From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Shellder (Japanese: シェルダー Shellder) is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

It evolves into Cloyster when exposed to a Water Stone.

Biology

Shellder is a black pearl-like Pokémon encased within a spiky, blue-violet bivalve shell. It has two round white eyes with tiny black pupils. Its enormously long red tongue is used to burrow itself into sand to sleep overnight and also to lure and capture prey. The tongue protrudes even when its shell is closed and tugging it will cause the shell to pop open. Its soft and tender body is well-protected by its extremely durable shell, which is purported to be harder than diamonds and has historically been used by people to make shields. It can make pearls from accumulated sand, though it discards them as they are typically in its way.

Shellder has an unusually strong appetite for the tail of a Slowpoke and can develop a symbiotic relationship with the Dopey Pokémon. After attaching itself to the Slowpoke's tail, the two undergo a metamorphosis and evolve into Slowbro together. Alternatively, if it attaches to the head of a Slowpoke in possession of a King's Rock, the two will instead evolve into Slowking. These relationships allow it to travel onto land and begin a new stage in its life cycle. In Galar, Shellder attaches to the left forearm of Galarian Slowpoke wearing Galarica Cuffs, causing the evolution into Galarian Slowbro.

Regardless of which form the two Pokémon evolve into, Shellder's shell transforms into a spiny, spiraled cone with several tiers. Sharp teeth develop around the rim of the shell to anchor it securely to the evolved Slowpoke, and its eyes now peek out from the bottom rim of the shell. In its crown form, Shellder will have a red jewel on its underside and a large horn on either side of its shell.

While in its crown form, Shellder will periodically release its venom into Slowking's brain. This is actually beneficial to Slowking, as it causes the Regal Pokémon's intelligence to increase. Higher quantities of venom intensify this effect, and Shellder is easily provoked into releasing more whenever Slowking yawns. However, Shellder's poison makes Slowbro more sluggish as it continues to drain nutrients from its host's body.

Shellder has two former signature moves. It can shoot spears of ice by using Icicle Spear, or clamp tightly to its opponents using Clamp. Despite its hard shell, clamping on to an opponent will reveal its vulnerable parts. Because of this, it will only clamp itself to a foe as a last resort. It swims around its seafloor home by rapidly opening and closing its shell while facing backward. Prehistoric Shellder were apparently preyed upon by Omastar, whose powerful bites were capable of breaking through its shell. Kingler, Rufflet, and Bruxish are modern predators of Shellder.

Attached to Slowbro

Attached to Galarian Slowbro

Attached to Mega Slowbro

Attached to Slowking

In the anime

For a comprehensive list of Shellder's appearances in the anime as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the anime sections of Slowbro and Slowking.

Shellder in the anime

Spiral Shellder in the anime

Crown Shellder in the anime

Major appearances

In The Evolution Solution, Jessie caught a Shellder on Seafoam Island. Later in the episode, it bit on a Slowpoke's tail, making it evolve into a Slowbro. Afterwards, it left Team Rocket.

In A Crowning Achievement, multiple Shellder evolved many Slowpoke into Slowbro and Slowking as Alice Telesu released them.

In Battling a Cute Drama!, Marilyn thought her Shellder was the cutest Pokémon she ever saw. It was about to battle Brock's Happiny, but the match was interrupted by Team Rocket.

Minor appearances

Shellder debuted as part of a Slowbro in Island of the Giant Pokémon.

The first time an unevolved Shellder was seen was in The Bridge Bike Gang. It was sick and Nurse Joy sent Ash, Misty, and Brock over to Sunnytown (where Shellder was) to deliver some medicine.

In The Misty Mermaid, multiple Shellder resided in the Cerulean Gym, under the ownership of the Sensational Sisters. One of them reappeared in Cerulean Blues and in a fantasy in Alola, Alola!.

In Pikachu's Vacation, a Shellder was at the Pokémon Theme Park.

In The Joy of Pokémon, a sick Shellder was treated by the Nurse Joy of an unnamed island.

In The Power of One, multiple Shellder sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.

In Slowking's Day, a Shellder lived in the ocean surrounding Shamouti Island.

A Shellder appeared in a fantasy in The Totodile Duel.

In The Heartbreak of Brock, a Shellder lived at Temacu's father's lab.

In Mantine Overboard!, three Shellder lived in the sea near Ogi City.

In Octillery The Outcast, a Trainer's Shellder competed in the Whirl Cup. It went up against Ash's Totodile during a qualifying match and lost.

In A Parent Trapped!, a Shellder was seen underwater.

In Nice Pryce Baby, Pryce kept several Shellder at the Mahogany Gym.

In Enlighten Up!, a Shellder living in Lake Slowpoke bit a Slowpoke's tail, evolving it in the process.

In Gonna Rule The School!, the Pokémon Trainers' School lent a Shellder to one of the school's underage students for use.

In Old Rivals, New Tricks!, a Coordinator's Shellder competed in the Sandalstraw Contest.

In Going for the Gold!, multiple Shellder were in the Ambrette Aquarium.

Three Shellder appeared in Alola to New Adventure!.

A Shellder appeared in a fantasy in Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!.

In The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair!, Mallow studied multiple Shellder as part of a class assignment.

