Something slithers by. Is it a snake? No, it's a Pokemon. It's not a secret that Pokemon resemble animals. The Pokemon creators took inspiration from animals and based their designs on them. The motto says that we "gotta catch 'em all," but what about the scary snake-like Pokemon? Deep down, each Pokémon is a compassionate creature that is willing to appease its master.
Pokemon in the Pokemon world can be similar to snakes from our own world. Snakes are also referred to as "serpentine," and are characterized by having elongated and scaly bodies, usually. These are the 10 best snake Pokemon of all time, ranked.
Updated November 28th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: Pokemon recently entered a new generation, adding a wide array of new Pokemon for players to catch and train. Unfortunately for snake Pokemon fans, they didn't get much in the way of new snake-based Pokemon to enjoy. However, there was one bright spot, as Dunsparce finally got an evolution, something that fans of the Pokemon had been clambering for over the years. To celebrate this new evolution and point out some of the best snake Pokemon that may have been missed, the following list has been updated.
22 Dunsparce
- Type: Normal
- Weaknesses: Fighting (2×)
- Highest Stat: HP (100)
Dunsparce isn’t exactly the most intimidating Pokemon based on its design, and its stats don’t really do it any favors either. The Normal-type Snake Pokemon was introduced in Gen II and has been phased out of relevance over the years.
Dunspace seems to be based on a number of different things. Its serpentine-like design could have been inspired by the tsuchinoko, a Japanese Yokai that’s notable for its wide body. The two look fairly similar, though Dunsparce seems to have a significantly more laid-back demeanor.
21 Zygarde 50%
- Type: Dragon/Ground
- Weaknesses: Ice (4×), Dragon (2×), Fairy (2×)
- Highest Stat: Defense (121)
Zygarde has a few different forms. Each one changes up its design, adding a new element to it. Zygarde 50% is the only one that incorporates a serpentine element to its design.
Like Dunsparce, certain aspects of Zygarde 50%’s design seem to be based on the tsuchinoko. Zygarde seems to fit the mold a little better, as its design is much more intimidating. Though not the strongest form players can obtain, Zygard 50% definitely makes a lasting impression.
20 Giratina
- Type: Ghost/Dragon
- Weaknesses: Ghost (2×), Ice (2×), Dragon (2×), Dark (2×), Fairy (2×)
- Highest Stat: HP (150)
Legendary Pokemon tend to have some of the most eye-grabbing designs, and Giratina is no different. Fans might be accustomed to seeing it in its Altered Forme, but its Origin Forme is what really makes it seem like a Snake Pokemon.
Like many Pokemon, Giratina’s Origin Forme design mixes in plenty of different inspirations. Its long serpentine body is riddled with spiky armor, while the long arms on its back seem similar to those of a scorpion or spider.
19 Eternatus
- Type: Posion/Dragon
- Weaknesses: Fighting (2×), Ground (2×), Fire (2×), Water (2×)
- Highest Stat: Special Attack (145)
Eternatus is one of the newest Pokemon introduced in the franchise. Its imposing design makes it a hard Pokemon to forget, with both its normal and Eternamax forms standing out.
Regular Eternatus seems to resemble a dragon more than a snake, though it does have a long, slender build. The Eternamax form is seems much more like a snake, with its coiled body adding a sense of dread to its design.
18 Steelix
- Type: Steel/Ground
- Weaknesses: Fighting (2×), Ground (2×), Fire (2×), Water (2×)
- Highest Stat: Defense (200)
Steelix is the evolution of Onix, but despite Onix debuting in the very first Pokemon games, Steelix wasn't introduced until Pokémon Gold and Silver in generation two. It is a Steel/Ground Pokémon and though it maintains the serpentine body that Onix had, and it has spikes that protrude from its body.
Mega Steelix is also very snake-like and its body becomes even longer than its normal form, however, its spikes become diamonds and its head looks a lot more armored.
17 Servine
- Type: Grass
- Weaknesses: Poison (2x), Flying (2x), Fire (2x), Ice (2x), Bug (2x)
- Highest Stat: Speed (83)
Many fans fondly remember both Snivy and its late-stage evolution, Serperior, making Servine the outlier for the evolutionary chain. Not exactly weak but not yet strong, Servine looks like a larger, fancier Snivy. Although it will eventually shed its arms and legs to take on its slender and powerful snake form, Servine stands as an easy-to-forget mid-stage evolution. There are a lot of amazing snake-like Pokemon out there and Servine simply ends up lost in a sea of better-designed options.
