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.
A slim and fast swimmer. It sliced its prey with its sharp sickles and drank the body fluids.
A slim and fast swimmer. It sliced its prey with its sharp sickles and drank 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 |
 Hitmonlee Fighting | B | |
Obtain MethodSaffron City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x124-147%KO Jump Kick 2x96-113%KO Brick Break 2x71-84% Rolling Kick 2x59-69% | ||
 Tangela Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Tangela builds →Power Whip 4x124-147%KO Vine Whip 4x49-58% Mega Drain 4x94-111%KO Absorb 4x49-58% | ||
 Parasect BugGrass | C | |
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Venusaur builds →Power Whip 4x170-200%KO Petal Dance 4x272-320%KO Razor Leaf 4x79-93% Vine Whip 4x67-80% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x101-120%KO Drill Run 2x83-98% | ||
In Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee, Cobalion can KO Kabutops with Close Combat (113-133%). Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt also KOs at 182-214%.
 Cobalion SteelFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemFightiniumz NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Cobalion builds →Close Combat 2x113-133%KO Stone Edge31-37% | ||
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureSassy Moves View Ferrothorn builds →
| ||
 Tapu Koko ElectricFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityElectric Surge ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Tapu Koko builds →Thunderbolt 2x182-214%KO Volt Switch 2x141-167%KO Dazzling Gleam81-95% | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Swampert builds →Earthquake 2x154-180%KO Scald46-54% Waterfall61-72% | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemFocus Sash NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Breloom builds →Mach Punch 2x54-63% Bullet Seed 4x68-80% | ||
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee 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
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee Kabutops Best Moveset
Kabutops leads with Focus Sash insurance. Even if it can't take a hit naturally, it'll survive long enough to deal early damage. Max Attack and Speed EVs go all-in on offense since bulk doesn't matter here.
Best Build
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee uses different battle mechanics.
Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.
Moves
Kabutops develops a solid moveset just through leveling. Blizzard and Hyper Beam show up naturally, and the progression handles both STAB and utility without leaning on TMs for the core attacks.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Kabutops in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee
Can't catch Kabutops directly. Start with Kabuto at moderate rates 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 Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee
Step 1Catch KabutoCinnabar Island - Pokémon LabLet's Go PikachuGift from NPC Lv.44 WaterLateRevive Dome FossilCinnabar Island - Pokémon LabLet's Go EeveeGift from NPC Lv.44 WaterLateRevive Dome Fossil
Step 2Kabutops ✓
Kabutops Guide
In Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee, 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. Liquidation with Focus Sash is the standard set.
In Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee, 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 Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee, 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.
For Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee, Kabutops has answers, but so do you. Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Special attackers bypass its physical bulk.
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