In Rocking Clawmark Hill!, a Shellder washed ashore near Professor Kukui's house.

In A Shivering Shovel Search!, a Shellder passed by underwater while Pikachu and Popplio were searching for Palossand's lost shovel.

In Dewpider Ascending!, a Shellder was half-buried in the sand.

In I Choose Paradise!, three Shellder were at the Pokémon Paradise Resort, with two under the ownership of different Trainers.

A Trainer's Shellder appeared in Exhibition Unmasked!.

Four Shellder appeared in Legend? Go! Friends? Go!.

A Shellder appeared in A Test in Paradise!.

A Trainer's Shellder appeared in Caring for a Mystery!.

In JN026, a Shellder was on Slowpoke Island.

In JN031, a Trainer's Shellder competing in the Water-type Pokémon Friendship Contest was targeted by Team Rocket.

A Trainer's Shellder appeared in JN038.

Pokédex entries

For Shellder's Pokédex entries as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the Pokédex entries sections of Slowbro and Slowking.

In the manga

For a list of Shellder's appearances in the manga as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the manga sections of Slowbro and Slowking.

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

In Play Misty For Me, Misty threw a Shellder at Ash after she found him constantly staring at her in her swimsuit.

In the Pocket Monsters manga

A Shellder appeared in JNM01.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In Karate Machop!, Lorelei owns several Shellder. They were sent to attack Kanto alongside several other Elite Four Pokémon.

A Shellder appeared in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to participate in the fight in Ilex Forest.

A Shellder was one of the aquarium Pokémon seen in Archie's collection in Stick This in Your Craw, Crawdaunt I.

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

A Shellder appeared in GDZ33.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Clefairy was attacked by a Shellder in The Legendary Pokémon Appears.

Multiple Shellder appeared in Which One is the Real Clefairy!?.

Bruno owns five Shellder, as seen in Clefairy's Under Training!!.

In the TCG

Main article: Shellder (TCG) For Shellder's appearances in the TCG as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see Slowbro (TCG) and Slowking (TCG).

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokémon Pinball: Three Shellder appear on the Red Table and give the player points when hit. When Catch'em Mode is activated, they also reveal the silhouette of the Pokémon attempting to be captured upon being hit.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation VIII, this Pokémon is: Damaged

normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII Game Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP This Pokémon learns no moves by tutoring. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Shellder

indicates a move that gets when used by Shellder Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shellder

indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Shellder Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

Side game data

Evolution

Sprites

Shellder forms

For the remainder of Shellder's sprites as part of Slowbro or Slowking, see the sprite sections of Slowbro and Slowking.

Slowbro form Slowking form Slowbro back sprites Slowking back sprites

Trivia

A Crowning Achievement Shellder and Slowpoke evolving into Slowking in

In the anime, Shellder is required to evolve Slowpoke into Slowbro or Slowking. Shellder clamps onto a Slowpoke's tail to evolve into Slowbro, or onto its head while wearing the King's Rock to evolve into a Slowking. Even though Shellder changes form drastically when it bonds with Slowpoke to evolve (see above), it is not considered an evolution in and of itself. Despite this requirement for Slowpoke to evolve, no game has ever reflected this beyond Slowpoke's Pokédex entries. Slowpoke instead evolves into Slowbro at level 37, and into Slowking while traded with a King's Rock, and does not require the presence of Shellder, as opposed to Mantyke evolving with Remoraid in the party. Shellder is said to produce poison and inject it into its host Slowbro or Slowking, but is not actually capable of learning any Poison-type moves. In The Evolution Solution , it is revealed that Shellder is still capable of speech as the shell of a Slowbro.

Shellder were revealed to be capable of floating through the air in Pokémon Snap, a trait that has been seen in no other media.

Shellder and Cloyster share their category name with Clamperl. They are all known as the Bivalve Pokémon.

Shellder can be seen as a counterpart to Staryu. Both are Water-types in the Water 3 Egg Group, both evolve with a Water Stone, and both gain a second type upon evolution. Cloyster is seen as a slow defensive Pokémon, while Starmie is seen as a fast attacking Pokémon; and Shellder is exclusive to FireRed and Y, while Staryu is exclusive to LeafGreen and X.

Origin

Shellder is similar to a clam, with its tongue representing a clam's "foot". Its ability to move by flapping its shell is likely inspired by scallops. Scallops are also related to the thorny oysters that resemble its evolved form. The fact that it latches onto Slowpoke and produces a beneficial toxin may be inspired by leeches.

Name origin

Shellder is derived from shell and possibly shelter, referring to the fact that it lives in a shell.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese シェルダー Shellder From shell French Kokiyas From coquille Spanish Shellder Same as English/Japanese name German Muschas From Muschel and Wasser Italian Shellder Same as English/Japanese name Korean 셀러 Sellor Corrupted transliteration of English/Japanese name Cantonese Chinese 貝殼怪 Buihokgwaai Means "Shell freak" Mandarin Chinese 大舌貝 / 大舌贝 Dàshébèi Literally "Big-tongued shell" More languages Hindi शेलदर Shellder Transcription of English/Japanese name Russian Шеллдер Shellder Transcription of English/Japanese name Thai เชลเดอร์ Shellder Transcription of trademarked Japanese name



