Kartana, one of the 11 Ultra Beasts, has made its way into Pokémon Go, giving trainers a unique challenge. Ultra Beasts are a special group of extradimensional Pokémon that first appeared in Generation 7 of the main series. Kartana, often called the “Drawn Sword,” has been available in Pokémon Go since September 2022, during the “Season of Light” event, alongside Celesteela as part of a regional exclusive release.
For trainers ready to face this powerful foe, understanding Kartana’s weaknesses, counters, and best moveset is essential for both battle and capture.
Kartana’s Weaknesses and Counters in Pokémon Go
As a Grass/Steel-type Pokémon, Kartana presents some interesting strengths and vulnerabilities. Here’s what you need to know:
- Type: Grass / Steel
- Double-Weakness: Fire-type attacks
- Weakness: Fighting-type attacks
Best Mega Counters for Kartana
- Mega Charizard Y is your top option for dealing with Kartana. Its Fire-type moves can take full advantage of Kartana’s double-weakness to Fire.
- Mega Blaziken is also an excellent choice, almost on par with Charizard Y. If your Blaziken has a higher CP, it’s worth using in battle.
Best Standard Counters for Kartana
- Reshiram is the strongest non-Mega Fire-type option for battling Kartana.
- Other excellent choices include Heatran, Blacephalon, Darmanitan, Moltres, and Volcarona. These Fire-types can capitalize on Kartana’s vulnerability and help you win the raid.
Key Strategy
Focus on using Fire-type Pokémon in this raid. Kartana’s double weakness to Fire should be your priority, making it much easier to take down. While Fighting-type Pokémon can also deal some damage, they aren’t nearly as effective, so focus on maximizing Fire-type counters.
Kartana’s CP Levels in Pokémon Go
Knowing Kartana’s Combat Power (CP) stats can help you prepare for both the raid and capturing this Ultra Beast:
- Kartana Raid CP: 58,102 CP
- Kartana Catch CP Range: Between 2010 and 2101 CP under normal conditions
- Weather Boosted CP: In Cloudy or Rainy weather, the CP range when catching Kartana jumps to between 2512 and 2626 CP
- Max CP (Level 40): 4156 CP
These CP levels reflect Kartana’s strength, so make sure to bring a strong team to ensure victory in battle and a successful catch.
Best Moveset for Kartana in Pokémon Go
When you catch Kartana, the best moveset will help you maximize its potential in battles. Here’s the recommended moveset for Kartana:
- Fast Move: Razor Leaf (Grass)
- Charged Move: Leaf Blade (Grass)
Though Kartana is a dual Grass and Steel-type Pokémon, its debut in Pokémon Go does not feature any Steel-type moves. If you want to add some variety to its moveset, you can choose Aerial Ace (Flying) as a second Charged Move if you have enough Candy and Stardust.
Full Moveset for Kartana
Fast Moves:
- Air Slash (Flying)
- Razor Leaf (Grass)
Charged Moves:
- Aerial Ace (Flying)
- Leaf Blade (Grass)
- Night Slash (Dark)
- X-Scissor (Bug)
While Kartana’s Grass-type moveset is solid, trainers may want to consider adding Flying or Bug-type moves depending on the situations where they plan to use Kartana.
Kartana’s First Appearance in Pokémon Go
Kartana first appeared in Pokémon Go alongside Celesteela during the “Season of Light” in September 2022. The event, called “Test Your Mettle,” introduced these Ultra Beasts to players in different parts of the world as region-specific encounters.
At its release, Kartana was available only in gyms located in the Northern Hemisphere. This regional exclusivity meant that players outside this area would need to receive a remote raid invite from a trainer in the Northern Hemisphere to have a chance to battle and catch Kartana.
Kartana originally debuted in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon for the Nintendo 3DS, where it appeared as part of the post-game Ultra Beast storyline. Its appearance in Pokémon Go marks the first time many mobile players have had the opportunity to encounter this unique Ultra Beast.
Kartana’s Lore and Characteristics
According to its official Pokédex entry, Kartana’s body is “thin as paper” but sharp and deadly, likened to a sword. Despite its alien origin and dangerous presence in the Pokémon world, Kartana is described as a common organism in its native dimension. This bizarre creature poses a significant threat, but it’s also fascinating for trainers to observe and catch.
Though it seems Kartana is a dangerous entity, the fact that it’s considered commonplace in its own world adds an interesting layer to its story. For now, we can only hope that we encounter just one of these Ultra Beasts through the Ultra Wormhole.