Stats & Training
Barbaracle's built to absorb hits, not race for knockouts. Physical bulk with Defense doing the heavy lifting. And the medium-fast 1M XP curve means it won't take forever to bring up, worth 2 Attack EVs.
Seven Binacle come together to form one Barbaracle. The Binacle that serves as the head gives orders to those serving as the limbs.
Having an eye on each palm allows it to keep watch in all directions. In a pinch, its limbs start to act on their own to ensure the enemy’s defeat.
Barbaracle Weakness
Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground moves hit Barbaracle for super-effective damage. Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. The Rock/Water typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Barbaracle's physical bulk (base 115 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Grass |
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire |
 Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
 Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Lombre builds →Solar Beam 4x157-185%KO Mega Drain 4x62-74% Absorb 4x38-46% | ||
 Nuzleaf GrassDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Nuzleaf builds →Solar Beam 4x157-185%KO Razor Leaf 4x69-83% Mega Drain 4x62-74% Absorb 4x38-46% | ||
 Pumpkaboo GhostGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Pumpkaboo builds →Solar Beam 4x125-148%KO Razor Leaf 4x69-83% Bullet Seed 4x38-46% | ||
 Snover GrassIce | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Snover builds →Solar Beam 4x165-194%KO Magical Leaf 4x86-102%KO Razor Leaf 4x62-74% Leafage 4x54-65% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Lombre builds →Solar Beam 4x147-174%KO Mud Shot 2x24-29% Mega Drain 4x53-63% Absorb 4x33-39% | ||
Nuzleaf GrassDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Nuzleaf builds →Solar Beam 4x147-174%KO Razor Leaf 4x67-79% Mega Drain 4x53-63% Absorb 4x33-39% | ||
Pumpkaboo GhostGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Pumpkaboo builds →Solar Beam 4x120-142%KO Razor Leaf 4x59-71% Bullet Seed 4x33-39% | ||
Snover GrassIce | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Snover builds →Solar Beam 4x147-174%KO Magical Leaf 4x80-95% Razor Leaf 4x59-71% Leafage 4x46-55% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Lombre builds →Solar Beam 4x139-164%KO Mud Shot 2x24-29% Mega Drain 4x54-64% Absorb 4x30-36% | ||
Nuzleaf GrassDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Nuzleaf builds →Solar Beam 4x139-164%KO Razor Leaf 4x61-71% Mega Drain 4x54-64% Absorb 4x30-36% | ||
Pumpkaboo GhostGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Pumpkaboo builds →Solar Beam 4x121-143%KO Razor Leaf 4x61-71% Bullet Seed 4x30-36% | ||
Snover GrassIce | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Snover builds →Solar Beam 4x145-171%KO Magical Leaf 4x79-93% Razor Leaf 4x61-71% Leafage 4x42-50% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Ferroseed builds →Solar Beam 4x83-99% Revenge 2x18-22% | ||
 Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 4x219-259%KO Petal Blizzard 4x112-132%KO Giga Drain 4x140-165%KO Mega Drain 4x79-94% | ||
 Eldegoss Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Eldegoss builds →Solar Beam 4x172-204%KO Leaf Tornado 4x98-116%KO Magical Leaf 4x88-105%KO Razor Leaf 4x51-61% | ||
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Lombre builds →Solar Beam 4x145-171%KO Giga Drain 4x94-110%KO Mud Shot 2x23-28% Mega Drain 4x51-61% | ||
Nuzleaf GrassDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Nuzleaf builds →Solar Beam 4x145-171%KO Dig 2x29-35% Low Sweep 2x25-29% Razor Leaf 4x61-72% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Ferroseed builds →Solar Beam 4x84-100%KO Revenge 2x18-21% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 4x224-263%KO Petal Blizzard 4x116-137%KO Giga Drain 4x143-168%KO Mega Drain 4x80-95% | ||
Eldegoss Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Eldegoss builds →Solar Beam 4x179-211%KO Leaf Tornado 4x98-116%KO Magical Leaf 4x94-111%KO Razor Leaf 4x49-58% | ||
 Shiinotic GrassFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Shiinotic builds →Solar Beam 4x196-232%KO Giga Drain 4x125-147%KO Mega Drain 4x71-84% Absorb 4x39-47% | ||
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Lombre builds →Solar Beam 4x143-168%KO Giga Drain 4x94-111%KO Mud Shot 2x24-28% Mega Drain 4x54-63% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Ferroseed builds →Solar Beam 4x82-96% Revenge 2x18-21% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 4x216-254%KO Petal Blizzard 4x110-130%KO Giga Drain 4x138-163%KO Mega Drain 4x77-91% | ||
Eldegoss Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Eldegoss builds →Solar Beam 4x171-202%KO Leaf Tornado 4x98-115%KO Magical Leaf 4x90-106%KO Razor Leaf 4x49-58% | ||
Shiinotic GrassFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Shiinotic builds →Solar Beam 4x187-221%KO Giga Drain 4x118-139%KO Mega Drain 4x65-77% Absorb 4x36-43% | ||
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Lombre builds →Solar Beam 4x138-163%KO Giga Drain 4x90-106%KO Brick Break 2x22-26% Mud Shot 2x22-26% | ||
 Dhelmise GhostGrass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Dhelmise builds →Solar Beam 4x182-215%KO Giga Drain 4x117-137%KO Brick Break 2x43-50% Bulldoze 2x34-41% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Ferroseed builds →Solar Beam 4x78-92% Revenge 2x17-20% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 4x214-252%KO Petal Blizzard 4x112-133%KO Giga Drain 4x136-160%KO Mega Drain 4x73-87% | ||
Eldegoss Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Eldegoss builds →Solar Beam 4x175-206%KO Leaf Tornado 4x97-115%KO Magical Leaf 4x89-105%KO Razor Leaf 4x47-55% | ||
