POCKET MYTH Pokedex entry No.007 Squirtle

Squirtle is one of the original partners from the Kanto region, and this entry collects its game data together with its ecology and battle role.

Basic information

• Type: Water
• Category: Tiny Turtle Pokemon
• Height: 0.5 m | Weight: 9.0 kg
• Ability: Torrent, which raises the power of Water-type moves by 50% when HP is below 1/3
• Hidden ability: Rain Dish, which restores 1/16 HP each turn in rain, available from Generation 8

Form and ecology

Squirtle is one of the original partners of the Kanto region, and its design blends elements of a baby turtle and a kappa. A light blue shell covers its back and tail, and its fluffy wavy tail symbolizes the vitality of water. Its shell is not bone but a keratin layer rich in collagen, elastic enough to cushion physical impacts and able to regenerate quickly after injury.

Physiological traits

• A water sac inside its body stores pure water equal to 40% of its body weight; in drought it secretes moisture through its mouth to wet its skin.
• When angry it retracts its head into the shell and sprays water at high speed from the gaps between the front and back shell, the prototype of the Water Gun move.
• The grooves in its shell deepen with age, and after evolution they form impact guide channels.

Ability analysis

Base stat total: 314. Defense at 65 and Special Defense at 64 stand out, while Speed at 43 is low.

Key points of move growth

• Lv.1: Tackle, Tail Whip
• Lv.4: Water Gun, with a base range of 10 meters
• Lv.12: Bite, which unlocks Dark-type coverage
• Lv.36: Rapid Spin, which clears hazards and raises Speed

Tactical roles

• Defensive: stack physical Defense with Withdraw and Iron Defense.
• Attrition: Rain Dance plus Aqua Ring restores 1/8 HP each turn.

Evolution chain and form differences

• Squirtle: Water. Wavy tail, smooth shell.
• Wartortle: level 16, Water. Spikes grow along the shell edges and the water sac expands.
• Blastoise: level 36, Water. High-pressure water cannons are mounted on its shoulders with a range of over 50 meters.

Note: refusing to evolve lets it learn Aqua Tail at Lv.28 and Mirror Coat at Lv.32 earlier.