Type to start searching.

Available search filters:

  • .ability, .a
  • .type, .t
  • .damage, .dmg (damage category for moves)
  • .description, .desc, .d
  • .tag
In other gens:

Growlithe

In-battle formes

HP:55
Attack:70
Defense:45
Sp. Atk:70
Sp. Def:50
Speed:60
Min (-ve nature, 0 IVs)112
Default156
Max Neutral219
Max Positive240
Max Neutral (+1)328
Max Positive (+1)360
Max Neutral (+2)438
Max Positive (+2)480
ZeroUsed
Agility Sweeper219
Lead221

Evolutions

Strategies

  • en
Formats:
  • ZU

PU's VR update and accompanying shifts have rendered this analysis outdated. Stay tuned for future updates!

Agility Sweeper

Move 1
Move 2
  • Fire Blast
    10% chance to burn the target.
    TypeFire
    CategorySpecial
    Power120 BP
    Accuracy85%
Move 3
Move 4
  • Substitute
    User takes 1/4 its max HP to put in a substitute.
    TypeNormal
  • Crunch
    20% chance to lower the target's Sp. Def by 1.
    TypeDark
    CategorySpecial
    Power80 BP
    Accuracy100%

After using Agility, Growlithe outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame, making it an effective cleaner. Fire Blast serves as a powerful and spammable STAB attack that notably breaks past the tier's best special wall, Dustox. After Growlithe's Petaya Berry activates, it becomes unwallable, as even the sturdiest walls, like Lileep and Delcatty, are 2HKOed by it. Hidden Power Grass OHKOes Rhyhorn and also deals significant damage to Water-types such as Chinchou and other Rock-types like Nosepass. Substitute shields Growlithe from status and also lets it activate its Petaya Berry easier. Alternatively, Crunch lets Growlithe target Spoink, which can otherwise set up on it using Calm Mind and Thick Fat. Intimidate is used, as reducing the foe's Attack gives Growlithe more opportunities to set up Agility and Substitute.

Growlithe best fits on offensive and balance teams looking for an end-game sweeper. Even with Hidden Power Grass, Water-types such as Staryu beat Growlithe one-on-one, so it appreciates being paired with speedy physical wallbreakers such as Aipom and Taillow and defensive checks to Water-types such as Castform and Chinchou. Chinchou is a notable partner for its excellent type synergy with Growlithe, as it can easily KO the Rock- and Ground-types that Growlithe can struggle with, while Growlithe, in return, can eliminate the Grass-types that give Chinchou trouble. The aforementioned physical wallbreakers have the added benefit of breaking through special walls and tanks such as Castform and Delcatty, which also check Growlithe. Fast physical wallbreakers are themselves problematic to Growlithe before it has set up Agility, so Rock-types, Steel-types, and Shuppet support Growlithe by checking them. Special attackers like Elekid and Seaking can form effective offensive cores with Growlithe by weakening each other's checks. Finally, Spikes support from Snorunt can help soften up the opposing team to allow an end-game Growlithe sweep.

Lead

Move 1
  • Overheat
    Lowers the user's Sp. Atk by 2.
    TypeFire
    CategorySpecial
    Power140 BP
    Accuracy90%
Move 2
  • Flamethrower
    10% chance to burn the target.
    TypeFire
    CategorySpecial
    Power95 BP
    Accuracy100%
  • Fire Blast
    10% chance to burn the target.
    TypeFire
    CategorySpecial
    Power120 BP
    Accuracy85%
Move 3
Move 4
  • Toxic
    Badly poisons the target.
    TypePoison
    Accuracy85%
  • Crunch
    20% chance to lower the target's Sp. Def by 1.
    TypeDark
    CategorySpecial
    Power80 BP
    Accuracy100%

While Cyndaquil may appear to be the superior Fire-type lead because of its ability to deny Snorunt any entry hazards, Growlithe carves a niche with its stronger matchups against the general metagame. 76 Defense EVs and Intimidate let Growlithe always survive one Choice Band-boosted Double Edge from Aipom, which by extension lets it beat most physically offensive leads. Overheat is crucial, OHKOing common offensive leads such as Taillow and Delibird and having an 87.5% chance to OHKO Aipom. Flamethrower is a more spammable Fire-type STAB attack, though Fire Blast can be used instead for higher power at the cost of accuracy. Hidden Power Grass threatens Rhyhorn and also deals significant damage to Water-types such as Chinchou and Rock-types such as Nosepass. Toxic lets Growlithe cripple walls such as Lileep and non-Substitute Spoink. Crunch can be used instead to overwhelm Substitute variants of Spoink, which can otherwise use Growlithe as setup fodder. Lum Berry prevents Growlithe from getting statused by leads such as Butterfree.

Growlithe best fits on offense and balance teams looking for a lead that can beat physically offensive leads. Given that Growlithe can't reliably deny Snorunt at least one layer of Spikes, it is best used on a team that either doesn't mind Spikes or has a spinner in the back, like Staryu. Water-types such as Staryu and Chinchou can usually beat Growlithe one-on-one if they switch into its Fire-type attacks, so special sponges such as Castform and Dustox make great partners. Chinchou itself is a great partner, with it able to break through the Water-, Rock-, and Ground-types that annoy Growlithe and spread Thunder Wave to shore up Growlithe's average Speed; in return, Growlithe can break through Grass-types for it. Physical wallbreakers such as Aipom and Taillow also work well because of their ability to break through both Water-types and special walls that could overwise beat Growlithe. If a team doesn't have a Rock-type, a Steel-type, or Shuppet, such as on certain hyper offense teams, Growlithe can sometimes be used as a check to physical wallbreakers like Choice Band Aipom and Taillow, though it shouldn't be a team's sole check to them.

