That 4x Grass weakness is something every Barbaracle user needs to plan around. Tough Claws boosts contact moves by 30%, which helps. Known as the Collective Pokemon. The stat spread favors raw physical power.
Barbaracle's built to absorb hits, not race for knockouts. Physical bulk with Defense doing the heavy lifting. And the medium-fast 1M XP curve means it won't take forever to bring up, worth 2 Attack EVs.
Seven Binacle come together to form one Barbaracle. The Binacle that serves as the head gives orders to those serving as the limbs.
Having an eye on each palm allows it to keep watch in all directions. In a pinch, its limbs start to act on their own to ensure the enemy’s defeat.
Barbaracle Weakness
VulnerableGrass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground-type moves hit Barbaracle for super-effective damage. Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. The Rock/Water typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Barbaracle's physical bulk (base 115 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
Barbaracle is what Binacle becomes. Breed it for Binacle eggs (average hatch time). A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolution from Binacle pushed Barbaracle to 500 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +53.
How to Evolve
Breed with Barbaracle to get Binacle eggs easily using 32 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Night Slash, Sand Attack, Switcheroo.
The recommended build leans into Barbaracle's strengths as a physical attacker. White Herb provides a one-time stat drop reset, and max Attack and Speed EVs back that up. Toughclaws rounds out the package.
Best Build
Best Barbaracle Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Liquidation
- Stone Edge
- Low Kick
Recommended Teammates
Coverage runs deep. Barbaracle can hit 10 types beyond STAB, including Ground and Normal. The offense anchors on Meteor Beam and Stone Edge while TMs handle everything else.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
A handful of locations for Barbaracle with high spawn rates across late-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Barbaracle in Sword & Shield
To get Barbaracle, start by catching Binacle through walking encounters at Lv. 20-52. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch BinacleEFFORTLESSBridge FieldShieldGrassLv.26-2830%MidRainingEFFORTLESSBridge FieldSwordGrassLv.26-2830%MidRainingEFFORTLESSMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrassLv.26-2830%MidRainingEFFORTLESSMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrassLv.26-2830%MidRainingEASYBridge FieldShieldGrassLv.26-2825%MidThunderstormEASYBridge FieldSwordGrassLv.26-2825%MidThunderstormEASYGalar Mine No. 2ShieldOverworldLv.20-2415%MidCaveAll WeatherEASYGalar Mine No. 2SwordOverworldLv.20-2415%MidCaveAll WeatherMODERATEGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveThunderstormMODERATEGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveIntense SunMODERATEGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveSnowingMODERATEGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveSandstormMODERATEGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveRainingMODERATEGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveHeavy FogMODERATEGalar Mine No. 2SwordGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveAll WeatherMODERATEGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveOvercastMODERATEGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrassLv.20-2410%MidCaveSnowstorm
Step 2Barbaracle ✓EFFORTLESSDusty BowlShieldGrassLv.40-4530%LateRainingEFFORTLESSDusty BowlSwordGrassLv.40-4530%LateRainingEASYRoute 9 - in Circhester BayShieldOverworldLv.39-4320%LateRouteAll WeatherMODERATERoute 9 - in Circhester BaySwordOverworldLv.39-4310%LateRouteAll WeatherHARDLake of OutrageShieldGrassLv.50-522%PostWaterRainingHARDLake of OutrageSwordGrassLv.50-522%PostWaterRainingor evolve from Binacle (Step 1)
Barbaracle looks average on paper at 500 BST. But Tough Claws is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier attacker on our tier list.
Binacle evolves into Barbaracle at level 39. Barbaracle is the fully evolved form. At 500 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
Barbaracle gets Tough Claws, Sniper, and Pickpocket. But Tough Claws is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Barbaracle is a physical attacker with base 105 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — at base 68 Speed, it won't be moving first often. Fits the attacker role.
Barbaracle appears in 6 games, including X & Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.
Available since X & Y, Barbaracle appears in 6 games spanning 4 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Mega form in Generation 6.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXYDebut
X & Y - Gen VIORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A