16 Gorebyss
- Type: Water
- Weaknesses: Grass (2x), Electric (2x)
- Highest Stat: Special Attack (114)
Gorebyss debuted in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire and it is one of two possible evolutions for Clamperl. It is a Water-type Pokemon and while it could be argued that it is more akin to an eel than a snake, it is undoubtedly very serpentine in appearance.
Despite its kind of cute appearance, this Pokemon is actually quite creepy as it sticks its pointed nose-like mouth into its enemies and then drains them in a strange, almost vampire-like way.
15 Onix
- Type: Rock/Ground
- Weaknesses: Fighting (2×), Ground (2×), Steel (2×), Water (4×), Grass (4×), Ice (2×)
- Highest Stat: Defense (160)
This Rock/Ground-type Pokémon was introduced in the first generation of Pokemon. Widely recognized for being Brock's fiercest Pokemon, Onix has a shape that resembles a snake. It uses snake-like moves, constricting its opponents to inflict severe damage.
Onix can be evolved into Steelix, a Steel-type Pokemon that also resembles a snake. Its species is a Rock Snake Pokemon, making it part snake. As a Pokemon that can dig at 50 miles per hour, it behaves like an erratic snake, and it is not one to be underestimated.
14 Dudunsparce
- Type: Normal
- Weaknesses: Fighting (2×)
- Highest Stat: HP (125)
Generation 9 saw Dunsparce finally receive an evolution, and fans of the goofy-looking snake Pokemon would rejoice at the seemingly-unchanged design. Dudunsparce is an upgrade in the most literal form, and simply adds an additional body segment for the creature. Most of the time, players will see a single segment added to the design to bring the total body segments to two, but there are some incredibly rare instances in which players can end up with a three-body-segment Dudunsparce.
The Normal-type also receives a boost to its stats, rising to 520 total from 415.
13 Huntail
- Type: Water
- Weaknesses: Grass (2x), Electric (2x)
- Highest Stat: Defense (105)
Huntail is the other evolution of Clamperl; depending on which evolutionary item the player has it hold when trading it, Clamperl either evolves into Huntail or Gorebyss. Once again, it could be argued this Water-type Pokemon is more of an eel, but its Pokédex states, "This Pokemon swims by wiggling its slender body like a snake."
It gets its name from the fact that its tail is shaped like a small fish, which it uses to lure out its prey so that it can attack them. In this sense, though both Huntail and Gorebyss look rather unsuspecting, they're actually both quite dangerous.
12 Rayquaza
- Type: Dragon/Flying
- Weaknesses: Rock (2×), Ice (4×), Dragon (2×), Fairy (2×)
- Highest Stat: Attack/Special Attack (180)
A legendary Pokemon who first appeared in the third generation of the Pokemon games, Rayquaza is elongated and twisted, giving itself a snake-like appearance. This particular Pokemon stands out because of its enormous potential to wreak havoc.
In the anime, Rayquaza is portrayed as something of a villain. It attacks Deoxys, who Rayquaza believed was invading the high skies when Deoxys was only searching for its friend. You won't find Rayquaza slithering on the ground, but you will find it stalking in the high heavens.
11 Dratini
- Type: Dragon
- Weaknesses: Ice (2×), Dragon (2×), Fairy (2×)
- Highest Stat: Attack (64)
Dratini is a small and cute Dragon-type Pokémon weighing approximately 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). Regardless, pound for pound Dratini is one of the most powerful first-generation Pokémon. By leveling, it can learn moves like Hyper Beam, Outrage, Slam, and Dragon Tail. Most adept trainers, however, will choose to evolve Dratini into a Dragonair.
Dratini maintains its snake-like body when it evolves into a Dragonair, but loses it once becoming a Dragonite. According to Dratini's Pokémon Fire Red Pokédex, "Even the young can exceed 6.5 feet in length. It grows larger by repeatedly shedding skin."
10 Dragonair
- Type: Dragon
- Weaknesses: Ice (2×), Dragon (2×), Fairy (2×)
- Highest Stat: Attack (84)
Next up is the evolved form of Dratini, Dragonair. Dragonair grows in length after evolving from a Dratini. It is a serpentine Pokemon that is scaly with wings. In the Pokemon games, we rarely see Dragonair spread its wings, yet in the anime, it flies often.
This rare Pokemon is not usually caught in the wild. According to Dragonair's Pokemon Ultra Moon Pokedex entry, "Some say that if you see it at the start of the year, flying through the sky and twisting its body, you'll be healthy all year long."
