Is Cacnea Good in Ruby & Sapphire Playthrough?
Route 111 desert. Grass/Dark with AbilitySand Veil for evasion in sandstorm. Cacturne at 32 has high Attack and Special but terrible Speed and bulk. Glass cannon in the desert. Handles Phoebe and Wallace but dies to anything that outspeeds it, which is most things.
Cacnea resists most of Roxanne's coverage and hits back hard.
Cacnea has the type edge here and should clean up Brawly's team.
Cacnea trades roughly evenly with Wattson's team.
Flannery's team hits Cacnea's weaknesses hard.
Cacnea trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.
Winona's team hits Cacnea's weaknesses hard.
Cacturne has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.
Cacturne resists most of Wallace's coverage and hits back hard.
Cacturne trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.
Cacturne resists most of Phoebe's coverage and hits back hard.
Cacturne has the type edge here and should clean up Glacia's team.
Cacturne trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.
Cacturne trades roughly evenly with Steven's team.
Catch Cacnea on Route 111 (walking, Lv 19-21, uncommon).
- After Brawly
- TM43NormalSecret Power70100%20
- TM10NormalHidden Power60100%15
- LV 29DarkFeint Attack60100%20
- After Norman
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
- After Winona
- TM22GrassSolar Beam180100%10
- TM19GrassGiga Drain113100%10
- LV 37GrassNeedle Arm90100%15
Your Cacnea should hit Level 32 before you reach Tate & Liza, at typical leveling pace.
- STARTING (Lv 32)
- LV 32DarkFeint Attack90100%20
- After Roxanne
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- After Norman
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
- After Winona
- TM22GrassSolar Beam180100%10
- TM19GrassGiga Drain113100%10
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- LV 41GrassNeedle Arm90100%15
How to Get Cacnea in Ruby & Sapphire
A few locations for Cacnea with decent spawn rates across mid-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 Cacnea in RS
Step 1Cacnea ✓Route 111 - DesertLv.19-21GrassRate 20%
Step 2Evolve into CacturneBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Cacturne egg.
Cacnea Weakness
Cacnea's Grass typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Water, Electric, Grass, Ground |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Cacnea Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Cacnea
 Dustox BugPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Dustox builds →Sludge Bomb 2x96-113%KO Gust 2x32-38% | ||
 Zubat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Zubat builds →Sludge Bomb 2x85-102%KO Leech Life 2x15-19% | ||
 Taillow Normal | C | |
 Torchic Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Torchic builds →Ember 2x57-68% Peck 2x28-34% | ||
 Wingull Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvergrande City Surfing | ||
Dustox BugPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Dustox builds →Sludge Bomb 2x100-119%KO Gust 2x32-38% | ||
 Oddish GrassPoison | C | |
 Combusken FireFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Combusken builds →Ember 2x63-76% Peck 2x40-48% | ||
 Gulpin Poison | C | |
Zubat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Zubat builds →Sludge Bomb 2x92-110%KO Wing Attack 2x63-76% Leech Life 2x16-19% | ||
Combusken FireFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Combusken builds →Overheat 2x211-249%KO Peck 2x37-45% | ||
 Golbat Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Golbat builds →Sludge Bomb 2x130-154%KO Wing Attack 2x89-107%KO Leech Life 2x22-26% | ||
 Masquerain Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Surskit (Route 102 Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Masquerain builds →Ice Beam 2x109-129%KO Gust 2x50-59% | ||
 Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x211-249%KO Sludge Bomb 2x91-108%KO | ||
 Swalot Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Swalot builds →Sludge Bomb 2x124-146%KO Ice Beam 2x87-103%KO | ||
Combusken FireFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Combusken builds →Overheat 2x216-256%KO Peck 2x37-44% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Golbat builds →Sludge Bomb 2x135-159%KO Wing Attack 2x90-107%KO Leech Life 2x22-27% | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Surskit (Route 102 Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Masquerain builds →Ice Beam 2x111-131%KO Gust 2x49-59% | ||
Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x216-256%KO Sludge Bomb 2x94-111%KO | ||
Swalot Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Swalot builds →Sludge Bomb 2x126-148%KO Ice Beam 2x88-104%KO | ||
