Blastoise

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Blastoise (水箭龟)
Species/Race	Pokémon
Type	Water 3
Gender	Male 3
Ability	Torrent 3
Affiliation	Gary's team 3 19
Occupation/Role	Gary's starter Pokémon, longest-serving veteran, and ace 3 83
Status	Active 663
Potential	Pseudo-legendary 164
Form	Mega Blastoise 12
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 63 / Elite Four Candidate	3 12	Recorded at Level 63 with Champion potential; later releases an Elite Four Candidate aura during the Mega Evolution experiment.
Level 68	47	Reached this level after training and the battle against Steven Stone's Aggron.
Elite Four Level / Level 72	80 83	Successfully advanced to Elite Four Level; soon afterward, its strength is recorded at Level 72.
Pseudo-legendary Potential	164	Gary uses a Pseudo-legendary Potential Card to raise its potential from Champion to Pseudo-legendary.
Level 79	420	Matches Bertha's Level 79 Nidoking in aura and strength.
Level 80	528	Faces Ash's Level 73 Charizard during the semifinal match.

Background / History

Professor Oak carefully selected Blastoise for Gary. It is Gary's first Pokémon, has been with him the longest, and initially stands as the strongest member of his team. 3

Gary obtains Blastoise's Mega Stone after catching Shiny Metagross, though he initially lacks a Key Stone to activate it. 7 After explaining his knowledge of Mega Evolution to Professor Sycamore, Gary agrees to let Blastoise participate in an experiment overseen by Professors Sycamore and Rowan. Blastoise cooperates fully and becomes Mega Blastoise through Gary's bond and Sycamore's Key Stone. 11 12

Following a defeat to Steven Stone's Elite Four-level Aggron, Blastoise breaks free from the rubble while still ready to fight. It becomes dejected upon learning that the battle has ended in defeat, but Gary reassures it that the loss was not its fault; the pair resolve to train for a rematch. 46 47

Blastoise later becomes Gary's first Pokémon to reach Elite Four Level. It serves as his ace against Flannery's grandfather, defeating Typhlosion as Mega Blastoise and securing Gary's Heat Badge. 80 83 84

Appearance

Blastoise is portrayed as a large, imposing Pokémon equipped with twin cannons on its back. Shota considers it substantially larger and more powerful than his own Blastoise. 17 139

• Regular form — Uses two back cannons to fire attacks such as Water Gun and Hydro Pump. 17
• Mega Blastoise — Its two back cannons are replaced by a much larger central cannon, while smaller cannon muzzles appear on both arms. Professor Sycamore describes the form as resembling a true artillery emplacement. 12
• Mega artillery — Can combine output from all three cannons into a thicker, more powerful Hydro Pump. 84
• Reversion — Reverts to its regular form after Mega Evolution ends. 47

Personality

Blastoise is intensely battle-oriented. When released for the Mega Evolution experiment, it immediately searches its surroundings for an opponent; once Gary explains that the event is research rather than a battle, it agrees to cooperate without hesitation. 12

It possesses a strong sense of responsibility toward Gary. After losing to Steven's Aggron, it feels apologetic despite being badly outmatched, and it remains determined to continue fighting until Gary tells it that the battle is over. 47

Blastoise also holds a continuing competitive grudge against Ash's Charizard. It seeks the chance to battle Charizard again and remains eager to prove itself after their previous Silver Conference encounter. 17 291

Abilities & Skills

Mega Evolution

Blastoise can Mega Evolve into Mega Blastoise through its Mega Stone, Gary's Key Stone, and their bond. The transformation greatly increases its offensive power and provides its three-cannon artillery configuration. 12 45

• Can contend with opponents whose regular-form strength exceeds its own, including Steven's Aggron and Bruno's Lucario. 45 172
• Mega Evolution enables its Hydro Pump to force Lucario backward where its regular Hydro Pump was split apart by Brick Break. 172
• Its Mega Evolution becomes known publicly after the research initiated by Gary and Blastoise contributes to the Pokémon Alliance's understanding of the phenomenon. 297
• Even in Mega form, it is defeated by Cynthia's Garchomp, demonstrating the gap between it and Champion-level power. 357 358

Water Artillery

Blastoise specializes in high-pressure water attacks from its cannons, often using sustained fire or layered combinations to overwhelm opponents.

• Hydro Pump — Its primary high-power attack; defeats Ash's Charizard, Tabitha's Pokémon, Flint's Houndoom, and Alder's Druddigon. 17 88 499 662 663
• Water Gun — Used for rapid-fire pressure, supplementary output, and aerial targeting. 83 292 528
• Water Pulse — Used both offensively and defensively against attacks including Dark Pulse and Air Cutter. 88 173 498
• Whirlpool — Traps Golbat in a vortex before throwing it to the ground. 88
• Aqua Jet — Used at close range to force Alder's Druddigon backward and create an opening for Hyper Beam. 663

Rapid Spin Combination Techniques

Rapid Spin is Blastoise's central mobility, defense, and close-range offense technique.

• Breaks through attacks and obstacles, including Charizard's Flamethrower, Typhlosion's Fire Spin, and Aggron's Rock Tomb. 17 46 84
• Combines with Hydro Pump to create a spinning water barrage that defeats Ash's Charizard. 17 292
• Combines with Water Gun as a Counter Shield, producing an all-around water defense that catches approaching opponents. 528
• Is often paired with Iron Defense to charge through attacks such as Hyper Beam and Dragon Breath. 87 662

Defensive Techniques

Blastoise relies on its shell and defensive moves to endure attacks before counterattacking.