Shiinotic GrassFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Shiinotic builds →Solar Beam 4x190-224%KO Giga Drain 4x121-142%KO Mega Drain 4x66-78% Absorb 4x34-41% | ||
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Ferrothorn builds →Power Whip 4x158-186%KO Solar Beam 4x132-156%KO Revenge 2x27-32% Bulldoze 2x27-32% | ||
Dhelmise GhostGrass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Dhelmise builds →Solar Beam 4x187-220%KO Giga Drain 4x118-139%KO Brick Break 2x44-52% Bulldoze 2x36-42% | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 4x154-182%KO Solar Beam 4x197-232%KO Stomping Tantrum 2x33-39% Brick Break 2x33-39% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 4x219-258%KO Petal Blizzard 4x111-131%KO Giga Drain 4x139-165%KO Mega Drain 4x75-89% | ||
Eldegoss Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Eldegoss builds →Leaf Storm 4x190-224%KO Solar Beam 4x175-207%KO Leaf Tornado 4x96-114%KO Magical Leaf 4x89-106%KO | ||
In Sword & Shield, Excadrill can KO Barbaracle with Earthquake (105-124%). Rillaboom threatens a KO with Wood Hammer (263-309%). Cobalion's Close Combat also KOs at 95-113%.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x105-124%KO Rapid Spin9-11% | ||
 Rillaboom Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityGrassy Surge ItemAssault Vest NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Rillaboom builds →U Turn26-30% Wood Hammer 4x263-309%KO | ||
 Cobalion SteelFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Cobalion builds →Close Combat 2x95-113%KO | ||
 Zeraora Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemAir Balloon NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Barbaracle View Zeraora builds →Drain Punch 2x46-55% | ||
Sword & Shield Evolution
Barbaracle is what Binacle becomes. Breed it for Binacle eggs (average hatch time). A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolution from Binacle pushed Barbaracle to 500 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +53. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Barbaracle to get Binacle eggs easily using 32 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Night Slash, Sand Attack, Switcheroo.
Sword & Shield Barbaracle Best Moveset
The recommended build leans into Barbaracle's strengths as a physical attacker. White Herb provides a one-time stat drop reset, and max Attack and Speed EVs back that up. Toughclaws rounds out the package.
Best Build
Barbaracle best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Liquidation
- Stone Edge
- Low Kick
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Rock Slide
- Protect
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Coverage runs deep. Barbaracle can hit 10 types beyond STAB, including Ground and Normal. The offense anchors on Meteor Beam and Stone Edge while TMs handle everything else.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Barbaracle in Sword & Shield
A handful of locations for Barbaracle with high spawn rates across late-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Barbaracle in Sword & Shield
To get Barbaracle, start by catching Binacle through walking encounters at Lv. 20-52. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch BinacleBridge FieldShieldGrass Lv.26-2830%MidRainingBridge FieldSwordGrass Lv.26-2830%MidRainingMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrass Lv.26-2830%MidRainingMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrass Lv.26-2830%MidRainingBridge FieldShieldGrass Lv.26-2825%MidThunderstormBridge FieldSwordGrass Lv.26-2825%MidThunderstormGalar Mine No. 2ShieldOverworld Lv.20-24 Cave15%MidAll WeatherGalar Mine No. 2SwordOverworld Lv.20-24 Cave15%MidAll WeatherGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrass Lv.20-24 Cave10%MidThunderstormGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrass Lv.20-24 Cave10%MidIntense SunGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrass Lv.20-24 Cave10%MidSnowingGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrass Lv.20-24 Cave10%MidSandstormGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrass Lv.20-24 Cave10%MidRainingGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrass Lv.20-24 Cave10%MidHeavy FogGalar Mine No. 2SwordGrass Lv.20-24 Cave10%MidAll WeatherGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrass Lv.20-24 Cave10%MidOvercastGalar Mine No. 2ShieldGrass Lv.20-24 Cave10%MidSnowstorm
Step 2Barbaracle ✓Dusty BowlShieldGrass Lv.40-4530%LateRainingDusty BowlSwordGrass Lv.40-4530%LateRainingRoute 9 - in Circhester BayShieldOverworld Lv.39-43 Route20%LateAll WeatherRoute 9 - in Circhester BaySwordOverworld Lv.39-43 Route10%LateAll WeatherLake of OutrageShieldGrass Lv.50-52 Water2%PostRainingLake of OutrageSwordGrass Lv.50-52 Water2%PostRainingor evolve from Binacle (Step 1)
Barbaracle Guide
In Sword & Shield, Barbaracle looks average on paper at 500 BST. But Tough Claws is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier attacker on our tier list. Shellsmash with White Herb is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Sword & Shield, but Barbaracle does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Barbaracle hits 600 BST.
Barbaracle gets Tough Claws, Sniper, and Pickpocket. But Tough Claws is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Barbaracle is a physical attacker with base 105 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. At base 68 Speed, it won't be moving first often. Fits the attacker role.
Game Availability
Available since X & Y, Barbaracle appears in 6 games spanning 5 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Mega form in Generation 6.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYDebut
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves