Shellder (Japanese: シェルダー Shellder) is a Water-type Pokémon.
It evolves into Cloyster when exposed to a Water Stone.
Biology
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.
Spiral Shellder in the anime
Crown Shellder in the anime
Major appearances
Jessie captured a Shellder in The Evolution Solution. Later in the episode, it bit on a Slowpoke's tail, making it evolve into a Slowbro and leaving Team Rocket.
Many Shellder were seen in A Crowning Achievement, evolving many Slowpoke into Slowbro, as well as a Slowking under Alice's former ownership.
A Shellder also appeared in Battling a Cute Drama! under the ownership of Marilyn.
Minor appearances
Shellder's first appearance was as part of a Slowbro in Island of the Giant Pokémon.
The first time an unevolved Shellder was seen was in The Bridge Bike Gang. It was sick and Nurse Joy sent Ash, Misty, and Brock over to Sunny Town (where Shellder was) to deliver some medicine.
Multiple Shellder appeared in The Misty Mermaid under the ownership of The Sensational Sisters. One reappeared in Cerulean Blues.
A sick Shellder was treated by Nurse Joy in The Joy of Pokémon.
Multiple Shellder also appeared in The Power of One.
A Shellder living in the ocean surrounding Shamouti Island appeared in Slowking's Day.
A Shellder was one of the Pokémon living at Temacu's father's lab in The Heartbreak of Brock.
Three Shellder appeared in Mantine Overboard! living underwater.
In Octillery The Outcast, Ash's Totodile went up against an unnamed Trainer's Shellder in a qualifying match for the Whirl Cup tournament and won.
In A Parent Trapped!, a Shellder was living underwater.
Pryce of Mahogany Town owns multiple Shellder in Nice Pryce Baby.
A Shellder bit a Slowpoke's tail, evolving it in the process, in Enlighten Up!.
A Shellder appeared in the Contest in Old Rivals, New Tricks!.
Pokédex entries
- For Shellder's Pokédex entries as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the Pokédex entries sections of Slowbro and Slowking.
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
In Pokémon Adventures, Lorelei owns several Shellder. These Shellder were sent to attack Kanto alongside several other Elite Four Pokémon.
In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
Misty threw a Shellder at Ash after he was constantly staring at her in her swimsuit.
- For Shellder's appearances in the manga as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the manga sections of Slowbro and Slowking.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Clefairy was attacked by a Shellder in The Legendary Pokémon Appears.
Bruno owns five Shellder as seen in Clefairy's Under Training!!.
In the TCG
- Main article: Shellder (TCG)
- For Shellder's appearances in the TCG as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see Slowbro (TCG) and Slowking (TCG).
Game data
NPC appearances
- 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.
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| Generation I
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| Red
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Its hard shell repels any kind of attack. It is vulnerable only when its shell is open.
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| Blue
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| Yellow
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The shell can withstand any attack. However, when it is open, the tender body is exposed.
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| Stadium
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Its shell is harder than diamond. It hides in sand on the sea floor and catches prey with its soft tongue.
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| Generation II
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| Gold
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It swims facing backward by opening and closing its two-piece shell. It is surprisingly fast.
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| Silver
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Grains of sand trapped in its shells mix with its body fluids to form beautiful pearls.
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| Crystal
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Clamping on to an opponent reveals its vulnerable parts, so it uses this move only as a last resort.
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| Stadium 2
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It swims facing backward by opening and closing its two-piece shell. It is surprisingly fast.
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| Generation III
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| Ruby
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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.
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| Sapphire
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{{{sapphiredex}}}
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| Emerald
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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.
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| FireRed
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It is encased in a shell that is harder than diamond. Inside, however, it is surprisingly tender.
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| LeafGreen
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Its hard shell repels any kind of attack. It is vulnerable only when its shell is open.
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| Generation IV
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| Diamond
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It swims backward by opening and closing its two shells. Its large tongue is always kept hanging out.
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| Pearl
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{{{pearldex}}}
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| Platinum
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{{{platinumdex}}}
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| HeartGold
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It swims facing backward by opening and closing its two-piece shell. It is surprisingly fast.
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| SoulSilver
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Grains of sand trapped in its shells mix with its body fluids to form beautiful pearls.
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| Generation V
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| Black
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It swims backward by opening and closing its two shells. Its large tongue is always kept hanging out.
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| White
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{{{whitedex}}}
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| Black 2
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It swims backward by opening and closing its two shells. Its large tongue is always kept hanging out.
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| White 2
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{{{white2dex}}}
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| Generation VI
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| X
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Its hard shell repels any kind of attack. It is vulnerable only when its shell is open.
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| Y
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Clamping on to an opponent reveals its vulnerable parts, so it uses this move only as a last resort.
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Game locations
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
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Side games
In events
Held items
Stats
Base stats
| Stat
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Range
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| At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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30
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90 - 137
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170 - 264
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65
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63 - 128
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121 - 251
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100
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94 - 167
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184 - 328
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45
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45 - 106
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85 - 207
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25
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27 - 84
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49 - 163
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40
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40 - 101
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76 - 196
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Total: 305
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- 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 45.
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Pokéathlon stats
Type effectiveness
| Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shellder
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Shellder
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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TCG-only moves
Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
Shellder forms
- For the remainder of Shellder's sprites as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the sprite sections of Slowbro and Slowking.
 
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| Slowbro form
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Slowking form
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Slowbro back sprites
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Slowking back sprites
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Trivia
- 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.
In other languages
| Language
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Title
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Meaning
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 Japanese
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シェルダー Shellder
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From shell
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 French
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Kokiyas
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From coquille and maybe as
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 Spanish
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Shellder
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Same as English/Japanese name
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 German
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Muschas
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From Muschel
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 Italian
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Shellder
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Same as English/Japanese name
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 Korean
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셀러 Selleo
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 Mandarin Chinese
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大舌貝 / 大舌贝 Dàshébèi
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Literally "Big-tongued shell"
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 Cantonese Chinese
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貝殼怪 Buihokgwaai
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Means "Shell freak"
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Related articles
External links
Notes
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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.
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Pearl (25%)
Big Pearl (8%)
For other sprites and images, please see Shellder images on Bulbagarden Archives.
