Is Kadabra Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
Fast enough to outrun everything in the Sinnoh gyms. Handles Maylene's Fighting-types and contributes against Fantina. If you can't trade for Alakazam, Kadabra still puts in serious work with Psychic and Shadow Ball.
Abra trades roughly evenly with Roark's team.
Kadabra trades roughly evenly with Gardenia's team.
Alakazam trades roughly evenly with Maylene's team.
Alakazam trades roughly evenly with Crasher Wake's team.
Alakazam trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Byron's typing presses Alakazam's defenses.
Alakazam has the type edge here and should clean up Candice's team.
Alakazam trades roughly evenly with Volkner's team.
Alakazam trades roughly evenly with Aaron's team.
Alakazam trades roughly evenly with Bertha's team.
Alakazam trades roughly evenly with Flint's team.
Alakazam trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.
Alakazam trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Catch Abra on Route 203 (walking, Lv 4-5, uncommon).
Your Abra should hit Level 16 before you reach Gardenia, at typical leveling pace.
Most players are ready to trade before reaching Maylene.
How to Get Kadabra in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Kadabra's 3-stage chain starts with Abra, which appears at decent rates in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
Where To Catch Kadabra in BDSP
Abra is your first catch on the way to Kadabra. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 4-47 across 12 total spots in the chain.
Kadabra Weakness
Kadabra is weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark. Kadabra's special bulk (base 70 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Bug, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Psychic |
What is Kadabra Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Kadabra
 Kricketune Bug | C | |
 Surskit BugWater | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Surskit builds →Shadow Ball 2x46-56% Thief 2x44-51% | ||
 Beautifly Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Beautifly builds →Bug Buzz 2x124-146%KO Shadow Ball 2x73-88% Thief 2x73-88% | ||
Kricketune Bug | C | |
Surskit BugWater | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Surskit builds →Shadow Ball 2x49-59% Thief 2x44-54% | ||
 Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x122-144%KO Shadow Ball 2x71-85% Thief 2x64-77% | ||
Kricketune Bug | C | |
Beautifly Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Beautifly builds →Bug Buzz 2x122-144%KO Shadow Ball 2x71-85% Thief 2x71-85% | ||
 Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Haunter builds →Shadow Ball 2x122-144%KO Dark Pulse 2x81-96% | ||
 Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Absol builds →Night Slash 2x201-238%KO X-Scissor 2x153-181%KO Shadow Claw 2x134-159%KO | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x122-144%KO Shadow Ball 2x71-85% Thief 2x64-77% | ||
Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Haunter builds →Shadow Ball 2x122-144%KO Dark Pulse 2x81-96% | ||
Kricketune Bug | C | |
Beautifly Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Beautifly builds →Bug Buzz 2x122-144%KO Shadow Ball 2x71-85% Thief 2x71-85% | ||
Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Absol builds →Night Slash 2x200-236%KO X-Scissor 2x153-181%KO Shadow Claw 2x133-158%KO | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x120-141%KO Shadow Ball 2x72-85% Thief 2x64-75% | ||
Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Haunter builds →Shadow Ball 2x120-141%KO Dark Pulse 2x80-94% | ||
Kricketune Bug | C | |
Beautifly Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Beautifly builds →Bug Buzz 2x120-141%KO Shadow Ball 2x72-85% Thief 2x72-85% | ||
Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Absol builds →Night Slash 2x199-235%KO X-Scissor 2x151-178%KO Shadow Claw 2x133-157%KO | ||
 Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Skuntank builds →Sucker Punch 2x149-176%KO Shadow Claw 2x99-117%KO | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x116-137%KO Shadow Ball 2x70-83% Thief 2x62-74% | ||
Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Haunter builds →Shadow Ball 2x116-137%KO Dark Pulse 2x77-91% | ||
Kricketune Bug | C | |
Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Absol builds →Night Slash 2x197-233%KO X-Scissor 2x150-178%KO Shadow Claw 2x132-155%KO | ||
Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Skuntank builds →Sucker Punch 2x150-178%KO Shadow Claw 2x100-118%KO | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Weavile builds →Assurance 2x158-187%KO X-Scissor 2x140-165%KO Shadow Claw 2x122-145%KO | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x116-138%KO Shadow Ball 2x69-82% Thief 2x62-73% | ||
