Utility
Cannon
CTier
55Speed · Slow

Stats & Training

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.

Base Stats
Above
HP70
C
Attack115
B
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk115
B
Sp. Def60
C
Speed55
D
Total475
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging60 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height1.3 m
4'03"Average
Weight77.4 kg
170.6 lbsStandard
Base XP166
Average
Abilities
Sand Veil
Increases evasion to 1.25× during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.
Water AbsorbHATop Pick
Absorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.
Water Absorb grants Water immunity
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpA+1SpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

It becomes active at night, seeking prey that is exhausted from the day’s desert heat.

Cacturne Weakness

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.

Cacturne Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Bug
2x (Weak)Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Fairy
0.5x (Resist)Water, Electric, Grass, Ground, Ghost, Dark
0x (Immune)Psychic
Type ChartFragile
7Weak
6Resist
2Immune
Score-7
4xCritical
Bug
2xWeak
FireIceFightingPoisonFlyingFairy
½xResist
WaterElectricGrassGroundGhostDark
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
PsychicWater
STAB (5)
WaterGroundRockPsychicGhost
How to Beat Cacturne in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Best Counters)
Beautifly
Beautifly
BugFlying
C
Available Moves
Moves
  • Bug BuzzTM62
  • Leech LifeLv. 25
  • U-turnTM89
  • Bug BiteLv. 1
Damage vs Cacturne
Bug Buzz 4x
207-244%KO
Leech Life 4x
141-166%KO
U-turn 4x
124-146%KO
Bug Bite 4x
107-127%KO
View Beautifly builds →

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution

Cacturne is what Cacnea becomes. Breed it for Cacnea eggs (average hatch time). A decent partner pool 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

2 Forms
Cacnea
#331Cacnea
32
Level 32
Cacturne
#332Cacturne
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Cacnea
Grass
Cacturne
GrassDark
HP
50
70+20
ATK
85
115+30
DEF
40
60+20
SP.ATK
85
115+30
SP.DEF
40
60+20
SPE
35
55+20
BST
335C-Tier
475B-Tier+140
ROLE
Trick Room
Cannon
TYPE
Mixed
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Cacturne to get Cacnea eggs easily using 45 partners from the Plant and Humanshape egg groups. Notable egg moves include Acid, Belch, Block and 11 more.

Egg Groups
PlantHumanshape
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
14moves
Breed With (best first)
venusaurmeganiumtorterraroseradegardevoirinfernapegalladeludicoloshiftryabomasnowlopunnyjumpluff
12 of 45·

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Cacturne Best Moveset

Focus Sash guarantees Cacturne survives one hit from full HP. That's enough to deal early damage and fire off Sunnyday before going down. Waterabsorb and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs maximize first-turn impact.

Best Build

Experimental
Special Attacker
Ability
Water Absorb
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Cacturne
Mild+SPA

Cacturne best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Attacker Moveset

  • Sunny Day
  • Solar BeamSTAB
  • Destiny Bond
  • Sucker PunchSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Starmie
StarmieGood
Medicham
MedichamGood

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.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Absorb
—2010025Grass
Lv 1
Destiny Bond
A——5Ghost
Lv 1
Growth
C——20Normal
Lv 1
Leer
D—10030Normal
Lv 1
Poison Sting
—1510035Poison
Lv 1
Revenge-4
C6010010Fighting
Lv 1
Spiky Shield+4
A——10Grass
Lv 4
Absorb
—2010025Grass
Lv 7
Growth
C——20Normal
Lv 10
Leech Seed
C—9010Grass
Lv 13
Sand Attack
D—10015Ground
Lv 16
Poison Jab
C8010020Poison
Lv 19
Assurance
—6010010Dark
Lv 22
Ingrain
———20Grass
Lv 26
Payback
C5010010Dark
Lv 30
Spikes
C——20Ground
Lv 35
Sucker Punch+1
A701005Dark
Lv 38
Pin Missile
D259520Bug
Lv 44
Energy Ball
B9010010Grass
Lv 49
Cotton Spore
——10040Grass
Lv 54
Sandstorm
D——10Rock
Lv 59
Destiny Bond
A——5Ghost

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
C—10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
C7510015Fighting
TM09
Bullet Seed
D2510030Grass
TM93
Cut
—509530Normal
TM79
Dark Pulse
A8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM60
Drain Punch
C7510010Fighting
TM58
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
B9010010Grass
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
——10020Normal
TM56
Fling
——10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
C120705Fighting
TM01
Focus Punch-3
B15010020Fighting
TM19
Giga Drain
B7510010Grass
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
D—10020Grass
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM63
Nasty Plot
C——20Dark
TM66
Payback
C5010010Dark
TM84
Poison Jab
C8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
A——10Normal
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM37
Sandstorm
D——10Rock
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
A12010010Grass
TM96
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
A——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
D—8515Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
C——20Normal

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Acid
—4010030Poison
Egg
Belch
B1209010Poison
Egg
Block
D——5Normal
Egg
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Disable
C—10020Normal
Egg
Dynamic Punch
D100505Fighting
Egg
Fell Stinger
D5010025Bug
Egg
Low Kick
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Magical Leaf
C60—20Grass
Egg
Power-Up Punch
D4010020Fighting
Egg
Seed Bomb
B8010015Grass
Egg
Switcheroo
C—10010Dark
Egg
Teeter Dance
D—10020Normal
Egg
Worry Seed
D—10010Grass

Tutor Moves

Cacturne can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Cacturne in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

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.

  1. Cacnea
    Step 1Catch Cacnea
    Route 228
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.23-25 Route
    5%Mid
    Route 228
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.23-25 Route
    5%Mid
    Big Bluff Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Big Bluff Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Bogsunk Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    Bogsunk Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Rocky Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Rocky Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Swampy Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    Swampy Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
  2. Cacturne
    Step 2Cacturne ✓
    Route 228
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.52-53 Route
    40%Post
    Night
    Route 228
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.52-53 Route
    40%Post
    Night
    Route 228
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.53 Route
    20%Post
    Morning/day
    Route 228
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.53 Route
    20%Post
    Morning/day
    Big Bluff Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Big Bluff Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Bogsunk Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    Bogsunk Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Rocky Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Rocky Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Swampy Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    Swampy Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    or evolve from Cacnea (Step 1)

Cacturne Guide

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, 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. Sunnyday with Focus Sash is the standard set.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, 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 leaning toward the physical side (base 115 Attack). Speed tells the real story. At base 55 Speed, it won't be moving first often. Fits the cannon role.

  • For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, the core moveset is Sunnyday, Solarbeam, Destinybond, and Sucker Punch. Sunnyday leads at 14% 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

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback