You’ve probably been swimming around the Casseroya Lake or the coastal waters of Kalos for what feels like hours, watching that weird little seahorse-looking thing sit in your party. It’s a Poison/Water type, which is cool and all, but it’s definitely not winning any beauty pageants. You’re waiting for the glow-up. You’re waiting for the Dragon-type power.
So, what level does Skrelp evolve? Honestly, it’s a bit of a grind.
Skrelp evolves into Dragalge at Level 48.
Yeah, you read that right. Level 48. In the world of Pokémon evolution, that’s actually pretty late. For context, most "starter" Pokémon have reached their final form by level 36. Skrelp makes you work for it. There are no special stones, no weird trading requirements, and no "hold the console upside down while it rains" gimmicks. It is purely a test of patience and EXP.
Why Level 48 is Such a Pain (But Worth It)
Most players catch Skrelp somewhere in the mid-20s or 30s depending on the game. If you’re playing Pokémon Scarlet, you’re probably finding them in the North Paldean Sea. If you’re a Pokémon Violet player, well, you’re not finding them at all because Skrelp is a version exclusive. You’ll have to trade for it.
The wait until level 48 is long because Skrelp's base stats are... let's just say "humble." We’re talking about a base Speed of 30. It’s slow. It’s fragile. It’s basically a piece of kelp that spits poison. But once it hits that magic number, everything changes.
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When it evolves, it loses that Water typing and becomes a Poison/Dragon type. This is a massive upgrade. It’s one of the few Pokémon that can absolutely ruin a Fairy-type's day. While most Dragons are terrified of a Sylveon or a Flutter Mane, Dragalge just laughs and clicks a Poison-type move.
The Moveset Trap
Here is something most people get wrong. They try to evolve Skrelp early using Rare Candies because they’re bored of the grind. While that works, you need to pay attention to its moves.
Historically, there was a rumor that Skrelp needed the move Camouflage to evolve. This is 100% false. It’s an old playground myth from the Pokémon X and Y days. You don’t need any specific move. You just need the level.
However, Dragalge is a Special Attacker. If you’ve been building your Skrelp with physical moves like Waterfall, you’re going to be disappointed when it evolves. You want moves like:
- Sludge Bomb
- Dragon Pulse (or Draco Meteor if you're feeling spicy)
- Thunderbolt (for coverage)
- Hydro Pump (it keeps some Water moves even after losing the type)
Evolving Skrelp in Different Games
The level 48 requirement has stayed consistent since its debut in Generation VI, but how you get there has changed.
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In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the quickest way is to just raid. Don't waste time battling wild Magikarp. Go hit some 4-star or 5-star Tera Raids, grab those Exp. Candies, and force-feed them to your Skrelp. It’s the fastest way to skip the "awkward teenage phase."
If you're playing Sword and Shield (specifically the Isle of Armor DLC), Skrelp is a Shield exclusive. Again, level 48 is the goal. If you catch one in a Max Raid Battle, it might already be level 45 or 50. If it's already over level 48 and hasn't evolved, just give it one Rare Candy or one level of manual training, and it will trigger the evolution immediately.
Competitive Nuance: Adaptability
The real reason people care about what level Skrelp evolves is the Hidden Ability: Adaptability.
Normally, when a Pokémon uses a move that matches its type (STAB), it deals 1.5x damage. Adaptability kicks that up to 2.0x. A Dragalge with Adaptability using Draco Meteor or Sludge Wave hits like a freight train.
But here is the catch: Skrelp needs that ability before it evolves if you want it on Dragalge. You can use an Ability Patch in the newer games to swap to it, but it’s much easier to just find a Skrelp that already has it. If you’re breeding for a competitive team, don’t even bother evolving until you’ve confirmed the ability.
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Common Misconceptions and Troubleshooting
Sometimes, people hit level 48 and... nothing happens. This usually boils down to two things:
- The Everstone: Check your held items. Did you give it an Everstone to boost its defense with Eviolite and then forget about it? It happens to the best of us.
- The "B" Button: If you’re button-mashing through level-up screens, you might accidentally cancel the evolution. If this happens, don’t panic. Just level it up to 49, and it will try again.
Also, don't confuse Skrelp's evolution with its counterpart, Clauncher. Clauncher evolves into Clawitzer at level 37. It’s much faster. Why does the shrimp evolve 11 levels earlier than the kelp? Nobody knows. Game Freak just likes making Dragon-type fans suffer through a longer grind.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
If you've got a Skrelp in your party right now, here is exactly what you should do to make the process painless:
- Check the Nature: You want Modest (+Special Attack, -Attack) or Quiet (+Special Attack, -Speed). Since Dragalge is already slow, a Quiet nature is actually great for Trick Room teams.
- Farm Chansey/Blissey: If you're in Scarlet/Violet, head to the area near the Team Star Fighting crew base. Eat a ham sandwich (Encounter Power: Normal) and farm the Chanseys that spawn. You'll hit level 48 in about fifteen minutes.
- Check Your Version: If you are playing Violet or Sword, stop looking in the water. You won't find it. You need to head to a trade board or find a friend with the opposite version.
- Hold an Eviolite: While you are grinding those 48 levels, give Skrelp an Eviolite. It boosts the Defense and Special Defense of unevolved Pokémon by 50%. It makes Skrelp actually usable in battle while you wait for its evolution.
Dragalge is a tanky, hard-hitting monster that defines "underrated." Getting to level 48 is a bit of a trek, but once you start deleting Fairy-types with a STAB-boosted Sludge Bomb, you'll realize the grind was worth it.