lotad
Generation III · #0270 — Water Weed Pokémon
Lotad, known as the Water Weed Pokémon, is a dual-type Water/Grass Pokémon introduced in Generation III with the National Pokédex number 270. This diminutive creature stands at only 0.5 meters tall and weighs a mere 2.6 kilograms, making it one of the smallest Water-type Pokémon available in the early game. Despite its unassuming stature and modest base stat total of 220, Lotad occupies an important ecological niche as the starting point of an interesting evolutionary line that culminates in the spirited Ludicolo. With a notably high catch rate of 255, Lotad is easily obtained in water-based locations throughout various Pokémon games, making it a common sight for trainers beginning their aquatic adventures. Its distinctive appearance and role in the ecosystem as a living ferry service for smaller Pokémon have earned it recognition among fans and contributed to its cultural relevance throughout the Pokémon franchise.
Base Stats
Height
0.5m
Weight
2.6kg
Category
Water Weed Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
green
Shape
armor
Habitat
waters-edge
Abilities
Doubles Speed during rain.
Heals for 1/16 max HP after each turn during rain.
Prevents confusion.
Lotad Biology & Physical Characteristics
Lotad presents a fascinating biological composition that perfectly exemplifies its dual Water/Grass nature. The Pokémon features a small, blue body supported by six stubby legs, with large, expressive eyes and a wide yellow mouth resembling a bill. Most notably, a large leaf that functions similarly to a lilypad covers its back, serving as both a flotation device and a natural dirt-repellent that remains clean even after ferrying muddy Pokémon across waterways. The leaf's importance to Lotad's survival cannot be overstated—should it wilt due to dehydration or lack of clean water, the Pokémon grows noticeably weak. This leaf structure is so substantial that evolutionary history suggests Lotad's ancestors once dwelled on land, but as the leaf grew large and heavy over generations, the species adapted to an aquatic lifestyle. The leaf maintains remarkable water-resistant properties that have evolved specifically to withstand the frequent transportation of other Pokémon, making Lotad's back an exceptionally reliable vessel for inter-pond travel.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Lotad Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Lotad exhibits a perfectly balanced gender ratio, with exactly 50 percent male and 50 percent female individuals within the species population. The Pokémon belongs to two breeding egg groups—Water 1 and Plant—making it compatible with a surprisingly diverse range of breeding partners that span across both aquatic and botanical Pokémon. With a base friendship value of 70, Lotad shows moderate affection toward trainers from the moment of capture or hatching, suggesting a naturally docile and companionable disposition. The species possesses a medium-slow growth rate, requiring more experience points to reach higher levels compared to faster-growing Pokémon, though this characteristic is offset by its early availability and accessibility in most games. When bred, Lotad eggs require 15 cycles to hatch, translating to approximately 3,599 to 3,855 steps of travel before a new Lotad emerges, making it a relatively quick breeding choice compared to many alternative Pokémon. The combination of high catch rate, moderate friendship, and accessible breeding mechanics makes Lotad an excellent choice for trainers seeking to gather multiple individuals for team building or competitive endeavors without excessive time investment.
Held Items
Sprites
Held Items
mental-herb
held-items
Held: Consumed to cure infatuation. Gen V: Also removes Taunt, Encore, Torment, Disable, and Cursed Body.
Cost: 4000
mental-herb
held-items
Held: Consumed to cure infatuation. Gen V: Also removes Taunt, Encore, Torment, Disable, and Cursed Body.
Cost: 4000
mental-herb
held-items
Held: Consumed to cure infatuation. Gen V: Also removes Taunt, Encore, Torment, Disable, and Cursed Body.
Cost: 4000
mental-herb
held-items
Held: Consumed to cure infatuation. Gen V: Also removes Taunt, Encore, Torment, Disable, and Cursed Body.
Cost: 4000
mental-herb
held-items
Held: Consumed to cure infatuation. Gen V: Also removes Taunt, Encore, Torment, Disable, and Cursed Body.
Cost: 4000
mental-herb
held-items
Held: Consumed to cure infatuation. Gen V: Also removes Taunt, Encore, Torment, Disable, and Cursed Body.
