Please remember to follow the manual of style and code of conduct at all times.
Check the Bulbagarden home page for up-to-date Pokémon news and discuss it on the forums or in the Bulbagarden Discord server.

Damage category: Difference between revisions

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Jump to navigationJump to search
m (Robot: Automated text replacement (-{{type2| +{{type|, -{{Type2| +{{type|))
No edit summary
 
(43 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Move|Move category}}
{{DamageCats}}
{{DamageCats}}
'''Damage categories''' are categories introduced in [[Generation IV]] that categorize [[move]]s based on the kind of damage they deal. In previous generations, a move would base its power on the user's {{Stat|Attack}} and the target's {{Stat|Defense}} or the user's {{Stat|Special Attack}} and the target's {{Stat|Special Defense}} depending on its [[type]]. For example, all {{type|Fighting}} moves were the former, while all {{type|Fire}} moves were the latter. However, in Generation IV, a move like {{m|Focus Blast}} is both Fighting-type and bases its damage on the Special Attack and Special Defense of the user and target, respectively.  
The '''category''' (Japanese: '''{{tt|分類|ぶんるい}}''' ''classification'') or '''kind'''<ref>In [[Pokédex 3D]]</ref> of a [[move]] is an element of said move that determines the kind of [[damage]] it deals.


The addition of this feature to the games has altered the playing field somewhat, as now Pokémon are allowed a much greater degree of freedom with the types of move that can be used. For example, under the former system, {{p|Sneasel}}, which has a much greater Attack than Special Attack, would often be forced to ignore all moves that would give it [[Same-type attack bonus|STAB]], due to {{type|Ice}} and {{type|Dark}} moves both being calculated from its Special Attack, the base of which is a low 35, compared to its Attack [[base stats|base stat]], 95.
In games prior to Generation IV, the [[type]] of a damaging move determines whether the move is [[Physical move|physical]] ({{DL|Damage|damage calculation}} is performed using the user's {{stat|Attack}} and the target's {{stat|Defense}}) or [[Special move|special]] (the user's {{stat|Special Attack}} and the target's {{stat|Special Defense}}).


Overall, when the feature was first announced, the change was very controversial among fans, as many players were unsure of which moves from the previous three generations would be affected. Eventually, this fear of losing hard-trained Pokémon due to the conversion died down, and as movesets were revealed, the change became an accepted part of the game.  
It was first assigned to individual moves in {{g|XD: Gale of Darkness}} for [[Shadow move]]s, and then applied to all moves starting in [[Generation IV]]. Among fans, this change is often known as the '''Physical/Special split'''.


While the moves remain, for the most part, in the same category that they were in before, the majority of moves of a formerly "Special" type that were given status as Physical, as well as moves of a formerly "Physical" type that were given status as Special, are obvious changes, as is the case with {{m|Fire Punch}}, {{m|Ice Punch}}, and {{m|ThunderPunch}}. Several new moves, as well, were introduced to give more balance to formerly all-Special and all-Physical types, such as the {{type|Psychic}}, which got {{m|Zen Headbutt}} and {{m|Psycho Cut}}, and the Fighting-type, which got Focus Blast, {{m|Vacuum Wave}}, and {{m|Aura Sphere}}.
==Physical/Special split==
The Physical/Special split allows {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} to use moves from a wider variety of types. For example, prior to Generation IV, {{p|Sneasel}}, which has a much greater Attack than Special Attack, was not effective at using moves with [[Same-type attack bonus|STAB]], due to {{type|Ice}} moves and {{type|Dark}} moves both being special.


Moves that deal no direct damage were also given a category; however, as they never dealt damage in the first place, no moves formerly of other categories were moved to this category, and no moves moved from this category to another.
Several new moves were introduced to give more balance to formerly all-special and all-physical types, such as the physical {{type|Psychic}} moves {{m|Zen Headbutt}} and {{m|Psycho Cut}}; and the special Fighting-type moves {{m|Focus Blast}}, {{m|Vacuum Wave}}, and {{m|Aura Sphere}}. Other moves, such as {{m|Hyper Beam}} (which was physical prior to Generation IV but is now special), gained physical counterparts with the same characteristics (in this case, {{m|Giga Impact}}).


