Introduced in generation six, with the Pokemon X and Y games, Skrelp is a dual type poison and water Pokemon. It is the base evolution of Dragalge and is not known to evolve from any other Pokemon. Skrelp is classified as the “Mock Kelp Pokemon” by the Pokedex which indicates its resemblance to seaweed or other algae. This guide will showcase Skrelp’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Skrelp.
About Skrelp
As a generation six Pokemon, Skrelp first appeared in the X and Y season of the anime in the episode An Undersea Place to Call Home!. It appeared alongside its final evolution Dragalge in this episode as residents of the wreckage of the S.S. Cussler. Skrelp will evolve into Dragalge once it reaches level 48 and this finishes its two stage evolution line. The Pokedex mentions that Skrelp will blend in with seaweed, choosing to attack Pokemon that come to eat the seaweed.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: X and Y An Undersea Place to Call Home! |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon X and Y |
| Region | Kalos |
| Evolution | Base evolution of Dragalge, not known to evolve from any other Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | 48 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | It drifts in the ocean, blending in with floating seaweed. When other Pokémon come to feast on the seaweed, Skrelp feasts on them instead. |
Skrelp Base Stats
| HP | 50 |
| ATTACK | 60 |
| DEFENCE | 60 |
| SP. ATTACK | 60 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 60 |
| SPEED | 30 |
| TOTAL | 320 |
Appearance
Skrelp is a small black and purple, seahorse-like Pokemon. It resembles the common sea dragon in real life and it has a purple face, red eyes, and a black exterior. Skrelp’s small leaf-like appendages make it seem like it could be a part of the seaweed it typically inhabits and its mouth is curled upwards like a real life sea horse. Skrelp is a small Pokemon at only 1 foot and 8 inches, or 0.5 meters, tall.
Behavior
Skrelp are not capable swimmers which is why they prefer to sit camouflaged in seaweed. They float in wait for prey to come and eat so that Skrelp can eat them instead. However, Skrelp will also eat seaweed itself which is why they are also found commonly with Dhelmise. The Pokedex mentions their camouflaging capability with seaweed and also how they will resort to eating rotten seaweed if they cannot find prey.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As a base evolution Pokemon, there are not many strengths regarding Skrelp. It has a relatively balanced stat distribution with a slower speed stat than most. Because of this, Skrelp is not geared for any particular role stat-wise and typically requires investment before it fits onto a team. As a dual type poison and water Pokemon, Skrelp takes 2x damage from ground, electric, and psychic type moves. It is immune to no types, but will resist fighting, poison, bug, steel, fire, water, ice, and fairy type moves.
Best Moveset
As a base evolution Pokemon, Skrelp is exclusively limited to the LC (Little Cup) bracket of competitive play. In this format it only has to face other base evolution Pokemon, making it more capable in battle. Typically, Skrelp is used as an offensive special attacker as its ability Adaptability gives it extra damage for STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves. Consider running Sludge Wave/Sludge Bomb, Hydro Pump, Hidden Power Fire/Hidden Power Psychic, and Scald/Toxic Spikes. Sludge Wave/Sludge Bomb are interchangeable as Skrelp’s poison type move, Hydro Pump benefits from STAB, Hidden Power Fire/Hidden Power Psychic are interchangeable as type coverage options, and finally Scald/Toxic Spikes can be used as offensive or disruptive options respectively.
| Sludge Wave/Sludge Bomb | Hydro Pump |
| Hidden Power Fire/Hidden Power Psychic | Scald/Toxic Spikes |
How to Catch Skrelp in Pokemon Go
If you would like to obtain a Skrelp in Pokemon Go, there are many different ways of doing so. As the base evolution in the line, it is much more common to encounter than its final evolution. You can find Skrelp spawning in the wild at a boosted rate near oceans, harbors, rivers, lakes, and other watery areas. Skrelp has also been a tier one raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. Originally Skrelp required 400 Skrelp candies to evolve into Dragalge but luckily that number was dropped to a more reasonable 50. Skrelp has also been in 5 km eggs in the past, so keep an eye out for it when you hatch eggs to raise your chances for an encounter.
Trivia
- Skrelp and Dragalge were the only poison type Pokemon that were introduced with generation six.
- The inspiration for Skrelp’s design is likely based on the weedy seadragon.
- The name Skrelp is a combination of the words scrawny and kelp.
Explainer Video
FAQ
How do you evolve Skrelp?
Skrelp will evolve into Dragalge upon reaching level 48 and thus there are no special conditions to fulfill which means Skrelp will begin to evolve once it reaches the level threshold. In order to evolve your Skrelp, just raise its level to the level threshold and allow the evolution animation to play without pressing the “B” button.
Is Skrelp a rare Pokemon?
Skrelp is actually more common than most Pokemon. It will spawn at a higher rate than other Pokemon as long as you are using a fishing rod and typically shows around a 60% spawn rate. Skrelp is not an exclusive Pokemon and it will appear commonly in the areas that it spawns.
Is Skrelp regional in Pokemon Go?
Skrelp is not region locked in Pokemon Go, you can find it anywhere water type Pokemon will typically spawn. You can also hatch Skrelp from 5 km eggs. If you search while it is raining you will have an increased rate of finding Skrelp. Be patient and look near watery areas to ensure that you have the best odds of finding a Skrelp and it will come to you.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Mock Kelp Pokemon”. While Skrelp is not particularly powerful at this stage in evolution, it can become much more imposing as Dragalge. Even though it does not fit many particular roles on an average team, it can offer some unique avenues of strategy. Reserve a slot on your team for Skrelp if you want a water and poison type Pokemon on your team.
