From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Kabuto (Japanese: カブト Kabuto) is a dual-type Rock/Water Fossil Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

It is resurrected from a Dome Fossil and evolves into Kabutops starting at level 40.

Table of Contents

Biology

Kabuto is a small arthropod Pokémon resembling a horseshoe crab. It is mostly flat with a protective, brown shell covering its body. There are two small, black eyes on top of its shell, which it uses for sight when it hides on the ocean floor. Underneath the shell is a black space that hides the structure of its main body. Only its four short, yellow legs and a second pair of luminescent red eyes are visible on its underside. In its original time, Kabuto was prominently found on beaches, likely aided by its fast and powerful swimming ability. While it is commonly believed to be extinct, isolated populations of Kabuto have been unchanged for 300 million years.

Evolution

Kabuto evolves into Kabutops.

(For specifics on this Pokémon's evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)

Game data

Pokédex entries

Generation I Kanto#140
Red(JPN) (This entry was originally untranslated in English until it was reused in Pokémon FireRed.)
Green
Red(ENG) A Pokémon that was resurrected from a fossil found in what was once the ocean floor eons ago.
Blue
Yellow A Pokémon that was recovered from a fossil. It uses the eyes on its back while hiding on the sea floor.
Stadium A Pokémon that was resurrected from a fossil found in an ancient seabed. Unable to right itself if it is flipped over.
Generation II Johto#222
Gold On rare occasions, some have been found as fossils which they became while hiding on the ocean floor.
Silver This Pokémon lived in ancient times. On rare occasions, it has been discovered as a living fossil.
Crystal Three hundred million years ago, it hid on the sea floor. It also has eyes on its back that glow.
Stadium 2 On rare occasions, some have been found as fossils which they became while hiding on the ocean floor.
Generation III Hoenn#— Kanto#140
Ruby Kabuto is a Pokémon that has been regenerated from a fossil. However, in extremely rare cases, living examples have been discovered. The Pokémon has not changed at all for 300 million years.
Sapphire
Emerald It is a Pokémon that has been regenerated from a fossil. However, in rare cases, living examples have been discovered. Kabuto have not changed for 300 million years.
FireRed This Pokémon was regenerated from the fossil of an ancient creature. It protects itself with a hard shell.
LeafGreen A Pokémon that was regenerated from a fossil found in what was once the ocean floor long ago.
Generation IV Sinnoh#— Johto#227
Diamond It is thought to have inhabited beaches 300 million years ago. It is protected by a stiff shell.
Pearl
Platinum
HeartGold On rare occasions, some have been found as fossils which they became while hiding on the ocean floor.
SoulSilver This Pokémon lived in ancient times. On rare occasions, it has been discovered as a living fossil.
Generation V Unova#—
Black It is thought to have inhabited beaches 300 million years ago. It is protected by a stiff shell.
White
Black 2 It is thought to have inhabited beaches 300 million years ago. It is protected by a stiff shell.
White 2
Generation VI Kalos#— Hoenn#—
X It is thought to have inhabited beaches 300 million years ago. It is protected by a stiff shell.
Y This Pokémon was regenerated from the fossil of an ancient creature. It protects itself with a hard shell.
Omega Ruby Kabuto is a Pokémon that has been regenerated from a fossil. However, in extremely rare cases, living examples have been discovered. The Pokémon has not changed at all for 300 million years.
Alpha Sapphire
Generation VII Alola US  UM : #229 Kanto#140
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Sun and Moon.
Ultra Sun This Pokémon thrived 300 million years ago. It's said that living specimens can still be seen in a certain region—a rare sight.
Ultra Moon This Pokémon became extinct everywhere, except in a few areas. It protects itself with its hard shell.
Let's Go Pikachu A Pokémon that was recovered from a fossil. It used the eyes on its back while hiding on the seafloor.
Let's Go Eevee
Generation VIII GalarCrown Tundra #125 Sinnoh#— Hisui#—
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Legends: Arceus.
Sword This species is almost entirely extinct. Kabuto molt every three days, making their shells harder and harder.
Shield While some say this species has gone extinct, Kabuto sightings are apparently fairly common in some places.
Brilliant Diamond It is thought to have inhabited beaches 300 million years ago. It is protected by a sturdy shell.
Shining Pearl