9 Milotic
- Type: Water
- Weaknesses: Grass (2x), Electric (2x)
- Highest Stat: Special Defense (125)
Milotic, another serpentine Pokémon, is a Water-Type. Catching a feeble Feebas proves to be beneficial since it becomes a majestic Milotic after evolving. By leveling up, Milotic can learn moves like Hydro Pump, Aqua Tail, and Dragon Tail.
It is by no means a Dragon-type Pokemon but has the appearance and movements of a sea dragon. Most often, Milotic is said to be based on mermaids. It resembles a snake and will use moves like Wrap and Coil, which make it seem more like a snake.
8 Gyarados
- Type: Water/Flying
- Weaknesses: Rock (2×), Electric (4×)
- Highest Stat: Attack (125)
For an easy Snake Pokemon to obtain in almost any game, Gyarados is a desirable Pokemon. Evolving a Magikarp, which can be caught by fishing, will get you a Gyarados at level 20. Its shiny form is particularly coveted as it takes on a beautiful red coloring.
Snake-like in appearance, Gyarados can overwhelm most of its opponents with exceptionally high attack. It is a scaly Pokemon, just like a snake. Violent in nature, Gyarados lives in salty and freshwaters. Putting aside its appearance, it doesn't behave like a snake.
7 Sandaconda
- Type: Ground
- Weaknesses: Water (2×), Grass (2×), Ice (2×)
- Highest Stat: Defense (125)
Sandaconda debuted in Pokemon Sword and Shield and is the evolved form of Silicobra. Its appearance shows it as a snake that has its cobra hood and body coiled about itself. When it is in its Gigantamax form, it stands on its tail as a real cobra does, and then its coiled appearance makes it look like a tornado.
This Pokemon is a Ground-type and it keeps sand in its body to attack its enemies with, as explained in its Pokedex entry, "When it contracts its body, over 220 pounds of sand sprays from its nose. If it ever runs out of sand, it becomes disheartened."
6 Serperior
- Type: Grass
- Weaknesses: Flying (2×), Poison (2×), Bug (2×), Fire (2×), Ice (2×)
- Highest Stat: Speed (113)
The Pokemon in this listicle become progressively more snake-like as you go down it. Serperior is a Grass-type Pokemon known for constricting its opponents. Serperior is said to be based on snakes species.
It takes after snake species such as the emerald tree boa and a ball python. You can see two fangs sticking out of Serperior's mouth when it's open. Despite this, Serperior is not a poisonous Pokemon. Its glare makes it an exceptionally frightening Pokemon, but it's usually nice to humans.
5 Ekans
- Type: Poison
- Weaknesses: Ground (2×), Psychic (2×)
- Highest Stat: Attack (60)
Ekans is one of the earliest snake-like Pokemon that we encountered in the anime. As Jesse from Team Rocket's only Pokemon (aside from Mewoth), Ekans uses Poison-type moves to best its opponents. It is a serpentine Pokemon that doesn't appear to have teeth. It uses stealth in the grass before attacking enemies.
The Pokemon was given to Jesse as a birthday gift. Jesse seems to have the upper hand in a battle against Ash Ketchum, but somehow Ash's Pokémon pull through, and he narrowly beats Jesse and James. At least Jesse was able to catch one Pokemon.
4 Silicobra
- Type: Ground
- Weaknesses: Water (2×), Grass (2×), Ice (2×)
- Highest Stat: Defense (75)
Silicobra was introduced with the release of Pokemon Sword and Shield and it is a Ground-type Pokemon. Though at a glance it looks like a small snake, its Pokedex entry rather surprisingly lists it as a whopping 7'03" tall and the Pokemon anime showed fans that it is much larger than anyone would think initially.
Both its name and appearance that features a hood-like head indicate that this Pokemon is based on a cobra. It has many snake-like moves, such as Coil and Wrap.
3 Seviper
- Type: Poison
- Weaknesses: Ground (2×), Psychic (2×)
- Highest Stat: Attack/Special Attack (100)
As its name would imply, Seviper is snake-like in appearance. As a Poison-type, it is capable of injecting venom with its venomous red fangs. Its species is listed as "fang-snake". Seviper doesn't have any known evolution, but it doesn't need one because it is powerful in its base form.
Often compared to Arbok, both Pokemon are snakes. Seviper learns snake-like moves such as Shed Skin, Coil, Venom Drench, and Wrap. It is well-known for its quarrels with Zangoose. Scars on its body remain from battles that Seviper has with Zangoose.