Shellder

The Bivalve Pokémon
#090 - Shellder
Evolve	Cloyster
Debut	Pokémon: Red Version Pokémon: Green Version
Species Info
Type	+
Height	0.3 m (1'00")
Weight	4.0 kg (8.8 lbs.)
Color	Purple
Gender Ratio	1♂ : 1♀
Ability	Shell Armor / Skill Link
Hidden Ability	Overcoat
Egg Group	Water 3
Icon		Sprite
		File:090sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	30	Speed	40
Attack	65	Sp. Attack	45
Defense	100	Sp. Defense	25
Training Info
Catch Rate	190	Hatch Steps	5,120
Base Exp.	097	Effort Points	Def
Happiness	70
To Lv.100	Slow

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 090 >	< 169 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #
	< 171 >

Shellder is a clam-like Pokémon that was introduced in the first generation games. Its evolved form is a Cloyster, and it is also known for acting as part of a Slowbro.

Information

Shellder is protected by a hard shell (supposedly harder than diamond) that can withstand any attack. It is only vulnerable when it opens its shell, which exposes its tender body within, and because of this it only clamps down on enemies as a last result. Shellder is surprisingly fast and swims facing backward by opening and closing its shell. It also uses its broad tongue to burrow a whole in the seafloor sand to sleep in at night. When sleeping, it keeps its shell closed but leaves its tongue hanging out. When grains of sand are mixed with its body fluids, pearls are formed.

A Shellder will evolve into Cloyster when exposed to a Water Stone. However, Shellder is also connected to Slowpoke's evolutionary line in a unique way. When a Shellder bites onto a Slowpoke's tail, the Slowpoke will evolve into a Slowbro. The Shellder also changes too to resemble a conch shell. This Shellder forms a symbiotic relationship with the Slowbro and eats its leftover scraps. It also releases a poison which dulls the Slowbro's mind and acts as a sort of painkiller. The Shellder is unable to release itself from the Slowpoke tail apparently due to its favorable flavor. In cases where the Shellder bites down on Slowpoke's head instead, the Slowpoke becomes a Slowking, and in this case the toxin that the Shellder releases instead boosts the Slowking's intelligence to genius levels. The Shellder also changes in this instance to resemble a crown-like conch shell.

These evolutions are apparently impermanent, as Shellder can be knocked off of a Slowbro's tail or Slowking's head, at which point that creature will revert into a Slowpoke (and lose any intelligence it gained as Slowking). This is not reflected within the games though, where de-evolution is never depicted.

Appearances

Mainstream Games

In Pokémon: Red and Blue Versions, they could be found by fishing at Routes 6, 11, 19, 20 and 21, Vermilion City and Cinnabar Island, and they could be found both while traveling on foot and through fishing at the Seafoam Islands. In Yellow, they were only found by fishing at Routes 17 and 18 as well as Vermilion Harbor. In FireRed, Shellder could be found by fishing with the Super Rod at Pallet Town, Vermilion Harbor, Cinnabar Island, One Island and Icefall Cave.

In Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver, they could be fished at Routes 26 and 27, New Bark Town, Union Cave's second basement (not in HeartGold/SoulSilver), Olivine Harbor (not in HeartGold/SoulSilver), Vermilion City and Pallet Town. In HeartGold/SoulSilver, they could also be found by fishing at Routes 20, 21, 41 and 47 and Pallet Town. They could also be found at the Blue Lake and Stormy Beach courses of the Pokéwalker, from which they could be transferred to HeartGold/SoulSilver.

Shellder could also be found in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum by fishing with the Super Rod at Valley Windworks, Route 205 and Fuego Ironworks. In Black and White, they could be fished at Route 13, Undella Town and Undella Bay.

Other Games

In Pokémon Pinball, Shellder could be caught at Vermilion City Seaside, Vermilion City Streets and Seafoam Islands, and several Shellder were also part of the Red Table. Shellder could also be photographed at the River area in Pokémon Snap. In Pokémon Channel, it could be found at Secret Cove at any time of day. A Shadow Shellder could be snagged from Cipher Peon Gatog at Cipher Key Lair in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. After being purified, this Shellder could be transferred to any of the third generation color versions.

In Pokémon Trozei!, Shellder appeared at SOL Laboratory 3, Secret Storage 13, Endless Level 33 and Mr. Who's Den. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Teams, they could be recruited at the first eight floors of Stormy Sea, Silver Trench and Far-off Sea, and the first five basement floors of Marvelous Sea and Fantasy Strait. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness, they were found at the first four basement floors of Beach Cave and the first twenty floors of Surrounded Sea. Shellder also appeared in Pokémon Rumble at Bright Beach.

Other Appearances

Other Media

• Shelder have made occasional appearances in the Pokémon anime, beginning in one episode where Ash and company had to retrieve medicine for a sick Shellder. Jessie of Team Rocket caught a Shellder in one episode, but by the end of the episode it wound up biting a Slowpoke's tail and evolving it into Slowbro, and the Slowbro stayed with its original trainer.

Trivia

• Its name is a play on "shell" and possible "shelter" due to its own shell acting as shelter.
• Although it apparently triggers Slowpoke's evolution, this is not reflected within the gameplay as Slowpoke evolves into Slowbro at Level 38 and into Slowking when traded with the King's Rock. Neither evolution method requires or uses a Shellder.