Combusken FireFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Combusken builds →Overheat 2x219-258%KO Aerial Ace 2x65-77% | ||
 Camerupt FireGround | C | |
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
Golbat Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Golbat builds →Sludge Bomb 2x136-160%KO Wing Attack 2x92-108%KO Leech Life 2x21-26% | ||
 Tropius Grass | C | |
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Blaziken builds →Overheat 2x275-324%KO Aerial Ace 2x84-100%KO | ||
 Altaria Dragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Altaria builds →Fire Blast 2x110-129%KO Fly 2x97-115%KO Ice Beam 2x86-102%KO | ||
 Muk Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Muk builds →Sludge Bomb 2x170-200%KO Fire Blast 2x103-122%KO | ||
Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
 Ninetales Fire | C | |
Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Blaziken builds →Overheat 2x271-319%KO Aerial Ace 2x85-101%KO | ||
Altaria Dragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Altaria builds →Fire Blast 2x109-128%KO Fly 2x95-113%KO Ice Beam 2x87-103%KO | ||
Muk Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Muk builds →Sludge Bomb 2x171-201%KO Fire Blast 2x103-121%KO | ||
Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
Ninetales Fire | C | |
 Rayquaza Dragon | S | |
Obtain MethodSky Pillar Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Rayquaza builds →Overheat 2x242-284%KO Fly 2x182-214%KO Ice Beam 2x165-194%KO | ||
Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Blaziken builds →Overheat 2x277-326%KO Aerial Ace 2x86-102%KO | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | A | |
Altaria Dragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Altaria builds →Sky Attack 2x192-226%KO Fire Blast 2x109-129%KO Ice Beam 2x87-103%KO | ||
 Salamence Dragon | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Salamence builds →Fly 2x167-196%KO Fire Blast 2x159-187%KO | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityWaterveil ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Wailmer builds →Earthquake18-21% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityArenatrap ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Diglett builds →Earthquake24-29% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemQuickclaw NatureTimid Moves View Gastly builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityTrace ItemLeftovers NatureBrave Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Porygon builds →Psychic22-27% Facade34-40% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySynchronize ItemSalacberry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Cacnea View Abra builds →Psychic34-40% | ||
Cacnea Evolutions
One evolution ahead. Cacnea grows into Cacturne through a straightforward two-stage chain. A decent partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 140 total stats over Cacnea. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Cacnea easily with 35 breeding partners from the Plant and Humanshape egg groups. Pass egg moves like Acid, Counter, Dynamic Punch and 2 more to offspring.
RS Cacnea Best Moveset
Grass/Dark pre-evolution with MoveSpikes access at stats too low for competitive play. AbilitySand Veil boosts evasion in sandstorm but the stats can't take advantage. Cacturne improves the Attack.
Best Build
Cacnea best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Destiny Bond
- Spikes
- Focus Punch
- Giga Drain
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
You'll want to breed for Acid and Counter on Cacnea. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Solar Beam and Giga Drain, they expand what Cacnea can actually threaten in practice.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
CACNEA lives in arid locations such as deserts. It releases a strong aroma from its flower to attract prey. When prey comes near, this POKéMON shoots sharp thorns from its body to bring the victim down.
The more arid and harsh the environment, the more pretty and fragrant a flower CACNEA grows. This POKéMON battles by wildly swinging its thorny arms.
Cacnea Ruby & Sapphire Guide
For Ruby & Sapphire, you can run Cacnea through the first few routes without issues. 335 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Cacturne as fast as you can.
Game Availability
Available in 14 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Cacnea spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in a solid number of games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves