs and HMs include Water Pulse, Hail, HM07 Waterfall and HM08 Dive, and Confuse Ray becomes a regular egg move, passed on by Lileep or Cradily. Categories still follow the move's type, and Hidden Power's category depends on its type. Tutor games are FireRed/LeafGreen, Emerald and XD: Tentacruel can't be found in Colosseum or XD, but one traded in can use XD's tutors. Haze, Rapid Spin and Safeguard need chain breeding. Contest stats are not included.
By level-up
| RSE/FRLG | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 1 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 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 |
| 38 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 47 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 55 | 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 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| 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 & SoulSilver15 level-up · 34 TM/HM · 9 egg · 5 tutor
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum have Tentacruel on Sinnoh's waterways (routes, towns and the Pokémon League) by Surfing, and HeartGold and SoulSilver across Johto and Kanto by Surfing or with the Super Rod. This is the first generation in which each move has its own physical or special category. One level column covers all five games: Toxic Spikes arrives at 15, Water Pulse at 29 and Poison Jab at 36, Hydro Pump comes at 49 and a squeezing Wring Out is the new level-55 finale. HM05 Whirlpool is HeartGold/SoulSilver only. Tutor games are Diamond/Pearl, Platinum and HeartGold/SoulSilver: Dive, Icy Wind, Knock Off and Snore are taught in Platinum and HeartGold/SoulSilver, Magic Coat in HeartGold/SoulSilver only. Acupressure and Knock Off join the egg moves, Muddy Water is a HeartGold/SoulSilver-only egg move, and Haze, Muddy Water, Rapid Spin and Safeguard need chain breeding. 'By transfer' lists Double-Edge and Mimic, Generation III tutor moves. Contest stats are not included.
By level-up
| DPPt/HGSS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 1 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 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 |
| 36 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 42 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 49 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 120 | 80 | 5 |
| 55 | 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 | |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 | |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| 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 | |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 | |
| 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 218 level-up · 31 TM/HM · 11 egg · 7 tutor
Tentacruel doesn't live anywhere in Unova, so in Black, White, Black 2 and White 2 it has to be traded in or brought over from a Generation IV game. Acid Spray arrives at 26, Hex at 47 and Sludge Wave at 56, with Hydro Pump at 52 and Wring Out now at 61. New TMs include Venoshock, Scald and Sludge Wave, and Dive is HM06. Every tutor move is Black 2/White 2 only, so in Black and White, Giga Drain could only come from a Tentacool met in the Pokémon Dream World's Sparkling Sea. Aqua Ring, Bubble and Tickle join the egg moves; Haze, Muddy Water and Rapid Spin need chain breeding.
By level-up
| BW/B2W2 | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 1 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 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 |
| 34 | Water Pulse | Water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| 38 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 43 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 47 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| 52 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 120 | 80 | 5 |
| 56 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 61 | 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 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 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 |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| 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 |
From its pre-evolution
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Learnt as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | Tentacool · Pokémon Dream World (Sparkling Sea) · BW |
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 (TM) |
Generation VI · X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire22 level-up · 36 TM/HM · 11 egg · 7 tutor
X and Y: evolve Tentacool. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire: surf Hoenn's sea routes (Routes 124 to 133) and spots such as Mossdeep City and the Seafloor Cavern. Each pair has its own level column. Reflect Type and Wring Out join the level-1 moves; X and Y otherwise keep the Black and White levels, while Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire reshuffle them: most moves come a few levels earlier (Water Pulse jumps from 34 to 16), Bubble Beam slips back to 25, and Acid at level 1 and Brine at 36 are new. Hydro Pump drops to 110 power and Barrier to 20 PP. TM94 Secret Power and HM07 Dive are Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire only (in X and Y, TM94 is Rock Smash, which Tentacruel can't learn), and so is every tutor move. Haze and Rapid Spin need chain breeding. Contest stats are not included.
