Critical hit: Difference between revisions

This article is about the random event. For the video podcast, see It's Super Effective (podcast) → Related podcasts.

A critical hit (Japanese: 急所 weak point) is a random event that happens upon using a damage-dealing move which multiplies its damage. This will multiply the damage done prior to type effectiveness calculations. In Generations I through V, the damage dealt is doubled. In Generation VI, the damage dealt is multiplied by 1.5 instead. If a Pokémon with the Sniper ability gets a critical hit, the damage dealt will be multiplied by an additional 1.5.

Generation I

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

Critical hits ignore stat modifiers, even if beneficial to the attacker. In this generation only, the probability of landing a critical hit is based on a Pokémon's base Speed.

Specifically, for a normal move such as Tackle, the probability of landing a critical hit is:

Base Speed / 512

For example, Clefable, with a base Speed of 60, has roughly a 11.7% chance of landing a critical hit on a normal move. For moves with a high critical hit ratio such as Slash, the probability of landing a critical hit is:

Base Speed / 64

For example, Clefable, with a base Speed of 60, has roughly a 93.8% chance of landing a critical hit on a move with a high critical hit ratio.

If the result of the second formula equals or exceeds 100% (for Pokémon with a base Speed of 64 or higher), then the result is rounded down to 255/256 or about 99.6%.

Focus Energy and Dire Hit were intended to quadruple the critical hit rate, but due to a glitch, they instead have no effect if the user is faster than the opponent, or prevent the user from getting a critical hit (0/511 chance) if the user is slower than the opponent. This was fixed in Pokémon Stadium.

In Pokémon Stadium only, the probability of landing a critical hit with a move that does not have a high critical hit ratio after using Focus Energy or a Dire Hit is:

Base Speed / 128

Generation II onwards

Starting in Generation II, the chance of a critical hit is no longer based on the Pokémon's base Speed, but rather the chance is the same for each Pokémon. Similar to stats, there are temporary in-battle stages used to calculate the probability a particular move will be a critical hit. The stages are as follows:

An attacking move will always start out in stage 1. There are several ways to increase a move's stage (and, therefore, the chance that it will be a critical hit). The table below details these ways. Any effect within the same class is mutually exclusive with other effects in that class and will not or cannot stack with them.

Notably, the Lansat Berry belongs to both the Hold item and Triggered classes, since it does not stack with Focus Energy or Dire Hit and holding it naturally means another item cannot be held. However, the effect of Lansat Berry may also be passed, so it is still possible for a Pokémon to have both Lansat's boost and the boost of a different hold item.

Though it is possible to achieve a stage higher than 5, those stages still only convey a 50% chance of landing a critical hit. The effects of Focus Energy, the Lansat Berry, and the several versions of Dire Hit also do not stack with repeated uses.

The moves Storm Throw and Frost Breath will always result in a critical hit. However, if the target Pokémon has the Ability Battle Armor or Shell Armor, or is under the effect of Lucky Chant, a move will never result in a critical hit, no matter the stage.

When a move scores a critical hit, damage is calculated based on either the modified or unmodified attack and defense stats, whichever is more advantageous to the attacker. For example...

• An attacker who has used Swords Dance and then makes a critical hit will get the benefit of the increased Attack, while one affected by Charm will use its normal Attack score.
• Likewise, if the attacker uses Screech on the foe and then makes a critical hit, it will still get the benefit of the decreased Defense when the attacks damage is calculated.
• If a defending Pokémon has Light Screen or Reflect on its side and the attacker scores a critical hit, the defense added by the wall is ignored, and the attacker does double damage.

However, a critical hit does not ignore modifiers caused by items or Abilities such as Eviolite, Defeatist, or Slow Start, nor does it ignore the attack reduction caused by a burn.

Generation VI onwards

Damage is multiplied by 1.5, rather than 2. Additionally the critical hit stages have modified. The new stages are as follows:

In other languages

Language Title French Coup critique German Volltreffer Italian Brutto colpo Spanish Golpe crítico

See also

• Same-type attack bonus
• Damage modification

This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.