Squirtle (Pokémon)

← #006: Charizard

Pokémon

#008: Wartortle →

Squirtle ゼニガメ Zenigame #007
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Water ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Tiny Turtle Pokémon
Ability Torrent Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,059,860
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #007 Johto #232 Hoenn #209 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 1'08" Imperial 0.5 m Metric 1'08"/0.5 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 19.8 lbs. Imperial 9.0 kg Metric 19.8 lbs./9.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Blue	Catch rate 45 (5.9%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 87.5% male, 12.5% female
Breeding Monster and Water 1 groups 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 1 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 66 Battle Exp.: 661*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Squirtle (Japanese: ゼニガメ Zenigame) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It evolves into Wartortle starting at level 16, who evolves into Blastoise starting at level 36.

Along with Bulbasaur and Charmander, it is one of three starter Pokémon the player receives at the beginning of Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, FireRed, and LeafGreen.

Biology

Physiology

File:Squirtle in shell.jpg

In its shell

Squirtle is a bipedal turtle with its most notable feature being the hard shell on its back. This shell forms and hardens on its back after birth. It could perhaps be distantly related to some other turtle-like Pokémon, such as Torkoal and Turtwig, but Squirtle seems to only be closely related to its evolutions.

Squirtle's shell is an extremely helpful defensive tool. It can withdraw into the shell to block physical attacks. Its smooth, hard shell and head also aid it in other ways, such as minimizing its resistance in water to increase its swimming speed, and allowing it to launch attacks like Rapid Spin and Skull Bash.

Squirtle is a natural-born swimmer. However, due to its size, it's easier for it to transport something small like a Pikachu than to carry its Trainer.

Its jaws may not look like much, but they are strong enough that a Squirtle can learn to use a Bite attack.

Squirtle's tail ressembles a Squirrel's tail, and thanks to this, Squirtle can use moves like Tail Whip and Aqua Tail.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Squirtle can spray water from its mouth. At first, it may only be able to spray foam and bubbles, but with time it can learn to spray water jets like Water Gun and Hydro Pump. If it withdraws, it can still spray water out the holes in its shell.

It can also be easily taught Template:Type2 moves like Ice Beam and Blizzard.

Behavior

Squirtle are scarce in the wild. Most are domestic Pokémon, raised to be distributed as starters by Professor Oak. As such, they are regarded as well-behaved Pokémon. They are not regarded as the easiest or hardest for a Trainer to raise, since they are not as mild-mannered and easy as Bulbasaur but they are not as rash and hard as Charmander and its evolutions.

They are very loyal to their groups, but they get along better with other Pokémon than with humans, and can sometimes have a bit of an attitude towards humans. It is far from uncommon for them to start or join larger groups, such as the Squirtle Squad in Here Comes the Squirtle Squad and a civilization of Squirtle and its evolutions in Beach Blank-Out Blastoise.

Habitat

File:Watersedge.gif

Water's-edge Pokémon

Squirtle are scarce in the wild. Sometimes they can be found living on secluded islands in the ocean or swimming in the rivers of deep canyons, but their chief habitat seems to be small freshwater ponds and lakes. Overall they are found far more often in urban settings, usually in the ownership of Trainers.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Their diet is the usual omnivorous diet of a Pokémon.

In the anime

File:Squirtle squad.jpg

The Squirtle Squad

Major appearances

The main character in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate! special is a Squirtle that claims that he used to be human. He joins Team Go-Getters in their rescue work. While he can't use Water Gun, he is happy to use Bubble because it looks pretty.

Ash's Squirtle

The first real Squirtle appeared in Here Comes the Squirtle Squad. The Squirtle Squad were a gang of rogue Squirtle who were deserted by their Trainers. Ash befriended and captured their leader, while the rest of them became a firefighting group. Squirtle stayed with Ash until The Fire-ring Squad!, when it returned to the Squirtle Squad.

File:TheSaffronCon.jpg

May's Squirtle using Bubble

May's Squirtle

May received her own Squirtle from Professor Oak in The Right Place and the Right Mime. May's Squirtle was very young and timid, until evolving before Staging a Heroes Welcome

Other

In Journey to the Starting Line, a set of the three Kanto starter Pokémon in which a boy named Gilbert was supposed to choose from as his starting Pokémon were scared off by Ash's Tauros. Professor Oak, Tracey, Delia and Gilbert had to split up and find the three missing Pokémon. Squirtle was the second one found. The Tiny Turtle Pokémon was stuck in a tree that was hanging over a cliff. Ash's Bulbasaur managed to catch the Squirtle before it could fall off the cliff.

Minor appearances

Squirtle was mentioned in the first episode of the anime, Pokémon - I Choose You!, as one of the three starter Pokémon new Trainers in Pallet Town can choose from. Ash dreamed of owning one, and it was his first choice of a starter. However, when he arrived at Oak's lab, he found out it was too late, as another Trainer who started the same day had already taken it. It wasn't until The Ties that Bind that it was revealed that the Trainer who took Squirtle was none other than Gary Oak, Ash's rival. By then, it had already evolved into a Blastoise.

