Sneasel Pokémon GO is a Dark and Ice-type Pokémon from the Johto region that evolves into Weavile. Sneasel will hatch from 5 km Eggs during the Arctic Embers event, giving players another opportunity to find Shiny Sneasel, collect Candy and obtain a strong Weavile candidate.
Sneasel Pokémon GO has a high Attack stat for an unevolved Pokémon, but regular Sneasel is mainly valuable because Weavile can provide both Dark and Ice-type damage. Players should also understand the difference between regular Sneasel and Hisuian Sneasel, as the two forms have different typings, evolutions and evolution requirements.
This Sneasel Pokémon GO guide covers shiny availability, the best moveset, weaknesses, Arctic Embers Eggs, evolution into Weavile, Hisuian Sneasel and whether either evolution is worth powering up.
Sneasel Pokémon GO Details
| Sneasel details | Information |
|---|---|
| Pokédex number | #0215 |
| Name | Sneasel |
| Category | Sharp Claw Pokémon |
| Generation | Generation Ii |
| Original region | Johto |
| Type | Dark and Ice |
| Evolution | Weavile |
| Evolution cost | 100 Sneasel Candy and one Sinnoh Stone |
| Shiny available | Yes |
| Maximum CP | 2,319 |
| Best general moveset | Feint Attack and Avalanche |
| Main Arctic Embers method | 5 km Eggs |
| Regional form | Hisuian Sneasel |
Sneasel is known as the Sharp Claw Pokémon. It uses its hooked claws to climb trees and steal unattended Pokémon Eggs.
How to Get Sneasel in Pokémon GO
Sneasel Pokémon GO can appear through several encounter methods when it is included in the current seasonal or event pool.
Possible Sneasel sources include:
- Wild encounters
- Eggs
- One-star raids
- Field Research
- Timed Research
- Special Research
- Team GO Rocket encounters
- GO Battle League rewards
- Trades
- Event encounters
Sneasel receives a weather boost during foggy and snowy weather.
Fog boosts its Dark typing, while snow boosts its Ice typing.
A weather-boosted Sneasel can appear at a higher level than an ordinary encounter, potentially reducing the Candy and Stardust required to build Weavile.
Availability changes regularly, so Sneasel may not always appear in the ordinary wild spawn pool.
Sneasel During Pokémon GO Arctic Embers
Sneasel Pokémon GO will hatch from 5 km Eggs collected during the Arctic Embers event.
Arctic Embers runs from Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. until Monday, August 10, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
| Arctic Embers Sneasel details | Information |
|---|---|
| Event method | 5 km Eggs |
| Shiny available | Yes |
| Wild spawn confirmed | No |
| Increased shiny chance confirmed | No |
| Event begins | August 4 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Event ends | August 10 at 8:00 p.m. |
The full Arctic Embers 5 km Egg pool contains:
| Pokémon | Shiny available |
|---|---|
| Sneasel | Yes |
| Darumaka | Yes |
| Galarian Darumaka | Yes |
| Sizzlipede | Yes |
| Snom | Yes |
An event 5 km Egg does not guarantee Sneasel.
Players must collect the Egg during Arctic Embers for it to use the event hatch pool.
An Egg collected before the event begins will keep its older contents, even if it is incubated during Arctic Embers.
Can Sneasel Be Shiny in Pokémon GO?
Yes, Sneasel can be shiny in Pokémon GO.
Normal Sneasel has a dark blue body with red details. Shiny Sneasel changes to a bright pink body with yellow details, making it easy to distinguish from the standard version.
Shiny Sneasel can be found through eligible:
- Wild encounters
- Egg hatches
- Raids
- Research encounters
- Team GO Rocket encounters
- Event rewards
- Trades
A Shiny Sneasel remains shiny when evolved into Weavile.
A shiny encounter is not guaranteed. Every eligible Sneasel encounter or hatch provides another independent shiny check.
Is Shiny Sneasel Boosted During Arctic Embers?
An increased Shiny Sneasel chance has not been confirmed for Arctic Embers.
The event announcement specifically confirms increased shiny chances for:
- Ponyta
- Slugma
- Snover
- Vanillite
Sneasel is listed as a shiny-eligible 5 km Egg hatch but is not included among the Pokémon with announced boosted shiny rates.
Players should therefore avoid assuming that Sneasel Eggs have increased shiny odds.
Hatching more Eggs provides more chances to receive Sneasel, but it does not change the odds attached to each individual hatch.
How to Evolve Sneasel Into Weavile
Sneasel Pokémon GO evolves into Weavile using:
- 100 Sneasel Candy
- One Sinnoh Stone
| Sneasel evolution requirement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sneasel Candy | 100 |
| Evolution item | One Sinnoh Stone |
| Buddy requirement | None |
| Time requirement | None |
| Evolution | Weavile |
To evolve Sneasel into Weavile:
- Open the Sneasel selected for evolution.
- Confirm that 100 Sneasel Candy is available.
- Confirm that at least one Sinnoh Stone is available.
- Select Evolve.
- Confirm the evolution.
Regular Sneasel does not need to be walked as a Buddy and can evolve at any time of day.
The daytime Buddy requirement applies to Hisuian Sneasel, not regular Sneasel.
How to Get a Sinnoh Stone for Sneasel
A Sinnoh Stone is required to complete the Sneasel Pokémon GO evolution into Weavile.
Possible Sinnoh Stone sources include:
- GO Battle League rewards
- Trainer Battles against another player
- Team Leader training
- Weekly Research Breakthroughs
- Special Research
- Timed Research
- Event rewards
A Sinnoh Stone is not guaranteed from most available methods.
Players should save at least one Sinnoh Stone if they plan to evolve Sneasel during Arctic Embers.
Several other Pokémon also require the item, including Piloswine, Rhydon, Roselia and Murkrow.
Players with limited Sinnoh Stones should prioritise the evolution that provides the greatest value to their account.
How to Get Sneasel Candy
Sneasel Candy is shared by regular Sneasel and Hisuian Sneasel.
Players can earn Sneasel Candy by:
- Catching Sneasel
- Hatching Sneasel
- Catching Hisuian Sneasel
- Using Pinap Berries
- Walking Sneasel as a Buddy
- Transferring spare Sneasel
- Trading Sneasel
- Using Rare Candy
- Completing event Research
- Using relevant catch bonuses
Hatching Sneasel from an Arctic Embers 5 km Egg provides more Candy than a standard catch.
Players should avoid transferring Sneasel immediately after hatching them.
Check each one for:
- Shiny status
- Perfect IVs
- 15 Attack
- PvP IVs
- Size records
- Lucky trade potential
Sneasel Pokémon GO Best Moveset
The best Sneasel Pokémon GO moveset for general attacking is:
- Fast Attack: Feint Attack
- Charged Attack: Avalanche
| Sneasel role | Recommended moveset |
|---|---|
| General attacks | Feint Attack and Avalanche |
| Ice-type damage | Ice Shard and Triple Axel |
| Dark-type damage | Feint Attack and Foul Play |
| Trainer Battles | Ice Shard, Triple Axel and Foul Play |
| Team GO Rocket | Ice Shard and Triple Axel |
Feint Attack receives the same-type attack bonus and deals Dark-type damage.
Avalanche provides strong Ice-type Charged Attack damage.
Ice Shard and Triple Axel create a complete Ice-type combination.
Foul Play gives Sneasel a complete Dark-type moveset when paired with Feint Attack.
Regular Sneasel should not receive major Stardust investment, as evolving it into Weavile provides considerably better battle performance.
Sneasel Available Attacks
Sneasel can use the following Fast Attacks:
- Feint Attack
- Ice Shard
Its Charged Attacks include:
- Ice Punch
- Avalanche
- Foul Play
- Triple Axel
Feint Attack and Foul Play provide Dark-type damage against Ghost and Psychic Pokémon.
Ice Shard, Avalanche and Triple Axel provide Ice damage against Dragon, Flying, Grass and Ground Pokémon.
Triple Axel can increase the user’s Attack during Trainer Battles, making it more valuable in PvP than its base damage alone suggests.
Avalanche remains a strong and straightforward Ice attack for raids and Gym battles.
Sneasel Pokémon GO Weaknesses
Sneasel Pokémon GO is weak against:
- Bug
- Fairy
- Fighting
- Fire
- Rock
- Steel
Sneasel has a double weakness to Fighting-type attacks because both Dark and Ice are weak to Fighting.
Fighting attacks therefore deal significantly more damage than its other weaknesses.
Strong Sneasel counters include:
- Mega Lucario
- Mega Blaziken
- Lucario
- Terrakion
- Keldeo
- Conkeldurr
- Machamp
- Mega Heracross
- Hariyama
- Falinks
Fighting Pokémon are the best choice when battling Sneasel in raids, Gyms or Team GO Rocket encounters.
Sneasel Resistances
Sneasel resists attacks from:
- Dark
- Ghost
- Ice
- Psychic
Damage taken when Sneasel is hit by each type:
Very weak to
Weak to
Resists
Immune to
Based on Dark / Ice typing. Abilities may modify these matchups.
Its Psychic resistance is particularly strong because Dark-type Pokémon have a major resistance to Psychic attacks.
Sneasel can perform well against opponents relying on Psychic or Ghost damage.
However, its low Defence and Stamina mean it may still faint quickly when taking strong neutral attacks.
