Kabu

Kabu カブ Kabu
"The ever-burning man of fire!"
Artwork from Sword and Shield by take
Age	Unknown
Gender	Male
Eye color	Black
Hair color	Salt and pepper
Hometown	Motostoke (original hometown unknown)
Region	Galar (originally Hoenn)
Trainer class	Gym Leader
Generation	VIII
Games	Sword and Shield Masters EX
Member of	Galar League
Rank	Gym Leader
Leader of	Motostoke Stadium
Badge	Fire Badge
Specializes in	Fire-types
Animated series	Pokémon Horizons: The Series Pokémon: Twilight Wings
Debut	The Bittersweet Truth (Horizons) Assistant (Twilight Wings)
English voice actor	Clyde Kusatsu (Horizons)
Japanese voice actor	Hiroki Tōchi (Horizons) N/A (Twilight Wings)
Manga series	Pokémon Adventures
Debut	Chomp!! Defeat Drednaw

Kabu (Japanese: カブ Kabu) is the Gym Leader of Motostoke's Gym, known officially as Motostoke Stadium. He specializes in Fire-type Pokémon. He gives the Fire Badge to Trainers who defeat him.

In the core series games

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Kabu's biography

Kabu is designated the third Gym Leader Galar Trainers face in their Gym Challenge. However, Kabu is also known to be the first real challenge in the Gym Challenge. Often, Trainers give up due to being unable to defeat him. Kabu was originally a Trainer from Hoenn who was invited to the Galar League. He is the current Leader of the Motostoke Gym. He lost the Gym position at one point but regained back several years later in glorious fashion. He made several attempts to becoming Champion but could never reach it. He attempted a no-holds-barred approach to winning his fights but was not satisfied with the results. He even dropped to the minor division of Galar League. However, after facing off against Leon, he regained faith in his potential. He also developed a more unrelentingly positive outlook on life as a result, battling to win with every intention with his Fire-type Pokémon.

After Kabu's initial defeat, the player is awarded with the Fire Badge, TM38 (Will-O-Wisp), and the Fire Uniform.

League Cards

This is a transcript of the back of Kabu's League Cards in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Normal League Card

"Kabu is a Pokémon Trainer who was invited from the Hoenn region. There were a few times where he was very close to becoming Champion, but victory always seemed to elude him at the last moment. Because of this, he adopted a no-holds-barred approach to battling for a time, but even that did not bring the results he wanted. He even dropped to the minor division at one point, but after a fantastic battle with Leon, he regained faith in his own potential. His motto is to keep learning and training as long as he is alive."

Rare League Card

"Interview with Challenger Kabu
Q: How do you see your own battle style?
Kabu: "Just, straightforward, direct. I'm still young, so I try to keep things simple. Just burn as hot as I can, you know? Still, I've hit a bit of a losing streak, so I've tried incorporating Will-O-Wisp into my Pokémon's move set. That's one thing I want to tell everyone—experiment with every possibility of your Pokémon. Moves, Abilities, items... Try everything, and there's sure to be a path forward!"

Pokémon

Kabu keeps his Pokémon in Ultra Balls.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Gym battle

Gym Leader Kabu Motostoke Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $3,200

Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Ninetales♀ Lv.25 Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Fire Spin Fire Special   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Ember Fire Special   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Arcanine♂ Lv.25 Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Flame Wheel Fire Physical   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Agility Psychic Status   --       Types: Fire Bug Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Gigantamax Centiskorch♂ Lv.27 Flame Wheel Fire Physical G-Max Centiferno   --       Coil Poison Status Max Guard   --       Bug Bite Bug Physical Max Flutterby   --       Smokescreen Normal Status Max Guard   --

Max Raid Battle partner

Kabu teams up with the player, Hop, and Piers to face a Dynamax Torkoal in a Max Raid Battle.

Gym Leader Kabu Motostoke Stadium Sword and Shield
Types: Fire Bug Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Centiskorch♂ Lv.62 Fire Spin Fire Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       X-Scissor Bug Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Champion tournament

Gym Leader Kabu Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $9,920/11,840

Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Drought Held item: None Torkoal♂ Lv.60/72 Heat Crash Fire Physical   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Body Press Fighting Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Ninetales♀ Lv.60/72 Extrasensory Psychic Special   --       Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Solar Beam Grass Special   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Arcanine♂ Lv.61/73 Extreme Speed Normal Physical   --       Flare Blitz Fire Physical   --       Play Rough Fairy Physical   --       Iron Head Steel Physical   --       Types: Poison Fire Ability: Corrosion Held item: None Salazzle♀ Lv.61/73 Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Dragon Pulse Dragon Special   --       Sludge Wave Poison Special   --       Foul Play Dark Physical   --       Types: Fire Bug Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Gigantamax Centiskorch♂ Lv.62/74 Fire Lash Fire Physical G-Max Centiferno   --       Lunge Bug Physical Max Flutterby   --       Crunch Dark Physical Max Darkness   --       Power Whip Grass Physical Max Overgrowth   --

