Cacnea (#0331) – Stats, Moves, Evolution & Competitive Sets

Base stats

HP50110–157210–304

Atk8581–150157–295

Def4040–10176–196

SpA8581–150157–295

SpD4040–10176–196

Spe3536–9567–185

Total335Higher than 28% of all Pokémon

Ranges: 0 IV/EV with a hindering nature to 31 IV/252 EV with a helpful nature. EV yield: 1 SpA.

Stat calculatorChampions Stat Points & Stat Alignment, or EVs, IVs & nature

Speed tiers

Speed at Lv 50 in Pokémon Champions (base 35). Scarf and Tailwind use the Max+ value.

Max+95Max87No SP55Min49Scarf142Tailwind190

At max Speed, Cacnea outspeeds 8 of the 30 most used Pokémon in Champions VGC, and ties 1.

Others at their most common Speed investment in Champions VGC (Reg M-C · Doubles, Sep 2026); Pokémon holding a Mega Stone are shown as their Mega.

Type matchups

Weak to

Bug2×Fire2×Flying2×Ice2×Poison2×

Resists

Electric½×Grass½×Ground½×Water½×

Takes normal damage from 9 types

NormalFightingRockGhostSteelPsychicDragonDarkFairy

With Water Absorb: Water becomes 0×

Abilities

Sand Veil
Increases evasion to 1.25× during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.
Water AbsorbHidden ability
Absorbs Water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.

Competitive

SV SinglesLC

0.15% of teams · rank #95 · Singles, first stages at Lv 5 · 1630+ rating · 7,479 battles · Sep 2026

Most common build

Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Naive
EVs: 236 SpA / 236 Spe
Tera Type: Grass

Sucker Punch
Energy Ball
Leaf Storm
Destiny Bond

Each part is the most used on its own, so not every team runs this exact set.

Usage by rating

All players1.03%
Rated 1500+0.49%
Rated 1630+0.15%
Rated 1760+0.02%

Usage by month

Oct 20250.15%

Moves

Sucker Punch89.5%
Energy Ball76.5%
Leaf Storm54.6%
Destiny Bond54%
Dark Pulse44.5%
Giga Drain21.5%
Spikes21.3%
Nasty Plot13.6%
Protect9.6%
Tera Blast9.6%

Items

Choice Specs54%
Eviolite32.3%
Focus Sash13.1%
Leftovers0.5%
Power Herb0%
Salac Berry0%

Abilities

99.4%
0.6%

EV spreads

Naive 236 SpA / 236 Spe27.7%
Rash 36 HP / 236 SpA / 236 Spe26.3%
Hardy 36 HP / 116 Def / 236 SpA / 116 SpD14.1%
Quiet 76 Atk / 236 SpA / 196 SpD13.1%
Timid 116 HP / 116 Def / 236 SpA / 36 SpD9.1%

Tera types

Grass55.8%
Dark20.5%
Ground14.1%
Rock9.4%

Common teammates

Mienfoo49.9%
Chinchou48.7%
Vullaby28.6%
Glimmet27.7%
Ekans27.7%
Bramblin26.3%
Snubbull26.3%
Silicobra26.3%

Evolution

#0331CacneaGrass
1. Level 32#0332CacturneGrassDark

Moves

Game Sort Type

Level up 17

1LeerLowers the target’s Defense by one stage.NormalStatus—100%30

1Poison StingHas a 30% chance to poison the target.PoisonPhys15100%35

4AbsorbDrains half the damage inflicted to heal the user.GrassSpec20100%25

7GrowthRaises the user’s Attack and Special Attack by one stage.NormalStatus——20

10Leech SeedSeeds the target, stealing HP from it every turn.GrassStatus—90%10

13Sand AttackLowers the target’s accuracy by one stage.GroundStatus—100%15

16Bullet SeedHits 2-5 times in one turn.GrassPhys25100%30

19Power TripPower is higher the more the user’s stats have been raised, to a maximum of 31×.DarkPhys20100%10

22IngrainPrevents the user from leaving battle. User regains 1/16 of its max HP every turn.GrassStatus——20

26PaybackPower is doubled if the target has already moved this turn.DarkPhys50100%10

30SpikesScatters Spikes, hurting opposing Pokémon that switch in.GroundStatus——20

34Sucker PunchOnly works if the target is about to use a damaging move.DarkPhys70100%5

38Pin MissileHits 2-5 times in one turn.BugPhys2595%20

42Energy BallHas a 10% chance to lower the target’s Special Defense by one stage.GrassSpec90100%10

46Cotton SporeLowers the target’s Speed by two stages.GrassStatus—100%40

50SandstormChanges the weather to a sandstorm for five turns.RockStatus——10

54Destiny BondIf the user faints this turn, the target automatically will, too.GhostStatus——5

TM / HM / TR 49

TM01Take DownUser receives 1/4 the damage it inflicts in recoil.NormalPhys9085%20

TM06Scary FaceLowers the target’s Speed by two stages.NormalStatus—100%10

TM07ProtectPrevents any moves from hitting the user this turn.NormalStatus——10

TM12Low KickInflicts more damage to heavier targets, with a maximum of 120 power.FightingPhys—100%20

TM18ThiefTakes the target’s item.DarkPhys60100%25

TM20TrailblazeThe user attacks suddenly as if leaping out from tall grass. The user's nimble footwork boosts its Speed stat.GrassPhys50100%20

TM25FacadePower doubles if user is burned, paralyzed, or poisoned.NormalPhys70100%20

TM28BulldozeHas a 100% chance to lower the target’s Speed by one stage.GroundPhys60100%20

