#0024 · Kanto · Generation 1

Arbok

Cobra Pokémon · Poison-type

Arbok is a Poison-type Pokémon, the Cobra Pokémon, number 24 (#0024) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the Kanto region. It is 3.5 m tall and weighs 65 kg.

Arbok is the Cobra Pokémon, and the scary face on its belly is its real weapon. One early Pokédex entry rumours that the pattern differs from area to area, and later research counts over 20 arrangements.

How to pronounce Arbok

Arbok is pronounced AR-bok. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Arbok said out loud:

In Japanese it is アーボック.

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Arbok is a purple cobra-like snake, 3.5 m long and 65 kg, with narrow eyes, long fangs and a wide hood. Its coils can flatten steel oil drums, and the Pokédex says it puffs out its chest and makes eerie noises with a rush of air. Bulbapedia notes a claim that, if anything but its head is cut off, it regrows within a few weeks.

Behaviour

Arbok is territorial and vengeful: it lashes out at intruders and, once it picks a target, the Pokédex says it will not give up the chase however far it goes. It freezes prey with the pattern on its belly, constricts it, then finishes it with venom.

Habitat

The Pokédex habitat is Grassland, and Bulbapedia adds that it also lives in forests and wastelands alongside Ekans.

Diet

Bulbapedia says it hunts small Pokémon such as Wooper and eats the eggs of Pidgey and Spearow.

Powers

Its Ability is Intimidate or Shed Skin, with Unnerve hidden. It strikes with Poison Jab, Gunk Shot, Crunch and the elemental fangs, and Glare, Coil and Haze set it up. Its base Attack is 95, so it is a solid physical attacker with a trickier support side.

Name origin

Arbok is 'cobra' spelled backwards, with the c swapped for a k. The Japanese name is Arbok too (アーボック).

Design inspiration

Arbok looks like an Indian cobra, judging by its hood markings and venom, and perhaps a king cobra. Its crushing coils recall boas and pythons, and the face-like belly marks may take cues from masks or face paint. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Arbok evolves from Ekans at level 22 and does not evolve further.

In the games

Agatha's Elite Four team has an Arbok in Red and Green (Red and Blue outside Japan), where it first appeared, and in Yellow and FireRed and LeafGreen; Ariana uses one in the Johto games. Scarlet and Violet offer it by trade or transfer, plus Fellhorn Gorge and Mossfell Confluence in The Teal Mask; Legends: Z-A has it in the base game (Wild Zone 10, Rouge District) and the Mega Dimension DLC's Hyperspace Lumiose.

In the anime

Jessie's Arbok debuted when her Ekans evolved in 'Dig Those Diglett!', and she released it in 'A Poached Ego!' so it could protect a group of Ekans. In 'The Ultimate Test', Ash sent out an Arbok in the League's entrance exam, and it lost to the instructor's Jolteon.

Fun facts

• Bulbapedia says the belly pattern differs between games, and even the Johto and Hoenn remakes do not match the originals.
• Unlike a real snake, Arbok may be warm-blooded: the anime episode 'A Keeper for Keeps?' says it gives off a great deal of warmth.
• In the Red and Green beta, Arbok's English name was Nagaasp.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Arbok (Pokémon) · Serebii: Arbok (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 60
• Attack: 95
• Defense: 69
• Sp. Atk: 65
• Sp. Def: 79
• Speed: 80

Arbok’s base stat total is 448. Its highest stat is Attack.

Type matchups

What is Arbok weak to?

Arbok takes extra damage from Ground (2×), Psychic (2×) moves.

It resists Grass (½×), Fighting (½×), Poison (½×), Bug (½×), Fairy (½×).

Evolution

What does Arbok evolve from?

Arbok evolves from Ekans at level 22.

Arbok is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Ekans, Arbok.

Abilities

• Intimidate: Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
• Shed Skin: Has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn.
• Unnerve (hidden ability): Prevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.

Moves

Moves Arbok learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

“Evo” means Arbok learns the move the moment it evolves: Crunch.

TM moves (54)

Arbok can learn 54 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Mud-Slap, Scary Face, Protect, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Acid Spray, Thief, Trailblaze, Facade, Poison Tail, Bulldoze, Snarl, Mud Shot, Rock Tomb, Dragon Tail, Venoshock, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Dig, Psychic Fangs, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Seed Bomb, Poison Jab, Stomping Tantrum, Rest, Rock Slide, Toxic Spikes, Dark Pulse, Leech Life, Gunk Shot, Substitute, Crunch, Giga Drain, Sludge Bomb, Earthquake, Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Haze, Toxic, Spite, Knock Off, Lash Out, Scale Shot, Pain Split, Double-Edge, Sludge Wave, Skitter Smack, Throat Chop, Breaking Swipe.

Egg moves (6):Poison Fang, Poison Tail, Scary Face, Spite, Sucker Punch, Switcheroo.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Field, Dragon.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 90 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Attack effort values.
• Base experience yield: 157.

Pokédex entries

The frightening patterns on its belly have been studied. Six variations have been confirmed. (Yellow, Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)

After stunning its opponents with the pattern on its stomach, it quickly wraps them up in its body and waits for them to stop moving. (Ultra Moon)

The latest research has determined that there are over 20 possible arrangements of the patterns on its stomach. (Ultra Sun)

This Pokémon is terrifically strong in order to constrict things with its body. It can even flatten steel oil drums. Once Arbok wraps its body around its foe, escaping its crunching embrace is impossible. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)

To intimidate foes, it spreads its chest wide and makes eerie sounds by expelling air from its mouth. (Crystal, Y)

The pattern on its belly appears to be a frightening face. Weak foes will flee just at the sight of the pattern. (FireRed, X)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Tallest Poison type in Gen 1: 3.5 m.
• Taller than 97% of all Pokémon (3.5 m).
• Heavier than 74% of all Pokémon (65 kg).
• Base stat total 448, ranked #522 of 1,025.
• One of 83 Poison-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 87 purple Pokémon.
• Number 24 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto).
• Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
• Can learn 70 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 90: about 11.8% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 11 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Arbok (Pokémon), Serebii: Arbok (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (AR-bok): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Poison-type Pokémon · Kanto region guide · Intimidate ability · Shed Skin ability · Unnerve ability · Compare Arbok · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 1 Poison-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Pokémon list · Purple Pokémon list · Field egg group · Dragon egg group · Pokémon that start with A · Snake Pokémon

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