At 355 BST, Kabuto is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Kabutops before bringing it to any serious fight.

What is Kabuto weak to?

In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Kabuto's biggest threats include Venusaur (Grass), Jolteon (Electric), and Hitmonlee (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Venusaur is the most dangerous since Grass moves deal 4x damage. Ground-type attackers are also a problem.

What is the best ability for Kabuto?

Kabuto gets Swift Swim, Battle Armor, and Weak Armor. But Swift Swim is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.

What role does Kabuto play in battle?

Kabuto is a physical attacker with base 80 Attack. Fragile, can't afford to take many hits, too. Speed tells the real story. At base 55 Speed, it won't be moving first often.

In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, For a casual playthrough, Kabuto works as a placeholder. Rock/Water coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Kabutops . That's where the stats start mattering.

Kabuto - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Balanced

DTier

55Speed · Slow

Stats & Training

Nothing fancy in Kabuto's spread. It leans physical with Defense out front. And you'll get 1 Defense EV per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats

Avg

HP30

Attack80

Defense90

Sp. Atk55

Sp. Def45

Speed55

Total355

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height0.5 m

Weight11.5 kg

Base XP71

Abilities

Swift Swim

Doubles Speed during rain.

Battle Armor

Protects against critical hits.

Weak ArmorHA

Raises Speed and lowers Defense by one stage each upon being hit by a physical move.

EV Yield

HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe

Defense training source

Pokedex Entries

It is thought to have inhabited beaches 300 million years ago. It is protected by a sturdy shell.

Kabuto Weakness

Kabuto is weak to Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground. Watch out for Grass attacks, those deal 4x damage. The Rock/Water typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Kabuto's physical bulk (base 90 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Kabuto Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
4x (Critical)	Grass
2x (Weak)	Electric, Fighting, Ground
0.5x (Resist)	Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying
0.25x (Resist)	Fire

Type ChartVulnerable

4Weak

5Resist

0Immune

Score-4

4xCritical

Grass

2xWeak

Electric Fighting Ground

½xResist

Normal Ice Poison Flying

¼xResist

Fire

0xImmune

None

STAB (6)

Fire Ice Flying Bug Ground Rock

How to Beat Kabuto in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Best Counters)

In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Zarude can KO Kabuto with Close Combat (135-159%). Regieleki threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (229-270%). Krookodile's Earthquake also KOs at 157-185%.

Zarude DarkGrass	A
Recommended Build AbilityLeafguard ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves Darkest Lariat Power Whip U Turn Close Combat Damage vs Kabuto U Turn 39-47% Close Combat 2x 135-159%KO View Zarude builds →
Regieleki Electric	A
Recommended Build AbilityTransistor ItemMagnet NatureTimid Moves Volt Switch ProtectPriority ElectrowebSTAB ThunderboltSTAB Damage vs Kabuto Volt Switch 2x 179-210%KO Electroweb 2x 141-166%KO Thunderbolt 2x 229-270%KO View Regieleki builds →
Krookodile GroundDark	B
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Knock Off Stealth Rock TauntUtility Damage vs Kabuto Earthquake 2x 157-185%KO Knock Off 51-60% View Krookodile builds →
Buzzwole BugFighting	B
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemRocky Helmet NatureAdamant Moves Ice Punch Close Combat RoostRecovery Earthquake Damage vs Kabuto Close Combat 2x 223-263%KO Earthquake 2x 124-146%KO View Buzzwole builds →
Venusaur GrassPoison	B
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemLife Orb NatureModest Moves Sludge Bomb Weather Ball GrowthSetup Giga Drain Damage vs Kabuto Sludge Bomb 82-96% Giga Drain 4x 547-644%KO View Venusaur builds →

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution

Kabuto is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Kabutops. Check the evolution method below. Plenty of partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are slow to hatch. Evolving adds up to 140 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#140Kabuto

