Regardless of which form the two Pokémon evolve into, Shellder's shell transforms into a spiny, spiraled cone with several tiers. Sharp teeth develop around the rim of the shell to anchor it securely to the evolved Slowpoke, and its eyes now peek out from the bottom rim of the shell. In its Slowking form, Shellder will have a red jewel on its underside and a large horn on the sides of its shell. While in this form, it also has venom that it injects into its host's brain.
Regardless of which form the two Pokémon evolve into, Shellder's shell transforms into a spiny, spiraled cone with several tiers. Sharp teeth develop around the rim of the shell to anchor it securely to the evolved Slowpoke, and its eyes now peek out from the bottom rim of the shell. In its Slowking form, Shellder will have a red jewel on its underside and a large horn on the sides of its shell. While in this form, it also has venom that it injects into its host's brain.
Its black pearl-like body is known to be soft and tender; however, its shell is said to be harder than diamond. Shellder has two former [[signature move]]s. It can shoot spears of ice by using {{m|Icicle Spear}}, or clamp tightly to its opponents using {{m|Clamp}}. Despite its hard shell, clamping on to an opponent will reveal its vulnerable parts. Because of this, it will only clamp itself to a foe as a last resort. It swims around its {{DL|List of Pokémon by habitat|sea floor}} home by rapidly opening and closing its shell while facing backward.
Its black pearl-like body is known to be soft and tender; however, its shell is said to be harder than diamond. Prehistoric Shellder were apparently preyed upon by {{p|Omastar}}. Once ensnared by Omastar's tentacles, its hard shell stood no match to the [[species|Spiral Pokémon's]] deadly powerful bite, and its soft insides quickly devoured.
Shellder has been in existence since prehistoric times. Pokédex data for {{p|Omastar}} states that Shellder was the prey of this Pokémon, which would crack open a Shellder's shell with its beak and suck out its insides.
Shellder has two former [[signature move]]s. It can shoot spears of ice by using {{m|Icicle Spear}}, or clamp tightly to its opponents using {{m|Clamp}}. Despite its hard shell, clamping on to an opponent will reveal its vulnerable parts. Because of this, it will only clamp itself to a foe as a last resort. It swims around its {{DL|List of Pokémon by habitat|sea floor}} home by rapidly opening and closing its shell while facing backward.
Shellder is a black pearl-like Pokémon encased within a spiky, blue-violet bivalve shell. It has two round white eyes with tiny black pupils. It has an enormously long red tongue, which it uses to burrow itself into sand and to lure and capture prey.
Shellder can develop a symbiotic relationship with Slowpoke. After attaching itself to the Dopey Pokémon's tail, the two undergo a metamorphosis and together evolve into Slowbro. If it attaches to the head of a Slowpoke in possession of a King's Rock, the two will instead evolve into Slowking. These relationships allow it to travel onto land and obtain a new stage in its life cycle.
Regardless of which form the two Pokémon evolve into, Shellder's shell transforms into a spiny, spiraled cone with several tiers. Sharp teeth develop around the rim of the shell to anchor it securely to the evolved Slowpoke, and its eyes now peek out from the bottom rim of the shell. In its Slowking form, Shellder will have a red jewel on its underside and a large horn on the sides of its shell. While in this form, it also has venom that it injects into its host's brain.
Its black pearl-like body is known to be soft and tender; however, its shell is said to be harder than diamond. Prehistoric Shellder were apparently preyed upon by Omastar. Once ensnared by Omastar's tentacles, its hard shell stood no match to the Spiral Pokémon's deadly powerful bite, and its soft insides quickly devoured.
Shellder has two former signature moves. It can shoot spears of ice by using Icicle Spear, or clamp tightly to its opponents using Clamp. Despite its hard shell, clamping on to an opponent will reveal its vulnerable parts. Because of this, it will only clamp itself to a foe as a last resort. It swims around its sea floor home by rapidly opening and closing its shell while facing backward.
In the anime
For a list of Shellder's appearances in the anime as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the anime sections of Slowbro and Slowking.
Shellder in the animeSpiral Shellder in the animeCrown Shellder in the anime
Pokémon Pinball: Three Shellder appear on the Red Table and give the player points when hit. When Catch'em Mode is activated, they also reveal the silhouette of the Pokémon attempting to be captured upon being hit.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
At night, this Pokémon uses its broad tongue to burrow a hole in the seafloor sand and then sleep in it. While it is sleeping, Shellder closes its shell, but leaves its tongue hanging out.
At night, it burrows a hole in the seafloor with its broad tongue to make a place to sleep. While asleep, it closes its shell, but leaves its tongue hanging out.
In the anime, Shellder is required to evolve Slowpoke into Slowbro or Slowking. Shellder clamps onto a Slowpoke's tail to evolve into Slowbro, or onto its head while wearing the King's Rock to evolve into a Slowking. Even though Shellder changes form drastically when it bonds with Slowpoke to evolve (see above), it is not considered an evolution in and of itself.
Shellder and Cloyster share the same species name with Clamperl. They are all known as the Bivalve Pokémon.
Shellder are one of the few Pokémon to show their entire body in a backsprite before Generation V, which it does in Generation II.
Shellder were shown to be capable of floating through the air in Pokémon Snap, a trait that has been seen in no other media.
In the episode The Evolution Solution, it's revealed that Shellder is still capable of speech as the shell of a Slowbro.
Origin
Shellder is similar to bivalves, more specifically the clam, with its tongue representing a clam's "foot".
Its parasitic relationship to Slowpoke may be inspired by leeches. Interesting enough, Slowbro is known as the Hermit Crab Pokémon and many real-world parasites, including leeches, often target crabs.
Name origin
Shellder is derived from shell. It also may be a pun on shelter, referring to the fact that it lives in a shell.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
Pearl (25%)
Big Pearl (8%)
For other sprites and images, please see Shellder images on Bulbagarden Archives.
