That 4x Grass weakness is something every Kabutops user needs to plan around. A competitive option since Gen 1. Needs some investment to avoid getting outsped.
Kabutops's spread isn't flashy. Attack leads, HP trails, 3 stats clear the bar. Tough to catch and worth 2 Attack EVs, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
In the water, it tucks in its limbs to become more compact, then it wiggles its shell to swim fast.
With sharp claws, this ferocious, ancient POKéMON rips apart prey and sucks their body fluids.
Kabutops Weakness
VulnerableGrass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground-type moves hit Kabutops for super-effective damage. Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Kabutops's physical bulk (base 105 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
Kabutops is the evolved form of Kabuto. Breeding produces Kabuto eggs, and they're slow to hatch. Evolving from Kabuto gave Kabutops the biggest boost in Attack (+35), bringing the total to 495 stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Kabutops to get Kabuto eggs using 37 partners from the Water1 and Water3 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Aurora Beam, Bubble Beam, Dig and 2 more.
Start with flexible EVs EVs. A nature nature gives Kabutops the right balanced lean, Leftovers adds passive recovery each turn, and an ability works in the background. Ancientpower is the main damage option.
Best Build
Best Kabutops Moveset
- Ancient Power
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Rapid Spin
Recommended Teammates
Without breeding, Kabutops misses out on Aurora Beam and Bubble Beam. That's 5 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Surf and Bubble Beam, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Kabutops can't be caught in Gold & Silver. Transfer Kabuto from Red, Yellow, or Shield and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
Don't let Kabutops's 495 base stat total fool you. Swift Swim is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier as a wallbreaker.
Kabuto evolves into Kabutops at level 40. Kabutops is the fully evolved form. At 495 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
Kabutops fills the wallbreaker role. It's a mixed attacker — base 115 Attack and 65 Sp. Atk. Base 80 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Kabutops appears in 19 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Kabutops has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 19 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
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 VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
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