A Squirtle was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.

In the manga

In Pokémon Special, Blue stole a Squirtle from Professor Oak. It has since evolved into a Blastoise.

In Magical Pokémon Journey, Almond owns a Squirtle, who sees him as an older brother.

In Pokémon Zensho, Shigeru's starter Pokémon was a Squirtle he received from his grandfather, Professor Oak.

Misty has a Squirtle in the Pokémon Newspaper Strip.

Ash's Squirtle was shown in some chapters of the Electric Tale of Pikachu. Pikachu also meets an abandoned Squirtle who helps him reach the Hidden Village after getting lost.

In the TCG

Main article: Squirtle (TCG)

Other appearances

File:Squirtle Waterfall.jpg

Pokémon Trainer commanding Squirtle to use Waterfall in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Squirtle is the first Pokéfloat to appear. Play begins on its head and arms until it slowly leaves off the bottom of the screen. After traveling through all the Pokéfloats, the screen will be empty for a few seconds before Squirtle pops up and the cycle begins again.

Trophy information

Retreating into its shell and spitting water at its foes is Squirtle's trademark response to danger. It's one of the three Pokémon that Trainers can receive from Professor Oak in Pokémon Red and Blue. Squirtle evolves into Wartortle and then Blastoise, ramping up its water powers with each evolution.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Squirtle is a playable Pokémon used by Red. It can use Waterfall to recover from falls as well as Withdraw, in which case he retreats to his shell and shoots water from the back of it propelling him forwards. It also uses Water Gun to push enemies with a stream of water. Squirtle is a lightweight and uses various attacks using its shell and Template:Type2 moves to combat its foes. It uses Hydro Pump in Red's Final Smash, Triple Finish.

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red After birth, its back swells and hardens into a shell. Powerfully sprays foam from its mouth. Blue Yellow Shoots water at prey while in the water. Withdraws into its shell when in danger. Stadium It takes time for the shell to form and harden after hatching. It sprays foam powerfully from its mouth.
Generation II Gold The shell is soft when it is born. It soon becomes so resilient, prodding fingers will bounce off it. Silver The shell, which hardens soon after it is born, is resilient. If you poke it, it will bounce back out. Crystal When it feels threatened, it draws its legs inside its shell and sprays water from its mouth. Stadium 2 The shell is soft when it is born. It soon becomes so resilient, prodding fingers will bounce off it.
Generation III Ruby Squirtle's shell is not merely used for protection. The shell's rounded shape and the grooves on its surface help minimize resistance in water, enabling this Pokémon to swim at high speeds. Sapphire Squirtle's shell is not merely used for protection. The shell's rounded shape and the grooves on its surface help minimize resistance in water, enabling this Pokémon to swim at high speeds. Emerald Its shell is not just for protection. Its rounded shape and the grooves on its surface minimize resistance in water, enabling Squirtle to swim at high speeds. FireRed When it retracts its long neck into its shell, it squirts out water with vigorous force. LeafGreen After birth, its back swells and hardens into a shell. Powerfully sprays foam from its mouth.
Generation IV Diamond It shelters itself in its shell, then strikes back with spouts of water at every opportunity. Pearl It shelters itself in its shell, then strikes back with spouts of water at every opportunity. Platinum It shelters itself in its shell, then strikes back with spouts of water at every opportunity. HeartGold {{{heartgolddex}}} SoulSilver {{{soulsilverdex}}}
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue One Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow One Police officer in Vermilion City after receiving the Thunder Badge
Generation II Gold Silver None Time Capsule Crystal None Time Capsule
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald None Trade FireRed LeafGreen One Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl None Pal Park Platinum None Pal Park HeartGold SoulSilver None Trade Pal Park Pond Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Snap	Valley
Pokémon Stadium	Gym Leader Castle
Pokémon Channel	Upgrade binder
Pokémon Trozei!	Huge Storage 4 Endless Level 15 Trozei Battle Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Starter Pokémon Waterfall Pond (8F-12F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Starter Pokémon End Lake (B1-B24)
Pokémon Ranger	Underground Waterways
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	Ranger School Marine Cave

Held items

Game	Items
Gold, Silver, and Crystal	Bitter Berry (trade from Generation I)

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 44		104 - 151	198 - 292
Attack: 48		47 - 110	90 - 214
Defense: 65		63 - 128	121 - 251
Sp. Atk: 50		49 - 112	94 - 218
Sp. Def: 64		62 - 127	119 - 249
Speed: 43		43 - 104	81 - 203
Total: 314	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature. This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 50.

