#0950 · Paldea · Generation 9

Klawf

Ambush Pokémon · Rock-type

Klawf is a Rock-type Pokémon, the Ambush Pokémon, number 950 (#0950) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 9 and comes from the Paldea region. It is 1.3 m tall and weighs 79 kg.

Klawf is the Ambush Pokémon, a rocky orange crab that hangs head-down off sheer cliffs to jump on prey, until the blood rushing to its head forces it to stop. A giant Klawf, the Stony Cliff Titan, guards a supply of Herba Mystica in Scarlet and Violet.

How to pronounce Klawf

Klawf is pronounced KLAWF. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Klawf said out loud:

In Japanese it is ガケガニ (Gakegani).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Klawf is an orange crab, 1.3 m tall and 79 kg, with a rugged stone shell topped by three pentagonal lumps and a cream belly. Its eyes sit on stalks that can rotate in any direction, its mouth has battlement-like teeth, and black bristles cover its joints. It has eight limbs, with claws on the front two, and Bulbapedia says it can regrow a lost claw.

Behaviour

The Pokédex says Klawf cannot stay hanging for long, because the blood rushes to its head. Another entry says it sidesteps attacks, then lunges at weak spots with its claws. Bulbapedia adds that it may pin an opponent with one claw while striking with the other.

Habitat

The Pokédex says it lives on sheer cliffs. In Scarlet and Violet it is found in Paldea's South Province, Area Three, where Serebii lists a Rock biome.

Diet

Bulbapedia says the giant Stony Cliff Titan feeds on Sweet Herba Mystica.

Powers

Its Ability Anger Shell triggers when its HP drops below half: its Defense and Special Defense fall, but its Attack, Special Attack and Speed rise. Shell Armor protects it from critical hits, and the hidden Regenerator heals it when it switches out. It learns Rock Slide, Rock Blast, X-Scissor, Swords Dance, High Horsepower and Guillotine. With 115 base Defense and 100 Attack it is a sturdy, hard-hitting Rock type.

Name origin

Klawf may combine 'claw' and 'cliff'. The Japanese name is Gakegani (ガケガニ), which may come from 崖 gake ('cliff') and 蟹 kani ('crab'), or from kegani, the horsehair crab.

Design inspiration

Klawf appears to be based on bristly crabs such as the horsehair crab, the velvet crab or the Chinese mitten crab, and its cliff-hanging may nod to rock climbing. These are fan readings.

In the games

The Stony Cliff Titan, a giant Klawf, is a boss encounter that Arven and the player hunt down in South Province, Area Three, in Scarlet and Violet, where Klawf debuted. Normal-sized Klawf live in the same area and appear in 6-star Tera Raids. Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

Five Klawf debuted in Pokémon Horizons in 'Transform! Hero of the Seas, Palafin', attacking a photographer who had angered them. Another appears in 'Sparkle! The Glow of Flame and Art'.

Fun facts

• Bulbapedia notes that no other known Pokémon can have Anger Shell.
• The Stony Cliff Titan appears as a silhouette in the music video for 'Biri-Biri'.
• Bulbapedia says its claws and shells go into dishes including Klawf al Ajillo and Klawf Sticks.

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

Base stats

• HP: 70
• Attack: 100
• Defense: 115
• Sp. Atk: 35
• Sp. Def: 55
• Speed: 75

Klawf’s base stat total is 450. Its highest stat is Defense.

Type matchups

What is Klawf weak to?

Klawf takes extra damage from Water (2×), Grass (2×), Fighting (2×), Ground (2×), Steel (2×) moves.

It resists Normal (½×), Fire (½×), Poison (½×), Flying (½×).

Evolution

Klawf does not evolve, and it does not evolve from any other Pokémon.

Abilities

• Anger Shell: When the Pokémon's HP drops below half, Anger Shell lowers its Defense and Special Defense but its Attack, Special Attack and Speed are raised.
• Shell Armor: Protects against critical hits.
• Regenerator (hidden ability): Heals for 1/3 max HP upon switching out.

Moves

Moves Klawf learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (46)

Klawf can learn 46 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Mud-Slap, Scary Face, Protect, Thief, Trailblaze, Facade, Bulldoze, Metal Claw, Mud Shot, Rock Tomb, Fling, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Sandstorm, Dig, Brick Break, Shadow Claw, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Rock Blast, Stomping Tantrum, Rest, Rock Slide, Swords Dance, Power Gem, Substitute, Iron Defense, X-Scissor, Stealth Rock, Helping Hand, Earth Power, Reversal, Stone Edge, Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Smack Down, Knock Off, High Horsepower, Endeavor, Temper Flare, Skitter Smack, Meteor Beam, Throat Chop.

Egg moves (4):Ancient Power, Crabhammer, Endeavor, Knock Off.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Water 3.
• Egg cycles: 35 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 4,480).
• Catch rate: 120 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 Defense effort values.
• Base experience yield: 158.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon lives on sheer cliffs. It sidesteps opponents' attacks, then lunges for their weak spots with its claws. (Violet)

Klawf hangs upside-down from cliffs, waiting for prey. But Klawf can't remain in this position for long because its blood rushes to its head. (Scarlet)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Taller than 64% of all Pokémon (1.3 m).
• Heavier than 77% of all Pokémon (79 kg).
• Base stat total 450, ranked #512 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Defense, ranked #79 of 1,025.
• One of 74 Rock-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 97 red Pokémon.
• Number 45 of 120 Pokémon introduced in Generation 9 (Paldea).
• Can learn 53 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 120: about 15.7% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 2 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: Klawf (Pokémon), Serebii: Klawf (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (KLAWF): no English source says it out loud, so it is our best guess from the parts of the name.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Rock-type Pokémon · Paldea region guide · Anger Shell ability · Shell Armor ability · Regenerator ability · Compare Klawf · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 9 Rock-type Pokémon · Gen 9 Pokémon list · Red Pokémon list · Water 3 egg group · Pokémon that start with K · Crab and Crustacean Pokémon

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