By level-up
| XY | ORAS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Reflect Type | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| 1 | 1 | Wring Out | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 5 |
| 1 | 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 1 | 1 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| N/A | 1 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 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 |
| 34 | 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 |
| 38 | 32 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| N/A | 36 | Brine | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 43 | 40 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 47 | 44 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 56 | 48 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 52 | 52 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
| 61 | 56 | 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 | |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 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 | |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 | |
| 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 (TM) |
Generation VII · Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon22 level-up · 33 TM/HM · 11 egg · 7 tutor
Sun and Moon have Tentacruel in the Poni Wilds, and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon on Routes 14 and 15 and the Poni Breaker Coast, all by Surfing. One level-up list covers both pairs and follows the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire levels, from Reflect Type and Wring Out at level 1 to Hydro Pump at 52 and a second Wring Out at 56. With HMs gone, Surf and Waterfall are TM94 and TM98. Every tutor move is Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon only. Haze and Rapid Spin need chain breeding. 'By transfer' reaches all the way back to Red, Blue and Yellow, with Bide, Rage and Skull Bash among the old TM moves.
By level-up
| SM/USUM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reflect Type | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| 1 | Wring Out | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 5 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 1 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 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 |
| 32 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 36 | Brine | Water | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 40 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 44 | Hex | Ghost | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| 48 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 52 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
| 56 | 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 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 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 |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| 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 and 1 more |
| 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 (TM), Gen V–VI (TM) |
| Dive | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (tutor), Gen V–VI (TM) |
| 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 (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
| Water Gun | Gen I (level-up/TM) |
| Whirlpool | Gen II (TM), Gen IV (TM) |
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!16 level-up · 17 TM/HM
Tentacruel turns up on several Kanto routes and in the Seafoam Islands, where you Sea Skim across the water. These games have no breeding or move tutors. Haze and Mirror Coat are level-1 moves, Surf is learned at 27 and Hydro Pump caps the list at 65. Mega Drain has 75 power in these games.
By level-up
| LGPE | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 1 | Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Constrict | Normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Supersonic | Normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| 1 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 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 |
| 36 | Barrier | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 46 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 55 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| 65 | 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 |
| TM48 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| 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 (incl. Expansion Pass), Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl15 level-up · 69 TM/HM · 19 egg · 1 tutor
Sword and Shield: trade one in from Version 1.2.0, or head to the Expansion Pass, where it swims off the Isle of Armor's beaches (Challenge Beach and Loop Lagoon among them) and turns up in The Crown Tundra too, Max Raid Battles and Dynamax Adventures included. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: surf Sinnoh's routes and towns, or find it in the Grand Underground's caves after beating Candice. Both pairs share a rebuilt level-up list: Water Gun returns as a starting move alongside Wrap, Acid Armor arrives at 34, Surf at 46 and Hydro Pump at 58, while Constrict, Barrier, Toxic Spikes and Wring Out leave it (Toxic Spikes becomes TR54). TMs, TRs and egg moves are marked SwSh or BDSP; TRs are Sword and Shield's single-use Technical Records, among them Scald, Muddy Water and Venom Drench. Toxic is in neither TM list. Haze, Rapid Spin and Tickle need chain breeding (Muddy Water too in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl). Corrosive Gas comes from the Expansion Pass move tutor. 'By transfer' gathers older moves that only arrive with a Tentacruel moved up from an earlier generation; several, such as Barrier, Constrict and Wring Out, can't be used in Sword and Shield.
