Introduced in generation three, with the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games, Cacnea is a monotype grass Pokemon. It is the first stage evolution of its two stage evolution line and evolves into Cacnea once it reaches the level threshold. Cacnea is classified by the Pokedex as the “Cactus Pokemon” which is likely a reference to its general design. This guide will showcase Cacnea’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Cacnea.
About Cacnea
As a generation three Pokemon, Cacnea first appeared in the Ruby and Sapphire season of the anime in the episode A Poached Ego!. In this episode, Team Rocket member James catches a Cacnea. The Pokedex mentions that if Cacnea lives in a more arid or harsh environment, the prettier its blooming flower will be.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire A Poached Ego! |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire |
| Region | Hoenn |
| Evolution | Evolves from Cacnea, not known to evolve into another Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | 32 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | 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. |
Cacnea Base Stats
| HP | 50 |
| ATTACK | 85 |
| DEFENCE | 40 |
| SP. ATTACK | 85 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 40 |
| SPEED | 35 |
| TOTAL | 335 |
Appearance
Cacnea is a small green Pokemon that resembles a cactus. Its body is light green or dark green, and there are small stitches or diamonds of the darker green hue on Cacnea’s chest. There are also dark green spikes running along its arms and legs. On top of Cacnea’s head is a yellow flower shaped like a crown that blooms once a year. Its two arms have no additional fingers or toes, and end in conical shapes. Cacnea is a small Pokemon at only 1 foot and 4 inches, or 0.4 meters, tall.
Behavior
The thorns on Cacnea’s arm can function like a hammer. In battle, Cacnea will swing the pointed ends of its arms down onto its opponent. Cacnea prefers dry and arid climates and can go over 30 days without water. The flower that blooms on top of Cacnea’s head is prettier or more fragrant depending on how harsh the environment is. If the area is dry and harsh, the flower that grows will be more beautiful. The aroma from the flower can attract Cacnea’s prey to it. The Pokedex mentions that Cacnea prefers living in deserts with practically no rainfall.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As a base evolution Pokemon, Cacnea is not a powerful Pokemon but it does have a powerful physical and special attack stat. However, its bulk is nothing impressive and it has a slow speed stat. To make things even worse, its defensive type is weak and Cacnea takes extra damage from many types. It can be difficult to hit with the Sand Veil ability, or it can counter water type Pokemon with its Water Absorb ability. As a monotype grass Pokemon, Cacnea takes 2x damage from flying, poison, bug, fire, and ice type moves. It is immune to no types, but will resist ground, water, grass, and electric type moves.
Best Moveset
In competitive play, Cacnea is typically reserved for the LC (Little Cup) bracket. The damage from Cacnea can surprise an inexperienced player. Since Cacnea also comes with access to setup moves, it can provide some value in a prolonged battle. An Eviolite, as a held item, can ensure that Cacnea can survive until it sets up, and Water Absorb is more likely to be active than Sand Veil. Consider running Swords Dance, Seed Bomb, Drain Punch, and Sucker Punch. Use Swords Dance to make Cacnea an offensive threat. The rest of its moves are dependent on your opponent’s Pokemon type. Simply select the move that will deal the most damage. Sucker Punch will require some forethought from your part as you will need to understand when to expect getting attacked.
| Swords Dance | Seed Bomb |
| Drain Punch | Sucker Punch |
How to Catch Cacnea in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Cacnea in Pokemon Go, there are a few different ways of doing so. Like most base evolution Pokemon, it is much more common to encounter than its evolution. You can find Cacnea spawning in the wild at a boosted rate near parks, gardens, farms, forests, hiking trails, and other grassy areas. Cacnea can also be hatched from 5 km eggs, and both Cacnea and Cacturne have been featured as tier one and tier three raid bosses respectively. To evolve a Cacnea into a Cacturne, it will require 50 candies.
Trivia
- Cacnea and its evolution are the only grass type Pokemon with the Human-Like Egg Group.
- The inspiration for Cacnea’s design is likely a combination of jack-o’-lantern and cacti.
- The name Cacnea is a combination of the words cactus and its Japanese name, Saboten.
FAQ
How good is Cacnea?
While Cacnea has a high physical and special attack stat, it is weak as an aggressive Pokemon. Its slow speed prevents it from being able to consistently deal damage to your opponents. Luckily, it has access to hazards which can deal considerable damage over time.
How does Cacnea evolve?
Cacnea is the first form of its two stage evolution line. It evolves into Cacturne once it reaches level 32. There are no unique conditions to fulfill with this evolution, and Cacnea will evolve naturally as long as you level it up. Once Cacnea evolves into Cacturne, you have finished the Pokemon’s evolution line and can move on to collecting other Pokemon.
What is Cacnea?
Cacnea’s Pokedex classification states that Cacnea is a “Cactus Pokemon”. Its appearance seems to be a combination of a Jack-O’-Lantern and a cactus in the desert. Many Pokemon designs will draw inspiration from real life, and Cacnea is no exception.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Cactus Pokemon”. While Cacnea’s impact on competitive play is limited, it can prove to be a versatile Pokemon. Thanks to its wide movepool, Cacnea can be useful in battle with the right build. While it is not perfect for an aggressive or disruptive role, it can be beneficial to have extra tools. Reserve a slot on your team for Cacnea if you want a well-rounded grass type Pokemon.