Other Options

Flash Fire can be used to help Growlithe switch into certain Fire-types, such as Cyndaquil and opposing Growlithe, though most Pokemon with Fire-type moves, like the aforementioned examples, still have the coverage to threaten Growlithe. Roar can be used to phaze targets, though Growlithe's lack of recovery and only decent bulk make it hard to use. Charcoal boosts the power of Growlithe's Overheat, though other items typically help Growlithe fulfill its given role better.

Checks and Counters

Water-types: Hidden Power Grass fails to OHKO any relevant Water-type, while Growlithe is usually OHKOed by the Water STAB moves from threats such as Staryu, Chinchou, and Seaking. Chinchou is also notable for its ability to cripple Growlithe with Thunder Wave.

Rock-types: Nosepass isn't 2HKOed by unboosted Hidden Power Grass and can 2HKO Growlithe back with Rock Slide. However, it can only 3HKO Growlithe if it had its Attack lowered by Intimidate. Certain specially defensive Rhyhorn sets can tank a Hidden Power Grass from Timid Growlithe, though it can only OHKO Growlithe back if its Attack isn't lowered.

Special Sponges: Delcatty isn't 2HKOed by any of Growlithe's moves and can heal off the damage with Wish and status with Heal Bell. Castform easily tanks Growlithe's attacks and can overwhelm it with Double Edge, Thunderbolt, or Weather Ball in Rain. While Lileep isn't a special wall, it can easily switch into Growlithe and heal off any damage off with Recover, though it must watch out for Toxic.

Spoink: If Growlithe isn't running Crunch, Spoink can use it as setup fodder thanks to Thick Fat. Toxic variants of Growlithe can cripple Spoink, though they lose to speedy Substitute variants.

Cyndaquil: Cyndaquil can outspeed and 2HKO Growlithe with Hidden Power Water while only being 2HKOed back by Fire Blast.

Credits

Moves

 
Power
60
Accuracy
PP
20
This move does not check accuracy.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
30
Raises the user's Speed by 2.
 
Power
Accuracy
100%
PP
15
A target of the opposite gender gets infatuated.
 
Power
60
Accuracy
100%
PP
25
30% chance to make the target flinch.
 
Power
85
Accuracy
100%
PP
15
30% chance to paralyze the target.
 
Power
Accuracy
100%
PP
20
Lowers the target's Attack by 2.
 
Power
80
Accuracy
100%
PP
15
20% chance to lower the target's Sp. Def by 1.
 
Power
60
Accuracy
100%
PP
10
Digs underground turn 1, strikes turn 2.
 
Power
120
Accuracy
100%
PP
15
Has 1/3 recoil.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
15
Raises the user's evasiveness by 1.
 
Power
40
Accuracy
100%
PP
25
10% chance to burn the target.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
10
User survives attacks this turn with at least 1 HP.
 
Power
70
Accuracy
100%
PP
20
Power doubles if user is burn/poison/paralyzed.
 
Power
120
Accuracy
85%
PP
5
10% chance to burn the target.
 
Power
15
Accuracy
70%
PP
15
Traps and damages the target for 2-5 turns.
 
Power
95
Accuracy
100%
PP
15
10% chance to burn the target.
 
Power
60
Accuracy
100%
PP
25
10% chance to burn the target. Thaws user.
 
Power
Accuracy
100%
PP
20
Max 102 power at minimum Happiness.
 
Power
100
Accuracy
90%
PP
10
10% chance to burn the foe(s).
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
20
One adjacent ally's move power is 1.5x this turn.
 
Power
Accuracy
100%
PP
15
Varies in power and type based on the user's IVs.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
40
Raises the user's Attack by 1.
 
Power
100
Accuracy
75%
PP
15
30% chance to lower the target's Defense by 1.
 
Power
Accuracy
100%
PP
30
Lowers the foe(s) Defense by 1.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
10
The last move the target used replaces this one.
 
Power
Accuracy
100%
PP
40
Fighting, Normal hit Ghost. Evasiveness ignored.
 
Power
140
Accuracy
90%
PP
5
Lowers the user's Sp. Atk by 2.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
10
Prevents moves from affecting the user this turn.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
10
User sleeps 2 turns and restores HP and status.
 
Power
Accuracy
100%
PP
20
Max 102 power at maximum Happiness.
 
Power
Accuracy
100%
PP
20
Forces the target to switch to a random ally.
 
Power
20
Accuracy
100%
PP
15
50% chance to lower the target's Defense by 1.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
25
For 5 turns, protects user's party from status.
 
Power
70
Accuracy
100%
PP
20
Effect varies with terrain. (30% paralysis chance)
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
10
User must be asleep. Uses another known move.
 
Power
40
Accuracy
100%
PP
15
User must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target.
 
Power
80
Accuracy
100%
PP
15
No additional effect.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
10
User takes 1/4 its max HP to put in a substitute.
 
Power
Accuracy
PP
5
For 5 turns, intense sunlight powers Fire moves.
 
Power
Accuracy
90%
PP
15
Raises the target's Attack by 2 and confuses it.
 
Power
60
Accuracy
PP
20
This move does not check accuracy. Hits foes.
 
Power
90
Accuracy
85%
PP
20
Has 1/4 recoil.
 
Power
40
Accuracy
100%
PP
10
If the user has no item, it steals the target's.
 
Power
90
Accuracy
100%
PP
20
Lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses the user afterwards.
 
Power
Accuracy
85%
PP
10
Badly poisons the target.
Loading...