By level-up
| SwSh/BDSP | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reflect Type | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Water Gun | Water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 1 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | 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 |
| 34 | Acid Armor | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 40 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 46 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| 52 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 58 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM08 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 | SwSh |
| TM09 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 | SwSh |
| 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 |
| TR91 | Venom Drench | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 20 | 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 |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 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 |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 | 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, Corsola (Galarian), 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, Corsola (Galarian), 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 move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosive Gas | Poison | Status | — | 100 | 40 | Expansion Pass |
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) |
| Cut | Gen I–II (TM), Gen V–VI (TM) |
| Double Team | Gen I–VII (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Frustration | Gen II–VII (TM) |
| Headbutt | Gen VII (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), Gen VII (Let's Go TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM), Gen VII (Let's Go TM) |
| Return | Gen II–VII (TM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III–IV (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Swagger | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV–VII (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
| Toxic | Gen I–VII (TM) |
| Wring Out | Gen IV–VII (level-up) |
Pokémon Legends: Arceus7 level-up · 9 tutor
Tentacruel lives in the Cobalt Coastlands, at Islespy Shore, Lunker's Lair and Seagrass Haven, and also turns up in mass outbreaks. Moves work differently here: 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. Its seven level-up moves run from Poison Sting through Bubble, Water Pulse, Hex, Poison Jab and Acid Armor to Hydro Pump at 43 (mastered at 54). There are no TMs or breeding; the move tutor teaches nine moves, among them 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 |
| Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 120 / 150 / 100 | 90 / 95 | 5 | Legends: Arceus |
| Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 120 / 150 / 100 | 90 / 95 | 5 | 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)15 level-up · 44 TM/HM · 9 egg
Scarlet and Violet: trade one in from Version 3.0.0, or find it in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, in the Terarium's Coastal Biome and in 4★ Tera Raid Battles. Its level-up list is exactly the one from Sword and Shield. The TM list grows to 44, with newcomers such as Chilling Water, Pounce, Liquidation, Flip Turn, Skitter Smack and Tera Blast, and Toxic is back as TM175. Acupressure, Aqua Ring, Mirror Coat, Rapid Spin and Tickle have to be copied from another Pokémon with a Mirror Herb. Tentacruel does not appear in Legends: Z-A.
By level-up
| SV | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reflect Type | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Water Gun | Water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 1 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 1 | 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 |
| 34 | Acid Armor | Poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 40 | Poison Jab | Poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| 46 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| 52 | Sludge Wave | Poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| 58 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM006 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 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 |
| TM152 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM163 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| TM171 | Tera Blast | Normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM174 | Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM175 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM181 | Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| TM193 | Weather Ball | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| 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 |
| TM219 | Skitter Smack | Bug | Physical | 70 | 90 | 10 |
| TM221 | Throat Chop | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupressure | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | Copied from another Pokémon with a Mirror Herb |
| Aqua Ring | Water | Status | — | — | 20 | Copied from another Pokémon with a Mirror Herb |
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Shellder, Cloyster |
| Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 | A parent that learnt it from TM017 (no Water 3 Egg Group Pokémon learns it by level-up), or a Mirror Herb |
| Haze | Ice | Status | — | — | 30 | A parent that learnt it from TM174 (no Water 3 Egg Group Pokémon learns it by level-up), or a Mirror Herb |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | Corphish, Crawdaunt |
| Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 | Copied from another Pokémon with a Mirror Herb |
| Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 50 | 100 | 40 | Copied from another Pokémon with a Mirror Herb |
| Tickle | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Copied from another Pokémon with a Mirror Herb |
04On screen
Tentacruel in the anime
Debut EP019Tentacool & Tentacruel · Its appearances on screen, and 5 other trainers who raised one.
Tentacruel burst into the anime as a monster. In Tentacool & Tentacruel, a Tentacool drenched in Team Rocket's Super Secret Stun Sauce grows into a giant that floods Porta Vista to stop a hotel being built on its coral reef, lecturing the humans through a captured Meowth until Misty persuades it to go home. It is a monster with a point, and its rampage gave Misty the chance to stand up for Water Pokémon that the rest of the town wanted gone.
