Stats & Training
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.
A slim and fast swimmer. It slices its prey with its sharp sickles and drinks the body fluids.
Kabutops Weakness
Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Grass |
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fire |
In X & Y, Serperior can KO Kabutops with Leaf Storm (289-340%). Garchomp threatens a KO with Earthquake (97-114%). Zapdos's Thunderbolt also KOs at 121-143%.
 Serperior Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityContrary ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Serperior builds →Leaf Storm 4x289-340%KO | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x97-114%KO | ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemSitrus Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave10-12% Thunderbolt 2x121-143%KO | ||
 Hitmontop Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemEjectbutton NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Hitmontop builds →Close Combat 2x102-121%KO Feint4-5% | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemMiracleseed NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Breloom builds →Bullet Seed 4x51-60% Mach Punch 2x40-47% | ||
X & Y Evolution
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Kabutops to get Kabuto eggs using 87 partners from the Water1 and Water3 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Aurora Beam, Bubble Beam, Confuse Ray and 9 more.
X & Y Kabutops Best Moveset
Start with max Attack without Speed EVs. Jolly nature gives Kabutops the right fast physical lean, Life Orb adds extra damage on every hit for a health trade, and Swiftswim works in the background. Waterfall is the main damage option.
Best Build
Kabutops best EVs are Attack and Defense
Doubles Physical Tank Moveset
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Rock Slide
- Brick Break
Recommended Teammates
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
- Rapid Spin
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Without breeding, Kabutops misses out on Aurora Beam and Bubble Beam. That's 12 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Stone Edge and Surf, with coverage across 8 types rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Kabutops in X & Y
Can't catch Kabutops directly. Start with Kabuto but it's a rare spawn from the locations below, then evolve at level 40. The 2-stage line from Kabuto to Kabutops is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Kabutops in X & Y
Step 1Catch KabutoAmbrette Town - Fossil LabYGift from NPC Lv.20 CityLimitedMidRevive Dome FossilAmbrette Town - Fossil LabXGift from NPC Lv.20 CityLimitedMidRevive Dome Fossil
Step 2Kabutops ✓
Kabutops Guide
In X & Y, 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. Aqua Jet with Life Orb is the standard set.
In X & Y, Run Swift Swim on Kabutops. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Kabutops also gets Battle Armor and Weak Armor, but they don't compare. On wall sets, Swift Swim pairs with Kabutops's base 105 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.
In X & Y, Kabutops fills the wallbreaker role. It's a physical attacker with base 115 Attack. Base 80 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
In X & Y, run Aqua Jet, Waterfall, Rock Slide, and Brickbreak on Kabutops. Aqua Jet is the most common pick at 25% usage. Waterfall provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Kabutops has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 19 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
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 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
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