growlithe
Generation I · #0058 — Puppy Pokémon
Growlithe, known as the Puppy Pokémon and designated as National Pokédex #058, is a Fire-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I that has become an iconic companion across countless trainers' journeys. This quadrupedal canine Pokémon stands 0.7 meters tall and weighs 19.0 kilograms, making it a compact yet formidable fire-type starter alternative. With a base stat total of 350 distributed across balanced offensive and defensive capabilities, Growlithe serves as an excellent foundational Pokémon for trainers seeking reliable fire-type coverage. The species is notable for its distinctive appearance featuring orange fur with black striping and a beige underbelly, coupled with its unwavering loyalty to its trainers as documented across multiple Pokédex generations. Growlithe's evolution into the majestic Arcanine upon exposure to a Fire Stone represents one of the franchise's most dramatic transformations, making it a highly sought-after addition to competitive and casual teams alike.
Base Stats
Height
0.7m
Weight
19.0kg
Category
Puppy Pokémon
Gender
Male 75% / Female 25%
Color
brown
Shape
quadruped
Habitat
grassland
Abilities
Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
Protects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
Raises Attack one stage upon taking damage from a dark move.
Growlithe Biology & Physical Characteristics
Growlithe is a quadrupedal canine Pokémon characterized by its striking orange coat accented with bold black stripes running along its back and legs. Its beige-colored fur covers the muzzle, chest, belly, and a distinctive tuft atop its head, with noticeably longer fur adorning its chest and tail. The species possesses gray eyes, a black nose, and large, round triangular ears with beige inner surfaces, giving it an endearingly alert expression. Each forepaw displays two visible claws that aid in locomotion and territorial defense. Growlithe's most remarkable biological feature is its superb sense of smell—a sensory capability so acute that once the Pokémon has detected a scent, it will never forget it, regardless of time elapsed. This olfactory prowess extends beyond mere scent detection; Growlithe utilizes its advanced nose to determine the emotions and intentions of other living creatures, making it an invaluable ally in reading social situations. A regional variant exists in the Hisui region, presenting as a Fire/Rock-type with a slightly taller stature of 0.8 meters and increased weight of 22.7 kilograms, featuring a more rugged appearance befitting its dual typing.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Growlithe Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Growlithe exhibits a pronounced male-biased gender distribution, with 75 percent of wild specimens being male and only 25 percent female, reflecting traditional breeding patterns seen in many canine-inspired Pokémon. This gender ratio makes female Growlithe somewhat more challenging to obtain in natural encounters, though they remain obtainable through standard means without requiring special breeding conditions. The species belongs to the Field egg group, indicating compatibility with other Field-group Pokémon for breeding purposes, enabling strategic egg moves and combination movesets not naturally learned by Growlithe itself. With a hatch counter of 20 cycles—roughly 4,884 to 5,140 steps in modern games—Growlithe eggs require moderate patience to incubate, faster than many legendary or pseudo-legendary Pokémon but slower than creatures designed for early-game breeding. The base friendship value of 70 suggests trainers begin their Growlithe relationship with a moderate foundation of trust, building from there through battle experience and care. Breeding strategies often involve pairing Growlithe or Arcanine with compatible partners to inherit beneficial egg moves such as Close Combat or Flare Blitz, significantly expanding movepool options beyond natural leveling. Female Growlithe's relative scarcity makes breeding females particularly valuable for competitive trainers seeking perfect individual values and beneficial natures.
Held Items
Sprites
Held Items
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
rawst-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed when burned to cure a burn.