• Iron Defense — Reinforces its shell against attacks including Aggron's Hammer Arm, Lucario's Thunder Punch, and Nidoking's Stone Edge. 46 173 420
• Withdraw — Allows it to shelter inside its shell against Bullet Punch, Thunder Fang, and aerial attacks. 173 498 528
• Protect — Used against Flint's Houndoom before Blastoise finishes the battle with Hydro Cannon and Hydro Pump. 499
• Gyro Ball — Used with Iron Defense to deflect Steven's Stone Edge and pressure Aggron. 46

Weather and Freeze Strategy

Gary and Blastoise can use battlefield conditions to create finishing opportunities.

• Rain Dance prepares water across the field during its battle with Bruno's Lucario. 173
• Blizzard freezes Lucario after the rain-based setup. 173
• Hyper Beam finishes the immobilized Lucario and later defeats Alder's Druddigon after Aqua Jet creates an opening. 173 663

Hydro Vortex

Using the Water-Type Z-Crystal gifted by Tapu Koko, Blastoise performs the Water-Type Z-Move Hydro Vortex with Gary. The attack forms a massive vortex from its cannons, though Tapu Koko blocks it without injury. 218

Documented Moves

• Water-type techniques — Water Gun, Hydro Pump, Water Pulse, Rain Dance, Aqua Tail, Whirlpool, Aqua Jet, Hydro Cannon. 3 88 316 663
• Defensive and mobility techniques — Rapid Spin, Withdraw, Iron Defense, Protect, Gyro Ball. 3 46 499
• Other techniques — Body Slam, Brick Break, Dragon Pulse, Flash Cannon, Mud Shot, Blizzard, Hyper Beam. 83 173 316 421 663

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Blastoise Mega Stone — Worn in a wristband during the first Mega Evolution experiment; enables Mega Evolution alongside Gary's Key Stone. 7 12
• Water-Type Z-Crystal — Gifted to Gary by Tapu Koko and used by Blastoise to perform Hydro Vortex. 218

Relationships

• Gary Oak — Trainer and longtime partner. Their bond enables Mega Evolution and coordinated techniques such as Hydro Vortex and the Rain Dance–Blizzard trap. 12 173 218
• Professor Oak — Selected Blastoise as Gary's starter and later informs Gary that it has reached Elite Four Level. 3 80
• Ash's Charizard — Repeated rival. Charizard defeated Blastoise at the Silver Conference, but Blastoise later defeats it multiple times, including against Mega Charizard Y. 17 292 316
• Steven Stone and Aggron — Steven's Aggron defeats Mega Blastoise, providing a harsh lesson that motivates Blastoise and Gary to train harder. 45 46 47
• Tapu Koko — Invites Gary and Blastoise to demonstrate Hydro Vortex, then leaves after witnessing their Z-Move bond. 218
• Alder — Alder praises Blastoise and battles it with Champion-potential Druddigon; Blastoise ultimately wins with Aqua Jet and Hyper Beam. 662 663

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Mega Evolution research — Becomes one of the first subjects of Gary, Professor Sycamore, and Professor Rowan's Mega Evolution experiment. 11 12
• Rematch with Ash — Redeems its prior loss to Ash's Charizard using a Rapid Spin and Hydro Pump combination. 17
• Steven Stone battle — Mega Evolves against Steven's Aggron but loses after being buried under Rock Throw; survives and emerges still ready to fight. 45 46 47
• Lavarridge Gym — As an Elite Four-level ace, Mega Evolves and defeats Flannery's grandfather's Typhlosion to win the Heat Badge. 83 84
• Team Magma confrontation — Defeats Tabitha's Mightyena and Golbat, forcing Tabitha to retreat. 87 88
• Bruno battle — Mega Evolves against Lucario, withstands its speed and close-range offense, then freezes and defeats it with Blizzard and Hyper Beam. 172 173
• Agatha battle — Uses Mega Evolution, Rain Dance, and Ice Beam-based strategy to help defeat Agatha's Gengar. 196
• Cynthia battle — Goes all out as Mega Blastoise against Cynthia's Garchomp but is defeated, giving Gary a clear view of Champion-level strength. 357 358
• Bertha's guidance — Battles Bertha's equally leveled Nidoking, using defensive timing and Body Slam during the instructional match. 420 421
• Flint battle — Mega Evolves against Flint's Mega Houndoom and wins the opening round. 498 499
• Ash semifinal — Faces Mega Charizard Y again, using Counter Shield to deny Charizard a safe approach. 528
• Alder rematch — Defeats Alder's Champion-potential Druddigon with an Aqua Jet setup followed by Hyper Beam. 662 663

Trivia

• Blastoise uses the Rapid Spin plus Hydro Pump combination against Ash's Charizard before Ash develops the same Counter Shield concept himself. 17
• Shota, who owns a Blastoise of his own, is so impressed by Gary's Blastoise that he asks Gary for training advice. 139
• Blastoise's first Mega Evolution is observed directly by Professors Sycamore and Rowan, with Sycamore becoming visibly excited by the research opportunity. 12