Since then the Jellyfish Pokémon has mostly been the muscle in other people's plans. Marina's Tentacruel beat Misty's Goldeen, Captain Crook's pirates used a squad of them to hunt Lapras, and the Invincible Pokémon Brothers brought three to steal the Cerulean Gym. On the kinder side, Captain Marius's Tentacruel fished Ash and his friends out of the Whirl Islands' seas, Juan keeps three at his Sootopolis Gym, and in Pokémon Journeys a Trainer's Tentacruel handed Ash a defeat in the World Coronation Series.
Other trainers’ Tentacruel
First seen: HS02Cerulean Blues
The three brothers from Viridian City had already been beaten by Ash and his friends (EP273), and they come back for revenge with a matching set of Tentacruel, determined to take the Cerulean Gym from Misty. Kim's Tentacruel batters Misty's Corsola with Bubble Beam before Kail's and Kai's pile in against the rules, and Nurse Joy disqualifies the brothers and bans them from official matches. Refusing to quit, they aim Poison Sting at Misty's caged Gyarados; Misty shields it with her own body, and the freed Gyarados repays her by sending all three Tentacruel flying with Hyper Beam and blasting the brothers out of the Gym with Hydro Pump (HS02).
- HS02Cerulean Blues · vs Corsola Lost
- HS02Cerulean Blues · vs Gyarados Lost
First seen: EP091Bye Bye Psyduck
On the beach at Kinnow Island, Misty meets Marina, a Trainer who specialises in Water Pokémon and who has just fished Misty's missing Psyduck out of the sea. In their three-on-three battle, Marina's Tentacruel ties up Misty's Goldeen with Wrap and knocks it out with Poison Sting, only to be beaten by a single Swift from Staryu (EP091).
- EP091Bye Bye Psyduck · vs Goldeen Won
- EP091Bye Bye Psyduck · vs Staryu Lost
First seen: AG110The Great Eight Fate!
Three Tentacruel live at Juan's Sootopolis Gym and take part in the water show he puts on at the city's new water-themed theatre. When Team Rocket drop an electrified net over his Pokémon, one Tentacruel's Mirror Coat, together with Gorebyss's Safeguard and Barboach's Mud Sport, counters the shock, and Milotic tears the net apart with Iron Tail before blowing the trio away with Twister (AG110).
- AG110The Great Eight Fate! · vs electrified net Won
First seen: EP113Viva Las Lapras
Captain Crook's pirates fire Poké Balls from their cannons to surround a school of wild Lapras with Tentacruel in a zone where catching Pokémon is banned. The Tentacruel strike with Poison Sting, chase down Ash and his Lapras (ramming Team Rocket's submarine on the way) and leave them reeling with Supersonic, until the Lapras school freezes them solid with Ice Beam. Misty takes over the pirate ship, Officer Jenny arrests the crew, and Misty lets the Tentacruel go, so they swim happily off into the ocean. It is the episode in which Ash says goodbye to his Lapras (EP113).
- EP113Viva Las Lapras · vs Lapras Lost
First seen: EP210Around the Whirlpool
Captain Marius ferries travellers around the Whirl Islands, and his Tentacruel doubles as a lifeguard. When Wobbuffet's Counter bounces Pikachu's Thunderbolt back and the surge throws Ash, his friends and Team Rocket overboard, the group is swept towards the whirlpools until a mysterious shape beneath the waves changes the currents; a Corsola circles them, and Marius's Tentacruel scoops them up in its tentacles and carries them to a boat (EP210).
Ash & Tentacruel
Ash has never owned a Tentacruel, but it keeps turning up in his path. He and Brock signed up for Nastina's bounty on the Tentacool just before the giant Tentacruel flooded Porta Vista (EP019), and in the Orange Islands Captain Crook's Tentacruel chased him and his Lapras and hit them with Supersonic (EP113). In the World Coronation Series, a Trainer's Tentacruel beat his Riolu and sent him back down to the Normal Class (JN036).
