#0363 · Hoenn · Generation 3

Spheal

Clap Pokémon · Ice/Water-type

Spheal is a Ice/Water-type Pokémon, the Clap Pokémon, number 363 (#0363) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 3 and comes from the Hoenn region. It is 0.8 m tall and weighs 39.5 kg.

Spheal is the Clap Pokémon, a plump, fluffy Ice and Water type that rolls around because its round body is too awkward for swimming. It claps its flippers when it is happy, which makes group mealtimes very noisy.

How to pronounce Spheal

Spheal is pronounced SFEEL. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Spheal said out loud:

In Japanese it is タマザラシ (Tamazarashi).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Spheal is a ball of light blue fur with white spots, a beige belly and flippers, small tusks and round black eyes. A layer of blubber under the fur holds in heat. It is 0.8 m tall and weighs 39.5 kg. The Pokédex says its shape is poor for swimming and that it gets around faster by rolling than by walking.

Behaviour

Spheal claps its fins when it is cheerful, and groups clap together while eating, so mealtimes are loud. Drifting at sea, it finds prey and tells the Walrein leading its herd, according to the Shield Pokédex. The Legends: Arceus Pokédex says it prefers drifting ice to land when ice floes arrive, because fewer predators lurk there.

Habitat

The Pokédex places Spheal in the sea, on drift ice near the shore. In Sword and Shield it appears in the Crown Tundra expansion's Frigid Sea, and Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Scarlet and Violet and Legends: Z-A.

Powers

Thick Fat halves damage from Fire and Ice moves and Ice Body heals it in a hailstorm, with Oblivious as its hidden Ability. It starts with Rollout and Defense Curl, then learns Water Gun, Powder Snow, Brine and Aurora Beam. With base HP 70 but only 55 Special Attack, it is mostly a stepping stone towards Walrein.

Name origin

Spheal may blend 'sphere' and 'seal'. The Japanese name is Tamazarashi (タマザラシ), perhaps from tama ('sphere') and azarashi ('earless seal').

Design inspiration

Spheal appears to be a seal crossed with a ball. That is a fan reading, not an official statement.

Evolution notes

Spheal evolves into Sealeo at level 32.

In the games

In Legends: Arceus, Spheal turns up along Hisui's coast, including in mass outbreaks in the Obsidian Fieldlands and Cobalt Coastlands. It first appeared in Ruby and Sapphire, where it lives in Shoal Cave, and Pokémon XD later lets you snag one as a Shadow Pokémon in the Cipher Lab.

In the anime

Spheal debuted in 'The Spheal of Approval' as Marius's partner, which he sent out against Ash and Max after wrongly assuming they were thieves. In 'The Great Eight Fate!', a Spheal lived in Juan's water exhibit in Sootopolis City.

Fun facts

• Of the Water types introduced in Generation III, none was slower than Spheal's base Speed of 25, and of the Ice types, none had a lower base stat total than its 290.
• Before Generation VI, Ice Ball was Spheal's signature move, though breeding could still pass it to other Pokémon.
• In Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, Spheal splash about in a Bonus Field pool and try to climb an ice slide; hit one on the way up and it lands on a Sealeo's nose for five times the points of a plain bounce.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Spheal (Pokémon) · Serebii: Spheal (Sword/Shield Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 70
• Attack: 40
• Defense: 50
• Sp. Atk: 55
• Sp. Def: 50
• Speed: 25

Spheal’s base stat total is 290. Its highest stat is HP.

Type matchups

What is Spheal weak to?

Spheal takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Grass (2×), Fighting (2×), Rock (2×) moves.

It resists Ice (¼×), Water (½×).

Evolution

How does Spheal evolve?

Spheal evolves into Sealeo at level 32.

The whole family: Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein.

• Sealeo evolves into Walrein at level 44.

Abilities

• Thick Fat: Halves damage from Fire and Ice moves.
• Ice Body: Heals for 1/16 max HP after each turn during snow or hail. Protects against hail damage.
• Oblivious (hidden ability): Prevents infatuation and protects against Captivate.

Moves

Moves Spheal learns by level up in Sword / Shield

TM moves (26)

Spheal can learn 26 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Rest, Rock Slide, Snore, Protect, Icy Wind, Attract, Rain Dance, Hail, Whirlpool, Facade, Dive, Rock Tomb, Brine, Round, Bulldoze, Body Slam, Surf, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Earthquake, Waterfall, Substitute, Endure, Sleep Talk, Encore, Iron Tail.

Egg moves (9):Aqua Ring, Belly Drum, Curse, Fissure, Spit Up, Stockpile, Swallow, Water Pulse, Yawn.

Move tutor moves (1): Steel Roller.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Water 1, Field.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 255 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 HP effort value.
• Base experience yield: 58.

Pokédex entries

During the season when drift ice approaches the shore, Spheal prefers living on the ice—where fewer predators lurk—rather than the land. Its fur retains heat superbly and resists harsh cold. (Legends: Arceus)

As it drifts among the waves, Spheal probes the sea. As soon as it spots prey, it informs the Walrein in its herd. (Shield)

This Pokémon's body is covered in blubber and impressively round. It's faster for Spheal to roll around than walk. (Sword)

Spheal always travels by rolling around on its ball-like body. When the season for ice floes arrives, this Pokémon can be seen rolling about on ice and crossing the sea. (Sapphire, Alpha Sapphire)

Spheal is much faster rolling than walking to get around. When groups of this Pokémon eat, they all clap at once to show their pleasure. Because of this, their mealtimes are noisy. (Ruby, Omega Ruby)

Its body is covered in fluffy fur. The fur keeps it from feeling cold while it is rolling on ice. (FireRed, LeafGreen, Y)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Slowest Water type in Gen 3: 25 Speed.
• Slowest Ice type in Gen 3: 25 Speed.
• Lowest base stat total among Ice types in Gen 3: 290.
• Taller than 39% of all Pokémon (0.8 m).
• Heavier than 60% of all Pokémon (39.5 kg).
• Base stat total 290, ranked #892 of 1,025.
• One of 8 Pokémon that are both Ice and Water.
• One of 170 blue Pokémon.
• Number 112 of 135 Pokémon introduced in Generation 3 (Hoenn).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 43 different moves in Sword / Shield.
• Catch rate 255: about 33.3% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 10 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: Spheal (Pokémon), Serebii: Spheal (Sword/Shield Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (SFEEL): 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

Ice-type Pokémon · Water-type Pokémon · Ice/Water weaknesses and matchups · Hoenn region guide · Thick Fat ability · Ice Body ability · Oblivious ability · Compare Spheal · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 3 Ice-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Water-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · Water 1 egg group · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with S · Seal and Sea Lion Pokémon

← Glalie | Sealeo →