Is Kabutops good in Pokemon GO?

Yes. Kabutops is C-tier for Max Battle attacker.

Is Kabutops a good raid attacker?

Kabutops ranks #110 of 294 rock attackers with 10.5 DPS. That is outside the top 15, so it is not a raid priority.

Can Kabutops be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Yes. Shiny Kabutops is available from evolution, photobomb, raid, research, wild. A shiny is worth keeping for the collection no matter its IVs.

Is Shadow Kabutops worth keeping?

Shadow Kabutops hits 20% harder and takes 20% more damage. It has no ranked role of its own, so treat it like a normal copy.

#141 · Generation 1

Kabutops

rock water

Max CP (L40 / L50): 2,713 / 3,067
Raid catch CP (L20 / L25): 1,550 / 1,938
Research CP (L15): 1,162
Buddy distance: 5 km
2nd charged move: 75,000 dust · 75 candy

Shiny
Shadow
Tradable
Mega
Dynamax

Situational

Kabutops has a niche: C-tier Max Battle attacker. Keep one with the right IVs and transfer the rest.

Battle roles

C
Max Battle attackerdynamax#8 Water · 217 per Max Move
Dynamax Kabutops ranks #8 of 27 Water-type Max attackers: 217 damage per Max Geyser at level 40 (fast move Waterfall). Only a copy caught in a Max Battle can use it.
–
Great Leagueshadow#481 of 1154 · score 75.4
Ranked #481 of 1154; not competitive in Great League.
–
Ultra League#437 of 851 · score 74
Ranked #437 of 851; not competitive in Ultra League.

Collection value

Can Dynamax: only copies caught in Max Battles can Dynamax, so keep at least one Max copy.
Shadow version exists: Shadows hit 20% harder and are worth a raid slot even with low IVs.

Tiers: S = meta-defining, A = strong, B = playable, C = niche. PvP from PvPoke overall rankings; raids from computed DPS/TDO within each attacking type; Max Battles from GO Hub tier lists.

Base stats

Attack220

Defense186

Stamina155

Base stats. Bars are scaled to the strongest Pokemon in the game.

Weak to

grass×2.56
electric×1.6
fighting×1.6
ground×1.6

Resists

fire×0.391
flying×0.625
ice×0.625
normal×0.625
poison×0.625

Evolution line

Kabuto
→50 candyKabutops

Check your Pokemon's IVs

Ranks all 4,096 spreads for each league

Loading IV checker…

PvP rankings (GO Battle League)

League	Tier	Rank	Score	Recommended moves	Typical build
Great League	–	#556 / 1154	73.3	Fury Cutter · Aqua Jet · Stone Edge	L20.5 · 4/12/14
Great LeagueShadow	–	#481 / 1154	75.4	Fury Cutter · Aqua Jet · Stone Edge	L20.5 · 4/12/14
Ultra League	–	#437 / 851	74	Fury Cutter · Aqua Jet · Stone Edge	L37.5 · 5/15/14
Ultra LeagueShadow	–	#450 / 851	73.6	Fury Cutter · Aqua Jet · Stone Edge	L37.5 · 5/15/14
Ultra Premier	–	#513 / 689	68.5	Fury Cutter · Stone Edge · Water Pulse
Ultra PremierShadow	–	#552 / 689	65.8	Fury Cutter · Stone Edge · Water Pulse

Source: PvPoke overall rankings. Score is relative to the league meta (100 = best). Typical build is the IV spread PvPoke assumes.

Max Battles (Dynamax & Gigantamax)

Kabutops can Dynamax. Only copies caught in Max Battles (or from Max research) can enter Power Spot battles.

Max Moves

groundMax Quakefrom Mud Shot250 / 300 / 350 power
fightingMax Knucklefrom Rock Smash250 / 300 / 350 power
waterMax Geyserfrom Waterfall250 / 300 / 350 power
bugMax Flutterbyfrom Fury Cutter250 / 300 / 350 power
Max Guard+20 / +40 / +60 HP shield
Max Spiritheals 8 / 12 / 16% HP

Max Battle roles

AttackerC Dynamax

Max Move power is per level 1 / 2 / 3; levels are unlocked with Max Particles and Candy. Tiers are computed from level-3 Max Move damage, Defence × HP and HP at level 40; thresholds on the guide page.

Raid attacker rankings

Attacking type	Tier	Rank	DPS	TDO	Best moves
rockShadow	–	#76 / 294	12.3	163	Waterfall · Ancient Power
waterShadow	–	#81 / 283	11.8	157	Waterfall · Water Pulse
water	–	#109 / 283	10.1	160	Waterfall · Water Pulse
rock	–	#110 / 294	10.5	167	Waterfall · Stone Edge

Level 40, 15/15/15, neutral target. DPS = damage per second, TDO = total damage output before fainting. Rank is among every Pokemon using that attacking type.

Moves

Fast move	Type	Raid power	Energy	Duration	DPS	PvP power	PvP energy	Speed
Mud Shot	ground	4	+6	0.5s	8.0	3	+9	2 turns
Rock Smash	fighting	17	+12	1.5s	11.3	9	+7	3 turns
WaterfallSTAB	water	13	+7	1.0s	13.0	11	+10	3 turns
Fury CutterElite TM	bug	4	+8	0.5s	8.0	3	+4	1 turn

Charged move	Type	Raid power	Energy	Duration	Dmg/energy	PvP power	PvP energy	Effects
Ancient PowerSTAB	rock	70	-33	3.5s	2.12	60	-45	10% chance: +1 own Atk, +1 own Def
Water PulseSTAB	water	65	-50	3.0s	1.30	80	-50
Stone EdgeSTAB	rock	105	-100	2.5s	1.05	100	-55
Aqua JetSTAB	water	45	-33	2.5s	1.36	70	-40

Questions people ask

Is Kabutops good in Pokemon GO?: Yes. Kabutops is C-tier for Max Battle attacker.
Should I keep or transfer Kabutops?: Kabutops has a niche: C-tier Max Battle attacker. Keep one with the right IVs and transfer the rest.
Is Kabutops a good raid attacker?: Kabutops ranks #110 of 294 rock attackers with 10.5 DPS. That is outside the top 15, so it is not a raid priority.
Can Kabutops be shiny in Pokemon GO?: Yes. Shiny Kabutops is available from evolution, photobomb, raid, research, wild. A shiny is worth keeping for the collection no matter its IVs.
Is Shadow Kabutops worth keeping?: Shadow Kabutops hits 20% harder and takes 20% more damage. It has no ranked role of its own, so treat it like a normal copy.

PoGo Dex is free and gets fresh data every week. If it saved you from a bad transfer, you can buy me a coffee.

Donate on Ko-fi

Verdict: Situational