Featured episodes
The trouble starts with a warning nobody can read. While Ash, Misty and Brock wait for a ferry to the mainland, an injured Horsea scrawls warning pictures with its ink, a boat explodes offshore and the rescued sailors are too paralysed to say what hit them. The culprits are the Tentacool, and they have good reason to be furious: the wealthy Nastina is building an exclusive luxury hotel for rich tourists right on top of their coral reef.
Nastina wants the Tentacool wiped out and offers a reward of one million (yen in Japan, dollars in the dub) to anyone who will do it. Ash and Brock sign up on the spot, but Misty refuses in disgust and walks out, trying to explain a love of Water Pokémon that the boys just don't get. Team Rocket join the hunt with a barrel of 'Super Secret Stun Sauce', planning to stun the Tentacool and sell them at a fish market.
The plan backfires in spectacular style. Thousands of angry Tentacool surround Team Rocket's boat, and one of them hits the sauce with a ray-gun-like blast, blowing the boat apart. The sauce splashes down on that very Tentacool, and instead of being stunned it evolves into a towering Tentacruel.
What follows is a full-blown monster movie. Tentacool swarm ashore while the giant whips up a tidal wave that floods Porta Vista. The Tentacruel snatches Meowth and, with a Tentacool fastened onto him, turns him into a living loudspeaker: it is wrecking the city, it declares, just as Nastina has been wrecking its home. When Horsea begs it to stop, a tentacle swats it away, and Ash's Pidgeotto catches it and brings it back to Misty.
Ash and his friends send out their Pokémon and drive some of the Tentacool back into the sea, but the Tentacruel cannot understand why Pokémon would side with humans. It is Misty who ends the rampage. Standing on a rooftop, she begs it to stop, promising that the people now understand what they did wrong and that the hotel will not be built on the reef. The giant agrees, warning that it will not stop if its home is ever attacked again, then flings Meowth into the Ferris wheel of a ruined amusement park and leads the Tentacool back to the sea.
Nastina gets one last comeuppance. When she tries to attack again, Horsea squirts ink in her face and a single tentacle sends her flying into the building site of Brutella's restaurant, which is destroyed. On the boat to the mainland, Misty shows off the Horsea she has caught and announces that she still loves Tentacool, much to Ash and Brock's bewilderment.
At a glance
- How it became giant: A Tentacool blasted Team Rocket's barrel of Super Secret Stun Sauce; the sauce landed on it and it evolved into a giant Tentacruel instead of being stunned.
- Meowth's role: Grabbed by the giant and used as its mouthpiece, with a Tentacool attached to him, before being thrown into a Ferris wheel.
- The attack: Tentacool overran the land and the Tentacruel's tidal wave flooded Porta Vista, in revenge for Nastina's hotel on the coral reef.
- How it ends: Misty promised the hotel would not be built; the Tentacruel warned it would return if its home was attacked again and led the Tentacool back to the sea.
- Misty's view: She refused Nastina's bounty because of her love of Water Pokémon, and still declared her love of Tentacool after the rampage.
- EP206The Joy of Water PokémonAt Lake Lucid, a wild Tentacruel drags Team Rocket's submarine underwater, announces through Meowth that it is spoiling for a battle and dazes the trio with Supersonic.
- DP190The Brockster Is In!On a ferry bound for Twinleaf Town, Team Rocket swipe a rare bottle cap from a group of Tentacruel, which chase them on board and poison the baby Pokémon in a Day Care apprentice's care with Poison Sting and Poison Jab. Brock plays Pokémon Doctor to nurse the babies, and he leads the Tentacruel away by throwing the bottle cap back into the sea.
- SM058Fighting Back the Tears!A Tentacruel menaced James's Mareanie back in her wild days, and when a wild Tentacruel goes after her again, James steps in and drives it off himself.
- JN036Making Battles in the Sand!A Trainer's Tentacruel beats Ash's Riolu in a World Coronation Series match, answering its Vacuum Waves with Bubble Beam, Bind and Poison Sting. The defeat drops Ash back into the Normal Class.
