#0247 · Johto · Generation 2

Pupitar

Hard Shell Pokémon · Rock/Ground-type

Pupitar is a Rock/Ground-type Pokémon, the Hard Shell Pokémon, number 247 (#0247) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 2 and comes from the Johto region. It is 1.2 m tall and weighs 152 kg.

Pupitar is the Hard Shell Pokémon, a pupa that cannot sit still: the Pokédex says it vents compressed gas to shoot around like a jet, even sealed inside a shell as hard as bedrock.

How to pronounce Pupitar

Pupitar is pronounced PYOO-pih-tar. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Pupitar said out loud:

In Japanese it is サナギラス (Sanagiras).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Pupitar is 1.2 m tall and 152 kg, sealed in a thick greyish-blue shell with two eye holes and a mask-like plate with four spikes down each side. Three more spikes rise from its forehead. Its arms and legs are still forming inside, and the Pokédex says the shell is so tough that it survives a crash into solid steel.

Behaviour

Pupitar is restless. It builds up pressurised gas and rockets about, and one Pokédex entry says it does this to relieve stress because it cannot wait to evolve. The Pokédex also claims its thrashing can topple a mountain.

Habitat

Bulbapedia says it moves freely around harsh mountain ranges. In Scarlet it appears in Alfornada Cavern, as a fixed encounter in North Province Area Two and in 4-star Tera Raids, while Violet players must trade for it.

Powers

Pupitar's only Ability is Shed Skin, which gives it a chance of curing a status condition each turn. It starts with Iron Defense and learns Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Earthquake and Thrash, so it can hit back despite being a cocoon. Its best base stat is Attack, at 84.

Name origin

Pupitar may come from 'pupa', the resting stage between larva and adult in some insects. The Japanese name is Sanagiras (サナギラス), which may combine 蛹 sanagi ('pupa') with the dinosaur suffix 'saurus'.

Design inspiration

Bulbapedia points out that a pupa stage suits insects better than reptiles, which makes Pupitar an unusual fit for its line. This is a fan reading.

Evolution notes

Pupitar evolves from Larvitar at level 30 and into Tyranitar at level 55.

In the games

The only way to get a Pupitar in Gold and Silver, where it debuted, is to evolve Larvitar; in Crystal it is found in Mt. Silver Cave. In Legends: Z-A it is also obtained by evolving Larvitar, and the Mega Dimension DLC adds it to Hyperspace Lumiose.

In the anime

Ritchie's Pupitar, nicknamed Cruise, debuted in 'The Mystery is History'. Rico's Pupitar evolves into a Tyranitar mid-attack on Team Rocket in 'A Poached Ego!'.

Fun facts

• In Pokémon Sleep the Pokédex entry says Pupitar may keep venting gas and shoot skywards even while asleep, and one of its four sleep styles is called Gas-Venting Sleep.
• In a Pokémon Adventures flashback, Lance's Pupitar is handed over to Silver, evolves into a Tyranitar, and is then returned to Lance.
• In the anime, Ash's Pokédex describes its shell as nearly indestructible.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Pupitar · Serebii: Pupitar (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 70
• Attack: 84
• Defense: 70
• Sp. Atk: 65
• Sp. Def: 70
• Speed: 51

Pupitar’s base stat total is 410. Its highest stat is Attack.

Type matchups

What is Pupitar weak to?

Pupitar takes extra damage from Water (4×), Grass (4×), Ice (2×), Fighting (2×), Ground (2×), Steel (2×) moves.

It resists Poison (¼×), Normal (½×), Fire (½×), Flying (½×), Rock (½×).

It is immune to Electric moves.

Evolution

What does Pupitar evolve from?

Pupitar evolves from Larvitar at level 30.

How does Pupitar evolve?

Pupitar evolves into Tyranitar at level 55.

The whole family: Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar.

Abilities

• Shed Skin: Has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn.

Moves

Moves Pupitar learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

“Evo” means Pupitar learns the move the moment it evolves: Iron Defense.

TM moves (45)

Pupitar can learn 45 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Mud-Slap, Scary Face, Protect, Facade, Aerial Ace, Bulldoze, Snarl, Mud Shot, Rock Tomb, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Sandstorm, Dig, Brick Break, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Rock Blast, Stomping Tantrum, Rest, Rock Slide, Taunt, Dark Pulse, Iron Head, Dragon Dance, Substitute, Iron Defense, Crunch, Stealth Rock, Helping Hand, Earth Power, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Giga Impact, Outrage, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Sand Tomb, Spite, Smack Down, High Horsepower, Lash Out, Double-Edge, Curse.

Egg moves (9), which Larvitar can hatch knowing:Ancient Power, Assurance, Curse, Dragon Dance, Focus Energy, Iron Defense, Iron Head, Outrage, Stomp.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Monster.
• Egg cycles: 40 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 5,120).
• Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 35.
• Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Attack effort values.
• Base experience yield: 144.

Pokédex entries

It will not stay still, even while it's a pupa. It already has arms and legs under its solid shell. (Crystal, Shield)

Even sealed in its shell, it can move freely. Hard and fast, it has outstanding destructive power. (Silver, FireRed, SoulSilver, Sword)

This dangerous pupa thrashes about. Its shell is as hard as bedrock, containing its gradually forming new body within. (Ultra Moon)

This troublesome Pokémon can't wait to evolve, so it relieves its stress by wildly propelling itself around using compressed gas. (Ultra Sun)

Pupitar creates a gas inside its body that it compresses and forcefully ejects to propel itself like a jet. The body is very durable - it avoids damage even if it hits solid steel. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)

Its shell is as hard as sheet rock, and it is also very strong. Its Thrashing can topple a mountain. (Gold, LeafGreen, HeartGold, Y)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Highest Sp. Atk among Ground types in Gen 2: 65, shared with 1 other.
• Highest Sp. Def among Ground types in Gen 2: 70.
• Taller than 58% of all Pokémon (1.2 m).
• Heavier than 89% of all Pokémon (152 kg).
• Base stat total 410, ranked #590 of 1,025.
• One of 9 Pokémon that are both Rock and Ground.
• One of 107 gray Pokémon.
• Number 96 of 100 Pokémon introduced in Generation 2 (Johto).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 56 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 9 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: Pupitar, Serebii: Pupitar (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (PYOO-pih-tar): 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

Rock-type Pokémon · Ground-type Pokémon · Rock/Ground weaknesses and matchups · Johto region guide · Shed Skin ability · Compare Pupitar · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 2 Rock-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Ground-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Pokémon list · Gray Pokémon list · Monster egg group · Pokémon that start with P

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