Galarian Star Tournament

Gym Leader Kabu Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $11,840

Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Drought Held item: None Torkoal♂ Lv.72 Heat Crash Fire Physical   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Body Press Fighting Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Arcanine♂ Lv.73 Extreme Speed Normal Physical   --       Flare Blitz Fire Physical   --       Play Rough Fairy Physical   --       Iron Head Steel Physical   --       Types: Fire Bug Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Gigantamax Centiskorch♂ Lv.74 Fire Lash Fire Physical G-Max Centiferno   --       Lunge Bug Physical Max Flutterby   --       Crunch Dark Physical Max Darkness   --       Power Whip Grass Physical Max Overgrowth   --

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Kabu (Masters)

Kabu forms a sync pair with Centiskorch in Pokémon Masters EX. His Centiskorch is capable of Gigantamaxing. Kabu became a playable sync pair on June 16, 2024.

Dex	Trainer		NDex	Pokémon		Type	Weakness	Role	EX role	Base potential	Availability
#206		Kabu	#0851		Centiskorch♂ Gigantamax	Fire	Rock			★★★★★☆EX	Poké Fair Sync Pair Scout

Gallery

Artwork

Concept art from Sword and Shield

Sprites

Icon from the Galarian Star Tournament menu

League Cards

Kabu's League Card in Sword and Shield	Kabu's rare League Card in Sword and Shield

Quotes

Main article: Kabu/Quotes

In the anime

Main series

Kabu in the anime

Kabu made his anime debut at the end of The Bittersweet Truth, where he was seen eating at the Motostoke Battle Café. In the next episode, he made his way to Motostoke Stadium where Liko and Roy joined him to ask about the Black Rayquaza. Wanting to assist the two young Trainers, he, Kabu had them undergo a training session that helped them find new methods of using their Pokémon's most basic attacks by using them to either light up or extinguish the flames of a group of Litwick.

After Roy had won the challenge, Kabu challenged the two to a Tag Battle, with his Gym Trainer apprentice Wakaba as his partner. Kabu's Centiskorch easily overwhelmed both Sprigatito and Fuecoco, even when the latter learned Flamethrower mid-battle. Once Fuecoco had been defeated, Kabu left the battle against Liko to Wakaba. After Liko's unexpected surrender, Kabu told her that while being kind and compassionate is a good thing, being compassionate to this degree during a battle can be disrespectful toward both the opponent and the participating Pokémon, as both Wakaba and Sprigatito were disappointed in her not finishing the battle in earnest. When Liko and Roy later left, Kabu encouraged Liko to find her own path in life.

In Fiery Galarian Moltres, Kabu went to the Galar Mine to investigate the reports of a collapse that happened there. Upon arriving there, he found Liko, Roy, and Friede, who revealed that the chaos had been caused by a Galarian Moltres. When they left, Kabu realized that Friede was trying to hide something, but simply smiled and let them go.

Kabu appeared in a flashback to Liko and Roy's journey in HZ045.

Pokémon

This listing is of Kabu's known Pokémon in the anime:

Centiskorch

Debut	Kabu's Battle Training!

Centiskorch is Kabu's only known Pokémon. He used it in a Tag Battle against Liko and Roy, teaming up with Wakaba's Rolycoly. Centiskorch ended up defeating Roy's Fuecoco before withdrawing from the battle.

Centiskorch's known moves are Flame Wheel, Bug Bite, and Flamethrower, and its Ability is Flash Fire.

Artwork

Official poster from Pokémon Horizons: The Series	Key artwork of Kabu and Centiskorch	Concept art from Pokémon Horizons: The Series	September Calendar	Eyecatch

Voice actors

Language Voice actor Japanese 東地 宏樹 Hiroki Tōchi European French Jean-Michel Vovk Italian Federico Danti Polish Michał Konarski Brazilian Portuguese Ricardo Schnetzer European Spanish Jorge García Insúa

Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Kabu in Pokémon: Twilight Wings

In Assistant, Kabu was jogging at Wyndon Stadium.

In Sky, he gave his thoughts about Leon in an interview while working out in a gym.

