Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026
Cacnea
Say it: CA-cnea
Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand
Cacnea is the Cactus Pokémon — Grass before Cacturne. In Pokémon GO it is usually candy on the way to Cacturne — not a finished raid attacker. Grass helps against Water, Ground, and Rock; Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug hit Grass hard. Catch Cacnea from the wild, eggs, or events, then evolve.
Say it: CA-cnea
Cacnea (#331) is a Grass Pokémon in Pokémon GO — the pre-evolution of Cacturne. Trainers almost never power Cacnea for raids; the value is candy and IVs for Cacturne. Against Cacnea, lead with Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, or Bug. Stats, type chart, moves, and counter picks below use our Game Master snapshot.
Type-colored placeholder — not official Pokémon artwork (see IP notice below).
Pokédex notes
Cacnea is a Grass-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO. National Dex #0331. Grass picks spike during Sunny weather and certain Community Days.
Where in GO: Wild spawns, eggs, Field Research, and seasonal events
Invest tip: Do not sink Stardust into Cacnea. Keep high-IV copies for Cacturne. Shadow Cacnea is the same — evolve toward Shadow Cacturne.
Type matchups
- Grass moves hit Water, Ground, and Rock hard.
When Cacnea is your opponent, Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug hits hard.
Full type matchup guide →GO base stats
From Game Master snapshot — IVs, buddy, and power-ups change real battle stats.
- Attack
- 156
- Defense
- 74
- Stamina
- 137
Weak to
Resists
Best Pokémon to use against it
When this species is your opponent (Rocket battle, gym, raid, or PvP), these picks exploit its typings. Each list is a pool of options — not a required 12-Pokémon lobby.
Recommended
Strongest practical attackers for this matchup.
- 1. Mega Charizard Y · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 2. Reshiram · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Fusion Flare
- 3. Shadow Moltres · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 4. Shadow Charizard · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 5. Mega Blaziken · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 6. Shadow Entei · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 7. Blaziken · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 8. Darmanitan · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Overheat
- 9. Chandelure · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 10. Heatran · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Flamethrower
- 11. Emboar · beats Fire
Ember + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 12. Infernape · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
Budget
Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.
- 1. Darmanitan · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Overheat
- 2. Arcanine · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Flamethrower
- 3. Flareon · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 4. Typhlosion · beats Fire
Incinerate + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 5. Magmortar · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Fire Punch
- 6. Camerupt · beats Fire
Incinerate + Overheat
- 7. Torkoal · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 8. Rapidash · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Fire Blast
- 9. Pyroar · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Overheat
- 10. Simisear · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Flamethrower
- 11. Charizard · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 12. Houndoom · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Flamethrower
Recommended moves
Cacnea’s Game Master pool is temporary. Real investment is Cacturne — evolve before serious TMs and power-ups.
Fast
- Poison Sting · Standard
Poison energy
- Sucker Punch · Standard
Dark energy
- Sand Attack · Standard
Ground spice
Charged
- Grass Knot · Standard
Grass nuke
- Seed Bomb · Standard
Grass alternate
- Trailblaze · Standard
Grass / PvP
- Payback · Standard
Dark coverage
- Brick Break · Standard
Fighting coverage
Moves in GO
Always-available Game Master learnset (regular TMs). Community Day / Elite TM moves appear above when we have curated notes for this species.
Fast
- poison sting
- sucker punch
- sand attack
Charged
- grass knot
- brick break
- seed bomb
- payback
- trailblaze
PvP league ranks (family snapshot)
- Great League · rank #450 of 954 · CP 1404
Poison Sting + Payback
- Ultra League · rank #676 of 747 · CP 1404
Poison Sting + Payback
- Master League · rank #619 of 1023 · CP 1404
Poison Sting + Payback
In your Collect
Name match only (text). Cards you have saved in Card Nexus Collect — not official art.
Sign in to see holdings, or open Collect.
Open Collect →Raid and PvP advice uses our Game Master snapshot (updated July 2026).
In the Competitive Guide
- Ch. 20: Lucky Pokémon & Family Trades
When lucky status matters for trades and Stardust savings.
- Ch. 21: Best Friends & Lucky Friends
Friendship steps for raid bonuses and lucky trades.