==Type-based categories==
The move categories used from [[Generation I|Generations I]] to {{gen|III}} are listed below.
The unused {{t|Bird}} type only exists in the first two generations and was defined as a physical type.
{| class="roundy" style="text-align: center; background: #ccc; border: 2px solid #888" cellpadding="3px"
|- style="background: #C0C0FF;"
! style="{{roundytl|5px}}" | Category
! colspan="9" style="{{roundytr|5px}}" | Types
|- style="background: #fff"
| style="background: #{{Physical color}}" | '''[[Physical move|{{color|{{Physical textcolor}}|Physical}}]]'''
| {{typecolor|Normal}}
| {{typecolor|Fighting}}
| {{typecolor|Flying}}
| {{typecolor|Poison}}
| {{typecolor|Ground}}
| {{typecolor|Rock}}
| {{typecolor|Bug}}
| {{typecolor|Ghost}}
| {{typecolor|Steel}}
|-
| style="background-color: #{{Special color}}; {{roundybl|5px}}" | '''[[Special move|{{color|{{Special textcolor}}|Special}}]]'''
| style="background: #fff" | {{typecolor|Fire}}
| style="background: #fff" | {{typecolor|Water}}
| style="background: #fff" | {{typecolor|Grass}}
| style="background: #fff" | {{typecolor|Electric}}
| style="background: #fff" | {{typecolor|Psychic}}
| style="background: #fff" | {{typecolor|Ice}}
| style="background: #fff" | {{typecolor|Dragon}}
| style="background: #fff" | {{typecolor|Dark}}
|}
==Status moves==
{{main|Status move}}
Status moves act differently from both the other move categories, as they don't do direct damage. They also typically ignore type immunities, but Thunder Wave and Glare (in Generations [[Generation II|II]] and [[Generation III|III]]) are notable exceptions.
==Icons==
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center; {{roundy|20px}} border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#{{Black color}}; font-size:80%"
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc; {{roundytl|20px}}" | {{color2|000|Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions|Pokémon Diamond, Pearl}}, and {{color2|000|Pokémon Platinum Version|Platinum}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC IV.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC IV.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC IV.png]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions|Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC HGSS.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC HGSS.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC HGSS.png]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Generation V}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC BW.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC BW.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC BW.png]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Generation VI}} and {{color2|000|Generation VII|VII}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC.png]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC LGPE.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC LGPE.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC LGPE.png]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Pokémon Sword and Shield}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC SwSh.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC SwSh.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC SwSh.png]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC BDSP.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC BDSP.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC BDSP.png]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Pokémon Legends: Arceus}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC LA.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC LA.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC LA.png]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Pokémon Scarlet and Violet}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC SV.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC SV.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC SV.png]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Pokémon Masters EX}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC Masters.png|100px]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC Masters.png|100px]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC Masters.png|100px]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc" | {{color2|000|Pokémon HOME}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:PhysicalIC HOME.png|100px]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:SpecialIC HOME.png|100px]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:StatusIC HOME.png|100px]]
|-
| style="background-color: #fcfcfc; {{roundybl|20px}}" | {{color2|000|Pokémon HOME}}
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:Physical icon HOME.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:Special icon HOME.png]]
|style="border:2px solid #{{Black color dark}}; background:#eee; width:100px; height:80px; {{roundy|20px}}" | [[File:Status icon HOME.png]]
|}
==Trivia==
* {{m|Bite}} and {{m|Water Shuriken}} are the only moves to have changed damage categories outside of Generation IV and [[Pokémon Legends: Arceus]]. Bite was changed from physical to special in [[Generation II]] when it was changed to a Dark-type move, and Water Shuriken was changed from physical to special in [[Generation VII]].
** {{m|Bite}} is also the only move to have changed damage categories twice: once in Generation II when it turned from a Normal-type and thus physical move to a Dark-type and thus special move, and again in Generation IV when it was changed back to a physical move in the physical/special split.
==References==
<references />
==In other languages==
{{langtable|color=ddf|bordercolor=ccf
|zh_yue=分類 ''{{tt|Fānleuih|Classification}}''
|zh_cmn=分類 / 分类 ''{{tt|Fēnlèi|Classification}}''
|fr=Catégorie
|de=Kategorie
|it=Categoria
|ko=분류 ''{{tt|Bullyu|Classification}}''
|es=Categoría
}}
{{-}}
{{Project Games notice|game mechanic}}
{{Project Games notice|game mechanic}}


