First Appearance
Generation I
Pokémon Red & Blue (1996)
National Pokédex
#072
Water-Type Pokémon
Base Stats Average
280
HP: 40 | ATK: 40 | DEF: 35
Evolution Chain
2 Forms
Tentacool → Tentacruel (Lvl 30)
1 / 17
Design
Beta Name and Design: Originally called "Jilly" in Red/Blue prototypes. Its early sprite had far more tentacles (likely scaled back so Tentacruel looked stronger).
Pokédex Entries
Generation I
Pokémon Red/Green/Blue: "Drifts in shallow seas. Anglers who hook them by accident are often punished by its stinging acid."
Pokémon Yellow: "It can sometimes be found all dry and shriveled up on a beach. Toss it back into the sea to revive it."
Pokémon Stadium: "Fires beams of light from its clear eyes. Floats around in shallow waters and may sting unwary anglers."
Generation II
Gold: "When the tide goes out, dehydrated Tentacool remains can be found washed up on the shore."
Silver: "It drifts aimlessly in waves. Very difficult to see in water, it may not be noticed until it stings."
Crystal: "As it floats along on the waves, it uses its toxic feelers to stab anything it touches."
Generation III
Ruby: "Tentacool's body is largely composed of water. If it is removed from the sea, it dries up like parchment."
Sapphire: "Tentacool absorbs sunlight and refracts it using water inside its body to convert it into beam energy."
Emerald: "Its body is almost entirely composed of water. It ensnares its foe with its two long tentacles."
FireRed: "Its eyes are as transparent as crystals. From them, it shoots mysterious beams of light."
LeafGreen: "Drifts in shallow seas. Anglers who hook them by accident are often punished by their stingers."
Generation IV
Diamond: "Its body is virtually composed of water. It shoots strange beams from its crystal-like eyes."
Pearl: "It drifts in sea currents. Countless fishermen are hurt by its poison stingers."
Platinum: "Because its body is almost entirely composed of water, it shrivels up if it is washed ashore."
HeartGold: "When the tide goes out, dehydrated Tentacool remains can be found washed up on the shore."
SoulSilver: "It drifts aimlessly in waves. Very difficult to see in water, it may not be noticed until it stings."
Generation V
Black/White: "Because its body is almost entirely composed of water, it shrivels up if it is washed ashore."
Generation VI
X: "Its body is virtually composed of water. It shoots strange beams from its crystal-like eyes."
Y: "Drifts in shallow seas. Anglers who hook them by accident are often punished by their stingers."
Omega Ruby: "Tentacool's body is largely composed of water. If it is removed from the sea, it dries up like parchment."
Alpha Sapphire: "Tentacool absorbs sunlight and refracts it using water inside its body to convert it into beam energy."
Generation VII
Sun: "They can be found lying dehydrated on beaches, but they are often still alive. When soaked in water, they will revive."
Moon: "It drifts in shallow seas, such as the areas near beaches. If you get bitten or stabbed by its toxic tentacles, rush to the hospital."
Ultra Sun: "It drifts through the sea searching for prey. Its poisonous tentacles break off sometimes, but after a while, they grow back."
Ultra Moon: "Its body is 99% water. The remaining 1% contains the organ that makes its poison."
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Eevee!: "It can sometimes be found all dry and shriveled up on a beach. Toss it back into the sea to revive it."
Generation VIII
Sword: "Tentacool is not a particularly strong swimmer. It drifts across the surface of shallow seas as it searches for prey."
Shield: "This Pokémon is mostly made of water. A Tentacool out in the ocean is very hard to spot, because its body blends in with the sea."
Brilliant Diamond: "Its body is mostly composed of water. It shoots strange beams from its crystal-like eyes."
Shining Pearl: "It drifts in sea currents. Countless fishers are hurt by its poison stingers."
Legends: Arceus: "They fire beams from the glassy, magenta orbs that resemble eyes atop their heads, and they drift in shallow seas. During low tide, they can sometimes be found on beaches, desiccated."
Generation IX
Scarlet: "When the tide goes out, dehydrated Tentacool can be found left behind on the shore."
Violet: "Its eyes are as transparent as crystals. From them, it shoots mysterious beams of light."
Episode Appearances
Major Appearances
EP019: Tentacool & Tentacruel - Large swarm attacks a construction site, one evolves into giant Tentacruel after absorbing stun sauce; major antagonists until resolved.
Minor, Cameo, Wild, and Other Trainer Appearances - Main Episodes
EP048: The Joy of Water Pokémon! - Lives in Lake Lucid.
EP193: Hook, Line, and Stinker! - Trainer's participates in Seaking Catching Competition.
EP216: Mantine Overboard! - Two wild near Ogi City.
EP229: Bye Bye Psyduck - Multiple.
EP273: Friends to the End - Seen in Ritchie vs. Assunta battle; another Trainer's at Indigo Plateau closing ceremonies.
AG005: The Totodile Duel! - In fantasy.
AG048: A Cacturne for the Worse! - Multiple in May's childhood flashback.
AG140: Once More With Reeling! - Coordinator's in Terracotta Contest.
DP100: Up Close and Personable! - Lives near Pokémon Summer Academy lake.
XY001: Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin! - Multiple.
XY086: Going for the Gold! - Two exhibits in Ambrette Aquarium.
SM042: Day Three Blockbusters! - Flashback.
SM140: The Island Whisperer! - Wild.
SM146: Alola, Kanto! - Wild.
JN001: Legend? Go! Friends? Go! - Five.
JN046: Enter Pikachu! - Wild.
JN048: The Sinnoh Iceberg Race! - Horde; Goh catches one (debut of Goh's).
JN049: Finding a Legend! - Goh's.
JN050: Untitled - Goh's.
JN051: Best Friend…Worst Nightmare! - Goh's.
JN053: Untitled - Goh's.
JN054: Untitled - Goh's.
JN061: Ride, Lapras, Ride! - Appears.
JN068: Appears (Pokédex image) - Goh's.
JN070: The Ancient Poké Ball - Two.
JN077: Entei's Fierce Battle Cry! - Appears.
JN098: Gotta Catch a What?! - Goh's.
EP1142: Healing the Healer! - Goh's.
Other Appearances: Raid Battle in the Ruins!, Panic in the Park!, The Cuteness Quotient! - Goh's.
Shorts, Movies, Specials, and Chronicles
Pikachu's Vacation - At Pokémon Theme Park.
Pikachu's Rescue Adventure - Wild.
Snorlax Snowman - Appears.
Movie 2: The Power of One - Multiple sense disturbance.
Celebi: Voice of the Forest - Opening / Pokémon Heroes - Opening / Competitor in Tour de Alto Mare.
Movie 7: Destiny Deoxys - Multiple.
Movie 8: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew - Opening.
Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction - Multiple.
I Choose You! (Movie 20) - Multiple.
I Choose Paradise! - Two Trainers' at resort.
The Legend of Thunder! (Chronicle special) - At Pokémon Center.
Spin-offs
Pokémon Origins (File 4: Charizard) - Red catches one.
Pokémon Generations (The Cavern) - In waters near Seafloor Cavern.
Trivia & Hacks
HeartGold / SoulSilver: If you arrive in Cianwood City with only one Pokémon, a man in the Pokémon Center gifts you a Level 16 Tentacool to prevent soft-locking. Release it, talk to him again, and you'll get another—infinitely. Discovered publicly by a YouTuber in 2020.