Competitive Information for Cacnea [Black/White]
Grass
Abilities:
If Sandstorm is active, this Pokemon's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to Sandstorm.
This Pokemon heals 1/4 of its max HP when hit by Water moves; Water immunity.

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Note: Pokemon with the Water Absorb ability are immune to Water attacks.
Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Cacnea? These builds are optimized for Black/White Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the Black/White metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Meet Cacnea, the sick Pokémon of Grass types! Cacnea is not a Pokémon anyone usually expects to see on the battlefield. In the LC tier (Little Cup), it's a fierce competitor. It is weak to Bug, Fire, Flying, Ice, and Poison-typed attacks. Discover how Cacnea excels in battles with the movesets provided below.
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 120 Hp / 252 Atk / 68 Def / 68 SpD
Moveset:
- Seed Bomb / Needle Arm
- Thunder Punch / Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch / Payback
- Poison Jab
Ready for single battles? Cacnea is an outstanding Physical Sweeper. This moveset is designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Cacnea from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Cacnea's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Water Absorb, Cacnea heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity. Thunder Punch or Drain Punch are added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Needle Arm is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Grass-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Thunder Punch is a physical 75-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Drain Punch is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (Cacnea recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
◆ Sucker Punch is a physical priority-increased 80-base power Dark-type move (usually goes first. Fails if target is not attacking).
◆ Payback is a physical 50-base power Dark-type move (power doubles if your Cacnea moves after the target).
◆ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gaa14b
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 120 Hp / 68 Def / 252 SpA / 68 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Energy Ball / Giga Drain
- Dark Pulse
- Venoshock / Acid
- Round / Snore
In single battles, Cacnea's Special Sweeper role is pretty popular. This configuration strives to crush rivals using potent special moves. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Cacnea's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Cacnea's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Water Absorb, Cacnea heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
◆ Giga Drain is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Grass-type move (Cacnea recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
◆ Dark Pulse is a special 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Venoshock is a special 65-base power Poison-type move (power doubles if the target is poisoned).
◆ Acid is a special 40-base power Poison-type move (10% chance to lower the foes special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
◆ Snore is a special 40-base power Normal-type move (Cacnea must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gba14b
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Cacnea? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive Black/White Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the Black/White metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 120 Hp / 252 Atk / 68 Def / 68 SpD
Moveset:
- Seed Bomb / Needle Arm
- Thunder Punch / Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch / Payback
- Poison Jab
For double battles, Cacnea is an astounding Physical Sweeper. This configuration strives to crush rivals using overwhelming physical attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Cacnea from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Cacnea's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Water Absorb, Cacnea heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity. Thunder Punch or Drain Punch are added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Needle Arm is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Grass-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Thunder Punch is a physical 75-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Drain Punch is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (Cacnea recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
◆ Sucker Punch is a physical priority-increased 80-base power Dark-type move (usually goes first. Fails if target is not attacking).
◆ Payback is a physical 50-base power Dark-type move (power doubles if your Cacnea moves after the target).
◆ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/haa14b
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 120 Hp / 68 Def / 252 SpA / 68 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Energy Ball / Giga Drain
- Acid / Venoshock
- Dark Pulse
- Round / Snore
In double battles, Cacnea's Special Sweeper role is a stupendous. This moveset is designed to overwhelm foes with brute special moves. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Cacnea's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Cacnea's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Water Absorb, Cacnea heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
◆ Giga Drain is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Grass-type move (Cacnea recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
◆ Acid is a special 40-base power Poison-type move (10% chance to lower the foes special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Venoshock is a special 65-base power Poison-type move (power doubles if the target is poisoned).
◆ Dark Pulse is a special 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
◆ Snore is a special 40-base power Normal-type move (Cacnea must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hba14b
Movepool
Want to know what moves Cacnea can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon Black/White generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Cacnea.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Cacnea can perform in Black/White. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive BW Move and Ability Combos for Cacnea
- Moves: Sunny day + Solar beam
- Moves: Sunny day + Growth
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Substitute + Drain punch
- Moves: Substitute + Leech seed
- Moves: Ingrain + Leech seed
- Moves: Toxic + Leech seed
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Dynamic Punch
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect, Sucker Punch
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic
Moves that boost Cacnea's stats
- Growth
- Nasty Plot
- Swords Dance
Most notable and possible best moves for Cacnea
- Destiny Bond
- Protect
- Rest
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Cacnea in Black and White
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.

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Here are the best movesets for Cacnea. Top rated Cacnea Black/White movesets. You can find Cacnea builds Black/White. Cacnea movesets Black/White are listed here. VGC Cacnea Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Cacnea in Black/White along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for Cacturne evolution