Is Cacturne Good in Black 2 & White 2 Playthrough?
Cacnea evolves at level 32. Grass/Dark with AbilitySand Veil. If imported, decent offenses from both sides handle Shauntal through Dark and Clay through Grass. Slow and frail, so pick matchups carefully.
Cacnea has the type edge here and should clean up Cheren's team.
Roxie's team hits Cacnea's weaknesses hard.
Burgh's team hits Cacnea's weaknesses hard.
Cacnea trades roughly evenly with Elesa's team.
Cacnea has the type edge here and should clean up Clay's team.
Cacturne trades roughly evenly with Skyla's team.
Cacturne trades roughly evenly with Drayden's team.
Cacturne resists most of Marlon's coverage and hits back hard.
Cacturne has the type edge here and should clean up Shauntal's team.
Cacturne trades roughly evenly with Grimsley's team.
Cacturne has the type edge here and should clean up Caitlin's team.
Cacturne trades roughly evenly with Marshal's team.
Cacturne trades roughly evenly with Iris's team.
Cacturne cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 32.
How to Get Cacturne in Black 2 & White 2
Cacturne can't be caught in Black 2 & White 2. Transfer Cacnea from Ruby & Sapphire, Emerald, or Scarlet & Violet and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Cacturne in B2W2
Step 1Obtain CacneaLATER APPEARANCEfrom Ruby & SapphireNot TradeableAppears in Ruby & Sapphire via Walking · Route 111. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom EmeraldNot TradeableAppears in Emerald via Walking · Route 111. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Walking · Route 228. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom PlatinumNot TradeableAppears in Platinum via Walking · Route 228. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire via Walking · Route 111. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl via Walking · Route 228. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.- Step 2Cacturne ✓
Cacturne Weakness
Cacturne is weak to Bug, Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, and Flying. 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 |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Water, Electric, Grass, Ground, Ghost, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Cacturne Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Cacturne
 Tepig Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift | ||
 Sewaddle BugGrass | D | |
 Koffing Poison | C | |
 Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Growlithe builds →Flame Wheel 2x57-67% Rock Smash 2x26-31% | ||
 Riolu Fighting | C | |
Tepig Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Tepig builds →Flame Charge 2x48-57% Rock Smash 2x26-31% | ||
 Glaceon Ice | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Glaceon builds →Icy Wind 2x77-92% Rock Smash 2x23-27% | ||
 Swadloon BugGrass | C | |
 Pignite FireFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tepig (Aspertia City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Pignite builds →Flame Charge 2x57-68% Rock Smash 2x47-56% Smog 2x13-16% | ||
 Muk Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Muk builds →Sludge 2x53-64% Rock Smash 2x33-40% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Growlithe builds →Fire Fang 2x60-72% Rock Smash 2x24-29% | ||
 Braviary Normal | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Braviary builds →Wing Attack 2x87-102%KO Rock Smash 2x38-46% | ||
 Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Mandibuzz builds →Pluck 2x53-63% Rock Smash 2x24-29% | ||
 Darumaka Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Darumaka builds →Fire Punch 2x84-99% Rock Smash 2x31-37% | ||
 Flareon Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Flareon builds →Fire Fang 2x98-115%KO Rock Smash 2x41-48% | ||
 Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Arcanine builds →Fire Fang 2x87-102%KO Rock Smash 2x35-42% | ||
 Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x220-259%KO Brick Break 2x70-82% | ||
 Scolipede BugPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Scolipede builds →Megahorn 4x275-324%KO Poison Tail 2x60-71% Rock Smash 2x31-37% | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x165-194%KO Aerial Ace 2x56-67% Venoshock 2x26-31% | ||
Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Mandibuzz builds →U-turn 4x79-94% Fly 2x75-88% Rock Smash 2x23-27% Incinerate 2x17-20% | ||
 Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x226-266%KO Brick Break 2x70-83% | ||
Scolipede BugPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Scolipede builds →Megahorn 4x279-329%KO Poison Tail 2x59-70% Rock Smash 2x32-38% | ||
 Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x183-217%KO U-turn 4x144-170%KO Hammer Arm 2x103-122%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x166-196%KO Aerial Ace 2x56-66% Venoshock 2x26-31% | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Leavanny builds →X-Scissor 4x190-224%KO Aerial Ace 2x49-57% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Heracross builds →Megahorn 4x335-394%KO Close Combat 2x167-197%KO Aerial Ace 2x56-67% Venoshock 2x26-31% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x226-266%KO Superpower 2x111-131%KO | ||
Scolipede BugPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Scolipede builds →Megahorn 4x280-330%KO Poison Tail 2x60-71% Rock Smash 2x32-39% | ||
 Cobalion SteelFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Cobalion builds →Sacred Sword 2x98-116%KO Aerial Ace 2x44-51% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x186-219%KO U-turn 4x146-171%KO Superpower 2x124-146%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Heracross builds →Megahorn 4x334-393%KO Close Combat 2x167-197%KO Aerial Ace 2x56-66% Venoshock 2x26-31% | ||
Cobalion SteelFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Cobalion builds →X-Scissor 4x115-135%KO Sacred Sword 2x96-114%KO Aerial Ace 2x43-51% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x224-264%KO Superpower 2x111-131%KO | ||
Scolipede BugPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Scolipede builds →Megahorn 4x276-324%KO Poison Tail 2x58-69% Rock Smash 2x32-38% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x182-215%KO U-turn 4x145-170%KO Superpower 2x122-143%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Heracross builds →Megahorn 4x337-397%KO Close Combat 2x169-199%KO Aerial Ace 2x57-67% Venoshock 2x25-30% | ||
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Obtain MethodRelic Castle Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Volcarona builds →Bug Buzz 4x272-320%KO Overheat 2x210-248%KO Hurricane 2x120-142%KO Poison Jab 2x42-49% | ||
 Durant BugSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Durant builds →X-Scissor 4x201-237%KO Aerial Ace 2x51-60% Rock Smash 2x34-40% | ||
Cobalion SteelFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Cobalion builds →Close Combat 2x128-151%KO X-Scissor 4x115-135%KO Poison Jab 2x57-68% Aerial Ace 2x43-51% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x227-267%KO Superpower 2x112-132%KO | ||
In Black 2 & White 2, Genesect can KO Cacturne with U-turn (232-273%). Blaziken threatens a KO with Flare Blitz (283-333%). Machamp deals 64-75% with Stone Edge.
 Genesect BugSteel | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureNaive Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Genesect builds →U Turn 4x232-273%KO Ice Beam 2x82-97% Explosion137-162%KO | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySpeed Boost ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Blaziken builds →Flare Blitz 2x283-333%KO | ||
 Machamp Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNoguard ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Machamp builds →Bullet Punch26-31% Stone Edge64-75% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Cacturne View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x110-129%KO Surf27-32% Ice Shard 2x42-49% Thunderbolt18-21% | ||
Cacturne Evolutions
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 57 partners from the Plant and Humanshape egg groups. Notable egg moves include Acid, Block, Counter and 11 more.
B2W2 Cacturne Best Moveset
Grass/Dark at 115 in both offenses fires from either side at real power, and AbilityWater Absorb heals from Water moves. The moveset answers Water types by absorbing their attacks for HP. 55 Speed goes last against most threats, and five type weaknesses limit safe switch-ins.
Best Build
Cacturne best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Sucker Punch
- Drain Punch
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Egg moves make a real difference. Cacturne gets Acid and Block 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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
It becomes active at night, seeking prey that is exhausted from the day’s desert heat.
Cacturne Black 2 & White 2 Guide
In Black 2 & White 2, Cacturne looks average on paper at 475 BST. But Water Absorb is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier cannon on our tier list. Sucker Punch with Life Orb is the standard set.
In Black 2 & White 2, 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, and Flying-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 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.
For Black 2 & White 2, the core moveset is Sucker Punch, Drain Punch, Substitute, and Swords Dance. Sucker Punch leads at 0% usage. This set covers the cannon role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
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 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves