Cacturne Evolution
Cacturne Abilities
Increases evasion to 1.25× during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.
Absorbs Water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.
Cacturne Moves
| Move▲ | Type▲ | Cat.▲ | Pow▲ | Acc▲ | Method▲ | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poison Sting | poison | physical | 15 | 100 | Level 1 | The user stabs the target with a poisonous stinger to inflict damage. This may also poison the target. |
| Leer | normal | status | – | 100 | Level 1 | The user gives opposing Pokémon an intimidating leer that lowers their Defense stats. |
| Absorb | grass | special | 20 | 100 | Level 1 | A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by up to half the damage taken by the target. |
| Growth | normal | status | – | – | Level 1 | The user's body grows all at once, boosting the Attack and Sp. Atk stats. |
| Destiny Bond | ghost | status | – | – | Level 1 | If the user is knocked out after using this move, the Pokémon that knocked it out will also faint. This move's chance of failing rises if it is used in succession. |
| Spiky Shield | grass | status | – | – | Level 1 | In addition to protecting the user from attacks, this move also damages any attacker that makes direct contact. |
| Leech Seed | grass | status | – | 90 | Level 10 | A seed is planted on the target. It steals some HP from the target every turn. |
| Sand Attack | ground | status | – | 100 | Level 13 | Sand is hurled in the target's face, lowering the target's accuracy. |
| Bullet Seed | grass | physical | 25 | 100 | Level 16 | The user attacks by forcefully shooting seeds at the target. This move hits two to five times in a row. |
| Power Trip | dark | physical | 20 | 100 | Level 19 | The user boasts its strength and attacks the target. The more the user's stats are boosted, the greater the move's power. |
| Ingrain | grass | status | – | – | Level 22 | The user lays roots that restore its own HP every turn. Because the user is now rooted, it can't switch out. |
| Payback | dark | physical | 50 | 100 | Level 26 | The user stores power, then attacks. This move's power is doubled if the user moves after the target. |
| Spikes | ground | status | – | – | Level 30 | The user lays a trap of spikes at the feet of the opposing team. The spikes will damage opposing Pokémon that switch into battle. |
| Sucker Punch | dark | physical | 70 | 100 | Level 35 | This move enables the user to attack first. This move fails if the target is not readying an attack. |
| Pin Missile | bug | physical | 25 | 95 | Level 38 | The user attacks by shooting sharp spikes at the target. This move hits two to five times in a row. |
| Energy Ball | grass | special | 90 | 100 | Level 44 | The user draws power from nature and fires it at the target. This may also lower the target's Sp. Def stat. |
| Cotton Spore | grass | status | – | 100 | Level 49 | The user releases cotton-like spores that cling to opposing Pokémon. This harshly lowers their Speed stats. |
| Sandstorm | rock | status | – | – | Level 54 | A five-turn sandstorm is summoned to damage all Pokémon except Rock, Ground, and Steel types. The sandstorm also boosts the Sp. Def stats of Rock types. |
| Body Slam | normal | physical | 85 | 100 | TM | The user attacks by dropping onto the target with its full body weight. This may also leave the target with paralysis. |
| Brick Break | fighting | physical | 75 | 100 | TM | The user attacks with a swift chop. This move can also break barriers, such as Light Screen and Reflect. |
| Bulldoze | ground | physical | 60 | 100 | TM | The user strikes everything around it by stomping down on the ground. This lowers the Speed stats of those hit. |
| Curse | ghost | status | – | – | TM | A move that has different effects depending on whether the user is a Ghost type or not. |
| Dark Pulse | dark | special | 80 | 100 | TM | The user releases a horrible aura imbued with ill intent. This may also make the target flinch. |
| Dig | ground | physical | 80 | 100 | TM | The user burrows into the ground on the first turn, then attacks on the next turn. |
| Drain Punch | fighting | physical | 75 | 100 | TM | The user attacks with an energy-draining punch. The user's HP is restored by up to half the damage taken by the target. |
| Encore | normal | status | – | 100 | TM | The user compels the target to keep using the move it encored for three turns. |
| Endeavor | normal | physical | – | 100 | TM | The user inflicts damage by cutting down the target's HP to roughly equal the user's HP. |