Sneasel Pokémon GO Stats
Sneasel has an attack-focused stat distribution.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack | 189 |
| Defence | 146 |
| Stamina | 146 |
| Maximum Level 40 CP | 2,051 |
| Maximum Level 50 CP | 2,319 |
Sneasel’s Attack is relatively strong for an unevolved Pokémon, but its defensive stats are limited.
It can deal reasonable damage but does not remain in battle for long.
Players receive considerably more value by evolving Sneasel into Weavile before powering it up.
Sneasel Perfect IV CP
A perfect Sneasel has 15 Attack, 15 Defence and 15 Stamina IVs.
Important perfect Sneasel CP values include:
| Encounter type | Perfect Sneasel CP |
|---|---|
| Research encounter at Level 15 | 879 CP |
| Egg or raid encounter at Level 20 | 1,172 CP |
| Weather-boosted encounter at Level 25 | 1,465 CP |
| Maximum Level 40 CP | 2,051 CP |
| Maximum Level 50 CP | 2,319 CP |
Sneasel receives a weather boost during foggy and snowy weather.
A Sneasel hatched from an Arctic Embers 5 km Egg will normally be Level 20.
A 1,172 CP Sneasel from an Egg is a perfect 15/15/15 result.
Which Sneasel Should You Evolve?
The best Sneasel Pokémon GO evolution candidate depends on how Weavile will be used.
| Intended use | Sneasel to prioritise |
|---|---|
| Ice-type raids | 15 Attack and strong overall IVs |
| Dark-type raids | 15 Attack and strong overall IVs |
| Great League | Low Attack with high Defence and Stamina |
| Ultra League | Suitable PvP IV spread |
| Collection | Shiny or perfect Sneasel |
| Lower power-up cost | Lucky Sneasel |
| Maximum damage | Strong Shadow Sneasel |
A perfect Sneasel is a strong general Weavile candidate.
Shadow Sneasel can be particularly valuable because Shadow Weavile deals greater damage than the regular version, although it also takes more damage and costs more to build.
Players should not purify a strong Shadow Sneasel automatically.
Weavile Pokémon GO Best Ice Moveset
The best Weavile Ice-type moveset is:
- Fast Attack: Ice Shard
- Charged Attack: Avalanche
Ice Shard and Avalanche give Weavile a complete Ice-type moveset.
This combination is useful against:
- Dragon Pokémon
- Flying Pokémon
- Grass Pokémon
- Ground Pokémon
Weavile has a strong Attack stat and can deal useful Ice damage, but it is relatively fragile.
It may faint faster than bulkier Ice attackers such as Mamoswine.
Weavile Pokémon GO Best Dark Moveset
The best Weavile Dark-type moveset is:
- Fast Attack: Snarl
- Charged Attack: Foul Play
Snarl generates energy efficiently, while Foul Play provides reliable Dark-type damage.
Dark attacks are effective against:
- Ghost Pokémon
- Psychic Pokémon
Weavile’s dual role allows players to switch between Ice and Dark damage using Fast and Charged TMs.
However, players may find it more convenient to build separate Weavile for each role.
Is Weavile Good in Pokémon GO?
Weavile is useful but no longer one of the very best attackers in either of its types.
Its main advantages include:
- Strong Attack stat
- Complete Ice moveset
- Complete Dark moveset
- Shadow form availability
- Useful coverage against several raid bosses
- Relatively accessible evolution
Its main disadvantages include:
- Low defensive bulk
- Double weakness to Fighting
- Competition from stronger Ice attackers
- Competition from stronger Dark attackers
- Sinnoh Stone evolution requirement
Weavile can still provide excellent value for developing raid teams.
Players with established teams may use it as a backup attacker rather than a primary investment.
Is Weavile Good for Ice-Type Raids?
Weavile can deal strong Ice damage with Ice Shard and Avalanche.
It is useful against raid bosses weak to Ice, particularly Dragon, Flying, Grass and Ground Pokémon.
However, stronger or more durable Ice attackers may include:
- Shadow Mamoswine
- Mamoswine
- Galarian Darmanitan
- Baxcalibur
- Cetitan
- Mega Glalie
- Mega Abomasnow
Weavile’s main weakness is its low durability.
It can deal damage quickly but may require more revives and relobbies during difficult raids.
Is Weavile Good for Dark-Type Raids?
Weavile can function as a Dark attacker with Snarl and Foul Play.
This moveset is useful against Ghost and Psychic raid bosses.
Stronger Dark or Ghost attackers may include:
- Mega Tyranitar
- Shadow Tyranitar
- Hydreigon
- Darkrai
- Dawn Wings Necrozma
- Origin Forme Giratina
- Mega Gengar
Weavile remains useful when those stronger options are unavailable or not yet powered up.
Is Shadow Weavile Worth Building?
Shadow Weavile can deal greater damage than regular Weavile because of the Shadow Attack bonus.
This makes it more valuable for raid damage, especially as an Ice attacker.
The disadvantages are:
- Reduced Defence
- Higher Stardust costs
- Higher Candy costs
- Frustration must be removed during an eligible Team GO Rocket event
- Already low durability becomes even lower
A strong Shadow Sneasel can be worth evolving even when its IVs are not perfect.
For raid damage, a lower-IV Shadow Weavile can outperform a perfect regular Weavile.
Is Sneasel Good in Great League?
Regular Sneasel has very limited open Great League value.
Its high Attack causes it to reach the 1,500 CP limit with relatively low overall bulk.
Its double Fighting weakness is also a serious problem in a format containing many Fighting-type attacks.
Sneasel can still use:
- Ice Shard
- Triple Axel
- Foul Play
This gives it pressure against Dragon, Flying, Grass, Ground, Ghost and Psychic Pokémon.
Its main use is likely to come in restricted cups rather than the standard open Great League.
Is Weavile Good in PvP?
Weavile can be used in selected Ultra League and Master League formats but remains difficult to use because of its low bulk.
It can threaten opponents through:
- Fast energy generation
- Avalanche
- Foul Play
- Focus Blast coverage where available
- Strong Attack
However, Weavile must avoid Fighting Pokémon and often needs shield support.
It is more reliable as a raid attacker than as a general open-league PvP Pokémon.
What Is Hisuian Sneasel?
Hisuian Sneasel is a Fighting and Poison-type regional form.
It is completely different from regular Dark and Ice-type Sneasel.
| Feature | Regular Sneasel | Hisuian Sneasel |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dark and Ice | Fighting and Poison |
| Evolution | Weavile | Sneasler |
| Candy cost | 100 | 100 |
| Evolution item | Sinnoh Stone | None |
| Buddy requirement | None | Walk 7 km |
| Time requirement | None | Daytime |
| Shiny available | Yes | Yes |
Regular Sneasel cannot evolve into Sneasler.
Hisuian Sneasel cannot evolve into Weavile.
Players should check the form carefully before attempting an evolution.
How to Evolve Hisuian Sneasel Into Sneasler
To evolve Hisuian Sneasel into Sneasler, players need:
- 100 Sneasel Candy
- Walk 7 km with Hisuian Sneasel as the Buddy
- Evolve during the daytime
| Hisuian Sneasel evolution requirement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sneasel Candy | 100 |
| Buddy walking distance | 7 km |
| Time requirement | Daytime |
| Evolution item | None |
| Evolution | Sneasler |
The walking requirement must be completed with the specific Hisuian Sneasel being evolved.
Players should keep it as their Buddy until the distance is recorded.
Once the requirement is complete, open the Hisuian Sneasel during the daytime and select Evolve.
Is Hisuian Sneasel in Arctic Embers Eggs?
The Arctic Embers Egg announcement lists Sneasel.
It does not separately list Hisuian Sneasel.
Players should therefore expect the regular Dark and Ice-type Sneasel from the confirmed 5 km Egg pool unless the live hatch display specifically shows the Hisuian form.
Hisuian Sneasel should not be treated as an Arctic Embers hatch without separate confirmation.
Should You Evolve Sneasel During Arctic Embers?
Players do not need to evolve Sneasel Pokémon GO before Arctic Embers ends unless an event task specifically requires it.
Waiting until all event Eggs have been hatched may provide:
- Shiny Sneasel
- A perfect Sneasel
- A 15 Attack Sneasel
- Better PvP IVs
- More Sneasel Candy
- A stronger Weavile candidate
Players should save at least 100 Candy and one Sinnoh Stone for the best Sneasel they receive.
Sneasel Pokédex Description
Its paws conceal sharp claws. If attacked, it sud denly extends the claws and startles its enemy.
Sneasel uses its sharp claws to climb trees and searches for unguarded nests. It works with other Sneasel to distract parent Pokémon before stealing their Eggs.
Is Sneasel Pokémon GO Worth Getting?
Sneasel Pokémon GO is worth getting for its shiny form, Weavile evolution and dual Ice and Dark battle roles.
Its main value comes from:
- Shiny availability
- Weavile evolution
- Ice-type raid damage
- Dark-type raid damage
- Shadow Weavile potential
- Arctic Embers Egg availability
- Shared Candy with Hisuian Sneasel
- Collection value
Regular Sneasel should not receive heavy investment before evolution.
Players should instead hunt for a shiny, perfect, high-Attack or strong Shadow Sneasel and evolve it into Weavile using 100 Candy and a Sinnoh Stone.
