Tangela
Tangela is a Grass-type Pokémon, the Vine Pokémon, number 114 (#0114) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the Kanto region. It is 1 m tall and weighs 35 kg.
Tangela is a walking tangle of blue vines, and nobody has ever seen what is underneath. The Pokédex says the vines never stop growing, and snap off painlessly if grabbed, so it can slip away.
How to pronounce Tangela
Tangela is pronounced TANG-guh-luh. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Tangela said out loud:
In Japanese it is モンジャラ (Monjara).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Tangela is a round Grass-type Pokémon covered in seaweed-like blue vines with a fine coat of hair. A small gap shows its eyes, and a pair of pink-red feet like little boots poke out below; no arms are visible. It stands 1.0 m tall and weighs 35 kg. The vines have a distinct scent, and in parts of Galar they are used as herbs.
Behaviour
Tangela entangles anything that moves close, and its vines constantly jiggle, which unnerves opponents and tickles anyone caught in them. If you grab the vines they snap off without pain, letting it flee, and the Pokédex says new ones grow by the next day. Bulbapedia adds that it has been seen swinging playfully from tree branches by its vines.
Habitat
The Pokédex habitat list puts it in grassland, and Bulbapedia mentions temperate grasslands and swamps. Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Scarlet and Violet and in Legends: Z-A, but it can be found in Legends: Arceus, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and Sword and Shield.
Powers
Tangela's Abilities are Chlorophyll, which doubles Speed in sunshine, and Leaf Guard, with Regenerator hidden. It binds foes with Bind and Vine Whip, drains health with Giga Drain, and lulls them with Stun Spore and Sleep Powder. A base Defense of 115 was the highest of any Generation I Grass type, but its base Special Defense is only 40.
Name origin
Tangela may combine 'tangle' with '-ella', a suffix used in scientific names. The Japanese name is Monjara (モンジャラ), a play on monjayaki, a batter dish from the Kantō region, and perhaps on mojamoja ('shaggy').
Design inspiration
Ken Sugimori designed Tangela. Because its face is hidden, it might draw on the swamp monster from Theodore Sturgeon's story 'It!', or on a Green Man, a face made of leaves and vines. These are fan readings.
Evolution notes
Tangela evolves into Tangrowth when it levels up while knowing Ancient Power, which it learns at level 24 in Sword and Shield.
In the games
In Red and Blue you can find Tangela on Route 21, or trade a Venonat for one at the Pokémon Lab on Cinnabar Island. It is one of the original Generation I Pokémon. It also has a Pokédex entry in Pokémon Pokopia.
In the anime
Erika's Tangela debuted in 'Pokémon Scent-sation!', where it beat Ash's Bulbasaur with its vines and Stun Spore. In 'Gulpin it Down', Officer Jenny uses one against an army of Gulpin.
Fun facts
- In the Red and Green beta its English name was Meduza, after the Greek monster Medusa.
- Bulbapedia says an early demo shown at Spaceworld '97 suggests Tangela once had a small, dark-bodied, one-eyed pre-evolution called Monja.
- In Pokémon Pinball, Tangela appears on Cinnabar Island in both the Red Field and the Blue Field.
Base stats
- HP: 65
- Attack: 55
- Defense: 115
- Sp. Atk: 100
- Sp. Def: 40
- Speed: 60
Tangela’s base stat total is 435. Its highest stat is Defense.
Type matchups
What is Tangela weak to?
Tangela takes extra damage from Fire (2×), Ice (2×), Poison (2×), Flying (2×), Bug (2×) moves.
It resists Water (½×), Electric (½×), Grass (½×), Ground (½×).
Evolution
How does Tangela evolve?
Tangela evolves into Tangrowth (Level up, knowing Ancient Power).
The whole family: Tangela, Tangrowth.
Abilities
- Chlorophyll: Doubles Speed during strong sunlight.
- Leaf Guard: Protects against major status ailments during strong sunlight.
- Regenerator (hidden ability): Heals for 1/3 max HP upon switching out.
Moves
Moves Tangela learns by level up in Sword / Shield
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Absorb | Grass | Special | 20 |
| 1 | Bind | Normal | Physical | 15 |
| 4 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — |
| 8 | Growth | Normal | Status | — |
| 12 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 40 |
| 16 | Vine Whip | Grass | Physical | 45 |
| 20 | Poison Powder | Poison | Status | — |
| 24 | Ancient Power | Rock | Special | 60 |
| 28 | Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 |
| 32 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 |
| 36 | Sleep Powder | Grass | Status | — |
| 40 | Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 |
| 44 | Tickle | Normal | Status | — |
| 48 | Power Whip | Grass | Physical | 120 |
| 52 | Ingrain | Grass | Status | — |
| 56 | Grassy Terrain | Grass | Status | — |
TM moves (28)
Tangela can learn 28 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Solar Beam, Reflect, Rest, Thief, Snore, Protect, Giga Drain, Attract, Sunny Day, Facade, Bullet Seed, Power Swap, Round, Grassy Terrain, Swords Dance, Body Slam, Amnesia, Substitute, Sludge Bomb, Endure, Sleep Talk, Seed Bomb, Energy Ball, Leaf Storm, Power Whip, Grass Knot.
Egg moves (6):Confusion, Endeavor, Flail, Leech Seed, Nature Power, Rage Powder.
Move tutor moves (1): Grassy Glide.
Breeding & training
- Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
- Egg groups: Grass.
- 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 (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 1 Defense effort value.
- Base experience yield: 87.
Pokédex entries
It is cloaked entirely in blue vines, preventing any glimpse of its true identity. The vines impart a refreshing sensation when chewed—they're useful as a spice. (Legends: Arceus)
The vines of a Tangela have a distinct scent. In some parts of Galar, Tangela vines are used as herbs. (Shield)
Hidden beneath a tangle of vines that grows nonstop even if the vines are torn off, this Pokémon's true appearance remains a mystery. (Sword)
Its identity is obscured by masses of thick, blue vines. The vines are said to never stop growing. (Yellow, Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)
Tangela's vines snap off easily if they are grabbed. This happens without pain, allowing it to make a quick getaway. The lost vines are replaced by newly grown vines the very next day. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)
It tangles any moving thing with its vines. Their subtle shaking is ticklish if you get ensnared. (Silver, SoulSilver, Y)
Names around the world
| Japanese | モンジャラ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Monjara |
| French | Saquedeneu |
| German | Tangela |
| Spanish | Tangela |
| Italian | Tangela |
| Korean | 덩쿠리 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 蔓藤怪 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 蔓藤怪 |
Trivia
- Highest Defense among Grass types in Gen 1: 115.
- Taller than 47% of all Pokémon (1 m).
- Heavier than 57% of all Pokémon (35 kg).
- Base stat total 435, ranked #538 of 1,025.
- Its best stat is Defense, ranked #79 of 1,025.
- One of 127 Grass-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
- One of 170 blue Pokémon.
- Number 114 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto).
- Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
- Can learn 48 different moves in Sword / Shield.
- Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 15 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: Tangela (Pokémon), Serebii: Tangela (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (TANG-guh-luh): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Grass-type Pokémon · Kanto region guide · Chlorophyll ability · Leaf Guard ability · Regenerator ability · Compare Tangela · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
Browse similar Pokémon
Gen 1 Grass-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · Grass egg group · Pokémon that start with T
← Chansey | Kangaskhan →