Cost: 80
TMs & HMs
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm03
crystal
tm03
gold silver
tm03
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm05
ruby sapphire
tm05
emerald
tm05
gold silver
tm05
crystal
tm05
diamond pearl
tm05
black white
tm05
platinum
tm05
heartgold soulsilver
tm05
firered leafgreen
tm05
black 2 white 2
tm05
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm05
x y
tm05
xd
tm05
colosseum
+574 more TMs/HMs
Growlithe Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Growlithe's evolution into Arcanine occurs through exposure to a Fire Stone, triggering a dramatic transformation that elevates it from a 350-base-stat puppy Pokémon to a formidable 555-base-stat companion. This evolution significantly enhances Growlithe's physical offensive capabilities, substantially boosting its Attack stat while maintaining the Fire-type advantages established in its base form. The evolution pathway represents one of Generation I's most accessible and rewarding transformations, as Fire Stones appear relatively early in most main-series games. In the Hisuian region, Growlithe's Fire/Rock regional form evolves into Hisuian Arcanine when exposed to a Fire Stone, creating a distinct evolutionary line that maintains the same mechanic while offering alternative stat distributions and movepool access through the Rock-type addition. The decision of when to evolve becomes strategically meaningful for competitive players, as Growlithe can learn certain moves at specific levels that Arcanine cannot, requiring trainers to balance immediate power gains against future movepool options. Unlike Pokémon requiring specific friendship levels or held items for evolution, Growlithe's straightforward Fire Stone requirement makes it one of the most accessible evolution methods in the entire franchise.
Where to Find
pokemon mansion
kanto
+21 more
kanto route 8
kanto
+21 more
kanto route 7
kanto
+13 more
johto route 37
johto
+10 more
johto route 36
johto
+8 more
johto route 35
johto
sinnoh route 201
sinnoh
+3 more
sinnoh route 202
sinnoh
+3 more
johto route 48
johto
virbank complex
unova
+5 more
alola route 2
alola
+1 more
kanto route 6
kanto
kanto route 5
kanto
Growlithe Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Growlithe exhibits fiercely protective territorial behavior, as consistently documented across nearly every Pokédex entry from Red and Blue through contemporary generations. This brave and trustworthy Pokémon will fearlessly bark and bite at any perceived intruder to its established domain, demonstrating a level of courage that causes it to stand up to opponents significantly larger and stronger than itself. Despite this aggressive defensive nature, Growlithe possesses a fundamentally friendly disposition toward those it trusts, particularly its trainer, whom it will protect without hesitation. The species controls substantial territory and maintains constant vigilance for unknown scents; upon detection of an unfamiliar smell, Growlithe will roar loudly to forcefully eject the intruder from its space. These behavioral patterns suggest Growlithe thrives in open areas where it can establish and patrol defined territories, with habitats ranging from grasslands to woodland regions depending on regional availability. Its 70 base happiness rating indicates strong bonding potential with trainers who invest time in relationship-building, while its slow growth rate reflects the patient, steady maturation of this noble canine Pokémon.
Pokedex Entries
Very protective of its territory. It will bark and bite to repel intruders from its space.
A POKéMON with a friendly nature. However, it will bark fiercely at anything invading its territory.
It has a brave and trustworthy na ture. It fear lessly stands up to bigger and stronger foes.
Extremely loyal, it will fearlessly bark at any oppo nent to protect its own trainer from harm.
It controls a big territory. If it detects an unknown smell, it roars loudly to force out the intruder.
GROWLITHE has a superb sense of smell. Once it smells anything, this POKéMON won’t forget the scent, no matter what. It uses its advanced olfactory sense to determine the emotions of other living things.
Its superb sense of smell ensures that this POKéMON won’t forget any scent, no matter what. It uses its sense of smell to detect the emotions of others.
Very friendly and faithful to people. It will try to repel enemies by barking and biting.
It is very protective of its territory. It will bark and bite to repel intruders from its space.
A Pokémon with a loyal nature. It will remain motionless until it is given an order by its Trainer.
It has a brave and trustworthy nature. It fearlessly stands up to bigger and stronger foes.
Extremely loyal, it will fearlessly bark at any opponent to protect its own Trainer from harm.
A Pokémon with a loyal nature. It will remain motionless until it is given an order by its Trainer.
Extremely loyal to its Trainer, it will bark at those who approach the Trainer unexpectedly and run them out of town.
