Introduced in generation three, with the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games, Cacturne is a dual type grass and dark Pokemon. It is the second stage evolution of its two stage evolution line and evolves from Cacnea once it reaches the level threshold. Cacturne is classified by the Pokedex as the “Scarecrow Pokemon” which is likely a reference to its general design. This guide will showcase Cacturne’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Cacturne.
About Cacturne
As a generation three Pokemon, Cacturne first appeared in the Ruby and Sapphire season of the anime in the episode A Cacturne for the Worse. In this episode, May’s rival Harley uses a Cacturne as his signature Pokemon. The Pokedex mentions that Cacturne will behave like vultures. Stalking those who enter the desert and waiting for them to tire or collapse.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire A Cacturne for the Worse |
| 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 | During the daytime, Cacturne remains unmoving so that it does not lose any moisture to the harsh desert sun. This Pokémon becomes active at night when the temperature drops. |
Cacturne Base Stats
| HP | 70 |
| ATTACK | 115 |
| DEFENCE | 60 |
| SP. ATTACK | 115 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 60 |
| SPEED | 55 |
| TOTAL | 475 |
Appearance
Cacturne is a large green Pokemon that resembles a scarecrow. Most of its body is either light green or dark green, and there are small stitches or diamonds of the darker green hue on Cacturne’s chest. There are also dark green spikes running along its arms and legs. On top of Cacturne’s head is a pyramid-shaped dark green cap. Its two arms and legs have no additional fingers or toes, and end in cylindrical shapes. Cacturne is an average sized Pokemon at 4 feet and 3 inches, or 1.3 meters, tall.
Behavior
Cacturne can be commonly found in the desert at night. It is a nocturnal Pokemon that only becomes active when a nearby traveler enters its vicinity. Once a lonely traveler dares to traverse the desert, they are followed by groups of Cacturne, waiting for the traveler to collapse. They stand at the edge of the traveler’s sight and seem to be shuffling shadows in the distance. The Pokedex mentions that Cacturne has lived in the desert so long that its blood turned to sand.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Cacturne has powerful physical and special attack stats. However, its bulk is nothing impressive and it has a slow speed stat. To make Cacturne worse, its defensive type is awful and Cacturne 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 dual type grass and dark type Pokemon, Cacturne takes 2x damage from fighting, flying, poison, fire, ice, and fairy type moves. It also takes 4x damage from bug type moves. It is immune to psychic type moves and will resist ground, ghost, water, grass, electric, and dark type moves.
Best Moveset
Cacturne is not a powerful Pokemon in competitive play. It simply has too many exploitable weaknesses. However, the damage from Cacturne can surprise an inexperienced player. Since Cacturne also comes with access to hazard moves, it can provide some value as long as it receives a turn. A Life Orb held item can ensure that Cacturne’s damage is significant, and Water Absorb is more likely to be active than Sand Veil. Consider running Spikes, Dark Pulse, Sucker Punch, and Energy Ball/Giga Drain. This set is aimed to give Cacturne outplay potential with Sucker Punch while having access to Spikes. Dark Pulse and Energy Ball/Giga Drain can be used aggressively against your opponent’s Pokemon.
| Spikes | Dark Pulse |
| Sucker Punch | Energy Ball/Giga Drain |
How to Catch Cacturne in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Cacturne in Pokemon Go, the easiest way to do so would be to first obtain a Cacnea and eventually evolve it into a Cacturne. Like most evolved Pokemon, its base evolution is much more common to obtain. 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 while both Cacnea and Cacturne have been featured as tier one and tier three raid bosses respectively. To evolve Cacnea into Cacturne it will require 50 candies.
Trivia
- Cacturne and its pre-evolution are the only grass type Pokemon with the Human-Like Egg Group.
- The inspiration for Cacturne’s design is likely a combination of scarecrows and cacti.
- The name Cacturne is a combination of the words cactus and nocturnal.
FAQ
How good is Cacturne?
While Cacturne 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. It also has a large range of types that it resists, but can also take double or even quadruple damage.
How does Cacturne evolve?
Cacturne is the final evolution of its two stage evolution line. It evolves from 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 Cacturne?
Cacturne’s Pokedex classification states that Cacturne is a “Scarecrow Pokemon”. Its appearance seems to be a combination of a scarecrow and a cactus in the desert. Cacturne’s behavior also makes it seem like a vulture. Many Pokemon designs will draw inspiration from real life, and Cacturne is no exception.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Scarecrow Pokemon”. While Cacturne’s impact on competitive play is limited, it can prove to be a versatile Pokemon. Thanks to its wide movepool, Cacturne 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 Cacturne if you want a well-rounded grass and dark type Pokemon.
