#0550

Basculin

Hostile Pokémon

Water

Game version

AppearanceStandard

Height: 1.0 m
Weight: 18.0 kg

Alternate forms (3)

Basculin White Striped Basculin Basculin Blue Striped

Training & breeding details

Gender50.0% ♂ · 50.0% ♀

Catch rate25(7.7%)Hard

Base friendship70Standard

Hatch time40 cycles · ~10,455 steps

Growth ratemedium

Base EXP161

Though it differs from other Basculin in several respects, including demeanor—this one is gentle—I have categorized it as a regional form given the vast array of shared qualities.

In Pokémon GO · 2090 max CP 1 TCG Pocket card

Base stats

Attack

Defense

Sp. Atk

Sp. Def

Speed

Total

460

Base Stat Total

Abilities

Reckless

Strengthens recoil moves to 1.2× their power.

Adaptability

Increases the same-type attack bonus from 1.5× to 2×.

Mold BreakerHidden

Bypasses targets' abilities if they could hinder or prevent a move.

Egg groups: Water 2

On this page

Type defenses

Damage taken from each attacking type.

Weak to

Grass2×

Electric2×

Resistant to

Steel½×

Fire½×

Water½×

Ice½×

Competitive movesets

Smogon University

Battle-ready sets by tier, straight from Smogon. Pick a generation and format — a “/” means either option works in that slot.

Generation

Choice Scarf

Moves

Item

Choice Scarf

AbilityAdaptability

NatureJolly+Spe/−SpA

EV spread

Atk252

SpD4

Spe▲252

Source: Smogon (via pkmn) · Updated: Oct 6, 2026

Where to find Basculin

Recorded encounter locations across the games. Orre includes Snags, gifts and trades; evolution and other acquisition methods may not appear here.

Black

Abundant Shrine Challenger's Cave Dragonspiral Tower Giant Chasm Lostlorn Forest Pinwheel Forest Route 1 Route 11 Route 14 Route 3 Route 6 Striaton City Victory Road Village Bridge Wellspring Cave

White

Abundant Shrine Challenger's Cave Dragonspiral Tower Giant Chasm Lostlorn Forest Pinwheel Forest Route 1 Route 11 Route 14 Route 3 Route 6 Striaton City Victory Road Village Bridge Wellspring Cave

Couriway Town Frost Cavern Laverre City Pokémon Village Route 15 Route 16 Route 21 Victory Road

Ultra Sun

Brooklet Hill Malie Garden Vast Poni Canyon

Ultra Moon

Brooklet Hill Malie Garden Vast Poni Canyon

Sword

Bridge Field East Lake Axewell Giant's Cap Giant's Mirror Hulbury Lake of Outrage Motostoke Riverbank North Lake Miloch South Lake Miloch West Lake Axewell

Shield

Bridge Field East Lake Axewell Giant's Cap Giant's Mirror Hulbury Lake of Outrage Motostoke Riverbank North Lake Miloch South Lake Miloch West Lake Axewell

Isle of Armor (Sword)

Challenge Beach Courageous Cavern Forest of Focus Soothing Wetlands

Isle of Armor (Shield)

Challenge Beach Courageous Cavern Forest of Focus Soothing Wetlands

Crown Tundra (Sword)

Ballimere Lake Frigid Sea Giant's Bed Giant's Foot Max Lair Roaring-Sea Caves Snowslide Slope

Crown Tundra (Shield)

Ballimere Lake Frigid Sea Giant's Bed Giant's Foot Max Lair Roaring-Sea Caves Snowslide Slope

Evolution

#0550Basculin

recoil damage

#0902Basculegion

All Pokémon evolution families

Notable moves

The strongest damaging moves Basculin can learn — same-type (STAB) moves get a 1.5× power bonus in battle.

Moves

Find a move19 of 19

Scroll across the table for type, power, accuracy and PP →

Lv.	Move & effect	Type	Class	Power	Acc.	PP
1	Tail Whip Lowers the target’s Defense by one stage.	Normal	Status	—	100	30
1	Water Gun Inflicts regular damage with no additional effect.	Water	Special	40	100	25
3	Uproar Forced to use this move for several turns. Pokémon cannot fall asleep in that time.	Normal	Special	90	100	10
4	Tackle Inflicts regular damage with no additional effect.	Normal	Physical	40	100	35
8	Flail Inflicts more damage when the user has less HP remaining, with a maximum of 200 power.	Normal	Physical	—	100	15
11	Chip Away Ignores the target’s stat modifiers.	Normal	Physical	70	100	20
12	Aqua Jet Inflicts regular damage with no additional effect.	Water	Physical	40	100	20
16	Bite Has a chance to make the target flinch.	Dark	Physical	60	100	25
20	Scary Face Lowers the target’s Speed by two stages.	Normal	Status	—	100	10
24	Headbutt Has a chance to make the target flinch.	Normal	Physical	70	100	15
28	Soak Changes the target’s type to Water.	Water	Status	—	100	20
32	Crunch Has a chance to lower the target’s Defense by one stage.	Dark	Physical	80	100	15
36	Take Down User receives 1/4 the damage it inflicts in recoil.	Normal	Physical	90	85	20
40	Final Gambit Inflicts damage equal to the user’s remaining HP. User faints.	Fighting	Special	—	100	5
44	Aqua Tail Inflicts regular damage with no additional effect.	Water	Physical	90	90	10
44	Wave Crash	Water	Physical	120	100	10
48	Thrash Hits every turn for 2-3 turns, then confuses the user.	Normal	Physical	120	100	10
52	Double-Edge User receives 1/3 the damage inflicted in recoil.	Normal	Physical	120	100	15
56	Head Smash User receives 1/2 the damage inflicted in recoil.	Rock	Physical	150	80	5