barbaracle #689
Type Matchups
Weak to (2x damage):
Resistant to (½x damage):
barbaracle
Generation VI · #0689 — Collective Pokémon
Barbaracle, known as the Collective Pokémon, is a Rock/Water-type introduced in Generation VI that represents one of the most fascinating examples of composite evolution in the Pokémon world. When two Binacle reach level 39, they undergo a remarkable transformation that multiplies them into seven distinct units working as a single organism. This extraordinary evolution results in a Pokémon with a base stat total of 500, featuring notably high Defense at 115 and a respectable Attack stat of 105, making it a formidable physical combatant. With its unique typing and composition, Barbaracle occupies an interesting ecological niche and has become increasingly relevant in competitive play since its introduction, particularly following the introduction of Mega Barbaracle in later generations.
Base Stats
Height
1.3m
Weight
96.0kg
Category
Collective Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
brown
Shape
heads
Abilities
Strengthens moves that make contact to 1.33× their power.
Strengthens critical hits to inflict 3× damage rather than 2×.
Steals attacking Pokémon's held items on contact.
Barbaracle Biology & Physical Characteristics
Barbaracle's physiology is unlike any other Pokémon, consisting of seven individual Binacle units functioning as integrated limbs and a head. The central unit serves as both the waist and head, featuring a brown coloration resembling a semi-opened hand with four clawed fingers and a prominent thumb on its right cheek, along with an orange face bearing two distinct eyes. Six additional Binacle protrude from gray rocky formations, with four serving as arms and two functioning as legs. Each arm is orange with a brown hand featuring a single eye in its palm, four long claws, and a brown band around the middle, while the legs display two brown bands and clawed feet with four-pointed stars on the soles. One of Barbaracle's most remarkable biological features is the presence of an eye on each palm, granting it the ability to observe in all directions simultaneously, providing comprehensive sensory awareness of its surroundings.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Barbaracle Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Barbaracle maintains a standard 50% male to 50% female gender distribution, allowing for relatively straightforward breeding opportunities. The species belongs to the Water 3 egg group, limiting its breeding partners to other Water 3 Pokémon, which includes creatures like Squirtle, Slowpoke, and various other aquatic and amphibious species. Eggs require 20 hatch cycles to develop, translating to approximately 4,884 to 5,140 steps, placing it in the moderate incubation timeframe for most Pokémon. Barbaracle shows a base happiness of 70 in Generations VI and VII, indicating moderate friendliness toward newly caught specimens, though this value adjusted in subsequent generations. Trainers seeking to breed Barbaracle should focus on pairing compatible Water 3 egg group members and utilizing facilities that enhance egg development, allowing them to efficiently produce new Binacle that can evolve into Barbaracle at level 39.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm01
black white
tm01
black 2 white 2
tm01
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm01
x y
tm02
emerald
tm02
firered leafgreen
tm02
ruby sapphire
tm02
black white
tm02
heartgold soulsilver
tm02
platinum
tm02
colosseum
tm02
diamond pearl
tm02
black 2 white 2
tm02
sun moon
tm02
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm02
x y
tm02
xd
tm02
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm02
ultra sun ultra moon
tm03
yellow
+920 more TMs/HMs
barbaracle's Evolution Chain
Barbaracle Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Barbaracle evolves from Binacle through a level-based evolution at level 39, transforming from a duo into a seven-part composite Pokémon. This evolution can further progress into Mega Barbaracle when exposed to the Barbaracite, an exclusive Mega Stone introduced in later generations. Mega Barbaracle undergoes even more dramatic changes, with the Binacle units multiplying to form eleven distinct components—one head, eight arms, and two legs—resulting in increased physical proportions and a stat total boosted to 600. The Mega Evolution particularly enhances Barbaracle's Attack stat to 140 and Defense to 130, making it an even more imposing physical threat. Mega Barbaracle also gains a Rock/Fighting typing, replacing its Water component, which fundamentally alters its competitive positioning and type matchups. This dual evolution path demonstrates how a single evolutionary moment can branch into multiple forms, granting trainers strategic flexibility in how they develop their Barbaracle.