| Endure | normal | status | – | – | TM | The user endures any attack with at least 1 HP. This move's chance of failing rises if used in succession. |
| Facade | normal | physical | 70 | 100 | TM | This move's power is doubled if the user is poisoned, burned, or paralyzed. |
| Fling | dark | physical | – | 100 | TM | The user flings its held item at the target to attack. This move's power and effects depend on the item. |
| Focus Blast | fighting | special | 120 | 70 | TM | The user heightens its mental focus and unleashes its power. This may also lower the target's Sp. Def stat. |
| Focus Punch | fighting | physical | 150 | 100 | TM | The user focuses its mind before launching a punch. This move fails if the user is hit before using the move. |
| Foul Play | dark | physical | 95 | 100 | TM | The user turns the target's strength against it. The higher the target's Attack stat, the greater the damage this move inflicts. |
| Giga Drain | grass | special | 75 | 100 | TM | A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by up to half the damage taken by the target. |
| Giga Impact | normal | physical | 150 | 90 | TM | The user charges at the target using every bit of its power. The user can't move on the next turn. |
| Grass Knot | grass | special | – | 100 | TM | The user snares the target with grass and trips it. The heavier the target, the greater the move's power. |
| Grassy Glide | grass | physical | 55 | 100 | TM | Gliding on the ground, the user attacks the target. This move always goes first on Grassy Terrain. |
| Grassy Terrain | grass | status | – | – | TM | The user turns the ground into Grassy Terrain for five turns. This restores the HP of Pokémon on the ground a little every turn and powers up Grass-type moves. |
| Helping Hand | normal | status | – | – | TM | The user assists an ally by boosting the power of that ally's attack. |
| Hyper Beam | normal | special | 150 | 90 | TM | The target is attacked with a powerful beam. The user can't move on the next turn. |
| Knock Off | dark | physical | 65 | 100 | TM | The user slaps down the target's held item, making it unusable for that battle. This move does more damage if the target has a held item. |
| Lash Out | dark | physical | 75 | 100 | TM | The user lashes out to vent its frustration toward the target. This move's power is doubled if the user's stats were lowered during this turn. |
| Leaf Storm | grass | special | 130 | 90 | TM | The user whips up a storm of leaves around the target. The recoil from this move harshly lowers the user's Sp. Atk stat. |
| Low Kick | fighting | physical | – | 100 | TM | A powerful low kick that makes the target fall over. The heavier the target, the greater the move's power. |
| Lunge | bug | physical | 80 | 100 | TM | The user makes a lunge at the target, attacking with full force. This also lowers the target's Attack stat. |
| Magical Leaf | grass | special | 60 | – | TM | The user scatters curious leaves that chase the target. This attack never misses. |
| Nasty Plot | dark | status | – | – | TM | The user stimulates its brain by thinking bad thoughts. This sharply boosts the user's Sp. Atk stat. |
| Poison Jab | poison | physical | 80 | 100 | TM | The target is stabbed with a tentacle, an arm, or the like steeped in poison. This may also poison the target. |
| Protect | normal | status | – | – | TM | This move enables the user to protect itself from all attacks. Its chance of failing rises if it is used in succession. |
| Rain Dance | water | status | – | – | TM | The user summons a heavy rain that falls for five turns, powering up Water-type attacks. The rain also lowers the power of Fire-type attacks. |
| Rest | psychic | status | – | – | TM | The user goes to sleep for two turns. This fully restores the user's HP and cures any status conditions. |
| Scary Face | normal | status | – | 100 | TM | The user frightens the target with a scary face to harshly lower its Speed stat. |
| Seed Bomb | grass | physical | 80 | 100 | TM | The user attacks by slamming a barrage of hard-shelled seeds down on the target from above. |
| Shadow Ball | ghost | special | 80 | 100 | TM | The user attacks by hurling a shadowy blob at the target. This may also lower the target’s Sp. Def stat. |
| Skitter Smack | bug | physical | 70 | 90 | TM | The user skitters behind the target to attack. This also lowers the target's Sp. Atk stat. |
| Sleep Talk | normal | status | – | – | TM | The user randomly uses one of the moves it knows. This move can only be used while the user is asleep. |
