Is Kartana viable in Gen 8 OU?

Kartana is ranked #13 in Gen 8 OU with 17.29% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Kartana in Gen 8 OU?

The best counter for Kartana in Gen 8 OU is Buzzwole with a 90.3% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Kartana include Buzzwole, Skarmory, Zapdos, Heatran, Dragapult.

What is the best counter for Kartana in Gen 8 OU?

Buzzwole is the best counter for Kartana in Gen 8 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 90.3% of their encounters.

Kartana counters

Gen 8 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0798 Kartana

GrassSteel

USAGE 17.3% #13

BASE STATS

HP 59

ATK 181

DEF 131

SPA 59

SPD 31

SPE 109

BST570

TYPE MATCHUPS

4×

Fire

2×

Fighting

½×

NormalWaterElectricPsychicRockDragonSteelFairy

¼×

Grass

0×

Poison

Moves

Leaf Blade 99.9% Knock Off 99.1% Sacred Sword 95.4% Smart Strike 65.6% Swords Dance 25.9% Defog 5.5% Aerial Ace 4.5% Endure 2.4%

Items

Choice Scarf 56.8% Choice Band 17.3% Protective Pads 11.9% Life Orb 4.0% Adrenaline Orb 3.9% Salac Berry 2.4% Muscle Band 2.3% Chople Berry 1.0%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian59.3%

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Buzzwole

BugFighting DEFENSIVE COUNTER

24.333

90.3% dies 6.00%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kartana Aerial Ace vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Buzzwole: 212-252 (50.7 - 60.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Buzzwole counters → Teams with Buzzwole →

Skarmory

SteelFlying DEFENSIVE COUNTER

20.873

61.9% dies 10.63%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kartana Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 85-101 (25.4 - 30.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

23.674

58.9% dies 10.11%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kartana: 588-696 (182.6 - 216.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Heatran

FireSteel SOFT CHECK

32.368

52.9% dies 8.77%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kartana: 952-1128 (295.6 - 350.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Dragapult

DragonGhost SOFT CHECK

33.044

50.2% dies 8.70%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Choice Specs Dragapult Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kartana: 720-848 (223.6 - 263.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Dragapult counters → Teams with Dragapult →

Melmetal

Steel SOFT CHECK

25.317

49.4% dies 9.94%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Melmetal Superpower vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Kartana: 246-290 (76.3 - 90%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Melmetal counters → Teams with Melmetal →

Kartana

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

20.141

43.9% dies 11.06%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kartana Sacred Sword vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Kartana: 220-260 (68.3 - 80.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Kartana counters → Teams with Kartana →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying SOFT CHECK

66.099

41.6% dies 8.57%

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Tornadus-Therian Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kartana: 356-420 (110.5 - 130.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Tornadus-Therian counters → Teams with Tornadus-Therian →

Clefable

Fairy SOFT CHECK

60.024

37.7% dies 8.82%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Clefable Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kartana: 464-548 (144 - 170.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Clefable counters → Teams with Clefable →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

30.939

29.7% dies 8.22%

DAMAGE CALC

0 Def Ferrothorn Body Press vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Kartana: 116-138 (36 - 42.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Ferrothorn counters → Teams with Ferrothorn →

Weavile

DarkIce SOFT CHECK

47.867

28.8% dies 6.55%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Weavile Triple Axel (120 BP) (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Kartana: 162-193 (50.3 - 59.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Weavile counters → Teams with Weavile →

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike

FightingWater SOFT CHECK

32.047

28.2% dies 7.95%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Kartana: 510-602 (158.3 - 186.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Urshifu-Rapid-Strike counters → Teams with Urshifu-Rapid-Strike →

Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy SOFT CHECK

44.661

21.4% dies 8.45%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kartana: 384-452 (119.2 - 140.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Tapu Lele counters → Teams with Tapu Lele →

Garchomp

DragonGround SOFT CHECK

24.99

21.3% dies 8.19%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Kartana: 248-296 (77 - 91.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

79.658

13.3% dies 5.35%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Kartana: 154-183 (47.8 - 56.8%) -- 89.1% chance to 2HKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Slowbro

WaterPsychic SOFT CHECK

20.948

12.4% dies 7.20%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Slowbro Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kartana: 120-142 (37.2 - 44%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Slowbro counters → Teams with Slowbro →

Ranked #13 with 17.29% usage. Sorted by reliability score.