Many Pokémon take inspiration from real-life creatures, and everyone’s favorites are usually those that channel the adorable features of dogs or cats, such as Eevee and Meowth. Snake-like Pokémon are also abundant in the franchise but aren’t usually in the spotlight except as the companions of villains in the Pokémon anime.
Our team at That VideoGame Blog created a list of the best snake Pokémon to give our slithering friends some love. Check out our rankings of the best serpentine Pokémon in one of the most beloved video game series of all time.
If you’re searching for more Pokémon guides and commentary from Generation I to Pokémon Violet and Scarlet, check out our article on the different Pokémon natures.
21. Dunsparce
Dunsparce is known as the land snake Pokémon, a Gen II Normal type with a unique mix of insect- and snake-like features. It has no hands or feet, only tiny wings that allow it to float slightly. When it senses danger, Dunsparce burrows into the ground using its drill-like tail.
This Normal-type serpent Pokémon lives in maze-like caves underground, sharing tunnels with other Pokémon like Diglett.
20. Zygarde 50% Forme
Zygarde 50% Forme is one of the Formes of the legendary Pokémon Zygarde, which appeared in Generation VI of the Pokémon series. Zygarde is a Dragon/Ground type that appears in a few different forms.
The 50% Forme has a long, serpentine body with large frills surrounding its head, giving it the appearance of a cobra. Zygarde waits deep in its cave, watching for threats to the ecosystem.
19. Giratina
The legendary Pokémon Giratina is a Ghost/Dragon-type that resembles a dragon in its Altered Forme but takes on a snake-like appearance in its Origin Forme. It can only transform into its snake form when in its home, a reverse dimension of the Pokémon world known as the Distortion World.
While in its snake form, Giratina can travel between dimensions and potentially distort reality itself by tearing a hole in time and space, which definitely earns it a place on our list.
18. Eternatus
Eternatus is a gigantic legendary Pokémon that you battle in Sword and Shield. When it gathers enough power or uses its special attack, Eternabeam, it turns into Eternamax Eternatus, a powered-up snake Pokémon with its body coiled around itself.
Eternatus came to Earth inside a meteor over 20,000 years ago and its power is the source of the Dynamax phenomenon in the Galar region. While in its Eternamax form, its power is so devastating that it warps space and time, making it one of the best snake Pokémon on our list.
17. Steelix
Steelix, the Iron Snake Pokémon, is a Ground and Steel-type Pokémon that evolves from the Rock Snake Onix when you trade it while holding the item Metal Coat. In its normal form, Steelix has a long body like a snake and a massive head.
Steelix has a mega-evolution form that doubles its mass and adds glittering armor and spikes. Mega Steelix is one of the best snake Pokémon for survivability because it has the highest base Defense stat of all Steel and Ground types.
16. Gorebyss
Despite being a Water type, Gorebyss is notably snake-like because of its serpentine body and lack of appendages. You can obtain this pink snake Pokémon by trading Clamperl while it’s holding a Deep Sea Scale.
Don’t let its delicate appearance fool you; Gorebyss uses its thin, pointed mouth to drain its prey of bodily fluids. Once Gorebyss finishes its meal, its light pink color becomes more vibrant. With a body capable of withstanding immense pressure, this water-dwelling snake Pokémon lives at the bottom of the sea.
15. Eelektrik
Eelektrik, the evolved form of Tynamo, is another marine snake-like Pokémon. It closely resembles a blue and black eel and has a mouth like a leech. Eelektrik has multiple yellow organs that generate electricity on its sides, and it uses them to shock prey after coiling its body around them.
You can evolve Tynamo into Eelektrik by getting the Pokémon to level 39, and Eelektrik becomes Eelektross when you give it a Thunder Stone.
14. Onix
Onix is the Rock Snake Pokémon and a classic symbol from the older games and the anime when Pokémon was in its first generation. It’s a Rock/Ground type that one of the main characters, Brock, had in the original television show.
Onix’s body is a series of giant boulders that culminate in a rock-like head with a tall fin on top and a rounded snout. When it tunnels underground at 50 miles per hour in search of food, it causes tremors and loud rumbling on the surface. The tunnels Onix makes become home to Diglett.
13. Huntail
Huntail is a water-dwelling snake Pokémon that lives in the deepest parts of the ocean. Like Gorebyss, Huntail is one of Clamperl’s final forms. To evolve Clamperl into Huntail, you’ll need a Deep Sea Tooth for it to hold onto when you trade it with someone.
Huntail swims through the water by wriggling its snake-like body and uses its fish-shaped tail to attract prey. Huntail’s mouth is disproportionately large and full of sharp teeth, allowing it to swallow its victims whole like a snake, so of course, it earns a place on our list.
12. Rayquaza
This legendary Flying and Dragon-type Pokémon has a coiling body like a snake with a striking design that resembles a green and yellow missile. Rayquaza is a super-ancient Pokémon that lived in the ozone layer for hundreds of millions of years without descending from the sky. It feeds on water, meteoroids, and other particles in the atmosphere.
The meteoroids allow Rayquaza to achieve Mega Evolution. Its Mega-Evolved form is larger, with glowing gold tendrils flowing from its head. Rayquaza is the only Pokémon that can learn the move Dragon Ascent.
11. Dratini
The Dragon-type Dratini closely resembles a snake with its small, winding body. Dratini has white fins on the sides of its head and a bump on its forehead where its horn grows. As it gains energy, Dratini must regularly shed its skin to grow. The shed skin is apparently a popular material for luxury boots, but that’s not why we included it on our list.
