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.
It is thought that this Pokémon came onto land because its prey adapted to life on land.
It is thought that this Pokémon came onto land because its prey adapted to life on land.
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 |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
In Black & White, Excadrill can KO Kabutops with Earthquake (116-137%). Conkeldurr threatens a KO with Drain Punch (98-115%). Magnezone's Thunderbolt also KOs at 155-183%.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySandforce ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x116-137%KO Rapid Spin10-11% Rock Slide29-34% | ||
 Conkeldurr Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityGuts ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Conkeldurr builds →Drain Punch 2x98-115%KO Mach Punch 2x52-62% | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemAir Balloon NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Magnezone builds →Thunderbolt 2x155-183%KO Flash Cannon69-81% Volt Switch 2x121-142%KO | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Breloom builds →Mach Punch 2x65-76% Bullet Seed 4x83-97% | ||
 Raikou Electric | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Kabutops View Raikou builds →Thunderbolt 2x169-198%KO Aura Sphere 2x100-117%KO | ||
Black & White 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 78 partners from the Water1 and Water3 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Aurora Beam, Bubble Beam, Confuse Ray and 8 more.
Black & White Kabutops Best Moveset
One boost from Swords Dance and Kabutops gets dangerous fast. The Adamant nature targets flexible, and Swiftswim backs the whole approach. Waterfall and the remaining moves handle most of what's left standing.
Best Build
Kabutops best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Without breeding, Kabutops misses out on Aurora Beam and Bubble Beam. That's 11 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 Black & White
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 Black & White
Step 1Catch KabutoNacrene City - Nacrene MuseumWhiteGift from NPC Lv.25 CityLimitedMidAnyRevive Dome FossilNacrene City - Nacrene MuseumBlackGift from NPC Lv.25 CityLimitedMidAnyRevive Dome Fossil
Step 2Kabutops ✓
Kabutops Guide
In Black & White, 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. Stone Edge with Life Orb is the standard set.
In Black & White, 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 Black & White, 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 Black & White, run Stone Edge, Aqua Jet, Waterfall, and Swords Dance on Kabutops. Stone Edge is the most common pick at 20% 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