Given the lengthy turn-based battles in Pokémon, it’s usually a sound strategy to gain the upper-hand on your opponent by keeping them on their heels. And while a super-powered Articuno or a tank-like Snorlax can help achieve this, one trait that tends to get overlooked is the speed statistic. Sure, it’s fun to bust out flashy, powerful moves, or shake off attacks with a body as solid as armor.
Regardless, these abilities can be negated if your Pokémon is sluggish, which can cause them to be overwhelmed and a step behind in a fight. Thus, it’s important to know where these Pokémon stand in terms of speed. With this list, we’ll cover the 10 all-time slowest Pokémon, out of a collective list of over 800 creatures spanning 8 generations.
10 Igglybuff
You’ll quickly get an idea of just how sluggish these Pokémon are going to be when you consider that the 10th spot on our list only comes with 15 speed. To put this into perspective - if you may not be an expert in Pokémon number-crunching - Ninjask sports 160 while the Mythical Deoxys hits a lightning-fast 180.
Sure, it may evolve into a Jigglypuff, which is known to roll around with insane speed in Smash Bros. Regardless, it’s one of the slowest Pokémon in the game. But hey, at least its ability to lull foes to sleep with its Siren-like singing can help out on this front.
9 Cleffa
Yes, despite its distinct aura and relative rarity, this little guy doesn’t exactly get around too quickly. In fact, like our previous entry, it also has a meager 15 speed. This can be attributed to its stubby legs - though it can at least use these legs to dance the night away under the stars!
It’s a bummer, because this unevolved variant of Clefairy is a delightful creature otherwise, and is particularly unique as a rare pure-Fairy Pokémon. But as you’d expect from such a young, little critter, it doesn’t move particularly fast.
8 Slowpoke
Even those that aren’t seasoned Pokémon Gen-1 players can surely deduce that this lazy guy doesn’t move too fast simply by its revealing name. This is partly because of its physical traits, which are a cross between a hippo and a salamander.
You could say that Slowpoke doesn’t exactly have to move around quickly. This is because it spends much of its time lounging by the water and fishing by using its tail as a lure. This Water-Physic hybrid definitely likes to take it slow, hence its tepid 15 speed base stat.
7 Stakataka
You know you’re usually in for a lumbering, sluggish monster when it bears both the Rock and Steel types. This is definitely the case with this Ultra Beast from Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.
As you’d imagine from a large 4-legged beast akin to Guardians from Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this thing more than makes up for its slow nature elsewhere. With total base stats of a whopping 570, you definitely don’t want to play around with it. But given that Stakataka more resembles a walking structure than a monster, it moves around very slowly. It’s the heaviest of the Rock-types, which says a lot, and it marks the reason its speed sits at a mere 13.
6 Ferroseed
Trainers who evolve this thing will be rewarded with the cool Grass-Steel monstrosity that is Ferrothorn. Still, you’ll first have to put up with its inferior unevolved stage, Ferroseed. Outside of its defense, it’s about as tepid as you’d expect from a monster with the word “seed” in its name.
Being the odd combo of Grass and Steel, it sports green spikes and is bogged down by a metallic body. Movement isn’t really this guy’s game - as it’s known more for latching onto cave walls to absorb minerals, shooting its spikes if attacked and rolling away. This prickly seeded creature has a base speed of just 10.
5 Bonsly
Those who haven’t played Diamond & Pearl might recall this odd tree-like critter as a weird throwable item in Smash Bros. Brawl, which manifests from a Pokéball. Still, a well-aimed hit can bash your target with a ton of damage, and that’s because of Bonsly’s solid Defense and Attack.
The flipside of this is that this thing moves as slow as molasses. It isn’t too surprising why, given its tiny legs and rock-like build that weighs it down. Bonsly clocks in at a meager 10 speed.
4 Trapinch
Much like Rock and Steel, Ground-types have a habit of being on the slower side, given their heavy, and well, “grounded” composition. Such is the case for Trapinch. It can somewhat be viewed as a sort of Ground-type version of Dratini, as it’s the first, most inept stage of what eventually blooms into a beast of a Dragon, Flygon.
Still, while the time and effort it takes to evolve this little guy is worth it, you have to deal with a pretty weak critter until level 35. Though this insectoid sports some nice attack power, its short, stumpy legs prevent it from moving swiftly. In fact, its base speed only barely scratches double digits, sitting at just 10.
3 Pyukumuku
Water-types are often known for their swiftness, as they favor swimming and gliding across oceans and lakes. Yet, that’s certainly not the case with this oddball, who prefers to seek out a spot and hang out there for the duration.
It’s peculiar traits extend further, as this creature is able to spit its organs through its mouth. On top of this, it comes with a fluid that coats its outer body, allowing it to stay on land for long periods of time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t even evolve, making it the consistently slowest Water-type out there. You can really view Pyukumuku as the misfit of the Water varieties.
2 Munchlax
Despite being a Gen 4 Pokémon dating back over 15 years, Munchlax remains among the all-time slowest varieties you can find. It isn’t too surprising considering this sleepy guy’s lineage - he does evolve into the massive snoozing Snorlax, after all.
It’s too bad this Normal-Type is so sluggish, as Munchlax enjoys walking around from place to place quite a bit, looking to take in as much food as it can. But therein lies the issue - this glutton of a Pokémon tends to be weighed down by the amount of food it carries in its belly. This is the reason it’s tied for the slowest speed with a 5 base stat.
1 Shuckle
Given the traits of this slug-like Pokémon, it perhaps makes sense why its base speed sits at an awful 5-spot. You have the sluggish, dragging movement of this Bug-type which is meant to resemble a turtle.
But added to this is its rock-like shell, which further slows it down. Granted, this creature’s rock-solid exterior comes with the benefit of a solid 230 defense, but the flipside of this is that it’s very dense and heavy. You definitely want to steer clear of this shell-laden critter if swiftness is your game.
NEXT: Pokémon: The 10 Starters With The Best Base Attack, Ranked