Very friendly and faithful to people. It will try to repel enemies by barking and biting.
It has a brave and trustworthy nature. It fearlessly stands up to bigger and stronger foes.
Growlithe has a superb sense of smell. Once it smells anything, this Pokémon won’t forget the scent, no matter what. It uses its advanced olfactory sense to determine the emotions of other living things.
It’s both clever and loyal, but if a stranger tries to invade its territory, it barks threateningly.
While it’s quite friendly toward humans once it’s grown used to them, in the wild it must be quite fierce to defend its territory from Rockruff.
It looks cute, but when you approach another Trainer’s Growlithe, it will bark at you and bite.
It has lived alongside humans since ages ago. Its bones have been found in excavations of ruins from the Stone Age.
A Pokémon with a friendly nature. However, it will bark fiercely at anything invading its territory.
It has a brave and trustworthy nature. It fearlessly stands up to bigger and stronger foes.
Extremely loyal, it will fearlessly bark at any opponent to protect its own Trainer from harm.
They patrol their territory in pairs. I believe the igneous rock components in the fur of this species are the result of volcanic activity in its habitat.
Growlithe Name Origin & Design Inspiration
Growlithe's design originates from a straightforward conceptual foundation—the fusion of a canine's loyalty and protective instincts with fire-type elemental properties, creating a perfectly realized Puppy Pokémon. The Japanese name "Gardie" derives from the English word "guard," reflecting the species' unwavering protective nature and territorial vigilance. The English name "Growlithe" combines "growl" with the canine-associated suffix reminiscent of traditional dog naming conventions, immediately communicating its aggressive bark-based defense mechanisms. Visually, Growlithe borrows heavily from Akita Inu and similar large dog breeds, particularly evident in its pointed ears, sturdy build, and characteristic stance. The orange and black coloration pattern likely draws inspiration from the distinctive markings seen in real tiger-striped dogs, while the beige underbelly provides visual balance and suggests a gentler, friendly side beneath the fierce exterior. This duality—aggressive protector paired with loyal companion—forms the core of Growlithe's design philosophy, making it instantly recognizable and thematically coherent. The species' design successfully bridges the gap between cute and fierce, appealing to trainers seeking both aesthetic charm and battle-ready capability, a balance that has contributed significantly to its enduring popularity across all Pokémon generations.
Learnable Moves
Growlithe can learn 71 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aerial ace | flying | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| agility | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| bide | normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| bite | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| burn up | fire | Special | 130 | 100 | 5 |
| charm | fairy | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| covet | normal | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| crunch | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double kick | fighting | Physical | 30 | 100 | 30 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| dragon breath | dragon | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| dragon rage | dragon | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| ember | fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fire blast | fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 |
| fire spin | fire | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| flame wheel | fire | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| flamethrower | fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| heat wave | fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| howl | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| incinerate | fire | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| iron tail | steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| leer | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| mimic | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| morning sun | normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| odor sleuth | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| outrage | dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| overheat | fire | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 |
| play rough | fairy | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| psychic fangs | psychic | Physical | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| rage | normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| raging fury | fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| reflect | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| retaliate | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| reversal | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| safeguard | normal | Status | — | — | 25 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| skull bash | normal | Physical | 130 | 100 | 10 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snarl | dark | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swift | normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thief | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| thrash | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| wild charge | electric | Physical | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| will o wisp | fire | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
Growlithe Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive play, Growlithe finds limited direct application at higher tiers due to its modest 350-base-stat total and relatively slow 60 Speed stat, which leaves it outsped by most viable threats. However, Growlithe's evolution into Arcanine transforms it into a legitimate competitive threat, boasting the superior 555-base-stat framework necessary for serious tournament contention. Growlithe's three available abilities—Intimidate, Flash Fire, and its hidden ability Justified—each offer distinct strategic applications. Intimidate provides immediate defensive utility by lowering an opponent's Attack upon entry, giving Growlithe valuable setup turns for potential sweeps or switches. Flash Fire creates interesting defensive pivoting opportunities, converting Fire-type attacks into setup opportunities while permanently boosting Growlithe's own Fire-type damage output by 1.5 times until switching out. Justified provides an alternative defensive option against Dark-type threats, gaining Attack boosts from Dark moves and potentially threatening physical sweeps. The base 70 Attack and 70 Special Attack statistics suggest mixed attacking sets, though most competitive players prefer pure physical configurations given Growlithe's superior movepool depth in physical attacks. Growlithe's limited role in serious competitive play typically involves serving as a trainer-operated placeholder or lower-tier threat, with trainers evolving into Arcanine as soon as a Fire Stone becomes available to access substantially better competitive viability.