| Solar Beam | grass | special | 120 | 100 | TM | The user gathers light on the first turn, then blasts a bundled beam on the next turn. |
| Spite | ghost | status | – | 100 | TM | The user unleashes its grudge on the move last used by the target by cutting 4 PP from it. |
| Stomping Tantrum | ground | physical | 75 | 100 | TM | Driven by frustration, the user attacks the target. This move's power is doubled if the user's previous move failed. |
| Substitute | normal | status | – | – | TM | The user creates a substitute for itself using some of its own HP. The substitute serves as the user's decoy. |
| Sunny Day | fire | status | – | – | TM | The user intensifies the sun for five turns, powering up Fire-type attacks. The sunlight also lowers the power of Water-type attacks. |
| Swift | normal | special | 60 | – | TM | Star-shaped rays are shot at opposing Pokémon. This attack never misses. |
| Swords Dance | normal | status | – | – | TM | A frenetic dance to uplift the fighting spirit. This sharply boosts the user's Attack stat. |
| Take Down | normal | physical | 90 | 85 | TM | A reckless full-body charge attack for slamming into the target. This also damages the user a little. |
| Taunt | dark | status | – | 100 | TM | The target is taunted into a rage that allows it to use only attack moves for three turns. |
| Tera Blast | normal | special | 80 | 100 | TM | If the user has Terastallized, it unleashes energy of its Tera Type. This move inflicts damage using the Attack or Sp. Atk stat—whichever is higher for the user. |
| Thief | dark | physical | 60 | 100 | TM | The user attacks and steals the target's held item simultaneously. The user can't steal anything if it already holds an item. |
| Throat Chop | dark | physical | 80 | 100 | TM | The user attacks the target's throat, and the resultant suffering prevents the target from using sound-based moves for two turns. |
| Thunder Punch | electric | physical | 75 | 100 | TM | The target is attacked with an electrified punch. This may also leave the target with paralysis. |
| Toxic Spikes | poison | status | – | – | TM | The user lays a trap of poison spikes at the feet of the opposing team. The spikes will poison opposing Pokémon that switch into battle. |
| Trailblaze | grass | physical | 50 | 100 | TM | The user attacks suddenly as if leaping out from tall grass. The user's nimble footwork boosts its Speed stat. |
| Venoshock | poison | special | 65 | 100 | TM | The user drenches the target in a special poisonous liquid. This move's power is doubled if the target is poisoned. |
| Zen Headbutt | psychic | physical | 80 | 90 | TM | The user focuses its willpower to its head and attacks the target. This may also make the target flinch. |
Cacturne Sprites
During the daytime, CACTURNE remains unmoving so that it does not lose any moisture to the harsh desert sun. This POKéMON becomes active at night when the temperature drops.
If a traveler is going through a desert in the thick of night, CACTURNE will follow in a ragtag group. The POKéMON are biding their time, waiting for the traveler to tire and become incapable of moving.
After spending thousands of years in harsh deserts, its blood transformed into the same substances as sand. It is nocturnal, so it hunts at night.
It lives in deserts. It becomes active at night when it hunts for prey exhausted from the desert’s heat.
It becomes active at night, seeking prey that is exhausted from the day’s desert heat.
Cacturne's Japanese name is Noctus (ノクタス). Here are all the official names for Cacturne across different languages:
Cacturne Breeding
How to Get Cacturne
Cacturne can be encountered in the wild across multiple Pokemon games. Here is how to obtain Cacturne in every game where it is available:
About Cacturne
Cacturne is a Grass/Dark-type Pokemon introduced in Generation 3. With a Base Stat Total (BST) of 475, Cacturne is classified as a Scarecrow Pokémon and is part of the Cacnea → Cacturne evolution line.
In competitive play, Cacturne is placed in the ZU tier where it holds a 0.36% usage rate. Its key abilities are Sand Veil and Water Absorb, which allow it to function as a versatile team member. Cacturne is weak to Bug, Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Fairy-type moves, so trainers should plan around these vulnerabilities.
Cacturne can learn 112 moves across Level-up, TM, Tutor, and Egg methods. Its most popular competitive moves include Sucker Punch, Knock Off, Spikes, Swords Dance. Standing at 1.3m tall and weighing 77.4kg, Cacturne has been a fan favorite since its debut in the Hoenn region games.