Cacnea Pokemon Guide

Pokemon Guide

Cacnea Pokemon Guide

Cacnea is a Grass-type Pokemon known for its role in the Hoenn Pokedex, useful moves, abilities, evolution, shiny form, typing, weaknesses and locations.

Normal Form

Cacnea

Shiny Form

Shiny Cacnea

Last Updated: May 2026 | Page Status: This Cacnea guide supports current Pokemon games, Pokemon Champions and future updates. Location, moves and availability details will be updated as new Pokemon game data becomes available.

Cacnea Guide Contents

Description	Quick Facts
Stats	Best Moves
All Moves	Weaknesses
Abilities	Evolution
Locations	FAQ

Cacnea Description

Cacnea is a Grass-type Pokemon introduced in Generation 3. It is known as the Cactus Pokemon, survives in harsh desert environments and evolves into Cacturne.

Competitive Overview

Is Cacnea Good in Competitive?

Cacnea is usually more of an early or middle-game Pokemon than a major competitive threat, but it has useful offensive traits for limited formats. Its Grass typing, access to disruptive moves and eventual evolution into Cacturne give it a clear role in its evolution line.

Cacnea’s biggest strengths are its attack-oriented movepool, desert flavor and useful abilities such as Sand Veil and Water Absorb. Its main weaknesses are its low Speed, limited bulk and several common type weaknesses.

Cacnea Quick Facts

Here are the key facts to know about Cacnea, including its type, abilities, height, weight and species information.

Name

Cacnea

National Dex

#0331

Type

Grass

Species

Cactus Pokemon

Height

1’04” / 0.4 m

40 cm

Weight

113.1 lbs / 51.3 kg

51.3 kg

Abilities

Sand Veil, Water Absorb

Cacnea Stats

Cacnea has attack-focused stats for a basic Pokemon. It is not especially fast or bulky, but it can use Grass and Dark-style coverage before evolving into Cacturne.

Attack

Defense

Special Attack

Special Defense

Speed

Cacnea Best Moves Across Pokemon Games

Cacnea can use Grass, Dark, Bug and support moves across Pokemon games. These are some of Cacnea’s most useful and recognizable moves.

Grass type Pokemon icon

Seed Bomb

A reliable physical Grass-type attack that gives Cacnea strong same-type damage.

Grass type Pokemon icon

Energy Ball

A special Grass-type attack that can lower the target’s Special Defense.

Grass type Pokemon icon

Giga Drain

A Grass-type attack that restores HP based on the damage dealt.

Dark type Pokemon icon

Sucker Punch

A priority Dark-type move that can punish attacking opponents.

Dark type Pokemon icon

Dark Pulse

A special Dark-type coverage move for hitting Psychic and Ghost-type Pokemon.

Grass type Pokemon icon

Leech Seed

A support move that drains HP from the target each turn.

Bug type Pokemon icon

Pin Missile

A multi-hit Bug-type attack that gives Cacnea extra coverage.

Grass type Pokemon icon

Spikes

A hazard move that can punish opposing Pokemon when they switch in.

Cacnea All Moves

Cacnea can learn a variety of moves across different Pokemon games. Use the section below to view Cacnea’s move list by learn method.

Move data shown from: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Level-Up Moves

Level	Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
1	Leer	Normal	Status	–	100
1	Poison Sting	Poison	Physical	15	100
4	Absorb	Grass	Special	20	100
7	Growth	Normal	Status	–	–
10	Leech Seed	Grass	Status	–	90
13	Sand Attack	Ground	Status	–	100
16	Bullet Seed	Grass	Physical	25	100
19	Power Trip	Dark	Physical	20	100
22	Ingrain	Grass	Status	–	–
26	Payback	Dark	Physical	50	100
30	Spikes	Ground	Status	–	–
34	Sucker Punch	Dark	Physical	70	100
38	Pin Missile	Bug	Physical	25	95
42	Energy Ball	Grass	Special	90	100
46	Cotton Spore	Grass	Status	–	100
50	Sandstorm	Rock	Status	–	–
54	Destiny Bond	Ghost	Status	–	–

TM Moves

Method	Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
TM	Body Slam	Normal	Physical	85	100
TM	Brick Break	Fighting	Physical	75	100
TM	Bulldoze	Ground	Physical	60	100
TM	Bullet Seed	Grass	Physical	25	100
TM	Curse	Ghost	Status	–	–
TM	Dark Pulse	Dark	Special	80	100
TM	Dig	Ground	Physical	80	100
TM	Drain Punch	Fighting	Physical	75	100
TM	Encore	Normal	Status	–	100
TM	Endeavor	Normal	Physical	–	100
TM	Endure	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Energy Ball	Grass	Special	90	100
TM	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100
TM	Fling	Dark	Physical	–	100
TM	Focus Punch	Fighting	Physical	150	100
TM	Foul Play	Dark	Physical	95	100
TM	Giga Drain	Grass	Special	75	100
TM	Grass Knot	Grass	Special	–	100
TM	Grassy Glide	Grass	Physical	55	100
TM	Grassy Terrain	Grass	Status	–	–
TM	Helping Hand	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Leaf Storm	Grass	Special	130	90
TM	Low Kick	Fighting	Physical	–	100
TM	Magical Leaf	Grass	Special	60	–
TM	Nasty Plot	Dark	Status	–	–
TM	Poison Jab	Poison	Physical	80	100
TM	Protect	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Rain Dance	Water	Status	–	–
TM	Rest	Psychic	Status	–	–
TM	Sandstorm	Rock	Status	–	–
TM	Scary Face	Normal	Status	–	100
TM	Seed Bomb	Grass	Physical	80	100
TM	Skitter Smack	Bug	Physical	70	90
TM	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Solar Beam	Grass	Special	120	100
TM	Spikes	Ground	Status	–	–
TM	Spite	Ghost	Status	–	100
TM	Substitute	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	–	–
TM	Swift	Normal	Special	60	–
TM	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Take Down	Normal	Physical	90	85
TM	Tera Blast	Normal	Special	80	100
TM	Thief	Dark	Physical	60	100
TM	Throat Chop	Dark	Physical	80	100
TM	Thunder Punch	Electric	Physical	75	100
TM	Toxic Spikes	Poison	Status	–	–
TM	Trailblaze	Grass	Physical	50	100
TM	Venoshock	Poison	Special	65	100