Where to Find
ultra space wilds
alola
Barbaracle Behaviour and Natural Habitat
The behavior of Barbaracle demonstrates a fascinating hierarchical structure among its component Binacle units. While each limb and hand possesses independent consciousness and can move autonomously, the head unit typically issues directives that the other components obey. However, this organizational structure is not absolute—in emergency situations, the limbs may bypass the head's authority and act independently to ensure victory against adversaries. This distributed consciousness allows Barbaracle to multitask in ways most Pokémon cannot, with different limbs operating simultaneously toward different objectives. Barbaracle thrives in rocky coastal environments where it can leverage both its Rock and Water typing, navigating between terrestrial and aquatic domains with equal competence. Its aggressive hunting style and powerful physical attacks make it a dominant predator in these regions.
Pokedex Entries
Generation VI
When they evolve, two Binacle multiply into seven. They fight with the power of seven Binacle.
Barbaracle’s legs and hands have minds of their own, and they will move independently. But they usually follow the head’s orders.
When they evolve, two Binacle multiply into seven. They fight with the power of seven Binacle.
Barbaracle’s legs and hands have minds of their own, and they will move independently. But they usually follow the head’s orders.
Generation VIII
Seven Binacle come together to form one Barbaracle. The Binacle that serves as the head gives orders to those serving as the limbs.
Having an eye on each palm allows it to keep watch in all directions. In a pinch, its limbs start to act on their own to ensure the enemy’s defeat.
Barbaracle Name Origin & Design Inspiration
Barbaracle's design philosophy centers on the concept of a creature composed of multiple sentient parts working toward a unified goal, a theme reinforced by its Japanese name Gamenodes, which derives from the Japanese word for turtle combined with 'nodes' referring to interconnected points. The English name 'Barbaracle' blends 'barbarous' with 'barnacle,' the latter referencing its rock-like appearance and clinging, barnacle-like attachment to coastal environments. Visually, Barbaracle synthesizes crustacean and cephalopod influences through its clawed limbs and multiple eyes, while its rocky composition draws from geological formations found in rocky coastlines. The hand-like appearance of its head and the prominent eye on each palm create an immediately distinctive silhouette that makes Barbaracle unmistakable among Rock/Water Pokémon. The design intentionally emphasizes the multiplicity of its being—the varied colorations of brown and orange across its component parts, combined with the star patterns on its feet, create visual complexity that reflects the Pokémon's internal heterogeneity.
Learnable Moves
Barbaracle can learn 98 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aerial ace | flying | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| ancient power | rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| assurance | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| beat up | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| blizzard | ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 |
| brick break | fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| brutal swing | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| bulk up | fighting | Status | — | — | 20 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| clamp | water | Physical | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| cross chop | fighting | Physical | 100 | 80 | 5 |
| cut | normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| dive | water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| dragon claw | dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| dual chop | dragon | Physical | 40 | 90 | 15 |
| earth power | ground | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| embargo | dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| false swipe | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| fling | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| focus blast | fighting | Special | 120 | 70 | 5 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| fury cutter | bug | Physical | 40 | 95 | 20 |
| fury swipes | normal | Physical | 18 | 80 | 15 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hone claws | dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| ice beam | ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| icy wind | ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| infestation | bug | Special | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| iron defense | steel | Status | — | — | 15 |
| laser focus | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| liquidation | water | Physical | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| low kick | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| meteor beam | rock | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| mud shot | ground | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| muddy water | water | Special | 90 | 85 | 10 |
| nature power | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| night slash | dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| payback | dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| poison jab | poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| power up punch | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| razor shell | water | Physical | 75 | 95 | 10 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| rock blast | rock | Physical | 25 | 90 | 10 |
| rock polish | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| safeguard | normal | Status | — | — | 25 |
| sand attack | ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| sandstorm | rock | Status | — | — | 10 |
| scald | water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| scratch | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| screech | normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| shadow claw | ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| shell smash | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| skull bash | normal | Physical | 130 | 100 | 10 |
| slash | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sludge bomb | poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| sludge wave | poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| smack down | rock | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| stealth rock | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| stone edge | rock | Physical | 100 | 80 | 5 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| superpower | fighting | Physical | 120 | 100 | 5 |
| surf | water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swords dance | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| taunt | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| thief | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| torment | dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| uproar | normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| water gun | water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| water pulse | water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| whirlpool | water | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| withdraw | water | Status | — | — | 40 |
| x scissor | bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
Barbaracle Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon battling, Barbaracle occupies a unique niche as a physical Rock/Water attacker with exceptional defensive capabilities. Its base Attack of 105 combined with its signature ability Tough Claws, which amplifies contact moves by 1.33 times their normal power, transforms Barbaracle into a devastating physical sweeper that can bypass many traditional bulk-checking walls. The hidden ability Pickpocket provides alternative utility, stealing items from attacking opponents and potentially enabling item-denial strategies. Barbaracle's Defense stat of 115 grants it surprising durability for an offensive Pokémon, allowing it to survive priority moves and revenge kills more effectively than pure glass cannons. Its Rock/Water typing provides valuable resistances to Normal, Flying, Fire, and Poison-type moves, though it suffers from a problematic 4x weakness to Grass-type attacks, requiring careful team construction. Mega Barbaracle's transformation to Rock/Fighting typing with boosted Attack and Defense makes it even more formidable in Mega Evolution-enabled formats, though it becomes vulnerable to Water and Ground-type moves at 2x effectiveness. Competitive movesets typically emphasize physical contact moves like Stone Edge, Close Combat, and Earthquake to maximize Tough Claws amplification.
Commonly Asked Questions About Barbaracle
What type is Barbaracle?
Barbaracle is a rock and water type Pokemon.
What does Barbaracle evolve from?
Barbaracle evolved from binacle.
What are Barbaracle's weaknesses?
Barbaracle is weak to fighting, ground, grass and electric type moves.
Where can I find Barbaracle?
Barbaracle can be found in ultra space wilds (alola).
Barbaracle Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Barbaracle has garnered significant attention within the Pokémon community since its introduction in Generation VI, particularly due to the conceptual uniqueness of its evolution. The notion that a two-part creature multiplies into seven components fascinated trainers and inspired discussions about the nature of Pokémon identity and consciousness. Fan art frequently explores the individual personalities of Barbaracle's component Binacle units, with many artists depicting scenarios where the limbs pursue competing interests while the head attempts coordination. The Pokédex entries describing the semi-autonomous limbs have made Barbaracle a favorite subject for speculative fiction exploring themes of distributed consciousness and hive minds within the Pokémon universe. Its appearance in competitive circuits has cemented its status as a legitimate strategic choice beyond casual curiosity. Mega Barbaracle's introduction further expanded its cultural relevance, demonstrating Game Freak's commitment to making composite Pokémon viable at higher power levels. Online communities regularly discuss optimal training spreads, moveset configurations, and team synergies for Barbaracle, maintaining its presence in contemporary Pokémon discourse.
Where to Find Barbaracle in Every Pokémon Game
Barbaracle can be encountered in the wild or obtained through evolution of Binacle in numerous Pokémon games spanning multiple generations. In Pokémon X and Y, Barbaracle appears in the Coastal Kalos region as local Pokédex entry #22, with Binacle available along the rocky coastlines of areas like Ambrette Town and Route 8. Subsequent games including Sword and Shield feature Barbaracle with local Pokédex number 235, making it available through various methods including encounters in specific water routes and evolution. Pokémon Legends: Z-A lists Barbaracle as local Pokédex #35, indicating its continued presence in the Kalos-centric narrative. The species can be obtained through breeding compatible Water 3 egg group Pokémon, allowing players to generate multiple Barbaracle for training, battling, or distribution purposes. Trading communities and online exchanges have made Barbaracle readily accessible to players across different game versions, facilitating its use in competitive circuits and casual playthroughs. Those seeking specific natures, abilities, or stat distributions can utilize breeding mechanics with Ditto or compatible partners to achieve their desired Barbaracle specimens.