#0816 · Galar · Generation 8 · starter

Sobble

Water Lizard Pokémon · Water-type

Sobble is a Water-type Pokémon, the Water Lizard Pokémon, number 816 (#0816) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 8 and comes from the Galar region. It is 0.3 m tall and weighs 4 kg.

Sobble is the Water Lizard Pokémon, so timid that it turns invisible when it is scared. If hiding fails it bursts into tears, which the Pokédex says carry the chemical punch of 100 onions.

How to pronounce Sobble

Sobble is pronounced SOB-ul. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Sobble said out loud:

In Japanese it is メッソン (Messon).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Sobble is a small blue lizard, 0.3 m tall and 4 kg, with darker blue cheeks and tail tip, a lighter belly, a yellow fin on its head and a curled tail. Its thin limbs end in chameleon-like hands that let it stick to walls and climb them. The Pokédex says its skin changes colour when it gets wet, making it invisible as if camouflaged.

Behaviour

Sobble is very cautious and a little timid. Bulbapedia says it sweats water when nervous or embarrassed so that it melts into its surroundings, and the Pokédex says that when it must battle, it hides before attacking. If it feels threatened, Bulbapedia adds, it bawls and spreads its tears around as a distraction so it can escape.

Habitat

The Pokédex gives no habitat, though Bulbapedia says it has been seen in the Terarium at Blueberry Academy. In Scarlet and Violet it needs a trade in the base game, and appears wild in the Terarium's Savanna Biome in The Indigo Disk.

Diet

Sobble knocks berries down to eat with bullets of water spurted from its mouth, and the Pokédex calls its aim perfect.

Powers

Torrent strengthens its Water moves when its health is low, and its hidden Ability is Sniper, which boosts critical hits. It uses Water Gun, Water Pulse, Liquidation and Soak, plus the crying move Tearful Look, and learns Sucker Punch and U-turn. With base Special Attack 70 and Speed 70 it is a quick special attacker, but frail.

Name origin

Sobble may combine 'sob' with 'bubble' or 'dribble'. The Japanese name is Messon (メッソン), which may blend メソメソ mesomeso ('sobbing') and 'chameleon'.

Design inspiration

Sobble seems to be modelled on the veiled chameleon, whose males share its colours. That species gathers water droplets from the casque on its head into its mouth, which could explain Sobble's tear-like face patches, its tears and its Water type. Basilisk lizards may also be loose influences. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Sobble evolves into Drizzile at level 16, and Drizzile into Inteleon at level 35.

In the games

Sobble was one of the three Galar starters in Sword and Shield, given out by Leon in Postwick. Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

Goh's Sobble debuted in 'Toughing It Out!', where it briefly watched Ash and Goh train. Goh caught it in 'Sobbing Sobble!'.

Fun facts

• Despite having a tail, Sobble cannot learn tail moves like Slam, Aqua Tail, Iron Tail or Tail Whip.
• Bulbapedia notes Sobble is the only unevolved starter to give more than 1 EV, as it gives 1 Special Defense and 1 Speed.
• Bulbapedia says the Galar starters are the only starter trio in the anime series where Ash owns none of them, because Goh catches all three.
• Sobble opened the Beyond the Pokédex series as its first featured Pokémon, Bulbapedia notes.

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

Base stats

• HP: 50
• Attack: 40
• Defense: 40
• Sp. Atk: 70
• Sp. Def: 40
• Speed: 70

Sobble’s base stat total is 310. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk and Speed.

Type matchups

What is Sobble weak to?

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

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

Evolution

How does Sobble evolve?

Sobble evolves into Drizzile at level 16.

The whole family: Sobble, Drizzile, Inteleon.

• Drizzile evolves into Inteleon at level 35.

Abilities

• Torrent: Strengthens Water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
• Sniper (hidden ability): Strengthens critical hits to inflict 3× damage rather than 2×.

Moves

Moves Sobble learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (25)

Sobble can learn 25 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Protect, Water Pulse, Chilling Water, Facade, Swift, Mud Shot, Endure, Rain Dance, U-turn, Sleep Talk, Reflect, Light Screen, Waterfall, Rest, Substitute, Liquidation, Surf, Hydro Pump, Water Pledge, Tera Blast, Haze, Weather Ball, Whirlpool, Muddy Water.

Egg moves (7):Aqua Jet, Aqua Ring, Double Team, Fell Stinger, Haze, Ice Shard, Mist.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 87.5% male, 12.5% female.
• Egg groups: Water 1, 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. Def and 1 Speed effort values.
• Base experience yield: 62.

Pokédex entries

When it gets wet, its skin changes color, and this Pokémon becomes invisible as if it were camouflaged. (Shield)

When scared, this Pokémon cries. Its tears pack the chemical punch of 100 onions, and attackers won't be able to resist weeping. (Sword)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Shortest Water type in Gen 8: 0.3 m, shared with 1 other.
• Taller than 4% of all Pokémon (0.3 m).
• Heavier than 13% of all Pokémon (4 kg).
• Base stat total 310, ranked #804 of 1,025.
• One of 154 Water-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 170 blue Pokémon.
• Number 7 of 96 Pokémon introduced in Generation 8 (Galar).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 38 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% 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: Sobble (Pokémon), Serebii: Sobble (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (SOB-ul): 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 · Sobble vs Grookey · Sobble vs Scorbunny · Galar region guide · Torrent ability · Sniper ability · Compare Sobble · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 8 Water-type Pokémon · Gen 8 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · Water 1 egg group · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with S · Lizard Pokémon

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