Cost: 4000
TMs & HMs
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm03
yellow
tm03
ruby sapphire
tm03
red blue
tm03
platinum
tm03
firered leafgreen
tm03
heartgold soulsilver
tm03
diamond pearl
tm03
emerald
tm03
xd
tm03
colosseum
tm03
blue japan
tm03
red green japan
tm05
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm06
yellow
tm06
gold silver
tm06
red blue
tm06
crystal
+582 more TMs/HMs
lotad's Evolution Chain
Lotad Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Lotad exists at the base of a three-stage evolutionary line that transforms the humble Water Weed Pokémon into progressively more capable creatures. At level 14, Lotad evolves into Lombre, a more robust form that maintains the Water/Grass typing while gaining enhanced stats and a somewhat more humanoid appearance. The evolution chain culminates when Lombre is exposed to a Water Stone, triggering its transformation into Ludicolo, a vibrant and powerful Pokémon that retains the dual typing but achieves significantly improved base statistics across nearly all categories. This evolutionary progression represents a remarkable shift in capability—while Lotad's base stats are heavily weighted toward Special Defense (50) and Special Attack (40), with pitifully low Attack and Defense values of 30, its evolutions gain substantial improvements in offensive and defensive capabilities. The evolutionary journey from Lotad to Ludicolo is relatively swift compared to other evolutionary lines, with trainers able to achieve the final form by level 14 plus one Water Stone expenditure, making this a highly accessible and rewarding evolution chain for early-game players seeking reliable party members.
Where to Find
hoenn route 114
hoenn
+1 more
hoenn route 102
hoenn
+1 more
sinnoh route 203
sinnoh
+3 more
sinnoh route 204
sinnoh
+9 more
sinnoh route 205
sinnoh
+3 more
sinnoh route 212
sinnoh
Lotad Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Lotad demonstrates a strong preference for clean, unpolluted water environments, gathering in lakes and ponds where water quality is excellent. These Pokémon float perpetually on the water's surface, often creating remarkable scenes where entire lakes become covered with countless Lotad leaves during peak population seasons. The species exhibits cooperative behavior toward smaller Pokémon unable to swim, actively offering transportation services by allowing them to ride upon its broad back leaf. In rare instances driven by necessity, Lotad ventures onto land in search of pristine water sources, though its physical structure makes terrestrial movement difficult and energetically costly. The Pokémon's dependence on water quality makes it an effective bioindicator species—where Lotad populations thrive, water conditions are invariably clean and suitable for aquatic life. Additionally, Lotad displays a nomadic tendency when its current water source becomes compromised, traveling considerable distances to locate acceptable habitats, demonstrating both awareness and determination despite its passive demeanor.
Pokedex Entries
LOTAD live in ponds and lakes, where they float on the surface. It grows weak if its broad leaf dies. On rare occasions, this POKéMON travels on land in search of clean water.
LOTAD is said to have dwelled on land before. However, this POKéMON is thought to have returned to water because the leaf on its head grew large and heavy. It now lives by floating atop the water.
This POKéMON lives in ponds with clean water. It is known to ferry small POKéMON across ponds by carrying them on the broad leaf on its head.
It searches about for clean water. If it does not drink water for too long, the leaf on its head wilts.
It looks like an aquatic plant and serves as a ferry to Pokémon that can’t swim.
Its leaf grew too large for it to live on land. That is how it began to live floating in the water.
It looks like an aquatic plant and serves as a ferry to Pokémon that can’t swim.
It looks like an aquatic plant and serves as a ferry to Pokémon that can’t swim.
It looks like an aquatic plant and serves as a ferry to Pokémon that can’t swim.
It searches about for clean water. If it does not drink water for too long, the leaf on its head wilts.
Lotad live in ponds and lakes, where they float on the surface. It grows weak if its broad leaf dies. On rare occasions, this Pokémon travels on land in search of clean water.
Lotad is said to have dwelled on land before. However, this Pokémon is thought to have returned to water because the leaf on its head grew large and heavy. It now lives by floating atop the water.
It searches about for clean water. If it does not drink water for too long, the leaf on its head wilts.
Its leaf grew too large for it to live on land. That is how it began to live floating in the water.
Lotad Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Lotad derives from a combination of "lotus" and "pad," clearly referencing the lilypad-like leaf that constitutes its most distinctive feature. In Japanese, Lotad is called Hassboh (ハスボー), with "hasu" meaning lotus and "bō" suggesting a supporting or carrying function, perfectly encapsulating the Pokémon's role as an aquatic transport. The design philosophy emphasizes the creature's plant-water duality through the oversized leaf structure that dominates its appearance, while the blue body color and simple features evoke an aquatic existence. The yellow mouth resembling a bill suggests waterfowl influences, creating visual interest through the combination of botanical and avian design elements. Lotad's stubby legs appear somewhat vestigial, reinforcing the biological narrative that this species has largely abandoned terrestrial locomotion in favor of floating. The overall aesthetic achieves a charming simplicity that makes Lotad instantly recognizable and memorable, while the underlying design communicates the Pokémon's fundamental nature as a living vessel for water-based transportation and a product of evolutionary adaptation to aquatic environments.