Commonly Asked Questions About Growlithe
What type is Growlithe?
Growlithe is a fire type Pokemon.
What does Growlithe evolve into?
Growlithe evolves into arcanine.
What are Growlithe's weaknesses?
Growlithe is weak to ground, rock and water type moves.
Where can I find Growlithe?
Growlithe can be found in pokemon mansion (kanto), kanto route 8 (kanto) and kanto route 7 (kanto) and 10 other locations.
Growlithe Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Growlithe has maintained significant cultural presence throughout the Pokémon franchise, appearing as Officer Jenny's signature Pokémon in the animated series—a pairing that reinforced the species' association with loyalty, protection, and law enforcement. This recurring anime appearance established Growlithe as a fan-favorite among viewers, contributing substantially to its broader cultural recognition across multiple continents. The species has been featured prominently in merchandise ranging from plushies to trading cards, with certain vintage Growlithe cards commanding respectable prices in collector markets. In the Pokémon GO mobile application, Growlithe remains a common encounter with accessible evolutionary pathways, introducing millions of casual players to the species during their AR-based journey through their neighborhoods. Detective Pikachu's live-action film adaptation featured Growlithe in supporting roles, demonstrating the species' continued relevance in the franchise's multimedia expansion efforts. Trading Card Game players recognize Growlithe iterations spanning multiple generations, with vintage holos and modern competitive-viable versions maintaining steady collector demand. The species' straightforward protective nature and canine familiarity have made it consistently popular across diverse demographics, from young children discovering fire-types to longtime competitive players nostalgic for Kanto-region Pokémon. Growlithe's cultural footprint extends into fan communities, where extensive artwork, fan fiction, and competitive analysis communities demonstrate its enduring appeal within the broader Pokémon fanbase.
Where to Find Growlithe in Every Pokémon Game
Growlithe appears in the wild across numerous Pokémon games, though specific encounter locations vary significantly by generation and region. In the original Red and Blue versions, Growlithe emerges as an early-game fire-type option available on Routes 7 and 8, making it readily accessible for players seeking non-starter fire coverage. FireRed and LeafGreen maintain similar availability with consistent encounter rates on early routes, establishing Growlithe as a reliable early-game fire-type foundational choice. In more recent generations, Growlithe appears in the Pokédex of Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet, and Legends: Arceus, though specific location availability depends on regional Pokédex inclusions. The Hisuian regional form appears exclusively in Pokémon Legends: Arceus and its associated Teal Mask DLC expansion, where trainers encounter both fire-type and Fire/Rock variants depending on circumstances. Trading and transfer mechanics via Pokémon Home enable players to obtain Growlithe from older games and migrate them forward to contemporary titles, providing accessibility regardless of specific regional availability. Breeding offers another acquisition method for trainers with compatible Arcanine or Growlithe specimens, enabling customization of individual values and natures for competitive purposes. Gift distributions and event-exclusive Growlithe occurrences have periodically appeared throughout the franchise, particularly in early generations and anniversary celebrations, though such distributions vary by region and time period. Overall availability remains excellent due to the species' Generation I status and continued inclusion in most main-series titles, making Growlithe accessible to virtually all players seeking to obtain this iconic Puppy Pokémon.