Egg Moves

Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
Acid	Poison	Special	40	100
Belch	Poison	Special	120	90
Block	Normal	Status	–	–
Counter	Fighting	Physical	–	100
Disable	Normal	Status	–	100
Fell Stinger	Bug	Physical	50	100
Switcheroo	Dark	Status	–	100
Teeter Dance	Normal	Status	–	100

Cacnea Typing, Weaknesses and Resistances

Cacnea is a Grass-type Pokemon. This typing gives it useful resistances, weaknesses and matchup considerations across Pokemon games.

Type

Grass

Weaknesses

Flying, Poison, Bug, Fire, Ice

Resistances

Ground, Water, Grass, Electric

Immunity

None

Cacnea Abilities

Cacnea’s abilities help define how it handles matchups, terrain and battle situations across Pokemon games.

Sand Veil

Boosts Cacnea’s evasion during a sandstorm. This fits Cacnea’s desert theme and can make it harder to hit in sand-based teams.

Water Absorb

Restores HP when Cacnea is hit by a Water-type move in games where this hidden ability is available. This can help Cacnea switch into predicted Water-type attacks.

Cacnea Evolution

Cacnea evolves into Cacturne starting at Level 32. The full Cacnea evolution line is Cacnea and Cacturne.

Stage 1

Cacnea

Starting form

Stage 2

Cacturne

Evolves from Cacnea at Level 32

Where to Find Cacnea in Pokemon Games

Cacnea’s availability changes depending on the Pokemon game. In several games, Cacnea is found in desert areas such as Route 111, Route 228 or Asado Desert.

Generation 1: Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon Red	Not available because Cacnea had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Blue	Not available because Cacnea had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Yellow	Not available because Cacnea had not been introduced yet.

Generation 2: Pokemon Gold, Silver and Crystal

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon Gold	Not available because Cacnea had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Silver	Not available because Cacnea had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Crystal	Not available because Cacnea had not been introduced yet.

Generation 3: Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon Ruby	Route 111.
Pokemon Sapphire	Route 111.
Pokemon Emerald	Route 111.
Pokemon FireRed	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon LeafGreen	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.

Generation 4: Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon Diamond	Route 228.
Pokemon Pearl	Route 228.
Pokemon Platinum	Route 228.
Pokemon HeartGold	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon SoulSilver	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.

Generation 5: Black, White, Black 2 and White 2

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon Black	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon White	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Black 2	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon White 2	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.

Generation 6: X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon X	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Y	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Omega Ruby	Route 111.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire	Route 111.

Generation 7: Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon and Let’s Go

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon Sun	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Moon	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Ultra Sun	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Ultra Moon	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu	Not available in this game.
Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee	Not available in this game.

Generation 8: Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl and Legends: Arceus

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon Sword	Not available in this game.
Pokemon Shield	Not available in this game.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond	Route 228, Grassland Cave, Rocky Cave, Swampy Cave, Sunlit Cavern, Big Bluff Cavern and Bogsunk Cavern.
Pokemon Shining Pearl	Route 228, Grassland Cave, Rocky Cave, Swampy Cave, Sunlit Cavern, Big Bluff Cavern and Bogsunk Cavern.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus	Not available in this game.

Generation 9: Scarlet, Violet and Legends Z-A

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon Scarlet	Asado Desert.
Pokemon Violet	Asado Desert.
Pokemon Legends Z-A	Location data not yet available.

Generation 10: Pokemon Winds and Waves

Game	Where to Find Cacnea
Pokemon Winds and Waves	Coming soon once official location, encounter or transfer information is confirmed.

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Cacnea FAQ

Here are quick answers to common questions about Cacnea. This FAQ is visible on-page content only and does not use FAQ schema markup.

What type is Cacnea?

Cacnea is a Grass-type Pokemon.

What is Cacnea weak against?

Cacnea is weak to Flying, Poison, Bug, Fire, Ice-type moves.

What does Cacnea evolve from?

Cacnea evolves into Cacturne starting at Level 32. The full Cacnea evolution line is Cacnea and Cacturne.

What are Cacnea’s abilities?

Cacnea’s abilities are Sand Veil, Water Absorb.

What are Cacnea’s best moves?

Cacnea’s best moves often include Seed Bomb, Energy Ball, Giga Drain, Sucker Punch and other coverage moves.

Is Cacnea good in Pokemon?

Cacnea can be useful depending on the game, format and team role, especially when its typing, ability and best moves are used well.

How do you get Cacnea?

The most common way to get Cacnea depends on the game. Check the location tables above for game-by-game availability.

Is Cacnea available in Pokemon Legends Z-A?

Pokemon Legends Z-A location data for Cacnea is not yet available on this page.

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Cacnea Pokemon Guide