Dratini learns the move Dragon Tail at level 15, which inflicts damage and forces the opponent’s Pokémon to switch to the next in line. This move is super useful when your opponent throws out a Pokémon that counters yours.
10. Dragonair
At level 30, Dratini evolves into Dragonair, a majestic Pokémon from the first generation that becomes the iconic Dragonite. Dragonair closely resembles Dratini but is much larger, with bigger wings and a small horn on its forehead. With one crystal orb on its neck and two more on its tail, Dragonair emits an aura that can change the weather.
Dragonair is historically known as a divine Pokémon due to its control over climate conditions, and it lives in pristine lakes and seas where people leave offerings of gratitude.
9. Milotic
Milotic is a Water-type snake Pokémon that evolves from the weak Feebas when you trade it while holding a Prism Scale or increase its Beautiful condition to a high enough level. Like snakes, Milotic has a long, thin body and no appendages except for fins on its head and tail.
The Pokedex entry says that Milotic is the most beautiful of all Pokémon and has inspired many artists. When people are fighting, Milotic will emerge from its home at the bottom of lakes to unleash a wave of power that soothes anger and hostility. It’s possible Milotic is the opposite of Gyarados, a Pokémon that appears during conflict and causes destruction.
8. Gyarados
Gyarados is a massive snake-like Pokémon that is the favorite of many long-time fans. It lives in the water and has fins around its head, but its body has giant overlapping scales similar to snakes. Magikarp, a fish Pokémon that can only use the move Splash (which does nothing), evolves into Gyarados at level 20.
Something changes during evolution, causing Gyarados to become extremely violent. During conflicts, the Pokémon appears and rampages across the surrounding areas, causing complete destruction of everything in its path.
7. Silicobra
Silicobra is the Sand Snake Pokémon, a Ground-type that evolves into Sandaconda at level 36. It resembles a small snake that looks like it’s always frowning. Silicobra swallows sand and stores it in the pouch around its neck. It can shoot dust from its nostrils, blinding predators while it escapes by burrowing into the ground.
Silicobra is one of the only Pokémon with the ability Sand Spit, which summons a sandstorm for five turns during battle when the Silicobra takes damage. You can extend the length of the sandstorm to eight turns by giving your Silicobra the held item Smooth Rock.
6. Sandaconda
Sandaconda is a serpent Pokémon with a large neck pouch surrounding its head and a tightly coiled body. Its pouch can store over 200 pounds of sand, which Sandaconda uses to spray enemies. It contracts its spine to shoot dirt from its nose with extreme force, using its saliva to make sharp gravel. When it runs out of ammo, Sandaconda becomes too scared to fight, but its unique attack still earns it a place on our list!
Sandaconda has a Gigantamax form, growing larger and standing on its tail while rotating like a snake tornado.
5. Servine
Servine is the evolution of one of the Unova region starter Pokémon, Snivy. Though it does have feet and tiny arms, Servine is distinctly snake-like. This Grass-type Pokémon uses the leaves on its tail to photosynthesize, and it hides in the shadows or tall grass to avoid attacks before striking out. Servine evolves into Serperior at level 36.
4. Serperior
As the final evolution form, Serperior loses its limbs and becomes even more like a snake. Two fangs are visible when it opens its mouth, and its tail resembles a vine. Serperior can learn unique Grass-type moves such as Leaf Storm, which deals damage and lowers your opponent’s special attack.
Serperior’s piercing gaze stops its enemies in their tracks, and it only uses its full strength when fighting a powerful opponent.
3. Seviper
Known as the Fang Snake Pokémon, Seviper is easily recognizable by its giant poisonous fangs and knife-like tail. The Poison-type Pokémon constricts its opponents and uses its tail to slash enemies and poison them.
In the animated series, Seviper was one of the main battling companions of Jessie from Team Rocket. After Gen III, you can catch Seviper in the wild in many of the Pokémon games.
2. Arbok
Arbok is a Poison-type snake Pokémon that looks almost exactly like a real-life cobra. Just like the intimidating snakes we know, Arbok has a large hood surrounding its head. The pattern on its hood looks like a face, which Arbok uses to stun its opponents with fear and catch prey.
With a name that spells Kobra backward, Arbok is easily one of the best snake representations in the Pokémon franchise.
1. Ekans: The Best Snake Pokémon
The spot for best snake Pokémon goes to Ekans, the serpent with a name that spells Snake backward. Ekans, with the appearance of a common snake, has a yellow rattle on its tail and sharp, poisonous fangs. In grassy plains, Ekans slithers around looking for Spearow and Pidgey eggs to eat.
After Ekans, Arbok is the next evolution at level 22. Ekans, and later Arbok, were also loyal companions of Jessie in the Pokémon TV show. While Ekans isn’t as powerful as some of the other snake Pokémon, it shares the most features with the snakes that inspired them.
Keep Up with the Latest Pokémon News and Content
Despite drawing inspiration from real snakes, Pokémon features imaginative takes on snake creatures that vary from beautiful to frightening. Which do you think deserves the title of the best snake Pokémon?
For more about the Pokémon video games and other related topics, such as our article on Pokémon Sword and Shield characters, browse That VideoGame Blog!
Dane started off gaming at the tender age of 3 with the first Atari console. His favorite video game genres are turn-based RPGs (can I get a shout out for Tactics Ogre?) and fighting games. Read more...
