Kartana

A folded sheet of paper

The design is based on origami and the imagery of the Japanese sword. Its body looks like a human figure folded from paper, while its arms evoke a drawn katana. It also recalls ceremonial paper figures such as noshi and folded forms with a spiritual purpose. Its edges turn the concept of a “paper cut” into a literal feature: an apparently fragile creature that can slice through metal.

The English name, Kartana, combines the reference to the katana with an idea related to paper or art. The Japanese カミツルギ Kamiturugi is more direct: “kami” can refer to paper and “tsurugi” to a sword. The category “Drawn Sword Pokémon” sums up that wordplay and its silhouette better than a description based only on its types.

An Ultra Beast without an evolution

Kartana arrived with Pokémon Sun and Moon as a complete creature, with no previous or later stages. Its height of 0.3 m and weight of 0.1 kg create an intentional contradiction with its 181 Attack. It does not need to grow to justify its power: the appeal of the design lies in having a tiny paper figure act as a living weapon.

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, it remained part of the Ultra Beast group and kept its identity. It later appeared in Pokémon Sword and Shield through the expansion, where it gained access to Steel Beam as a tutor move. The species retains the same form and the same evolutionary line; no evolution, alternate form, or regional variant was added. It is not available in the main-series games of Generation IX.

What it shares and what it does not

Because of its Grass and Steel typing, it is superficially similar to species such as Ferrothorn, which also make use of resistances and physical pressure. The difference lies in the distribution: Ferrothorn bases its usefulness on wearing opponents down and providing support, while Kartana concentrates almost all its value on attacking and capitalising on each knockout. Against Scizor, it shares the aesthetic of metal blades and the use of physical moves, but Kartana gives up much more Special Defense in exchange for a base Attack of 181 and a base Speed of 109.

Its ability reinforces that plan. A knockout activates Beast Boost and improves its highest stat, so a well-chosen KO can turn an advantageous position into a chain of defeats. The effect loses value if it comes in against a special attacker, if the opponent still has an answer to Grass, or if Kartana goes down before securing its first knockout.

How to make the most of it

In a normal battle, Swords Dance fits best when it forces a defensive opponent it threatens with Leaf Blade to switch out. Sacred Sword stops Steel- and Normal-type Pokémon from feeling safe against it, while Defog lets it take advantage of its Defense of 131 to come in against certain physical attackers and remove entry hazards. False Swipe is useful outside competitive battles for weakening targets without knocking them out.

The move choices should cover its answers, not decorate the set. Leaf Blade is the foundation, Sacred Sword covers Steel and Normal, and Night Slash or X-Scissor expands its damage against targets that do not want to take a Grass hit. Steel Beam has 140 power, but its special category clashes with its Special Attack of 59. Guillotine offers an extreme possibility from level 70 onwards, although its accuracy limits its practical usefulness.

Its biggest trap is confusing physical Defense with overall durability. It can withstand certain physical hits, but its Special Defense of 31 means every switch-in has to be measured carefully. Fire, Fighting, special attackers, and abilities that punish contact are clear answers. Once those obstacles have been weakened, Beast Boost makes every knockout change the pace of the battle.