Game locations

Generation I
Generation II
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Generation IX

In side games

Generation I
Generation II
This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation II side games.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Cross-Generation

In events

In-game events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
Damagednormally by:
Immune to:
Resistant to:

Learnset

Kabuto is available in Sword and Shield Version 1.3.0+ and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

By leveling up

Generation VIII
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Kabuto
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Kabuto
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/TR

SwSh

Generation VIII
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Kabuto
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Kabuto
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

BDSP

Generation VIII
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Kabuto
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Kabuto
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

SwSh

Generation VIII
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Kabuto in Generation VIII
  • Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
  • Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Kabuto in that game.
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Kabuto
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Kabuto
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

BDSP

Generation VIII
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Kabuto in Generation VIII
  • Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
  • Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Kabuto in that game.
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Kabuto
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Kabuto
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation VIII
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Kabuto
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Kabuto
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

By transfer from another generation

Generation VIII
  • Transferred Pokémon only retain these moves in Pokémon Sword and Shield
  • A striped background indicates a generation in which the move can only be obtained via event or as a special move
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Kabuto
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Kabuto
  • × indicates a move that cannot be used in Sword and Shield
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see transfer-only moves for other generations

Side game data

Pokémon Rumble Rush
Walking Speed: 2.08 seconds Base HP: 41
Base Attack: 72 Base Defense: 52 Base Speed: 60

In Pokémon GO, Kabuto could be obtained by completing 1/5 of the time-limited Special Research, Season of Legends.

Evolution data

Sprites

Generation I
Generation II
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation IX.
Cross-Generation

In the anime

Major appearances

Two Kabuto debuted in Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon. They were some of the Fossil Pokémon that attacked Ash and Team Rocket until they were scared off by an Aerodactyl.

Multiple Kabuto appeared in Shell Shock!. In the episode, Umberto was saying that an island full of Kabuto Fossils would sink once the moon cast a red glow. His warnings turned out to be correct because the Fossils came to life and the island collapsed since the Fossils kept the island together.

In Dealing With Defensive Types!, a Kabuto caught Team Rocket trying to steal food from the Canalave Gym kitchen. It used Aqua Jet to send them blasting off.

Minor appearances

A Kabuto appeared in a fantasy in A Ruin with a View.

A Kabuto appeared in a fantasy in Where's Armaldo?.

A Kabuto appeared in the opening sequence of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.

A Mirage Kabuto appeared in a flashback in The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon.

A Kabuto appeared in Wild in the Streets!, where it was seen along with several other Pokémon within the habitat created for the revived Fossil Pokémon.

A Kabuto Fossil was seen in A Night in the Nacrene City Museum! as an exhibit in the Nacrene City Museum.

A Kabuto Fossil appeared in Coming Back into the Cold!.

Two Kabuto appeared in The Tiny Caretaker!.

A Kabuto appeared in Restore and Renew!.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry
EP046 Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto, and Kabutops Ash's Pokédex Omanyte and Omastar, Kabuto and Kabutops. It is believed these Pokémon became extinct tens of thousands of years ago. The detail of their behavior is shrouded in mystery. Though some have speculated that they may still exist, none of these Pokémon have ever been seen alive.
Episode Pokémon Source Entry
EP089 Kabuto Ash's Pokédex Kabuto, the Ancient Pokémon. Though this Pokémon is now believed to be extinct, it had a hard shell that protected its body and is believed to have been a powerful swimmer.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

In Striking Golduck, Brock rescued the employees of the Pewter City Museum and got a Kabuto as thanks. It eventually evolved into a Kabutops before the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

In Big Rampage at the Safari Zone!?, a Kabuto evolved into a Kabutops.

A Kabuto appeared in Clefairy Evolves... At Last?!.

A Kabuto appeared in The Ancient Pokémon Discovery!.

In the TCG

Main article: Kabuto (TCG)

In the TFG

One Kabuto figure has been released.

Trivia

Origin

Kabuto's design consists of a mix of trilobite (a prehistoric arthropod that lived between the Cambrian and Permian periods) and the still-living (but considered a living fossil) horseshoe crab.

Name origin

Kabuto may be derived from 兜 kabuto (helmet) and 兜蟹 kabutogani (horseshoe crab).

In other languages