Introduced in generation four, with the Pokemon Diamond and Pearl games, Turtwig is a monotype grass Pokemon. It is the base evolution of Torterra and evolves into Grotle upon reaching the level threshold. Turtwig is also the generation four game’s grass type starter representative and has been classified in the Pokedex as the “Tiny Leaf Pokemon”. This guide will showcase Turtwig’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime as well as other general facts about Turtwig.
About Turtwig
As the generation four grass type starter representative, Turtwig received a big share of screen time in the anime. Especially as Ash had obtained a Turtwig in his journey through the Sinnoh region. It first appeared in the episode Gettin’ Twiggy With It!, in the Diamond and Pearl season of the anime. Turtwig will evolve into Grotle at level 18 and eventually evolve into Torterra upon reaching level 32. The Pokedex states that photosynthesis occurs across its body and the shell on its back is actually hardened soil.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Diamond and Pearl Gettin’ Twiggy With It! |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Diamond and Pearl |
| Region | Sinnoh |
| Evolution | Base form of Torterra, evolves into Grotle |
| 1st Evo level | 18 |
| 2nd Evo level | 32 |
| Pokedex Entry | Made from soil, the shell on its back hardens when it drinks water. It lives along lakes. |
Turtwig Base Stats
| HP | 55 |
| ATTACK | 68 |
| DEFENCE | 64 |
| SP. ATTACK | 45 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 55 |
| SPEED | 31 |
| TOTAL | 318 |
Appearance
Turtwig is a small, green turtle Pokemon. Its lower jaw and eyes are yellow while its shell is brown with a black stripe. A small sprout grows from the brown spot on its head, splitting into two leaves. When Turtwig is dehydrated, the leaves on its head wilt and its shell becomes soft and dry. Turtwig is 1’04” tall and weighs 22.5 lbs, the heaviest of any starter Pokemon.
Behavior
Turtwig is rarely found in the wild, so little is known about their behavior. Turtwig live near lakesides, drinking the lake’s water to harden their shells and photosynthesizing sunlight for food. A healthy Turtwig has a hard, damp shell with no wilting of the leaf on its head. In the Pokemon Anime, Ash’s Turtwig is brave and caring. It broke up fights between other Pokemon, and it never gave up when challenged. Paul’s Turtwig, unlike Paul’s other Pokemon, was exceptionally kind, patient, and obedient.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As a base evolution, Turtwig does not have the most impressive statline. Its usability in competitive play will be strictly limited to the LC (Little Cup) bracket where only base evolution Pokemon are legal. Turtwig’s speed stat is slow, fairly representative of turtles in real life, but its physical attack and defense stat are fairly good for a base evolution Pokemon. As a monotype grass Pokemon, Turtwig is weak to flying, poison, bug, fire, and ice type moves. It will resist ground, water, grass, and electric type moves.
Best Moveset
The use for Turtwig is almost exclusively limited to LC (Little Cup) brackets of competitive play. These brackets are reserved for base evolution Pokemon, so the statline difference will not determine the winner. Run Turtwig for hazards as well as providing some sustainability to your team and you may be able to outlast your opponents. Consider running Stealth Rock, Synthesis, Bullet Seed, and Superpower/Crunch. Stealth Rock will deal accumulating damage to your opponent on every switch in and out, Synthesis can give your Turtwig some longevity, Bullet Seed benefits from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) and functions as Turtwigs main source of damage, and Superpower/Crunch are interchangeable as type coverage options.
| Stealth Rock | Synthesis |
| Bullet Seed | Superpower/Crunch |
How to Catch Turtwig in Pokemon Go
There are a few different ways to encounter a Turtwig in Pokemon Go. As a grass type, Turtwig can be found near grassy areas such as parks, during sunny or clear weather. Alternatively, Trainers can use a Mossy Lure Module at a Pokestop to attract grass type Pokemon. Turtwig has also previously appeared as a reward for the “Make 5 Great Throws” Research Task, though it is currently not available through this method. It may make a return at a later date but for now, the best way to find a Turtwig in Pokemon Go is to use a Mossy Lure or to explore parks during sunny days. To evolve your Turtwig into Grotle it will cost 25 Turtwig candies and another 100 candies to evolve it into Torterra.
Trivia
- Turtwig’s shell is made of soil. Its shell grows harder when it drinks water, and it is usually damp to the touch.
- Of all the starter Pokemon released in the franchise, Turtwig has the lowest base speed of all the starter Pokemon.
- The name Turtwig is a portmanteau of the words turtle and twig.
Video
FAQ
Is Turtwig a good Starter?
Unfortunately, the Turtwig line is just outclassed by many other Pokemon. There is not much reason to run Torterra and even fewer reasons to run Turtwig. There is not much about this evolution line that can give you options or provide utility in battle. While it is perfectly viable in casual play, there is not much reason to run Turtwig in competitive play.
What does Grotle evolve into?
Grotle will evolve into Torterra upon reaching level 32. Grotle evolves from Turtwig and Torterra is the final evolution of the line. After Grotle reaches level 32 you just need to allow the evolution animation to play out and not press the “B” button and it will evolve into Torterra.
Is Torterra a good Pokemon?
As explained above, Torterra is just simply outclassed by other Pokemon. It does not excel at anything in particular and just about any other reasonable candidate can likely pull off what Torterra is capable of, but better. Torterra is not a particularly strong Pokemon but do not let that dissuade you from running Torterra on your team in casual Pokemon playthroughs.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Tiny Leaf Pokemon”. While Turtwig does not have the most amazing battle capabilities, it is still an intriguing Pokemon. Turtwig evolves to be the size of a “walking forest” and some Pokemon can live their whole lives on the back of Torterra. While it may not be the most exciting Pokemon in battle, it is definitely a unique part of the world of Pokemon.
