Competitive Information for Cacturne [Diamond/Pearl]
Grass / Dark
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Cacturne? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Diamond/Pearl Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Diamond/Pearl generation metagame.
Cacturne is an extraordinary Grass and Dark-typed Pokemon. Cacturne is a not-uncommon Pokemon to see in Generation 4. This Pokemon deserves to see more play in the meta. Cacturne is weak to Bug, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, and Poison-typed attacks.
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Sucker Punch / Payback
- Seed Bomb / Needle Arm
- Superpower / Brick Break
- Thunder Punch / Double-Edge
Physical Sweeper Cacturne (Sand Veil)
Cacturne is a pretty decent Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Cacturne from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Sand Veil, if sandstorm is active Cacturne's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to sandstorm. Thunder Punch was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Payback is a physical STAB-boosted 50-base power Dark-type move (power doubles if your Cacturne moves after the target).
♦ Seed Bomb is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Grass-type move that deals a good amount of damage.
♦ Needle Arm is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Grass-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Cacturne's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, even if the target is immune).
♦ Thunder Punch is a physical 75-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 1/3 recoil).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/es10a14c
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Energy Ball / Solar Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Hyper Beam / Snore
- Acid
Special Sweeper Cacturne (Sand Veil)
Cacturne is an astounding Special Sweeper. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Cacturne from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Sand Veil, if sandstorm is active Cacturne's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to sandstorm.
♦ Solar Beam is a special STAB-boosted 120-base power Grass-type move (charges turn 1. hits turn 2. no charge in sunlight).
♦ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Cacturne cannot move next turn).
♦ Snore is a special 40-base power Normal-type move (Cacturne must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
♦ Acid is a special 40-base power Poison-type move (10% chance to lower the foes special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/es11a14c
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Cacturne? These builds have been optimized for Diamond/Pearl Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Diamond/Pearl generation metagame.
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Sucker Punch / Payback
- Seed Bomb / Needle Arm
- Superpower / Brick Break
- Thunder Punch / Double-Edge
Doubles Physical Sweeper Cacturne (Sand Veil)
Cacturne is a pretty decent Physical Sweeper. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Cacturne from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Sand Veil, if sandstorm is active Cacturne's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to sandstorm. Thunder Punch was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Payback is a physical STAB-boosted 50-base power Dark-type move (power doubles if your Cacturne moves after the target).
♦ Seed Bomb is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Grass-type move that deals a great amount of damage.
♦ Needle Arm is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Grass-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Cacturne's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, even if the target is immune).
♦ Thunder Punch is a physical 75-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 1/3 recoil).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ed10a14c
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Energy Ball / Solar Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Acid
- Hyper Beam / Snore
Doubles Special Sweeper Cacturne (Sand Veil)
Cacturne is pretty popular Special Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Cacturne from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Sand Veil, if sandstorm is active Cacturne's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to sandstorm.
♦ Solar Beam is a special STAB-boosted 120-base power Grass-type move (charges turn 1. hits turn 2. no charge in sunlight).
♦ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Acid is a special 40-base power Poison-type move (10% chance to lower the foes special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Cacturne cannot move next turn).
♦ Snore is a special 40-base power Normal-type move (Cacturne must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ed11a14c
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Cacturne learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Cacturne can perform in Diamond/Pearl. 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 DP Move and Ability Combos for Cacturne
- 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 Cacturne's stats
- Growth
- Nasty Plot
- Swords Dance
Most notable and possible best moves for Cacturne
- Destiny Bond
- Protect
- Rest
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Cacturne in Diamond and Pearl
- Nature ( )
- Nature ( )
- Optimize Cacturne's EV spread for Pokemon Diamond and Pearl
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Cacturne. Top rated Cacturne Diamond/Pearl movesets. You can find Cacturne builds Diamond/Pearl. Cacturne movesets Diamond/Pearl are listed here. VGC Cacturne Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Cacturne in Diamond/Pearl along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution