Mixed
Balanced
55Speed · Slow

Is Kabuto Good in Yellow Playthrough?

The physical fossil. Kabuto evolves into Kabutops at 40, which is the more aggressive Rock/Water option. Same late availability issue as Omanyte since both come from Cinnabar.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTTTETGGEGEEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7KabutoFossilKabutopsEvolveGiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Kabuto's defenses.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Kabuto's defenses.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's team hits Kabuto's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's team hits Kabuto's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
BindVine WhipMega DrainConstrict
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafStun SporeSleep PowderWrap
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceAcidSleep PowderStun Spore
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Kabuto trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

Even
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Risky
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Tough

Sabrina's typing presses Kabuto's defenses.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Risky
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Kabuto has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Kabutops has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Even
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Kabutops trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Kabutops has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Risky
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Kabutops trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Kabutops trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Kabutops trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
EarthquakeSlashPoison StingFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamPsychicKinesisRecover
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Risky
Magneton
Lv 63
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveScreechSwift
You Win
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Fire SpinTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Risky
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Hydro PumpAurora BeamQuick AttackMist
Fossil
Available after Badge 7
Type
RockWater
Tier
E

Kabuto can be revived from a fossil obtained on Cinnabar Island. Revive Dome Fossil. Revive the Dome Fossil at the Pokemon Lab on Cinnabar Island. The Dome Fossil is found at the end of Mt. Moon — choose between it or the Helix Fossil.

View Kabuto locations

Recommended Moves
  • After Misty
    • TM11WaterBubble Beam98100%20
    • TM08NormalBody Slam85100%15
  • After Lt. Surge
    • TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
  • After Erika
    • TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
    • LV 49WaterHydro Pump16580%5
  • After Koga
    • HM03WaterSurf135100%15
  • After Sabrina
    • TM14IceBlizzard11070%5
  • After Koga
    • TM09NormalTake Down9085%20
Evolve Kabuto to Kabutops
Level 40
Type
RockWater
Tier
C

Your Kabuto should hit Level 40 before you reach Giovanni, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves
  • After Misty
    • TM11WaterBubble Beam98100%20
  • After Lt. Surge
    • TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
  • After Erika
    • TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
    • TM40NormalSkull Bash130100%10
    • TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
  • After Koga
    • HM03WaterSurf135100%15
    • TM03NormalSwords Dance100%20
    • LV 53WaterHydro Pump16580%5

How to Get Kabuto in Yellow

Kabuto is handed to you at Cinnabar Island. No encounter rates or random spawns involved, so there's nothing to grind. Check the location details below for the exact conditions to trigger it.

How to Obtain Kabuto in Y

  1. Kabuto
    Step 1Kabuto
    Cinnabar Island - Pokémon Lab
    Lv.30Gift from NPC
    Rate 100%
    Revive Dome Fossil
  2. Kabutops
    Step 2Evolve into Kabutops

Kabuto Weakness

Kabuto is weak to Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Ground. Watch out for Grass attacks, those deal 4x damage. The Rock/Water typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Kabuto's physical bulk (base 90 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Kabuto Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Grass
2x (Weak)Electric, Fighting, Ground
0.5x (Resist)Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying
0.25x (Resist)Fire
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Kabuto Weak Against

Vulnerable
4Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Score-4
4xCritical
¼xResist
0xImmune
None

What is Kabuto Strong Against

6Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+6
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Kabuto

Kabuto Evolutions

Kabuto evolves into Kabutops, but can't breed. At 345 stats as a Rock/Water type, evolution is the only path. Evolving adds up to 150 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Kabuto
RockWater
Kabutops
RockWater
HP
30
60+30
ATK
80
115+35
DEF
90
105+15
SP.ATK
55
65+10
SP.DEF
45
70+25
SPE
55
80+25
BST
355D-Tier
495C-Tier+140
ROLE
Balanced
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Kabuto Best Moveset

Decent physical stats for a pre-evolution, but too slow and too frail to survive competitive play. MoveSurf uses the low Special instead of the Attack. Kabutops improves the speed and power where it counts.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Kabuto
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Body Slam
  • SurfSTAB
  • BlizzardCoverage
  • Hydro PumpSTAB

Moves List

Most of Kabuto's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Hydro Pump and Surf, but Normal and Grass and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Harden
D30Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 34
Absorb
D2010020Grass
Lv 39
Slash
D7010020Normal
Lv 44
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 49
Hydro Pump
S180805Water

TM Moves

TM
TM34
Bide+1
D10Normal
TM14
Blizzard
S110905Ice
TM08
Body Slam
S8510015Normal
TM11
Bubble Beam
D9710020Water
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
D9510010Ice
TM31
Mimic
D10Normal
TM20
Rage
D2010020Normal
TM33
Reflect
C20Psychic
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM50
Substitute
C10Normal
HM03
Surf
S14210015Water
TM09
Take Down
C908520Normal
TM06
Toxic
C9010Poison
TM12
Water Gun
D6010025Water

Egg Moves

Kabuto doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Kabuto can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP30
F
Attack80
C
Defense90
B
Sp. Atk45
D
Sp. Def45
D
Speed55
D
Total345
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.5 m
Weight11.5 kg
Base XP71
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

A POKéMON that was recovered from a fossil. It uses the eyes on its back while hiding on the sea floor.

Pokemon Yellow

Kabuto Yellow Guide

  • Revive the Dome Fossil at the Pokemon Lab on Cinnabar Island. The Dome Fossil is found at the end of Mt. Moon — choose between it or the Helix Fossil.. Kabuto is revived at level 5. Give it Rare Candies or experience-share if you want it ready for the late-game. Note: this fossil is only available in Yellow. The other version of Yellow has a different fossil.

  • In Yellow, For a casual playthrough, Kabuto works as a placeholder. Rock/Water coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Kabutops. That's where the stats start mattering.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Kabuto appears in 19 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Kabuto have the longest track record of availability in the series.

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