Learnable Moves
Lotad can learn 72 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| absorb | grass | Special | 20 | 100 | 25 |
| astonish | ghost | Physical | 30 | 100 | 15 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| blizzard | ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| bubble | water | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| bubble beam | water | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| bullet seed | grass | Physical | 25 | 100 | 30 |
| captivate | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| chilling water | water | Special | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| counter | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| disarming voice | fairy | Special | 40 | — | 15 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| echoed voice | normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| energy ball | grass | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| flail | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| flash | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| giga drain | grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| grassy glide | grass | Physical | 55 | 100 | 20 |
| grassy terrain | grass | Status | — | — | 10 |
| growl | normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| hail | ice | Status | — | — | 10 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| ice beam | ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| icy wind | ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| leech seed | grass | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| magical leaf | grass | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| mega drain | grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| mimic | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mist | ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| muddy water | water | Special | 90 | 85 | 10 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| nature power | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| razor leaf | grass | Physical | 55 | 95 | 25 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| scald | water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| seed bomb | grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| solar beam | grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| surf | water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| sweet scent | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| swords dance | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| synthesis | grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| teeter dance | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thief | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| tickle | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| uproar | normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| water gun | water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| water pulse | water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| weather ball | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| whirlpool | water | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| zen headbutt | psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 |
Lotad Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon battles, Lotad occupies a niche role primarily limited to casual and lower-tier play formats, as its base stat total of 220 severely constrains its viability in serious competitive environments. The distribution of Lotad's stats creates unfortunate compromises—with identical Attack and Defense values of 30, the lowest possible, Lotad struggles to fulfill either physical offensive or defensive roles effectively. Its Special Attack base of 40 and Special Defense base of 50 represent modest improvements, though these values remain underwhelming compared to competing Water/Grass-type Pokémon. Lotad's ability options provide some tactical flexibility: Swift Swim doubles its Speed during rain, potentially enabling outspeed opportunities in rain-based team compositions, while Rain Dish grants passive healing equivalent to 1/16 maximum HP each turn during rainfall. The hidden ability Own Tempo prevents confusion, a niche but occasionally valuable utility. In practical competitive scenarios, Lotad functions best as an early-game scouting Pokémon or a novelty choice in formats like Little Cup where its small size confers advantages. Most competitive trainers quickly replace Lotad with its evolved form Lombre or ultimately Ludicolo, which offers substantially superior stats and movepool options that make genuine contributions to competitive team structures.
Commonly Asked Questions About Lotad
What type is Lotad?
Lotad is a water and grass type Pokemon.
What does Lotad evolve into?
Lotad evolves into lombre, then into ludicolo.
What are Lotad's weaknesses?
Lotad is weak to flying, poison and bug type moves.
Where can I find Lotad?
Lotad can be found in hoenn route 114 (hoenn), hoenn route 102 (hoenn) and sinnoh route 203 (sinnoh) and 3 other locations.
Lotad Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Lotad has maintained a modest but consistent presence in Pokémon media and fan communities since its introduction in Generation III. The species achieved notable recognition through Brock's Lotad in the animated series, appearing as a significant member of Brock's team during the Hoenn arc and receiving multiple substantial appearances that established the Pokémon's friendly, supportive personality. The visual appeal of Lotad's distinctive lilypad-leaf design has made it a favorite subject for fan art and merchandise, with the Pokémon frequently featured in official artwork and promotional materials celebrating Generation III. The symbiotic relationship Lotad maintains with smaller Pokémon—serving as a living ferry service—resonates with players and viewers as a heartwarming example of inter-species cooperation and gentleness, themes central to Pokémon's broader appeal. Within the games themselves, Lotad's accessibility as an early-game catch and its role in introducing new trainers to Water/Grass typing has fostered affection among players who carried their original Lotad through their entire journey. Additionally, the evolutionary line's potential to transform Lotad into the charismatic Ludicolo has inspired many trainers to invest in the species despite its humble stats, creating memorable gameplay experiences that have contributed to Lotad's enduring place in the franchise's collective memory.
Where to Find Lotad in Every Pokémon Game
Lotad maintains consistent availability across the vast majority of Pokémon games since its debut in Generation III, though specific locations and acquisition methods vary significantly depending on the generation and region. In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Lotad appears as Pokédex number 19 and can be found in numerous water-based routes and ponds throughout Hoenn, making it exceptionally easy to locate and capture. In subsequent generations, Lotad's appearance locations have remained generally consistent with water-based environments—lakes, ponds, streams, and marshy areas where clean water is available. The Pokémon appears in Generation IV titles like Diamond and Pearl, Generation V's Black and White, and continues its availability through all subsequent generations including X and Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Sun and Moon, Sword and Shield, and Scarlet and Violet. In newer games like Pokémon Sword and Shield, Lotad receives Pokédex number 36 and appears in the Lake of Outrage and other water locations, maintaining its accessibility to modern trainers. The species' exceptionally high catch rate of 255 ensures that capturing Lotad requires minimal effort, often succeeding with a standard Poké Ball even at full health. This combination of widespread availability, early-game accessibility, and ease of capture has made Lotad the perfect introduction to Water/Grass-type Pokémon for countless trainers across multiple game generations.