Line 16: Line 135:
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology]]


[[de:Schadensklasse]]
[[de:Kategorie (Attackeneigenschaft)]]
[[fr:Catégories d'attaque]]
[[fr:Catégorie de capacité]]
[[it:Categoria danno]]
[[it:Categoria danno]]

Latest revision as of 15:08, 10 April 2024

018Pidgeot.png It has been suggested that this article be moved to Move category.
Please discuss whether or not to move it on its talk page.
Damage categories
Physical
Special
Status

The category (Japanese: 分類 classification) or kind[1] of a move is an element of said move that determines the kind of damage it deals.

In games prior to Generation IV, the type of a damaging move determines whether the move is physical (damage calculation is performed using the user's Attack and the target's Defense) or special (the user's Special Attack and the target's Special Defense).

It was first assigned to individual moves in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness for Shadow moves, and then applied to all moves starting in Generation IV. Among fans, this change is often known as the Physical/Special split.

Physical/Special split

The Physical/Special split allows Pokémon to use moves from a wider variety of types. For example, prior to Generation IV, Sneasel, which has a much greater Attack than Special Attack, was not effective at using moves with STAB, due to Ice-type moves and Dark-type moves both being special.

Several new moves were introduced to give more balance to formerly all-special and all-physical types, such as the physical Psychic-type moves Zen Headbutt and Psycho Cut; and the special Fighting-type moves Focus Blast, Vacuum Wave, and Aura Sphere. Other moves, such as Hyper Beam (which was physical prior to Generation IV but is now special), gained physical counterparts with the same characteristics (in this case, Giga Impact).

Type-based categories

The move categories used from Generations I to III are listed below.

The unused Bird type only exists in the first two generations and was defined as a physical type.

Category Types
Physical  Normal   Fighting   Flying   Poison   Ground   Rock   Bug   Ghost   Steel 
Special  Fire   Water   Grass   Electric   Psychic   Ice   Dragon   Dark 

Status moves

Main article: Status move

Status moves act differently from both the other move categories, as they don't do direct damage. They also typically ignore type immunities, but Thunder Wave and Glare (in Generations II and III) are notable exceptions.

Icons

Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum PhysicalIC IV.png SpecialIC IV.png StatusIC IV.png
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver PhysicalIC HGSS.png SpecialIC HGSS.png StatusIC HGSS.png
Generation V PhysicalIC BW.png SpecialIC BW.png StatusIC BW.png
Generation VI and VII PhysicalIC.png SpecialIC.png StatusIC.png
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! PhysicalIC LGPE.png SpecialIC LGPE.png StatusIC LGPE.png
Pokémon Sword and Shield PhysicalIC SwSh.png SpecialIC SwSh.png StatusIC SwSh.png
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl PhysicalIC BDSP.png SpecialIC BDSP.png StatusIC BDSP.png
Pokémon Legends: Arceus PhysicalIC LA.png SpecialIC LA.png StatusIC LA.png
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet PhysicalIC SV.png SpecialIC SV.png StatusIC SV.png
Pokémon Masters EX PhysicalIC Masters.png SpecialIC Masters.png StatusIC Masters.png
Pokémon HOME PhysicalIC HOME.png SpecialIC HOME.png StatusIC HOME.png
Pokémon HOME Physical icon HOME.png Special icon HOME.png Status icon HOME.png

Trivia

  • Bite and Water Shuriken are the only moves to have changed damage categories outside of Generation IV and Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Bite was changed from physical to special in Generation II when it was changed to a Dark-type move, and Water Shuriken was changed from physical to special in Generation VII.
    • Bite is also the only move to have changed damage categories twice: once in Generation II when it turned from a Normal-type and thus physical move to a Dark-type and thus special move, and again in Generation IV when it was changed back to a physical move in the physical/special split.

References

  1. ↑ In Pokédex 3D

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 分類 Fānleuih
Mandarin 分類 / 分类 Fēnlèi
France Flag.png French Catégorie
Germany Flag.png German Kategorie
Italy Flag.png Italian Categoria
South Korea Flag.png Korean 분류 Bullyu
Spain Flag.png Spanish Categoría


Project Games logo.png This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.
Retrieved from "https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/w/index.php?title=Damage_category&oldid=3985947"