From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Contact is a term used to describe the condition when one Pokémon in a battle physically touches the opponent in order to deal damage.
Up until Generation IV, moves that made contact could be either physical or special with damage dealing for moves that made contact depending on the move's type. However, since the distinction between physical and special are no longer based on type, most moves that make contact are physical. All status moves do not make contact. The use of contact-based moves can be affected directly by certain Abilities of the foe, such as Cute Charm and Effect Spore, and indirectly by certain attackers' Abilities, like Guts. The use of contact moves can also trigger several items. Contact can also be used to spread Pokérus.
List of physical moves that don't make contact
These are physical moves that do not make contact.
List of special moves that make contact
These are physical moves that do make contact.
List of Abilities which have effects involving contact
Name
|
Effect
|
Aftermath
|
Damages attacking Pokémon that faints the Pokémon with this ability with a contact move.
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Cute Charm
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Contact with the Pokémon with this ability may cause infatuation.
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Effect Spore
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Contact with the Pokémon with this ability may paralyze, poison, or cause sleep.
|
Flame Body
|
Contact with the Pokémon with this ability may burn the foe.
|
Iron Barbs
|
Damages attacking Pokémon for 1/8 their max HP on contact.
|
Mummy
|
Contact with the Pokémon with this ability spreads Mummy.
|
Pickpocket
|
Steals attacking Pokémon's held item on contact.
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Poison Point
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Contact with the Pokémon with this ability may poison the foe.
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Poison Touch
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May poison the foe upon contact when attacking.
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Rough Skin
|
Inflicts damage to the foe on contact when attacked.
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Static
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Contact with the Pokémon with this ability may cause paralysis.
|
|
List of items which have effects involving contact
Image
|
Name
|
Effect
|
|
Eject Button
|
Forces the holder to switch out when hit with a contact move.
|
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Red Card
|
Forces the foe to switch the attacker with a random Pokémon when the holder is hit with a contact move.
|
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Rocky Helmet
|
Contact moves used against the holder will damage the attacker with 1/6 of their maximum HP.
|
|
Sticky Barb
|
Damages holder each turn and damages attackers using contact moves by 12.5% of their maximum HP.
|
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Trivia
- In all console games except Pokémon Battle Revolution, the moves making contact's battle animation doesn't show the attacking Pokémon hitting the defending one at all; however, in the handheld games, it differs from attack to attack.
See also