#0748 · Alola · Generation 7

Toxapex

Brutal Star Pokémon · Poison/Water-type

Toxapex is a Poison/Water-type Pokémon, the Brutal Star Pokémon, number 748 (#0748) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 7 and comes from the Alola region. It is 0.7 m tall and weighs 14.5 kg.

Toxapex is the Brutal Star Pokémon, a spiny sea creature whose venom is said to leave even a Wailord in agony for three days. It builds a dome out of its own legs to shelter from the tide.

How to pronounce Toxapex

Toxapex is pronounced TOKS-uh-peks. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Toxapex said out loud:

In Japanese it is ドヒドイデ (Dohidoide).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Toxapex is an echinoderm, 0.7 m tall and 14.5 kg, with a small purplish pink body held above the ground by twelve long, spiny, starfish-like legs, each ending in two orange claws. Its spines carry a powerful poison and can be flung at enemies, and the Pokédex says a foe that gets close is brought down by the claws at the ends of its legs. The spines also sense the flow of the tide, so it always knows what is happening around it.

Behaviour

Toxapex crawls along the ocean floor and leaves a trail of Corsola bits behind it. It draws its legs into a dome for shelter, where the Pokédex says the tide cannot bother it and, in cold Galar waters, the dome even traps its body heat. Bruxish is its rival in warm currents, and the Pokédex says the odds are always against Toxapex.

Habitat

The Pokédex gives no habitat list; its entries place it on the ocean floor. In Scarlet and Violet you evolve Mareanie, a fixed Toxapex waits in the East Paldean Sea, and it appears in 6-star Tera Raid Battles.

Diet

It hunts Corsola on the sea floor.

Powers

Its Ability can be Merciless, which makes its attacks critical hits against poisoned targets, or Limber, with Regenerator hidden. Bulbapedia says no other known Pokémon can learn Baneful Bunker, a guarding move that poisons anything that touches it. Base Defense 152 makes it very sturdy, though a Speed of 35 means it rarely strikes first.

Name origin

Toxapex may combine 'toxic' and 'apex', as in apex predator. The Japanese name is Dohidoide (ドヒドイデ), which may combine dohidoi ('very cruel') and hitode ('sea star').

Design inspiration

Toxapex may be based on the crown-of-thorns starfish, but Bulbapedia also suggests its helmet-like shape may reference Colobocentrotus atratus, a sea urchin common on Hawaiian shores. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Toxapex evolves from Mareanie at level 38.

In the games

Toxapex first appears in Sun and Moon, where you get one by evolving Mareanie. It is found in Sword and Shield and its Isle of Armor expansion, and in Scarlet and Violet, but it is not available in Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

A Mareanie with purple tentacles evolved into a Toxapex in 'Fighting Back the Tears!' and became a rival to James over his Mareanie.

Fun facts

• It debuted in the Pokémon Adventures manga in 'Toasty!! Battle Against Toxapex', where it belongs to Nessa.
• Its base Special Defense of 142 is the highest of any Water or Poison type.
• Pokémon Masters EX lists Miriam as its sync pair partner in the EX Fair scout.

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

Base stats

• HP: 50
• Attack: 63
• Defense: 152
• Sp. Atk: 53
• Sp. Def: 142
• Speed: 35

Toxapex’s base stat total is 495. Its highest stat is Defense.

Type matchups

What is Toxapex weak to?

Toxapex takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Ground (2×), Psychic (2×) moves.

It resists Fire (½×), Water (½×), Ice (½×), Fighting (½×), Poison (½×), Bug (½×), Steel (½×), Fairy (½×).

Evolution

What does Toxapex evolve from?

Toxapex evolves from Mareanie at level 38.

Toxapex is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Mareanie, Toxapex.

Abilities

• Merciless: This Pokémon's moves critical hit against poisoned targets.
• Limber: Prevents paralysis.
• Regenerator (hidden ability): Heals for 1/3 max HP upon switching out.

Moves

Moves Toxapex learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

“Evo” means Toxapex learns the move the moment it evolves: Baneful Bunker.

TM moves (38)

Toxapex can learn 38 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Scary Face, Protect, Water Pulse, Acid Spray, Pounce, Chilling Water, Facade, Hex, Icy Wind, Mud Shot, Venoshock, Endure, Rain Dance, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Poison Jab, Rest, Toxic Spikes, Gunk Shot, Substitute, Iron Defense, Liquidation, Surf, Ice Spinner, Ice Beam, Hydro Pump, Blizzard, Sludge Bomb, Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Haze, Toxic, Smack Down, Lunge, Pain Split, Muddy Water, Sludge Wave.

Egg moves (5), which Mareanie can hatch knowing:Haze, Infestation, Spit Up, Stockpile, Swallow.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Water 1.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 75 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Defense effort values.
• Base experience yield: 173.

Pokédex entries

Within the poison sac in its body is a poison so toxic that Pokémon as large as Wailord will still be suffering three days after it first takes effect. (Shield)

To survive in the cold waters of Galar, this Pokémon forms a dome with its legs, enclosing its body so it can capture its own body heat. (Sword)

With its 12 legs, it creates a dome to shelter within. The flow of the tides doesn't affect Toxapex in there, so it's very comfortable. (Ultra Moon)

To attack, this Pokémon sends toxic spikes flying at its enemies. Ones that come close get mown down by the claws on its feet. (Ultra Sun)

Those attacked by Toxapex's poison will suffer intense pain for three days and three nights. Post-recovery, there will be some aftereffects. (Moon)

Toxapex crawls along the ocean floor on its 12 legs. It leaves a trail of Corsola bits scattered in its wake. (Sun)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Highest Sp. Def among Water types: 142.
• Highest Sp. Def among Poison types: 142.
• Highest Sp. Def among Gen 7 Pokémon: 142.
• Highest Defense among Water types in Gen 7: 152.
• Highest Sp. Def among Water types in Gen 7: 142.
• Slowest Poison type in Gen 7: 35 Speed.
• Highest Defense among Poison types in Gen 7: 152.
• Highest Sp. Def among Poison types in Gen 7: 142.
• Taller than 34% of all Pokémon (0.7 m).
• Heavier than 35% of all Pokémon (14.5 kg).
• Base stat total 495, ranked #317 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Defense, ranked #11 of 1,025.
• One of 6 Pokémon that are both Poison and Water.
• One of 170 blue Pokémon.
• Number 27 of 88 Pokémon introduced in Generation 7 (Alola).
• Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
• Can learn 49 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 75: about 9.8% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 6 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: Toxapex (Pokémon), Serebii: Toxapex (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (TOKS-uh-peks): 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

Poison-type Pokémon · Water-type Pokémon · Poison/Water weaknesses and matchups · Alola region guide · Merciless ability · Limber ability · Regenerator ability · Compare Toxapex · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 7 Poison-type Pokémon · Gen 7 Water-type Pokémon · Gen 7 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · Water 1 egg group · Pokémon that start with T · Starfish and Sea Urchin Pokémon

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