More appearances
- EP050Who Gets to Keep Togepi? Misty daydreams that the group's mystery Egg might hatch into a Tentacruel.
- EP075Round One – Begin! A Trainer's Tentacruel competes in the Indigo Plateau Conference.
- EP216Dueling Heroes A Trainer's Tentacruel competes in the Whirl Cup.
- AG103A Cacturne for the Worse A Coordinator's Tentacruel appears at the Purika Contest.
- DP091One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team! The Pokémon Summer Academy lends a student a Tentacruel for the second leg of the Pokémon Triathlon.
- SM090Securing the Future! A Tentacruel joins the rest of Alola in shining light on Necrozma to return it to its normal form.
Anime gallery
Anime trivia
- The giant Tentacruel of Tentacool & Tentacruel speaks through Meowth; a Pokémon did the same again in A Shipful of Shivers (EP095).
- Its scenes talking through a captive Meowth echo the 1996 film Independence Day, in which a captured alien speaks through a scientist.
- Tentacool & Tentacruel was temporarily taken off the air after the 11 September 2001 attacks because the giant Tentacruel destroys a skyscraper, and again for a couple of weeks after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 because of its flood scenes.
- Nastina's bounty on the Tentacool is one million yen in the Japanese original; the English dub makes it one million dollars.
- The Japanese title of EP019 is simply the two species' Japanese names side by side: Menokurage Dokukurage.
“Tentacruel, a Jellyfish Pokémon. An evolved form of the Tentacool. Its numerous tentacles serve as a powerful weapon. It is known as "The Gangster of the Sea."”
Ash's Pokédex (Dexter) · EP019
05On the big screen
Tentacruel in the movies
featuring Tentacruel.
On the big screen Tentacruel has stayed in the background: it can be spotted in several films and Pikachu shorts, but none gives it a scene of its own.
06Trading Card Game · every card
Tentacruel in the Pokémon TCG
20 cards since 1999, oldest first. Tap any card to see it full size.
Tentacruel first drifted into the card game in Japan's Mystery of the Fossils expansion in June 1997, and English players met it in Fossil in October 1999. Since then it has turned up steadily, with 14 different artworks in English sets, and Misty's Tentacruel in Gym Heroes carries a Trainer's name. What it does have is personality. Almost every Tentacruel card poisons, confuses or paralyses something, just as its Pokédex entries promise, and several play mean tricks with Energy: Aquapolis and Legends Awakened hand your opponent's discarded Energy back to them (and Legends Awakened then punishes them for having more than Tentacruel), while Unbroken Bonds shuffles it round their side with damage attached. For most of its career it has been a Water Pokémon, but Primal Clash and Team Up made it a Psychic type, which is where the card game filed Poison-types in those years.
The art has changed with the times. Kagemaru Himeno painted the first card and came back for EX Legend Maker, Ken Sugimori drew Misty's Tentacruel in the clean official style, and Naoyo Kimura turned it into one third of a Southern Islands seascape, with a Dragonite hidden in the scene. Hajime Kusajima's Aquapolis piece, Hisao Nakamura's EX Hidden Legends card and Kouki Saitou's Legends Awakened card carried it through the 2000s, before match, Masakazu Fukuda, kodama, Shigenori Negishi and Mina Nakai gave it a sleeker modern look, and miki kudo drew it for the 151 set in 2023. TCG Pocket has gone back to the archive for all three of its Tentacruel, bringing back the Team Up, Primal Clash and Aquapolis pictures.
Cards to know
- Fossil 44/62 — Where it all began: Kagemaru Himeno's Tentacruel, whose Jellyfish Sting Poisons every time, even if at Level 21 it is nine levels short of the games' evolution point.
- Gym Heroes 10/132 (Misty's Tentacruel) — Misty's jellyfish can Flee to the Bench the moment an attack lands.
