#0501 · Unova · Generation 5 · starter

Oshawott

Sea Otter Pokémon · Water-type

Oshawott is a Water-type Pokémon, the Sea Otter Pokémon, number 501 (#0501) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 5 and comes from the Unova region. It is 0.5 m tall and weighs 5.9 kg.

Oshawott is the Sea Otter Pokémon, a Water starter that wears a sharp shell on its belly and uses it like a knife. If the shell is lost, it simply grows another from its navel.

How to pronounce Oshawott

Oshawott is pronounced OSH-uh-wot. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Oshawott said out loud:

In Japanese it is ミジュマル (Mijumaru).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Oshawott is a sea otter pup, 0.5 m tall and 5.9 kg, with a round white head, a turquoise body, freckled cheeks and a rudder-like dark blue tail. The pale yellow scalchop on its belly is the same substance as its claws, and Oshawott uses it as a weapon and to crack hard berries.

Behaviour

When attacked, Oshawott blocks with its scalchop and slashes back at once. The Violet Pokédex says it learned to keep the shell sharp on riverbed stones by copying humans it saw using whetstones.

Habitat

The Pokédex names no wild habitat, but Bulbapedia says Oshawott has recently been seen in the Terarium of Blueberry Academy. In The Indigo Disk it lives in the Polar Biome.

Powers

Its Abilities are Torrent and the hidden Shell Armor. In Scarlet and Violet it learns Razor Shell at level 17, Aqua Jet at 29, Swords Dance at 41 and Hydro Pump at 43. Special Attack of 63 is its best stat, so it is a modest fighter until it evolves.

Name origin

Oshawott may blend 'ocean', 'shell', 'water', 'wash' and 'otter'. The Japanese name is Mijumaru (ミジュマル), which may combine mizu (water) or mijuku (immature) with maru, a common ending for boys' names.

Design inspiration

Yusuke Ohmura designed Oshawott and its Evolutions, which follow the life of a samurai: a child, a young samurai, then a commander. Sea otters really do use shells as tools and crack prey on their bellies, and the scalchop also resembles the war fans samurai used for defence. The three Unova partner lines are said to stand for Western, Chinese and Japanese culture, with Oshawott's as the Japanese one.

Evolution notes

Oshawott evolves into Dewott at level 17, and Dewott into Samurott at level 36.

In the games

Oshawott is one of Unova's three first partners: Professor Juniper gives it out in Black and White, and Bianca does the same in Black 2 and White 2. Legends: Arceus lets you pick it too, alongside Rowlet and Cyndaquil, and Bulbapedia lists it as not available in Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

Oshawott debuted in 'In the Shadow of Zekrom!' in Professor Juniper's lab, then admired Ash and followed him. It officially joined his team in 'A Sandile Gusher of Change!', and fights with Razor Shell.

Fun facts

• According to Ken Sugimori, Oshawott's Japanese name was originally Rakkomaru (ラッコマル), from rakko, the Japanese for sea otter.
• Oshawott is the only Legends: Arceus starter whose evolution levels did not change, as they were already 17 and 36, the levels the other two were changed to match.
• Its line is the only Water-type starter line outside the Water 1 egg group; it breeds in the Field group instead.
• An Oshawott and a Pikachu are the heroes of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Animated Shorts.

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

Base stats

• HP: 55
• Attack: 55
• Defense: 45
• Sp. Atk: 63
• Sp. Def: 45
• Speed: 45

Oshawott’s base stat total is 308. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.

Type matchups

What is Oshawott weak to?

Oshawott takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Grass (2×) moves.

It resists Fire (½×), Water (½×), Ice (½×), Steel (½×).

Evolution

How does Oshawott evolve?

Oshawott evolves into Dewott at level 17.

The whole family: Oshawott, Dewott, Samurott.

• Dewott evolves into Samurott (Level 36; Hisuian Samurott: Level 36, in Hisui).

Abilities

• Torrent: Strengthens Water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
• Shell Armor (hidden ability): Protects against critical hits.

Moves

Moves Oshawott learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (37)

Oshawott can learn 37 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Protect, Water Pulse, Thief, Chilling Water, Facade, Aerial Ace, Swift, Icy Wind, Fling, Avalanche, Endure, Rain Dance, Snowscape, Dig, False Swipe, Air Slash, Sleep Talk, Waterfall, Grass Knot, Rest, Taunt, Swords Dance, Substitute, X-Scissor, Liquidation, Encore, Surf, Helping Hand, Ice Beam, Hydro Pump, Blizzard, Water Pledge, Tera Blast, Knock Off, Flip Turn, Whirlpool.

Egg moves (8):Air Slash, Aqua Cutter, Copycat, Detect, Knock Off, Night Slash, Sacred Sword, Screech.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 87.5% male, 12.5% female.
• Egg groups: Field.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 1 Sp. Atk effort value.
• Base experience yield: 62.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon from the Unova region uses the shell on its belly as a weapon to cut down its foes. Thus, I've conferred upon this shell the name ”scalchop”. (Legends: Arceus)

It fights using the scalchop on its stomach. In response to an attack, it retaliates immediately by slashing. (Black, Y, Alpha Sapphire)

The scalchop on its stomach isn't just used for battle--it can be used to break open hard berries as well. (Black 2, White 2, X, Omega Ruby)

The scalchop on its stomach is made from the same elements as claws. It detaches the scalchop for use as a blade. (White)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Shortest Water type in Gen 5: 0.5 m, shared with 2 others.
• Taller than 19% of all Pokémon (0.5 m).
• Heavier than 18% of all Pokémon (5.9 kg).
• Base stat total 308, ranked #825 of 1,025.
• One of 154 Water-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 170 blue Pokémon.
• Number 8 of 156 Pokémon introduced in Generation 5 (Unova).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 53 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 4 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: Oshawott (Pokémon), Serebii: Oshawott (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (OSH-uh-wot): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

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

Explore

Water-type Pokémon · Oshawott vs Snivy · Oshawott vs Tepig · Unova region guide · Torrent ability · Shell Armor ability · Compare Oshawott · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 5 Water-type Pokémon · Gen 5 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with O · Otter Pokémon

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