TM32SwiftNever misses.NormalSpec60—20

TM33Magical LeafNever misses.GrassSpec60—20

TM43FlingThrows held item at the target; power depends on the item.DarkPhys—100%10

TM45VenoshockInflicts double damage if the target is Poisoned.PoisonSpec65100%10

TM47EndurePrevents the user’s HP from lowering below 1 this turn.NormalStatus——10

TM49Sunny DayChanges the weather to sunny for five turns.FireStatus——5

TM50Rain DanceChanges the weather to rain for five turns.WaterStatus——5

TM51SandstormChanges the weather to a sandstorm for five turns.RockStatus——10

TM55DigUser digs underground, dodging all attacks, and hits next turn.GroundPhys80100%10

TM56Bullet SeedHits 2-5 times in one turn.GrassPhys25100%30

TM58Brick BreakDestroys Reflect and Light Screen.FightingPhys75100%15

TM62Foul PlayCalculates damage with the target’s attacking stat.DarkPhys95100%15

TM66Body SlamHas a 30% chance to paralyze the target.NormalPhys85100%15

TM68Thunder PunchHas a 10% chance to paralyze the target.ElectricPhys75100%15

TM70Sleep TalkRandomly uses one of the user’s other three moves. Only works if the user is sleeping.NormalStatus——10

TM71Seed BombInflicts regular damage with no additional effect.GrassPhys80100%15

TM73Drain PunchDrains half the damage inflicted to heal the user.FightingPhys75100%10

TM81Grass KnotInflicts more damage to heavier targets, with a maximum of 120 power.GrassSpec—100%20

TM83Poison JabHas a 30% chance to poison the target.PoisonPhys80100%20

TM85RestUser sleeps for two turns, completely healing itself.PsychicStatus——5

TM88Swords DanceRaises the user’s Attack by two stages.NormalStatus——20

TM90SpikesScatters Spikes, hurting opposing Pokémon that switch in.GroundStatus——20

TM91Toxic SpikesScatters poisoned spikes, poisoning opposing Pokémon that switch in.PoisonStatus——20

TM94Dark PulseHas a 20% chance to make the target flinch.DarkSpec80100%15

TM103SubstituteTransfers 1/4 of the user’s max HP into a doll, protecting the user from further damage or status changes until it breaks.NormalStatus——10

TM111Giga DrainDrains half the damage inflicted to heal the user.GrassSpec75100%10

TM119Energy BallHas a 10% chance to lower the target’s Special Defense by one stage.GrassSpec90100%10

TM122EncoreForces the target to repeat its last used move every turn for 2 to 6 turns.NormalStatus—100%5

TM130Helping HandAlly’s next move inflicts half more damage.NormalStatus——20

TM137Grassy TerrainFor five turns, heals all Pokémon on the ground for 1/16 max HP each turn and strengthens their Grass moves to 1.5× their power.GrassStatus——10

TM140Nasty PlotRaises the user’s Special Attack by two stages.DarkStatus——20

TM159Leaf StormLowers the user’s Special Attack by two stages after inflicting damage.GrassSpec13090%5

TM168Solar BeamRequires a turn to charge before attacking.GrassSpec120100%10

TM171Tera BlastIf the user has Terastallized, it unleashes energy of its Tera Type. This move inflicts damage using the Attack or Sp. Atk stat—whichever is higher for the user.NormalSpec80100%10

TM177SpiteLowers the PP of the target’s last used move by 4.GhostStatus—100%10

TM192Focus PunchIf the user takes damage before attacking, the attack is canceled.FightingPhys150100%20

TM194Grassy GlideIf Grassy Terrain is active and the user is grounded, this move has has its priority increased by 1.GrassPhys55100%20

TM205EndeavorLowers the target’s HP to equal the user’s.NormalPhys—100%5

TM219Skitter SmackLowers the target’s Special Attack by one stage.BugPhys7090%10

TM221Throat ChopPrevents the target from using sound-based moves for two turns.DarkPhys80100%15

TM224CurseGhosts pay half their max HP to hurt the target every turn. Others decrease Speed but raise Attack and Defense.GhostStatus——10

Egg moves 8

EggAcidHas a 10% chance to lower the target’s Special Defense by one stage.PoisonSpec40100%30

EggBelchCan only be used after the user has eaten a berry.PoisonSpec12090%10

EggBlockPrevents the target from leaving battle.NormalStatus——5

EggCounterInflicts twice the damage the user received from the last physical hit it took.FightingPhys—100%20

EggDisableDisables the target’s last used move for 1-8 turns.NormalStatus—100%20

EggFell StingerRaises the user’s Attack by two stages if it KOs the target.BugPhys50100%25

EggSwitcherooUser and target swap items.DarkStatus—100%10

EggTeeter DanceConfuses the target.NormalStatus—100%20

Pokédex entries

Category: Cactus Pokémon
Debut: Hoenn · Ruby & Sapphire
Color: Green
Shape
Habitat: Rough Terrain
Pal Park area: Mountain

Original Hoenn#119New Hoenn#124Paldea#252

It lives in arid locations. Its yellow flowers bloom once a year.
HeartGold · SoulSilver · X
By storing water in its body, this desert dweller can survive for 30 days without water.
Diamond · Pearl · Platinum · Black · White · Black 2 · White 2
It prefers harsh environments such as deserts. It can survive for 30 days on water stored in its body.
FireRed · LeafGreen · Y
CACNEA live in deserts with virtually no rainfall. It battles by swinging its thick, spiked arms. Once a year, a yellow flower blooms.
Emerald
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.
Sapphire · Alpha Sapphire
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.
Ruby · Omega Ruby