- Southern Islands 10/18 — One third of a seaside panorama with Marill and Lapras, with a Dragonite tucked into the scene. Its Poison Sting Paralyses in English but Poisons in Japanese.
- Legends Awakened 75/146 — Hands your opponent Energy on purpose with Tentacle Strike, then punishes them for having more than Tentacruel with Dangerous Poison.
- EX Legend Maker 45/92 — The Prerelease promo whose Reactive Shield makes it untouchable for Pokémon-ex. Some copies were misprinted with only the shadow of their Prerelease stamp.
- 151 073/165 — Tentacular Panic keeps flipping until tails at 90 damage a time, a proper tentacle frenzy.
Every English-language card
Promo cards
Pokémon TCG Pocket
Digital card games
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy Color): Tentacruel (Fossil 44 art, Kagemaru Himeno), card D20, Uncommon, from the Laboratory booster pack. Joshua of the Water Club plays one in his Sound of the Waves Deck.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Tentacruel (Fossil 44 art, Kagemaru Himeno), card B21, Uncommon, in the Legendary Power pack. Amanda of the Water Club plays two in her Beach Deck, which the Auto Deck Machine also offers once you have the Starmie Coin, and Ronald packs two (with three Tentacool) in Ronald's Uncool Deck.
The artists behind the cards
- Kagemaru Himeno — 2 artworks (Fossil, reprinted in Legendary Collection, and EX Legend Maker)
- Hajime Kusajima — 1 (Aquapolis), reused for TCG Pocket's Secluded Springs
- match — 1 (Primal Clash), reused for TCG Pocket's Shining Revelry
- kodama — 1 (Team Up), reused for TCG Pocket's Genetic Apex
- One artwork each: Ken Sugimori (Misty's Tentacruel), Naoyo Kimura (Southern Islands), Hisao Nakamura, Kouki Saitou, Sachiko Adachi, Masakazu Fukuda, Shigenori Negishi, Mina Nakai and miki kudo
07On the page & beyond
Tentacruel in manga, books & other media
From the earliest manga to story books and songs.
On paper, Tentacruel gets to be both a gentle giant and a proper menace. Pokémon Adventures first used it as a living roadblock in a 1997 bike race, then gave it a chapter of its own, The Kindest Tentacruel, in which a giant Tentacruel pulls Yellow under the waves, where a baby Tentacool is trapped beneath a boulder. Later the same series made it Team Aqua's enforcer: in the Ruby & Sapphire finale Archie's Tentacruel drags Courtney into the collapsing Cave of Origin, pins Ruby and takes Winona hostage, and in the Emerald arc it attacks Noland on Archie's orders. Koga's Tentacruel squares up briefly to Blue's Rhydon, and Gold and Chris spend a Golden Boys chapter fleeing Tentacruel across the sea.
On the bookshelf, 1996's Illustrated Book of POCKET MONSTERS named it the 'gangster of the sea', and Scholastic's Psyduck Ducks Out (2000) puts Marina's Tentacruel in the ring against Misty.
Manga
Books
More from the page
08Did you know?
Tentacruel trivia
Name origins, design secrets and the facts that make Tentacruel such a fan favourite.
What’s in a name?
Tentacruel's English name is a blunt little warning: tentacle plus cruel. Its Japanese name, Dokukurage, joins doku (poison) and kurage (jellyfish) – a poison jellyfish, plain and simple – though the doku may also come from me no doku, a Japanese phrase for a temptation. Other languages kept the same idea. German Tentoxa blends Tentakel (tentacle) and toxisch (toxic), Korean Tokpari joins dok (toxic) and haepari (jellyfish), and in Chinese it is Dúcìshuǐmǔ, the 'venomous-sting jellyfish'; older Cantonese media called it the 'many-legged jellyfish'. French, Spanish, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese all use the English name. During development it nearly had a very different one: the Red and Green beta lists it in English as 'Manowar' (also written 'Man O War').
Design origins
Tentacruel is a jellyfish through and through, but its closest real-world cousin is the Portuguese man o' war – the drifting, venomous sea creature whose name it almost borrowed, since 'Manowar' was its English name in the Red and Green beta. A touch of squid seems to have crept in too. Look again and there is something of 1950s science-fiction cinema about it: the domed, flying-saucer-shaped body and gem-like orbs that fire blasts call to mind the bug-eyed monsters and alien invaders of old B-movies. The design found an unexpected echo in Paldea, where Toedscruel – a Ground/Grass Pokémon – looks strikingly similar, even though the two species are biologically unrelated.
Names around the world
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドククラゲ Dokukurage | From doku (poison) or me no doku (temptation) and kurage (jellyfish) |
| French | Tentacruel | Same as the English name |
| German | Tentoxa | From Tentakel (tentacle) and toxisch (toxic) |
| Spanish | Tentacruel | Same as the English name |
| Italian | Tentacruel | Same as the English name |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Tentacruel | Same as the English name |
| Korean | 독파리 Tokpari | From dok (toxic) and haepari (jellyfish) |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 毒刺水母 Dúcìshuǐmǔ | From dúcì (venomous sting) and shuǐmǔ (jellyfish) |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 毒刺水母 Duhkchiséuimóuh | From duhkchi (venomous sting) and séuimóuh (jellyfish); older media used 多腳水母, the 'many-legged jellyfish' |
| Hindi | टेंटाक्रूअल Tentacruel | Transcription of the English name |
| Russian | Тентакрул Tentakrul | Transcription of the English name |
| Thai | โดคุคุราเกะ Dokhukhurake | Transcription of the Japanese name |
| Arabic | تينتاكرول Tintakrul | Transcription of the English name |
| Hebrew | טנטקרול Tentacrool | Transcription of the English name |
Did you know?
- Pokédex entries in nearly every generation put Tentacruel's tentacle count at 80 – yet its official artwork shows 14 at most.
- In the Red and Green beta, Tentacruel's English name was 'Manowar', also written 'Man O War'.
- Tentacool and Tentacruel have exactly the same base stats as Paldea's lookalikes Toedscool and Toedscruel, spread the same way.
- Tentacruel and Toedscruel are perfectly matched rivals: Tentacruel's Water type beats Toedscruel's Ground but falls to its Grass, while its Poison type beats Grass but falls to Ground.
- According to Pokémon Sun, an old Tentacruel has fewer tentacles than a young one – it loses them as the years go by.
- Its first card, Fossil Tentacruel, is a level 21 Pokémon – even though Tentacool does not evolve until level 30 in the games.
- On your team in Mystery Dungeon: Red & Blue Rescue Team, Tentacruel brags, 'Know how many of these tentacles I have? Eighty!'
- Pryce's Tentacruel in Pokémon Stadium 2 has a moveset error: it knows Mirror Coat, an Egg Move, alongside Reflect, which it could only learn from a Generation I TM.
- In Black 2 and White 2, N's spring team at N's Castle is made up entirely of Water types – and his Tentacruel holds a Damp Rock and knows Rain Dance.
- Wallace, Hoenn's Champion in Emerald, keeps a Tentacruel among his six Water-type Pokémon, alongside his ace, Milotic.
- Pokémon Rumble U places Tentacruel in a battle called Unidentified Flying Objects – a neat match for a Pokémon partly inspired by B-movie alien invaders.
- Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! have a Tentacruel Master Trainer on Route 20, who only accepts a one-on-one battle against your own Tentacruel.
09Quizzes, archive & further reading
More Tentacruel
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 →
Who's That Pokémon? All Regions: ExpertTwenty tricky shadows from every corner of the Pokémon world. Only true Pokédex experts will spot them all!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 →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 Tentacruel 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.