Kabuto
Rock/Water-type, Generation 1. Evolves into Kabutops for 50 Candy — no raid or PvP ranking of its own.
Best moveset
- Highest damage
- Scratch Rock Tomb
Same-type attack bonus on Rock Tomb. Rock Tomb costs 50 energy for 65 power.
Type effectiveness
Damage Kabuto takes from each attacking type
Base stats
- Stat total
- 390
- Buddy distance
- 5.0 km per candy
- Second charged move
- 75,000 Dust + 75 Candy
- 100% IV at Lv 20
- 783 CP
Kabuto moves
2 fast · 3 charged
Fast moves
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DUR | DPS | DPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Power STAB | Rock | 70 | 33 | 3.5s | 20 | 2.12 |
| Aqua Jet STAB | Water | 45 | 33 | 2.5s | 18 | 1.36 |
| Rock Tomb Best STAB | Rock | 65 | 50 | 3.0s | 21.7 | 1.30 |
Fast moves
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DPE | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Power | Rock | 60 | 45 | 1.33 | Buff / debuff |
| Aqua Jet | Water | 70 | 40 | 1.75 | — |
| Rock Tomb | Rock | 75 | 50 | 1.50 | Buff / debuff |
Moveset analysis
The highest-damage fast move is Scratch (12 DPS); Mud Shot builds energy fastest (12 EPS).
Evolution
Raids
- Raid tier
- 1-Star
- Shiny
- Can be shiny after the raid
- Raid guide
- Full Kabuto raid guide
Best counters against Kabuto
How to get Kabuto
- Wild
- Spawns in the wild — rarity depends on biome and active events
- Raids
- 1-Star raid boss
- Team GO Rocket
- Shadow Kabuto knows Frustration — swap it with a Charged TM
- Purification
- 5,000 Dust + 5 Candy → Return
- Trading
- Can be traded between trainers
Catch CP
| Source | Level | Min CP | Max CP (100% IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Catch | Lv 1–30 | 32 | 1,184 |
| Wild (Weather Boost) | Lv 1–35 | 32 | 1,282 |
| Raid Catch | Lv 20 | 749 | 802 |
| Raid (Weather Boost) | Lv 25 | 931 | 998 |
| Egg Hatch | Lv 20 | 749 | 802 |
| Research Encounter | Lv 15 | 566 | 607 |
| GO Battle League | Lv 20 | 749 | 802 |
Is Kabuto good in Pokemon GO?
| Power up | Stardust | Candy | XL Candy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lv 20 → 40 | 135,000 | 15 | — |
Kabuto has no raid or PvP ranking right now. Keep a high-IV one for the Pokedex and for future move updates or limited-format cups, and spend your Stardust elsewhere.
- Attack is its highest stat (148), so it hits harder than it survives — a glass-cannon raid slot rather than a gym defender.
- A second charged move costs 75,000 Dust and 75 Candy, and with 3 charged moves to pick from it is the single biggest PvP upgrade you can buy.
- Shadow Kabuto deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more: better for raids, riskier in PvP.
- Its moves get a damage boost in Partly Cloudy and Rainy weather — worth timing raids around.
CP by level
Maximum CP with perfect 15/15/15 IVs at every level
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 1 | 19 |
| Lv 2 | 60 |
| Lv 3 | 102 |
| Lv 4 | 143 |
| Lv 5 | 184 |
| Lv 6 | 226 |
| Lv 7 | 267 |
| Lv 8 | 309 |
| Lv 9 | 350 |
| Lv 10 | 391 |
| Lv 11 | 430 |
| Lv 12 | 470 |
| Lv 13 | 509 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 14 | 548 |
| Lv 15 | 587 |
| Lv 16 | 626 |
| Lv 17 | 665 |
| Lv 18 | 705 |
| Lv 19 | 744 |
| Lv 20 | 783 |
| Lv 21 | 822 |
| Lv 22 | 861 |
| Lv 23 | 900 |
| Lv 24 | 940 |
| Lv 25 | 979 |
| Lv 26 | 1,018 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 27 | 1,057 |
| Lv 28 | 1,096 |
| Lv 29 | 1,136 |
| Lv 30 | 1,175 |
| Lv 31 | 1,194 |
| Lv 32 | 1,214 |
| Lv 33 | 1,233 |
| Lv 34 | 1,253 |
| Lv 35 | 1,273 |
| Lv 36 | 1,292 |
| Lv 37 | 1,312 |
| Lv 38 | 1,331 |
| Lv 39 | 1,351 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 40 | 1,370 |
| Lv 41 | 1,388 |
| Lv 42 | 1,405 |
| Lv 43 | 1,423 |
| Lv 44 | 1,441 |
| Lv 45 | 1,459 |
| Lv 46 | 1,477 |
| Lv 47 | 1,495 |
| Lv 48 | 1,513 |
| Lv 49 | 1,531 |
| Lv 50 | 1,549 |
Pokedex info
- Pokedex number
- #0140
- Height
- 0.50 m
- Weight
- 11.50 kg
- Candy to evolve
- 50
- Family forms
- 4 released forms
- Game ID
- V0140_POKEMON_KABUTO
FAQ
What is the best moveset for Kabuto in Pokemon GO?
Kabuto's best moveset is Scratch (fast) with Rock Tomb (charged). Use a Fast TM or Charged TM to reroll onto it.
What are Kabuto's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?
Kabuto takes super effective damage from Grass, Electric, Fighting, Ground-type moves. It is double weak to Grass (2.56× damage), so those attackers cut through it fastest. It resists Fire, Flying, Ice, Normal, Poison, so avoid those types against it.
What is Kabuto's max CP in Pokemon GO?
Kabuto reaches 1,549 CP at level 50 with XL Candy, or 1,370 CP at level 40. Level 50 needs XL Candy, which only unlocks at Trainer Level 31 and comes from catching, hatching, transferring and walking.
What CP is a 100% IV Kabuto?
A perfect 15/15/15 Kabuto shows 783 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches) and 979 CP at level 25 (weather boosted). Seeing that exact number on the catch screen means it is a hundo — favourite it before you transfer anything.
Is Shadow Kabuto better than regular Kabuto?
Shadow Kabuto deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more. For raids the trade is worth it; for PvP the lost bulk often is not. It arrives knowing Frustration, which should be replaced with a Charged TM during a Team GO Rocket event before you power it up.
How do you get Kabuto in Pokemon GO?
Kabuto spawns in the wild, though how often depends on your biome and the active event. It is currently a 1-Star Raids raid boss. It can be traded between trainers.
Can Kabuto be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Shiny Kabuto depends on whether Niantic has released the form. Check the events page for Community Days and event weekends, which is when shiny rates are boosted.