Learnset

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | water | style="background:#2980EF" |  water 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Squirtle | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By tutoring

|- style="background:#74ACF5" | colspan="13" | Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an Evolution of this Pokémon
A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game,
while a colored background indicates that the move is available. |} |}

TCG-only Moves

• DoubleSlap
• Pound

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Squirtle images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• As a species, Squirtle has been trained the most of all Kanto starters by main anime Trainers, with Ash, May, and Gary each owning one.
• Squirtle had a short appearance in the Robot Chicken episode Junk in the Trunk, as an animated toy.
• Squirtle is the first Water Pokémon in National Pokédex order.
• Statistically, Squirtle is the slowest Pokémon out of the three Kanto starters, but in Super Smash Bros. Brawl it is the fastest out of Pokémon Trainer's three Pokémon, the other two being Kanto starter evolutions.
• In the US TV show, Malcolm in the Middle, a Squirtle doll can sometimes be seen sitting on one of the beds, alongside a Charmander doll.
• Squirtle's shiny, green colored shell may be a reference to the Koopa Troopas of Mario fame.
• Squirtle's family (Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise) is the only Pokémon family that can learn Bubble and can't learn BubbleBeam, except in Generation I, where BubbleBeam was a TM.

Origin

Squirtle appears to be based on a turtle. Some claim its tail resembles a squirrel's.

Name origin

Squirtle's name is a combination of "turtle", for its turtle-like appearance, and "squirt", which can mean either a verb as in to spray water, or a noun as in a nickname for someone who is tiny in comparison to others. It can also be a corruption of "squirrel", pointing to its squirrel-like tail, but that is unlikely. Zenigame is simply the Japanese word for pond turtle, 銭亀.

In other languages

• German: Schiggy - From Schildkröte (turtle or tortoise).
• French: Carapuce - From Carapace (shell) and puce (flea, in reference to its height). Puce can also be a term of affection, maybe because of its cute look.
• Korean: 꼬부기 Kkobugi - Portmanteau of kid and turtle.
• Chinese (Taiwan): 傑尼龜 Jíe Ní Guī - An onomatopoeic reference to Squirtle's Japanese name, Zenigame. The last character in the name means turtle.
• Chinese (Hong Kong): 車厘龜 Chē Lí Guī - Possibly cherry turtle as 車厘子 "Chē Lí Zi" is cherry in Cantonese.

Related articles

• Ash's Squirtle
• Gary's Squirtle
• May's Squirtle
• Squirtle Squad

External links

• Snapshots of Squirtle from Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Notes

First partner trios

Kanto

Bulbasaur

Charmander

Squirtle

Johto

Chikorita

Cyndaquil

Totodile

Hoenn

Treecko

Torchic

Mudkip

Sinnoh

Turtwig

Chimchar

Piplup

Unova

Snivy

Tepig

Oshawott

Kalos

Chespin

Fennekin

Froakie

Alola

Rowlet

Litten

Popplio

Galar

Grookey

Scorbunny

Sobble

Paldea

Sprigatito

Fuecoco

Quaxly

See also: List of the player's first Pokémon • Pikachu (Yellow) • Partner Pokémon (LGPE) • Hisui first partner Pokémon

Super Smash Bros. series Games: Super Smash Bros. • Super Smash Bros. Melee • Super Smash Bros. Brawl Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Characters: Pikachu • Jigglypuff • Mewtwo • Pichu Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle • Ivysaur • Charizard) • Lucario • Greninja • Incineroar Stages: Saffron City • Pokémon Stadium • Poké Floats • Pokémon Stadium 2 • Spear Pillar Prism Tower • Unova Pokémon League • Kalos Pokémon League Poké Ball and Master Ball: Abomasnow • Abra • Alolan Exeggutor • Alolan Raichu • Alolan Vulpix • Arceus • Articuno • Beedrill Bellossom • Bewear • Blastoise • Bonsly • Celebi • Chansey • Charizard • Chespin • Chikorita • Clefairy Cyndaquil • Darkrai • Dedenne • Deoxys • Ditto • Eevee • Electrode • Entei • Fennekin Fletchling • Gardevoir • Genesect • Giratina • Gogoat • Goldeen • Groudon • Gulpin • Hitmonlee Ho-Oh • Inkay • Jirachi • Keldeo • Koffing • Kyogre • Kyurem • Latias and Latios Lugia • Lunala • Manaphy • Marill • Marshadow • Meloetta • Meowth • Mew • Metagross • Mimikyu Moltres • Munchlax • Onix • Oshawott • Palkia • Piplup • Porygon2 • Pyukumuku • Raikou • Scizor • Snivy Snorlax • Solgaleo • Spewpa • Staryu • Starmie • Suicune • Swirlix • Tapu Koko • Togedemaru • Togepi Torchic • Unown • Venusaur • Victini • Vulpix • Weavile • Weezing • Wobbuffet • Xerneas • Zapdos • Zoroark Collectables: Trophies (Melee • Brawl • for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U) Stickers Spirits Misc: The Subspace Emissary • My Music • Final Smash • Pokémon Change • Brawl cameos

← #006: Charizard

Pokémon

#008: Wartortle →

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.