cradily #346
Type Matchups
Weak to (2x damage):
Resistant to (½x damage):
cradily
Generation III · #0346 — Barnacle Pokémon
Cradily, the Barnacle Pokémon, is a dual-type Rock/Grass fossil Pokémon introduced in Generation III, standing as the evolved form of Lileep. With a National Pokédex number of 346, Cradily represents an ancient marine creature that has been resurrected from fossilized remains. This remarkable Pokémon combines the defensive prowess of rock-type physiology with the regenerative qualities of grass-type biology, creating a uniquely balanced creature adapted to life on the ocean floor. Cradily's base stat total of 495 reflects its role as a specialized tank, with exceptional Special Defense of 107 and solid Defense of 97, though its Speed stat of only 43 indicates this ancient organism was never built for rapid movement.
Base Stats
Height
1.5m
Weight
60.4kg
Category
Barnacle Pokémon
Gender
Male 87.5% / Female 12.5%
Color
green
Shape
blob
Habitat
sea
Abilities
Prevents being forced out of battle by other Pokémon's moves.
Redirects single-target water moves to this Pokémon where possible. Absorbs Water moves, raising Special Attack one stage.
Cradily Biology & Physical Characteristics
Cradily is a green, plant-like echinoderm Pokémon with distinctive yellow markings adorning its head, neck, and torso, featuring circular yellow eyespots that serve as sensory organs despite the true eyes being concealed within a dark, crescent-shaped opening on its head. Surrounding its head at the base are eight pink tentacles that resemble flower petals, which function as both feeding appendages and capturing limbs. Its long, flexible neck bears yellow bands and can extend to three times its usual length, enabling the Pokémon to reach prey from considerable distances. The body beneath is short and squat with four stubby growths and a distinctive yellow, oval, target-like pattern on the chest. Similar to real-world crinoids, Cradily's heavy body—weighing 60.4 kilograms—serves as a natural anchor, preventing it from being washed away by rough ocean currents. The Pokémon secretes a potent digestive fluid from its tentacles capable of melting prey, demonstrating the remarkable biological adaptations this fossil species has maintained through the millennia.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Cradily Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Cradily exhibits a pronounced gender ratio of 87.5% male to 12.5% female, though the provided database notes a discrepancy with 88% male and 13% female, suggesting minor variations across game generations. This significant skew toward males is consistent with many fossil Pokémon, though the biological reasoning remains shrouded in Pokémon lore. Cradily belongs to the Water 3 egg group, indicating it can breed with various aquatic and semi-aquatic Pokémon species, a classification that reflects its maritime origins and ecological niche. The breeding process requires 30 cycles to produce an egg, translating to approximately 7,454 to 7,710 steps of in-game travel before hatching. Cradily maintains a base happiness value of 70, indicating moderate affability that increases with proper care and positive interactions. The species follows an erratic growth rate, meaning it experiences variable experience accumulation throughout its development, reaching full competitive viability only at higher levels. When breeding Cradily, trainers can expect offspring to inherit movesets and natures that reflect both parents, with the Water 3 classification providing access to diverse breeding move pools unavailable through standard leveling.
Held Items
Sprites
Held Items
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
big-root
held-items
Held: Increases HP recovered from draining moves, Ingrain, and Aqua Ring by 3/10 (30%).
Cost: 4000
TMs & HMs
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm03
yellow
tm03
red blue
tm03
blue japan
tm03
red green japan
tm05
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm06
yellow
tm06
gold silver
tm06
red blue
tm06
crystal
tm06
emerald
tm06
firered leafgreen
tm06
diamond pearl
tm06
platinum
tm06
ruby sapphire
tm06
colosseum
tm06
black 2 white 2
tm06
xd
+656 more TMs/HMs
cradily's Evolution Chain
Cradily Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Cradily evolves from Lileep upon reaching level 40, representing the maturation of this ancient organism from its smaller, more vulnerable form into a formidable defender. The evolution process mirrors the biological development of real crinoid creatures, with Lileep's base form gradually developing the enhanced physical structure and expanded tentacle array seen in the fully-evolved Cradily. This evolution grants significant stat improvements, particularly in Defense and Special Defense, transforming Lileep from a fragile fossil into a resilient tank capable of withstanding sustained assault. The increase in Special Defense from 78 to 107 is particularly notable, granting Cradily one of the highest special defensive values available to Rock/Grass types and providing exceptional resistance to special attacks. There are no Mega Evolution forms for Cradily, nor regional variants, making the standard evolution to level 40 the sole transformation path for this species. This straightforward evolutionary line emphasizes Cradily's role as a consistent, specialized defensive threat that reaches its full potential at a relatively early stage in training.
