Kartana is a unique Pokémon introduced in Generation 7 and holds a significant place as one of the Ultra Beasts in the Pokémon universe. Known for its paper-thin body and razor-sharp edges, Kartana is both fascinating and dangerous. Its Grass/Steel typing, alongside its extraordinary attack stats, makes it one of the most powerful offensive Pokémon in the game. In this guide, we’ll explore Kartana’s strengths, weaknesses, competitive uses, and strategies for trainers.
What Is Kartana?
Kartana is classified as an Ultra Beast, specifically known by the code name UB-04 Blade. It is a Grass/Steel-type Pokémon, known for its incredible attack power and lightning-fast speed. What makes Kartana particularly special is its dual-typing, combining the defensive nature of Steel with the offensive potential of Grass.
Basic Information:
- National Dex Number: #0798
- Type: Grass/Steel
- Species: Drawn Sword Pokémon
- Height: 0.3 m (1’00”)
- Weight: 0.1 kg (0.2 lbs)
- Abilities: Beast Boost (Increases the user’s highest stat after KOing an opponent)
Kartana’s thin, paper-like body allows it to cut through almost anything with ease. Despite its small size, it is capable of feats such as slicing down entire steel towers with a single motion.
Kartana’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Kartana excels in physical attacks, boasting an Attack stat of 181, which is one of the highest among all Pokémon. Additionally, its Steel-typing gives it numerous resistances, including:
- Half damage from: Normal, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Steel, and Fairy moves.
- Quarter damage from: Grass-type moves, further enhancing its survivability in Grass-based encounters.
Its signature ability, Beast Boost, makes it even deadlier, increasing Kartana’s strongest stat with each Pokémon it defeats. This means that Kartana becomes progressively more powerful as it knocks out opponents.
Weaknesses:
However, Kartana is not without its flaws. Its low Special Defense (31) and HP (59) make it susceptible to Special Attacks, especially from Fire and Fighting-type Pokémon. Additionally, being part Grass-type makes Kartana 4x weak to Fire moves, a significant vulnerability in battles where Fire-types are common.
Weakness Chart for Kartana:
| Type | Damage Taken |
|---|---|
| Normal | ½ |
| Fire | 4x |
| Water | ½ |
| Electric | ½ |
| Grass | ¼ |
| Ice | 2x |
| Fighting | 2x |
| Poison | 0 |
| Flying | ½ |
| Psychic | ½ |
| Bug | ½ |
| Rock | ½ |
| Ghost | ½ |
| Dragon | ½ |
| Dark | ½ |
| Steel | ½ |
| Fairy | ½ |
Best Moves for Kartana
Kartana’s movepool is built to exploit its Attack stat, and it learns several strong physical moves that complement its high offensive capabilities. Below are some of Kartana’s best moves and strategies for using them.
Key Moves:
- Leaf Blade (Grass): With a high critical-hit ratio, Leaf Blade is Kartana’s go-to move for consistent damage.
- Smart Strike (Steel): A powerful Steel-type move that never misses, ideal for handling Fairy-types.
- Sacred Sword (Fighting): This move can be used to take down Steel, Dark, and Normal-types, which Kartana would otherwise struggle with.
- Swords Dance (Normal): A powerful setup move that doubles Kartana’s already monstrous Attack stat, allowing it to sweep teams with ease.
In competitive play, Kartana is often run with a Choice Scarf or Choice Band to maximize either its speed or attack, depending on the strategy. These items make Kartana one of the most dangerous sweepers in the game, able to take out multiple opponents once set up.
Kartana’s Role in Competitive Play
Kartana’s place in competitive Pokémon battles is well-established due to its offensive prowess. Here are some strategies and formats where Kartana shines.
Singles Format:
In singles battles, Kartana is usually run as a hyper-offensive attacker. Its combination of high speed and attack power allows it to knock out slower Pokémon with ease. The Choice Scarf variant is particularly effective in ensuring Kartana outspeeds most threats while dishing out devastating physical attacks.
Doubles Format:
In doubles battles, Kartana works best when paired with partners that can cover its weaknesses, such as Fire- and Special-type attackers. Pokémon like Tapu Fini (Water/Fairy) can provide support by using moves like Misty Terrain to neutralize status effects, while Incineroar can protect Kartana from Fire-type threats with its Fire Immunity ability.
Kartana’s Place in the Pokémon Universe
As an Ultra Beast, Kartana has a lore that makes it stand out from regular Pokémon. It hails from another dimension, arriving in the Pokémon world through Ultra Wormholes. Despite its alien origin, Kartana is seen as a common organism in its home dimension, but in the Pokémon world, it is considered extremely dangerous.
Pokédex Entries:
- Pokémon Sun: “This Ultra Beast came from the Ultra Wormhole. It seems not to attack enemies on its own, but its sharp body is a dangerous weapon in itself.”
- Pokémon Ultra Sun: “This Ultra Beast’s body, which is as thin as paper, is like a sharpened sword.”
Kartana’s role as a drawn sword in battle and its otherworldly origin make it one of the most intriguing and fearsome Pokémon introduced in Generation 7.
Should You Train Kartana?
Kartana’s extreme offensive power, combined with its unique typing, makes it a formidable asset in both casual and competitive play. Its access to high-powered moves like Leaf Blade and Sacred Sword, along with its Beast Boost ability, allows it to take down multiple opponents with ease. However, Kartana’s glaring weaknesses, such as its low Special Defense and vulnerability to Fire-type moves, require careful team-building to protect it from threats.
Key Takeaways:
- Pros: High Attack, decent Speed, Beast Boost ability.
- Cons: Low Special Defense, 4x weakness to Fire.
If you’re looking for a Pokémon that can deliver powerful physical attacks and sweep through teams, Kartana is an excellent choice. By compensating for its weaknesses and using the right strategy, Kartana can dominate in both single and double battles.
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