#0503 · Unova · Generation 5 · starter

Samurott

Formidable Pokémon · Water-type

Samurott is a Water-type Pokémon, the Formidable Pokémon, number 503 (#0503) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 5 and comes from the Unova region. It is 1.5 m tall and weighs 94.6 kg.

Samurott is the Formidable Pokémon, an otter-and-sea-lion samurai that, the Pokédex says, can draw, strike and sheathe a seamitar in the time a foe blinks. In Hisui it evolves into a darker form that fights dirty.

How to pronounce Samurott

Samurott is pronounced SAM-uh-rot. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Samurott said out loud:

In Japanese it is ダイケンキ (Daikenki).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Samurott is a royal blue, four-legged otter and sea lion mix, 1.5 m tall and 94.6 kg, with long white whiskers like a moustache and cream armour shaped like shells. A spiked conch helmet crowns its head, a fan-shaped tail trails behind, and a seamitar, a shell blade, is stowed in each foreleg bracer. It can rear up on its hind legs to fight.

Behaviour

Samurott leads its group strictly, and the Pokédex says it thrashes any member that breaks its rules. A glare or a cry is said to be enough to quiet or intimidate a crowd. It is a master of iaijutsu, the art of drawing a sword in a single stroke.

Habitat

The Pokédex names no wild habitat. In The Indigo Disk you get Samurott by evolving Dewott, while Hisuian Samurott is found in the Alabaster Icelands in Legends: Arceus.

Powers

Its Abilities are Torrent and the hidden Shell Armor. It learns Razor Shell at level 18, Aqua Jet at 34, Swords Dance at 58 and Hydro Pump at 63 in Scarlet and Violet. Hisuian Samurott is Water and Dark, with black and red armour, wavy blades and the hidden Ability Sharpness, and is the only known Pokémon that can learn Ceaseless Edge. Samurott has 108 base Special Attack and 100 Attack; Hisuian Samurott swaps them, with 108 Attack.

Name origin

Samurott may combine 'samurai' and 'otter'. The Japanese name is Daikenki (ダイケンキ), which may combine dai ('great'), ken ('sword') and ki ('demon'), with kenki meaning a devilish swordsman.

Design inspiration

Yusuke Ohmura wanted a final form more interesting than a bigger otter, so after an otter exhibit at Sunshine Aquarium in Ikebukuro he borrowed from the sea lions at a nearby show, according to an interview Bulbapedia cites. The helmet appears to be a rare-spined murex shell, and drawing and sheathing its blades may reference iaido. Hisuian Samurott may draw on the extinct Japanese otter and on ronin, masterless samurai, which could explain its Dark type. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Samurott is the final stage, reached by levelling Dewott to level 36, and Hisuian Samurott is reached the same way in the Hisui region.

In the games

Samurott is the final form of Unova's Water starter line, first seen in Black and White. Hisuian Samurott arrived in Legends: Arceus, and neither form is available in Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

Leeku's Samurott debuted in the Victini films, losing to Ash's Tepig. A female Samurott made her series debut in 'The Road to Humilau!' as Cameron's Pokémon, beating Marlon's Mantine and later Bianca's Escavalier.

Fun facts

• Behind the scenes in Legends: Arceus, the game data gives Hisuian Samurott Shell Armor as its hidden Ability rather than Sharpness.
• Samurott, Emboar and Serperior all share a base stat total of 528.
• In the Pokémon Horizons episode 'The Training Royale!', Ann's Samurott Terastallizes into a Ground type.
• Bulbapedia notes that Samurott in its Unovan form stands alone in being missing from every Generation VIII game while its earlier stages are available.

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

Base stats

• HP: 95
• Attack: 100
• Defense: 85
• Sp. Atk: 108
• Sp. Def: 70
• Speed: 70

Samurott’s base stat total is 528. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.

Type matchups

What is Samurott weak to?

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

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

Evolution

What does Samurott evolve from?

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

Samurott is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Oshawott, Dewott, Samurott.

• Oshawott evolves into Dewott at level 17.

Forms

• Hisuian Samurott (Hisuian form): Water/Dark-type, base stat total 528 (HP 90, Attack 108, Defense 80, Sp. Atk 100, Sp. Def 65, Speed 85). Abilities: Torrent, Sharpness (hidden).

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 Samurott learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

“Evo” means Samurott learns the move the moment it evolves: Slash.

TM moves (52)

Samurott can learn 52 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Scary Face, Protect, Water Pulse, Thief, Chilling Water, Facade, Aerial Ace, Bulldoze, Snarl, Swift, Icy Wind, Fling, Avalanche, Endure, Rain Dance, Snowscape, Smart Strike, Dig, False Swipe, Brick Break, Air Slash, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Waterfall, Grass Knot, Rest, Taunt, Swords Dance, Dark Pulse, Substitute, X-Scissor, Drill Run, Liquidation, Encore, Surf, Helping Hand, Ice Beam, Hydro Pump, Blizzard, Water Pledge, Giga Impact, Hydro Cannon, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Knock Off, Vacuum Wave, Flip Turn, Lash Out, Whirlpool, Throat Chop, Upper Hand.

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 3 Sp. Atk effort values.
• Base experience yield: 238.

Pokédex entries

Hard of heart and deft of blade, this rare form of Samurott is a product of the Pokémon's evolution in the region of Hisui. Its turbulent blows crash into foes like ceaseless pounding waves. (Legends: Arceus)

One swing of the sword incorporated in its armor can fell an opponent. A simple glare from one of them quiets everybody. (Black, Y, Alpha Sapphire)

In the time it takes a foe to blink, it can draw and sheathe the seamitars attached to its front legs. (Black 2, White 2, X, Omega Ruby)

Part of the armor on its anterior legs becomes a giant sword. Its cry alone is enough to intimidate most enemies. (White)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Taller than 72% of all Pokémon (1.5 m).
• Heavier than 82% of all Pokémon (94.6 kg).
• Base stat total 528, ranked #186 of 1,025.
• One of 154 Water-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 170 blue Pokémon.
• Number 10 of 156 Pokémon introduced in Generation 5 (Unova).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 70 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Has 1 alternate form.
• 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: Samurott (Pokémon), Serebii: Samurott (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (SAM-uh-rot): 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 · Samurott vs Serperior · Samurott vs Emboar · Samurott vs Greninja · Unova region guide · Torrent ability · Shell Armor ability · Compare Samurott · 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 S · Seal and Sea Lion Pokémon · Otter Pokémon

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