Where to Find
Location data not available for this Pokémon in the database.
Cradily Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Cradily inhabits the shallows of warm, temperate seas where it spends its time roaming the ocean floor in methodical search of food. This ancient Pokémon exhibits remarkable behavioral patterns documented in multiple Pokédex entries: it constructs nests in shallow waters and can be observed on beaches when the tide recedes, actively digging up prey from the exposed sand and sediment. The creature's hunting strategy relies on its extended neck and eight tentacles to capture unwary prey, demonstrating a patient and deliberate approach to feeding. Though heavily built and incapable of rapid movement across terrain or through water, Cradily compensates with its ability to extend its appendages and position itself strategically within its environment. Its sessile nature is reflected in its biology, as it weighs itself down to avoid disturbance by rough seas and weather. Cradily can be seen adapting to tidal cycles, emerging during low tide to hunt and retreating to deeper waters as conditions change, suggesting a sophisticated understanding of its ecological niche.
Pokedex Entries
Generation III
CRADILY roams around the ocean floor in search of food. This POKéMON freely extends its tree trunk-like neck and captures unwary prey using its eight tentacles.
CRADILY’s body serves as an anchor, preventing it from being washed away in rough seas. This POKéMON secretes a strong digestive fluid from its tentacles.
It drags its heavy body along the seafloor. It makes its nest in the shallows of warm seas. CRADILY can be seen on beaches when the tide goes out.
It ensnares prey with its eight tentacles. It then melts the prey with a strong acid before feeding.
Generation IV
It lives in the shallows of warm seas. When the tide goes out, it digs up prey from beaches.
It lives in warm seas. Its heavy body weighs it down so it won’t get washed away in rough weather.
Generation V
It lives in the shallows of warm seas. When the tide goes out, it digs up prey from beaches.
It lives in the shallows of warm seas. When the tide goes out, it digs up prey from beaches.
Generation VI
It lives in the shallows of warm seas. When the tide goes out, it digs up prey from beaches.
It ensnares prey with its eight tentacles. It then melts the prey with a strong acid before feeding.
Cradily roams around the ocean floor in search of food. This Pokémon freely extends its tree trunk-like neck and captures unwary prey using its eight tentacles.
Cradily’s body serves as an anchor, preventing it from being washed away in rough seas. This Pokémon secretes a strong digestive fluid from its tentacles.
Generation VII
Normally, it lived on shallow sea shoals. When the tide went out, this Pokémon came up on land to search for prey.
This carnivorous Pokémon lived in primordial seas. It catches prey in its eight tentacles and dissolves them with digestive fluid as it eats.
Generation VIII
It has short legs and can’t walk very fast, but its neck and tentacles can extend to over three times their usual length to nab distant prey.
Once Cradily catches prey in its tentacles, it digests them whole and absorbs their nutrients.
Cradily Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Cradily derives from the combination of 'crinoid,' the real-world marine echinoderm class that inspired this Pokémon's design, and 'lily,' reflecting both its plant-like appearance and tentacle arrangement resembling flower petals. The Japanese name 'Yuradle' combines elements suggesting movement and the tentacled nature of the creature. Cradily's design brilliantly captures the essence of a living fossil, merging paleontological accuracy with Pokémon's fantastical sensibilities. The creature embodies the Rock/Grass type combination through its stone-like body structure and verdant coloration, with yellow markings providing visual distinction and suggesting bioluminescent or pigmented features common in deep-sea organisms. The long, tree trunk-like neck referenced in the Ruby Pokédex entry became iconic, serving as the primary visual and functional characteristic that distinguishes Cradily from its pre-evolution. The eight tentacles explicitly mentioned across multiple Pokédex entries reference the radial symmetry of crinoids, creatures that dominated ancient seas before largely disappearing from modern oceans. This thoughtful design integration transforms a simple fossil restoration into a fully realized, believable ancient creature.
