Introduced in generation three, with the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games, Corphish is a monotype water Pokemon. It is the first stage evolution of its two stage evolution line and evolves into Crawdaunt once it reaches the level threshold. Corphish is classified by the Pokedex as the “Ruffian Pokemon” which is likely a reference to its general behavior. This guide will showcase Corphish’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Corphish.
About Corphish
As a generation three Pokemon, Corphish first appeared in the Ruby and Sapphire season of the anime in the episode Gone Corphishin’. In this episode, Ash battles and captures a Corphish. This Corphish eventually went on to be comic relief throughout the season. The Pokedex mentions how Corphish will eat anything, and how it does not mind living in filthy water.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire Gone Corphishin’ |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire |
| Region | Hoenn |
| Evolution | Base evolution of Crawdaunt, not known to evolve from another Pokemon. |
| 1st Evo level | 30 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Corphish were originally foreign Pokémon that were imported as pets. They eventually turned up in the wild. This Pokémon is very hardy and has greatly increased its population. |
Corphish Base Stats
| HP | 43 |
| ATTACK | 80 |
| DEFENCE | 65 |
| SP. ATTACK | 50 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 35 |
| SPEED | 35 |
| TOTAL | 308 |
Appearance
Corphish is a small red Pokemon that resembles a large crayfish and while most of its shell is red, the undersides of its claws and stomach are white. There are three large spikes pointed upwards on top of Corphish’s head. Its two claws are almost as large as its body. There are six small crustacean-like legs coming out from under Corphish. It has large white eyes with small black pupils. Corphish is a small Pokemon at only 2 feet, or 0.6 meters, tall.
Behavior
Corphish is a resilient Pokemon as in the wild, it is known to survive in filthy water and it can eat anything for nutrients. Corphish is not a picky eater and it will eat anything that it comes across. While Corphish tend to act individually, they are common to encounter due to their hardy nature. They are also bold Pokemon and when Basculin is harassing a body of water, Corphish are one of the few Pokemon that never runs. The Pokedex mentions that Corphish has a strong will to live and that its pincers never release prey.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As the base evolution in its evolution line, Corphish has yet to become powerful. Its physical attack is good for the early game, but the rest of its stats are below average. While it may appear to be a defensive Pokemon, its health pool and special defense prevent it from surviving prolonged battles. As a monotype water Pokemon, Corphish takes 2x damage from grass and electric type moves. It is immune to no types, but resists steel, fire, water, and ice type moves.
Best Moveset
In competitive play, Corphish is typically only viable in the LC (Little Cup) bracket. In this format, Corphish can function as an aggressive Pokemon. An Eviolite, as a held item, can keep Corphish alive while it sets up and its ability, Adaptability, ensures that it makes good use of its stat changes for damaging moves. Consider running Crabhammer, Knock Off, Aqua Jet, and Swords Dance. This set is aimed at scaling Corphish’s high physical attack with Swords Dance. Then you simply use the option that deals the most potential damage to your opponent. This set requires time to set up, so Corphish is stronger against slow-starting strategies.
| Crabhammer | Knock Off |
| Aqua Jet | Swords Dance |
How to Catch Corphish in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Corphish in Pokemon Go, there are a few different ways of doing so. As a base evolution Pokemon, Corphish is relatively common to encounter. You can find Corphish spawning in the wild at a boosted rate near canals, docks, harbors, rivers, lakes, oceans, and other watery areas. Corphish can also be hatched from 5 and 12 km eggs but while Corphish has not appeared as a raid boss, Crawdaunt has been featured as a tier three raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. To evolve Corphish into Crawdaunt it will require 50 candies.
Trivia
- Corphish is the only Pokemon in the franchise to have a catch rate of 205.
- The inspiration for Corphish’s design is likely based on the red swamp crayfish. They also have similarities as invasive species.
- The name Corphish is a combination of the word corporal and crayfish.
FAQ
At what level does Corphish evolve?
Corphish will evolve once it reaches level 30. There are no other special evolutionary conditions to fulfill. Once Corphish hits the level threshold, it will begin to evolve into Crawdaunt. There are no other Pokemon in its evolution line. Once you have evolved Corphish you can move on to collect other Pokemon.
Is Corphish any good?
It can be used as a physical attacker thanks to its higher than average physical attack. Eventually, it will begin to lose against faster Pokemon. When Corphish finds itself against another slow Pokemon, it gets the time it needs to scale its attack. If it can survive long enough, Corphish can deal considerable damage.
Where can I get Corphish?
In Pokemon Go, you will want to search near canals, docks, harbors, rivers, lakes, oceans, and other watery areas. For the mainline games, Corphish has always required a Good Rod or better. Typically Corphish has a 20% encounter rate, but it can go as high as 100%. It can be found in two or three locations in many different Pokemon games.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Ruffian Pokemon”. While Corphish’s impact on competitive play is limited to a unique format, it is by no means a weak Pokemon. The damage from Corphish is significant, and it typically can survive more than one hit if you build towards it. Since Corphish becomes more powerful when it is using same type moves, Corphish can be a powerful Pokemon in battle. Reserve a slot on your team for Corphish if you want a hard-hitting water type Pokemon.