Beautifly Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Beautifly builds →Bug Buzz 2x116-138%KO Shadow Ball 2x69-82% Thief 2x69-82% | ||
Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Absol builds →Night Slash 2x197-233%KO X-Scissor 2x150-178%KO Shadow Claw 2x132-155%KO | ||
Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Skuntank builds →Sucker Punch 2x150-178%KO Shadow Claw 2x100-118%KO | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Weavile builds →Assurance 2x158-187%KO X-Scissor 2x140-165%KO Shadow Claw 2x122-145%KO | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x116-138%KO Shadow Ball 2x69-82% Thief 2x62-73% | ||
Beautifly Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Beautifly builds →Bug Buzz 2x116-138%KO Shadow Ball 2x69-82% Thief 2x69-82% | ||
Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Absol builds →Night Slash 2x205-242%KO X-Scissor 2x156-184%KO Shadow Claw 2x137-161%KO | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Weavile builds →Night Slash 2x191-226%KO X-Scissor 2x146-172%KO Shadow Claw 2x128-150%KO | ||
Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Skuntank builds →Sucker Punch 2x156-183%KO Shadow Claw 2x103-122%KO | ||
 Cacturne GrassDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Cacturne builds →Dark Pulse 2x117-139%KO Pin Missile 2x46-54% | ||
 Banette Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Banette builds →Phantom Force 2x238-280%KO Sucker Punch 2x123-145%KO | ||
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Weavile threatens a KO with Knock Off (224-263%). Chandelure's Shadow Ball also KOs at 171-202%.
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Volcarona builds →Psychic33-39% | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Weavile builds →Knock Off 2x224-263%KO Ice Shard69-81% | ||
 Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Kadabra View Chandelure builds →Shadow Ball 2x171-202%KO Energy Ball64-76% Flamethrower97-114%KO Psychic32-38% | ||
Kadabra Evolutions
Sitting between Abra and Alakazam, Kadabra is part of a chain that requires a trade. Not your typical level-up setup. HP has grown the most so far (+15), but there's still another 100 stats to gain in the final evolution. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Kadabra to get Abra eggs easily using 39 partners from the Humanshape egg group. Notable egg moves include Ally Switch, Confusion, Encore and 9 more.
BDSP Kadabra Best Moveset
120 Sp. Atk at 105 Speed with hidden AbilityMagic Guard ignoring all indirect damage. The moveset hits fast with Psychic TermStab, and the immunity to hazards and status chip adds real value. E-tier as a middle evolution because Alakazam does everything better at A-tier with the same hidden ability.
Best Build
Kadabra best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Dazzling Gleam
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 10 types means almost nothing walls Kadabra cleanly, with Future Sight and Dream Eater anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
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
Base Stats
If one is nearby, an eerie shadow appears on TV screens. Seeing the shadow is said to bring bad luck.
When it uses its psychic power, it emits strong alpha waves that can ruin precision instruments.
Kadabra Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
Kadabra is meant to evolve into Alakazam. At 400 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Kadabra's biggest threats include Scyther (Bug), Misdreavus (Ghost), and Tyranitar (Dark), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Kadabra's base 105 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.
Kadabra evolves into Alakazam via trade. Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Kadabra to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required.
Magic Guard is what you want on Kadabra. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Synchronize, Inner Focus) work on paper but Magic Guard is what makes Kadabra worth using. With base 105 Speed, Magic Guard gives Kadabra an edge before opponents can react.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Magic Guard is the hidden ability. It protects against damage not directly caused by a move. Worth hunting for if you want Kadabra to compete at a higher level.
Game Availability
One of the original 151, Kadabra has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
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