Everything pushes toward mixed damage here. Cacturne's Attack does the work, Speed pays the price. But you're still getting 2 Attack and Sp. Atk EVs per KO. Moderately hard to find, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
Packs of them follow travelers through the desert until the travelers can no longer move.
It lives in deserts. It becomes active at night when it hunts for prey exhausted from the desert’s heat.
Cacturne is weak to Bug, Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying, and Fairy. Watch out for Bug attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Psychic-type moves entirely. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Bug |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Water, Electric, Grass, Ground, Ghost, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
Incineroar can KO Cacturne with Flare Blitz (129-152%). Dragapult threatens a KO with Draco Meteor (115-136%). Mienfoo's High Jump Kick also KOs at 108-128%.
 Incineroar FireDark | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemSafetygoggles NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Incineroar builds →Knock Off17-21% Flare Blitz 2x129-152%KO | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityInfiltrator ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Dragapult builds →U Turn 4x94-111%KO Draco Meteor115-136%KO Shadow Ball36-42% | ||
 Mienfoo Fighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemEviolite NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Mienfoo builds →Knock Off9-11% U Turn 4x78-92% High Jump Kick 2x108-128%KO | ||
 Vullaby Dark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityWeakarmor ItemEviolite NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Vullaby builds →Knock Off13-16% Heat Wave 2x29-34% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityStrongjaw ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Bruxish builds →Flip Turn19-22% Crunch17-20% | ||
Cacturne is what Cacnea becomes. Breed it for Cacnea eggs (average hatch time). Plenty of partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolution from Cacnea pushed Cacturne to 475 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +30. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Cacturne to get Cacnea eggs easily using 89 partners from the Plant and Humanshape egg groups.
For a hazard lead, Cacturne wants max HP and Attack EVs and Life Orb. The Adamant nature tilts toward physical duty, and Waterabsorb contributes without taking a move slot.
Best Build
Cacturne best EVs are Attack and HP
Physical Tank Moveset
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Spikes
- Seed Bomb
Recommended Teammates
Mixed Attacker Moveset
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Leaf Storm
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Knock Off
- Spiky Shield
- Sucker Punch
- Seed Bomb
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Tank Moveset
- Sucker Punch
- Spiky Shield
- Seed Bomb
- Knock Off
Recommended Teammates
Wall Moveset
- Leech Seed
- Spiky Shield
- Sucker Punch
- Stomping Tantrum
Recommended Teammates
Special Attacker Moveset
- Sunny Day
- Solar Beam
- Destiny Bond
- Sucker Punch
Recommended Teammates
Mixed Attacker Moveset
- Sucker Punch
- Spikes
- Dark Pulse
- Giga Drain
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Mixed Attacker Moveset
- Destiny Bond
- Dark Pulse
- Energy Ball
- Thunder Punch
Recommended Teammates
Mixed Attacker Moveset
- Sucker Punch
- Spikes
- Dark Pulse
- Giga Drain
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Mixed Attacker Moveset
- Destiny Bond
- Dark Pulse
- Energy Ball
- Thunder Punch
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Most of Cacturne's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Leaf Storm and Solar Beam, but Poison and Bug and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Cacturne gets Acid and Belch exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Poison and Fighting coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Solar Beam and Energy Ball.
Egg moves make a real difference. Cacturne gets Acid and Belch exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Poison and Fighting coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Solar Beam and Foul Play.
Egg moves make a real difference. Cacturne gets Acid and Belch exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Poison and Fighting coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Solar Beam and Energy Ball.
2 encounter spots for Cacturne at moderate rates starting from late-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Cacturne in Scarlet & Violet
To get Cacturne, start by catching Cacnea through walking encounters at Lv. 18-51. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch CacneaAsado Desert - DesertVioletOverworld Lv.18-36 Desert54%MidAsado Desert - DesertScarletOverworld Lv.18-36 Desert54%Mid
Step 2Cacturne ✓Asado Desert - DesertVioletOverworld Lv.32-51 Desert8%LateAsado Desert - DesertScarletOverworld Lv.32-51 Desert8%Lateor evolve from Cacnea (Step 1)
16 encounter spots for Cacturne at high spawn rates starting from endgame routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Cacturne in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
To get Cacturne, start by catching Cacnea through walking encounters at Lv. 23-63. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch CacneaRoute 228Shining PearlGrass Lv.23-25 Route5%MidRoute 228Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.23-25 Route5%MidBig Bluff CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameBig Bluff CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameBogsunk CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 SwampPostPost-gameBogsunk CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 SwampPostPost-gameGrassland CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameGrassland CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameRocky CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameRocky CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameSunlit CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameSunlit CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameSwampy CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 SwampPostPost-gameSwampy CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 SwampPostPost-game
Step 2Cacturne ✓Route 228Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.52-53 Route40%PostNightRoute 228Shining PearlGrass Lv.52-53 Route40%PostNightRoute 228Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.53 Route20%PostMorning/dayRoute 228Shining PearlGrass Lv.53 Route20%PostMorning/dayBig Bluff CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameBig Bluff CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameBogsunk CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 SwampPostPost-gameBogsunk CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 SwampPostPost-gameGrassland CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameGrassland CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameRocky CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameRocky CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameSunlit CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameSunlit CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameSwampy CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 SwampPostPost-gameSwampy CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 SwampPostPost-gameor evolve from Cacnea (Step 1)
Cacturne isn't available in the wild in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Start by transferring Cacnea from Ruby, Emerald, or Scarlet. The evolution path from Cacnea to Cacturne is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Cacturne in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Step 1Obtain CacneaAlso found in:
Step 2Cacturne ✓
No wild encounters for Cacturne in Sun & Moon. Bring Cacnea over from Ruby, Emerald, or Scarlet, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
How to Obtain Cacturne in Sun & Moon
- Step 1Obtain Cacnea
Also found in:
- Step 2Cacturne ✓
Cacturne looks average on paper at 475 BST. But Water Absorb is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. B-Tier cannon on our tier list.
Cacturne's biggest threats include Scyther (Bug), Blaziken (Fire), and Lapras (Ice), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Scyther is the most dangerous since Bug moves deal 4x damage. Fighting, Poison, Flying, and Fairy-type attackers are also a problem. With 7 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Cacturne gets Water Absorb and Sand Veil. But Water Absorb is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Cacturne is a mixed attacker with base 115 Attack and 115 Sp. Atk. Speed tells the real story. At base 55 Speed, it won't be moving first often. Fits the cannon role.
Water Absorb is the hidden ability. It absorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP. Worth hunting for if you want Cacturne to compete at a higher level.
Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Cacturne appears in 14 games across 8 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through wild encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves