Competitive Information for Cacturne [Sun/Moon]
Grass / Dark
Abilities:
Note: Pokemon with the Water Absorb ability are immune to Water attacks.
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Cacturne? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sun/Moon 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 Sun/Moon generation metagame.
Cacturne is a remarkable Grass and Dark-typed Pokemon. It's normal to find yourself dealing with Cacturne when battling in the 7th generation meta. Cacturne is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, and Poison-typed attacks.
Item: Grassium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Seed Bomb / Needle Arm
- Superpower / Drain Punch
- Poison Jab / Stomping Tantrum
- Sucker Punch / Payback
Physical Sweeper Cacturne (Water Absorb)
Cacturne is an interesting 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 Water Absorb, Cacturne heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity. Poison Jab or Stomping Tantrum are added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ 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).
♦ Drain Punch is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (Cacturne recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
♦ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
♦ Stomping Tantrum is a physical 75-base power Ground-type move (power doubles if your Cacturne's last move failed).
♦ Sucker Punch is a physical STAB-boosted priority-increased 70-base power Dark-type move (usually goes first. fails if target is not attacking).
♦ Payback is a physical STAB-boosted 50-base power Dark-type move (power doubles if your Cacturne moves after the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hs10a14c
Item: Grassium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Energy Ball / Giga Drain
- Dark Pulse
- Hyper Beam / Round
- Venoshock / Acid
Special Sweeper Cacturne (Water Absorb)
Cacturne is a fabulous Special Sweeper. This moveset is designed 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 Water Absorb, Cacturne 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 (Cacturne recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
♦ 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).
♦ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
♦ 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hs11a14c
Item: Red Card
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 231 Hp / 231 SpA / 48 Spe
Moveset:
- Nasty Plot
- Energy Ball
- Focus Blast
- Dark Pulse
Cacturne Special Tank (Nasty Plot Cacturne)
Cacturne is a phenomenal Special Tank. It is primarily designed to take a hefty amount of hits from special attacks while dealing some decent damage. With Water Absorb, Cacturne heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
♦ Energy Ball is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Grass-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Focus Blast is a special 120-base power Fighting-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hs12a14c
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Cacturne? These builds have been optimized for Sun/Moon 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 Sun/Moon generation metagame.
Item: Grassium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Seed Bomb / Needle Arm
- Superpower / Drain Punch
- Poison Jab / Stomping Tantrum
- Sucker Punch / Payback
Doubles Physical Sweeper Cacturne (Water Absorb)
Cacturne is a marvelous Physical Sweeper. This moveset is designed 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 Water Absorb, Cacturne heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity. Poison Jab or Stomping Tantrum are added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ 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).
♦ Drain Punch is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (Cacturne recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
♦ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
♦ Stomping Tantrum is a physical 75-base power Ground-type move (power doubles if your Cacturne's last move failed).
♦ Sucker Punch is a physical STAB-boosted priority-increased 70-base power Dark-type move (usually goes first. fails if target is not attacking).
♦ Payback is a physical STAB-boosted 50-base power Dark-type move (power doubles if your Cacturne moves after the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hd10a14c
Item: Grassium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Energy Ball / Giga Drain
- Dark Pulse
- Acid / Venoshock
- Hyper Beam / Round
Doubles Special Sweeper Cacturne (Water Absorb)
Cacturne is a sensational Special Sweeper. This moveset is designed 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 Water Absorb, Cacturne 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 (Cacturne recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
♦ 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).
♦ Venoshock is a special 65-base power Poison-type move (power doubles if the target is poisoned).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Cacturne cannot move next turn).
♦ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hd11a14c
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 Sun/Moon. 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 SM Move and Ability Combos for Cacturne
- Moves: Sunny day + Solar beam
- Moves: Sunny day + Growth
- Moves: Swagger + Foul play
- 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, Spiky Shield
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic
Moves that boost Cacturne's stats
- Fell Stinger
- Growth
- Nasty Plot
- Power-Up Punch
- Swords Dance
Most notable and possible best moves for Cacturne
- Destiny Bond
- Protect
- Rest
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Cacturne in Sun and Moon
- Nature ( )
- Nature ( )
- Optimize Cacturne's EV spread for Pokemon Sun and Moon
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Cacturne. Top rated Cacturne Sun/Moon movesets. You can find Cacturne builds Sun/Moon. Cacturne movesets Sun/Moon are listed here. VGC Cacturne Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Cacturne in Sun/Moon along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution