Lileep

Introduced in generation three, with the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games, Lileep is a dual type rock and grass Pokemon. It is the base evolution of Cradily and is resurrected from a Root Fossil item. The Pokedex classifies Lileep as the “Sea Lily Pokemon” which may be a nod to its general habitat and design. This guide will showcase Lileep’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Lileep.

About Lileep

As a generation three Pokemon, Lileep first appeared in the Ruby and Sapphire season of the anime in the episode Where’s Armaldo?. They were used as background Pokemon in this episode to showcase the work that Professor Proctor was conducting on Wales Island. Lileep is part of a two stage evolution line and will evolve into Cradily once it reaches level 40. The Pokedex states that Lileep is a prehistoric Pokemon that was brought back to life.

First appearance in anime	Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire Where’s Armaldo?
First appearance in game	Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire
Region	Hoenn
Evolution	Evolves into Cradily, resurrected from a Root Fossil item
1st Evo level	40
2nd Evo level	N/A
Pokedex Entry	Lileep became extinct approximately a hundred million years ago. This ancient Pokémon attaches itself to a rock on the seafloor and catches approaching prey using tentacles shaped like flower petals.

Lileep Base Stats

HP	66
ATTACK	41
DEFENCE	77
SP. ATTACK	61
SP. DEFENCE	87
SPEED	23
TOTAL	355

Appearance

Lileep is an odd looking plant-like Pokemon and as a part rock type Pokemon, it is likely supposed to resemble coral living in the ocean. There are eight tentacle-like appendages around Lileep’s head and these tentacles will lure prey in. In this way, it is similar to an anemone found within coral reefs. Most of its body is purple with a purple base and a yellow stem, however, its tentacles are clearly pink. It resembles a goblet and there are two pupil-less eyes that are visible from the top of the cup. Lileep is an average sized Pokemon at 3 feet and 3 inches, or 1 meter, tall.

Behavior

During prehistoric times, Lileep was a common sight on the ocean floor. It would attach itself to the rock on the seafloor and wave its tentacles around to attract prey. Lileep was said to have gone extinct over 100 million years ago, but has been resurrected by scientists in the present day. The Pokedex states that Lileep’s tentacles can resemble seaweed which attracts prey that it then swallows whole.

Strengths and Weaknesses

As a base evolution Pokemon, there are not many strengths regarding Lileep. It has a decent line of defensive stats but its speed stat is poor which also marks its offensive capability. However, it can function well as a wall Pokemon and can inflict many different kinds of hazards and status effects. As a dual type rock and grass Pokemon, Lileep takes 2x damage from fighting, bug, steel, and ice type moves, has no immunities but is resistant to normal and electric type moves.

Best Moveset

As a base evolution Pokemon, Lileep is exclusively limited to the LC (Little Cup) bracket of competitive play. In this format, it only has to face other base evolution Pokemon and this effectively balances the playing field. Lileep can function as a defensive Pokemon with ways to self-sustain itself while also providing some hazards to place on the enemy’s side of the field. Consider running Stealth Rock, Giga Drain, Recover, and Ancient Power/Toxic. Stealth Rock can provide chip damage, Giga Drain benefits from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) and Recover gives Lileep some longevity. Ancient Power/Toxic, on the other hand, are interchangeable as offensive options.

Stealth Rock	Giga Drain
Recover	Ancient Power/Toxic

How to Catch Lileep in Pokemon Go

If you would like to obtain a Lileep in Pokemon Go, there are a few ways of doing so. It spawns, at a boosted rate, in the wild near parks, farmlands, forests, hiking trails, other grassy areas, and near rocky areas like quarries and parking lots. Lileep can also be hatched from 2, 5, and 7 km eggs, and it has also appeared as a tier two raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. You will need 50 Lileep candies to evolve it into a Cradily. There are many different ways to obtain a Lileep in Pokemon Go, you will just have to take the first opportunity that comes your way.

Trivia

1. Of all the Pokemon in the entire franchise, no other Pokemon has the same type combination as Lileep and Cradily.
2. The inspiration for Lileeps design is likely based on crinoids, an extinct marine animal.
3. The name Lileep is a combination of the words lily and peep.

Explainer Video

FAQ

Is Lileep a Legendary Pokemon?

There is nothing about Lileep that fulfills the conditions for a legendary Pokemon. A legendary Pokemon can only be encountered once per save file, cannot evolve, and cannot be bred at a Pokemon Daycare. Since Lileep can be encountered numerous times, evolves into Cradily, and can be bred at a Pokemon Daycare, there is nothing about Lileep that makes it a legendary Pokemon.

How do you evolve Lileep?

There are no special conditions with evolving a Lileep as you will just need to level it up to level 40. Once it reaches this level threshold, allow the evolution animation to play without pressing the “B” button. After the animation finishes, you will have obtained a Cradily.

Where can I find Lileep?

In the generation three games, you will just need to revive the Root Fossil at the Devon Corporation. With the generation four games it is identical except the location to revive it is at Oreburgh Mining Museum. In Pokemon Black and White, you will need to do the same at Nacrene Museum and in generation six you will revive it at Ambrette Town Fossil Lab. Finally, in generation seven, you can revive the Root Fossil and the Fossil Restoration Center. Unfortunately, you cannot obtain a Lileep in generation eight without trading.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Sea Lily Pokemon”. Lileep has not made the biggest impact on competitive play, but it can function fine as a defensive Pokemon. While it is not the flashiest sweeper or the most explosive Pokemon you can run, it can fulfill its role as a Pokemon that prolongs battle. Reserve a slot on your team for Lileep if you want a rock and grass type Pokemon.