Toxapex can be a fearsome opponent in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, so players will likely want to evolve a Mareanie as soon as they find one. This is the fastest and easiest way to get the troublesome Alolan Pokemon.
“The best offense is a good defense” is an old catchphrase from football that generally hasn’t proven to be true in many other games or sports. Toxapex is an exception. The Pokemon turns its numerous defensive tools into a deadly offensive game that whittles down opponents. It received a sizable nerf in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet but can still be very helpful in ranked singles and Tera Raid battles.
How to Evolve Mareanie Into Toxapex
Mareanie can be evolved into Toxapex by raising it up to level 38. Additionally, wild Toxapex can be found as a fixed Tera spawn in the East Paldean Sea and has a chance of appearing in six-star Tera Raid battles. Here is the Pokedex’s breakdown of its natural habitat:
Mareanie can be found on the beaches and in the ocean along the entire eastern coast of Paldea, from Wo-Chien’s Grasswither Shrine all the way north of gym leader Iono’s hometown of Levincia. It can also be found as a boss in three-star Tera raid battles.
While the Pokedex hints that Toxapex cannot be encountered in the wild, this isn’t actually true. There is a single guaranteed Tera Toxapex spawn that can be found to the southeast of Levincia. Players can reach this Toxapex relatively early by heading east from Artazon, following the coastline, and moving down a series of hills that leads to a beach. Its exact location on the map can be seen here:
Is Toxapex Any Good in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet?
Toxapex can be good in ranked singles battles and in Tera Raids but is not great in the story mode. This stems from Toxapex’s low offensive stats and speed.
Toxapex is quite powerful due to its incredibly high Defense and Sp. Defense stats, which rank among the highest in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. There is a place for this, but players are generally served better by using Pokemon like Cloyster which can burst down opponents with high-damage moves.
Tera Raid battles are another story. Its high defense stats and Chilling Water and Acid Spray moves help it set up allies for big damage. This build was strong enough to work against even the Mightiest Mark Cinderace Tera Raid event, and can work as a support build for many other Pokemon as well.
Meanwhile, in ranked singles battles, it can wall physical attackers with Toxic, Recover, and signature move Baneful Bunker. In many cases, it will be able to out-heal any damage the opponent dishes out and can wait for them to die to poison.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are available now on Nintendo Switch.