In The Gathering of Stars, he was seen jogging with his Centiskorch at Motostoke after receiving an invitation letter for the Galarian Star Tournament. He was later seen at Wyndon Stadium, walking out onto the field for the tournament's opening ceremony.

Pokémon

Centiskorch

Debut	The Gathering of Stars

Centiskorch is Kabu's only known Pokémon. It was seen jogging with its Trainer.

None of Centiskorch's moves are known.

GOTCHA!

Kabu briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Kabu in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Kabu debuted in Chomp!! Defeat Drednaw. He, along with various other Gym Leaders, was first seen reacting to the news that Leon had endorsed two Trainers for the Gym Challenge.

In Blazing!! Bede's Feelings, Kabu was revealed to have faced Marnie in a Gym battle, but lost. He later faced Bede, Henry, Casey, and Hop in Gym battles, which he also lost. After Hop's victory, Kabu, Milo, and Nessa personally congratulated him and Casey for completing the first three Galar Gyms.

In Rumble!! The Horrific Darkest Day, the Galar Gym Leaders gathered at Rose Tower to find out if Rose intended on bringing harm to the region. While Oleana kept the Gym Leaders busy, Henry, Casey, Bede, Hop, and Marnie went up to meet Rose, only find he was elsewhere. On a video screen, Rose announced his intention to restart the Darkest Day and ensure the safety of Galar's future. Power Spot lights began appearing all over the region, causing Pokémon to start Dynamaxing at random. While some traveled to confront Rose at the Hammerlocke Energy Plant, Kabu went back to Motostoke to help deal with the rampaging Dynamax Pokémon.

In PASS29, Macro Cosmos employees were dispatched to deal with the Dynamax Pokémon, allowing Kabu's group to provide backup for the others against Eternatus. By the time they arrived, Kabu's group found Eternatus had fled, leaving those who battled it unconscious and covered in poison. The injured were taken to a hospital to recover.

Pokémon

Centiskorch

Debut	Blazing!! Bede's Feelings

Centiskorch is Kabu's only known Pokémon. It was first seen being defeated by Marnie's Morpeko in a Gym battle. It was later seen facing Casey's Kilo in its Gigantamaxed form, but was defeated as well. It later fought Oleana's Milotic at Rose Tower.

None of Centiskorch's moves are known.

Kabu has at least two other Pokémon, as he participated in a three-on-three Gym battle against Henry.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Kabu or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Kabu's Pokémon Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Centiskorch		Lost Origin		TG14/TG30	VMAX Climax		218/184
Centiskorch		Lost Origin		TG15/TG30	VMAX Climax		219/184
Other related cards
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Kabu	Su	Darkness Ablaze		163/189	Explosive Walker		067/070
		Darkness Ablaze		186/189	Explosive Walker		077/070
		Champion's Path		055/073
		Champion's Path		077/073	Explosive Walker		082/070
		Lost Origin		TG26/TG30	VMAX Climax		257/184

Trivia

Icon of Huo Guo Hot Pot, Kabu's sponsor

• Kabu was designed by take.
• Kabu's uniform number is "187", which can be read in Japanese as goroawase for 火花 hibana, meaning "sparks".
• Kabu's sponsor is Huo Guo Hot Pot, whose logo can be seen on his shorts.
• Kabu is the only Gym Leader in Galar to:
  • Originally be from another region.
  • Have their English name be the same as their Japanese name.
• Kabu was the first Gym Leader introduced before Generation IX to appear in Pokémon Horizons: The Series.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	カブ Kabu	From 蕪 kabu (turnip), 兜 kabuto (a type of Japanese helmet, whose design is incorporated into Kabu's Gym logo), and 火 ka (fire)
English, German, French, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese	Kabu	From his Japanese name
Spanish	Naboru	From nabo (turnip)
Korean	순무 Sunmu	From 순무 sunmu (turnip)
Chinese (Mandarin)	卡蕪 / 卡芜 Kǎwú	From the transcription of his Japanese name and 蕪菁 / 芜菁 wújīng / mòuhjīng
Chinese (Cantonese)	卡蕪 Kāmòuh

Related articles

• Images on the Bulbagarden Archives

References

Gym Leaders of the Galar region
Turffield Stadium Milo	Hulbury Stadium Nessa	Motostoke Stadium Kabu	Stow-on-Side Stadium Bea Allister
Ballonlea Stadium Opal Bede	Circhester Stadium Gordie Melony	Spikemuth Gym Piers Marnie	Hammerlocke Stadium Raihan

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.