Learnable Moves
Cradily can learn 79 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acid | poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| amnesia | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| ancient power | rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| astonish | ghost | Physical | 30 | 100 | 15 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| bind | normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| block | normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| brine | water | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| bullet seed | grass | Physical | 25 | 100 | 30 |
| captivate | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| confuse ray | ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| constrict | normal | Physical | 10 | 100 | 35 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| earth power | ground | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| energy ball | grass | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| flash | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| gastro acid | poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| giga drain | grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| grassy terrain | grass | Status | — | — | 10 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| infestation | bug | Special | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| ingrain | grass | Status | — | — | 20 |
| leech seed | grass | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| mega drain | grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| meteor beam | rock | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| mimic | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mud shot | ground | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| pain split | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| power whip | grass | Physical | 120 | 85 | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| psych up | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| rock blast | rock | Physical | 25 | 90 | 10 |
| rock polish | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| sandstorm | rock | Status | — | — | 10 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| seed bomb | grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sludge bomb | poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| sludge wave | poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| smack down | rock | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| solar beam | grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| spit up | normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| stealth rock | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| stockpile | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| stone edge | rock | Physical | 100 | 80 | 5 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| string shot | bug | Status | — | 95 | 40 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swallow | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| swords dance | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| synthesis | grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| worry seed | grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| wrap | normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
| wring out | normal | Special | — | 100 | 5 |
Cradily Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon battles, Cradily functions as a specialized defensive wall with particular strength against special attackers, thanks to its exceptional Special Defense stat of 107 and respectable Defense of 97. Its dual Rock/Grass typing provides interesting defensive coverage, resisting Normal, Flying, Poison, and Fire-type moves while gaining a notable immunity to Water-type moves through its hidden ability Storm Drain, which simultaneously boosts its Special Attack when absorbing such attacks. The alternative ability Suction Cups prevents forced switches, locking Cradily into play and preventing opponents from exploiting its low Speed stat of 43 through forced switching mechanics. Competitive sets typically emphasize Cradily's defensive capabilities with moves like Recover for sustained longevity, Ancient Power or Power Gem for consistent damage output, and Stealth Rock for entry hazard setup. The Storm Drain ability variant proves particularly valuable in double battles and against water-heavy team compositions, allowing Cradily to redirect water moves while gaining Special Attack boosts. However, Cradily's poor offensive stats (81 Attack and 81 Special Attack) and abysmal Speed make it vulnerable to offensive teams that can overwhelm its defenses before it can respond. Its limited movepool and reliance on fossil-era move tutors further restrict its competitive flexibility, confining it largely to casual and lower-tier competitive environments.
Commonly Asked Questions About Cradily
What type is Cradily?
Cradily is a rock and grass type Pokemon.
What does Cradily evolve from?
Cradily evolved from lileep.
What are Cradily's weaknesses?
Cradily is weak to fighting, steel, bug and ice type moves.
Cradily Cultural Impact & Franchise History
While Cradily never achieved the mainstream recognition of generation-defining Pokémon like Charizard or Gyarados, it developed a dedicated following among fans of fossil Pokémon and paleontology enthusiasts who appreciated its scientifically-grounded design. The Pokémon appeared in the anime during various series, notably as a member of Team Constrictor in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon adaptations, giving it narrative presence beyond the main games. Its status as one of Hoenn's unique fossil Pokémon (alongside Anorith/Armaldo) made it a memorable fixture of Generation III for players exploring Rustboro City's museum. The scientific accuracy of its crinoid-inspired design resonated with players interested in paleontology, distinguishing it from more fantastical fossil creatures in the franchise. In trading card game appearances, Cradily has received various artistic interpretations that emphasize its ancient, alien nature through atmospheric rendering and strategic positioning. The Pokémon represents a particular niche within competitive communities—the stalwart defensive pivot that rewards patient, thoughtful play over flashy offense. Its presence in later generations and regional Pokédex listings demonstrates continued relevance within official Pokémon media, ensuring Cradily maintains recognition across the expanded fanbase.
Where to Find Cradily in Every Pokémon Game
Cradily's primary availability originates from Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, where players can obtain its pre-evolution Lileep as one of two fossil choices at Rustboro Museum, selecting it over the Anorith alternative. In these Generation III games, Cradily can be caught directly in the wild at various oceanic locations or evolved from a trained Lileep upon reaching level 40. Subsequent generations have featured Cradily with varying availability: it appears in Generation IV's Diamond and Pearl within the Grand Underground fossil areas and can be evolved from fossil-revived Lileep. Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 included Cradily in their National Pokédex accessible post-game, though not in the initial Regional Pokédex. The Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire remakes restored Cradily to Hoenn, maintaining its role as a Rustboro fossil option with updated visuals and movepool. Later games including Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and Pokémon Sword and Shield featured Cradily with varying restrictions tied to Pokédex limitations and regional availability. Modern titles like Scarlet and Violet provide contemporary access through breeding chains or specialized fossil restoration mechanics. The Pokémon's continued appearance across generations reflects its value as a recognizable fossil species, though trainers seeking Cradily must generally invest effort in fossil mechanics rather than encountering it through standard wild catching.