Level 40

#141Kabutops

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Kabuto

RockWater

Kabutops

RockWater

60+30

ATK

115+35

DEF

105+15

SP.ATK

65+10

SP.DEF

70+25

SPE

80+25

BST

355D-Tier

495C-Tier+140

ROLE

Balanced

Wallbreaker

TYPE

Physical

Breeding

Moderate

Breed Kabuto with 69 breeding partners from the Water1 and Water3 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Aurora Beam, Bubble Beam, Confuse Ray and 8 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Water1Water3

Gender

♂87.5%♀12.5%

Hatch Time

30 cycles·7,710 steps

Moderate~8 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

11moves

Breed With (best first)

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Kabuto Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Moves

Egg moves make a real difference. Kabuto gets Aurora Beam and Bubble Beam exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 8 types rounds out the picture alongside Stone Edge and Surf.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Absorb

—2010025Grass

Lv 1

Harden

———30Normal

Lv 5

Scratch

—4010035Normal

Lv 10

Sand Attack

D—10015Ground

Lv 15

Aqua Jet+1

D4010020Water

Lv 20

Leer

D—10030Normal

Lv 25

Mud Shot

D559515Ground

Lv 30

Ancient Power

D601005Rock

Lv 35

Brine

D6510010Water

Lv 41

Protect+4

C——10Normal

Lv 45

Leech Life

C8010010Bug

Lv 50

Liquidation

C8510010Water

Lv 55

Metal Sound

D—8540Steel

Lv 60

Stone Edge

C100805Rock

TM Moves

TM40

Aerial Ace

D60—20Flying

TM45

Attract

C—10015Normal

TM14

Blizzard

D110705Ice

TM55

Brine

D6510010Water

TM28

Dig

C8010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM58

Endure+4

C——10Normal

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM19

Giga Drain

D7510010Grass

TM07

Hail

C——10Ice

TM13

Ice Beam

D9010010Ice

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM69

Rock Polish

C——20Rock

TM80

Rock Slide

C759010Rock

TM98

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM39

Rock Tomb

C609515Rock

TM37

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TM49

Scald

C8010015Water

TM82

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM76

Stealth Rock

C——20Rock

TM71

Stone Edge

C100805Rock

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM95

Surf

C9010015Water

TM87

Swagger

D—8515Normal

TM46

Thief

D6010025Dark

TM03

Water Pulse

D6010020Water

TM99

Waterfall

C8010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg

Aurora Beam

D6510020Ice

Egg

Bubble Beam

D6510020Water

Egg

Confuse Ray

D—10010Ghost

Egg

Flail

D—10015Normal

Egg

Icy Wind

D559515Ice

Egg

Knock Off

D6510020Dark

Egg

Mega Drain

—4010015Grass

Egg

Mud Shot

D559515Ground

Egg

Rapid Spin

D5010040Normal

Egg

Screech

D—8540Normal

Egg

Take Down

C908520Normal

Tutor Moves

Kabuto can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Kabuto in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Kabuto doesn't appear in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Transfer it from Red, Yellow, or Shield to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Kabuto is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Catch in the wild in:

ShieldSurfing · Roaring-Sea Caves · Overcast

Then trade to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.

Also found in:

Red Yellow FireRed Diamond Platinum HeartGold

Kabuto Guide

At 355 BST, Kabuto is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Kabutops before bringing it to any serious fight.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Kabuto's biggest threats include Venusaur (Grass), Jolteon (Electric), and Hitmonlee (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Venusaur is the most dangerous since Grass moves deal 4x damage. Ground-type attackers are also a problem.
Kabuto gets Swift Swim, Battle Armor, and Weak Armor. But Swift Swim is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Kabuto is a physical attacker with base 80 Attack. Fragile, can't afford to take many hits, too. Speed tells the real story. At base 55 Speed, it won't be moving first often.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, For a casual playthrough, Kabuto works as a placeholder. Rock/Water coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Kabutops. That's where the stats start mattering.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Kabuto appears in 19 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Kabuto have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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