Imprison (move)

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Imprison
ふういん Seal

Battles

Type	Psychic
Category	Status
PP	10 (max. 16)
Power	—
Accuracy	—%
Priority	{{{priority}}}
Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Affected by Snatch Not affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Target

Foe	Foe	Foe
Self	Ally	Ally
Affects the user

Availability

Introduced	Generation III
Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests

Condition	Smart
Appeal	3 ♥♥♥
Jam	0
Worsens the condition of those that made appeals.

Super Contests

Condition	Smart
Appeal	1 ♥
Earn +3 if two Pokémon raise the Voltage in a row.

Contest Spectaculars

Condition	Clever
Appeal	3 ♥♥♥
Jamming	0
Temporarily stops the crowd from growing excited.

On Smogon's Movedex:

Imprison (Japanese: ふういん Seal) is a non-damaging Psychic-type move introduced in Generation III.

Effect

Generations III and IV

As long as the user remains in battle, opponents cannot use any move which is also known by the user (including Pokémon switched in after the move was used). If the user's moveset changes while Imprison is in effect (such as by Mimic, Sketch or Transform), opponents are prevented from using the new moves.

Imprison will fail if no opponent possesses a move the user knows at the time Imprison is used.

If the target of this move runs out of PP of the rest of its usable moves, it will Struggle.

Generation V onward

Imprison will still execute even if no opponent has a move the user knows; though it has no immediate effect in such a case, if the opponent is able to change its moveset (e.g. Mimic, Sketch, or Transform) or switches out for a different Pokémon, it will be prevented from using the user's moves.

In Triple Battles, non-adjacent opponents are prevented from using moves that the user knows.

Imprison can now be stolen by Snatch.

If powered up by a Psychium Z into Z-Imprison, the user's Special Defense stat raises two stages.

Description

Games	Description
RS E	Prevents foes from using moves known by the user.
FRLG	Prevents foes from using any move that is also known by the user.
ColoXD	Prevents target from using moves known by the user.
DP Pt HGSS	If the foe knows any move also known by the user, the foe is prevented from using it.
BW B2W2	If the opponents know any move also known by the user, the opponents are prevented from using it.
XY ORAS	If opposing Pokémon know any move also known by the user, they are prevented from using it.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0037		Vulpix		Field		Field	25	21	21^BW 18^B2W2	18^XY 39^ORAS	39
037A		Vulpix Alola Form		Field		Field					39
0038		Ninetales		Field		Field				1	1
038A		Ninetales Alola Form		Field		Field					1
0234		Stantler		Field		Field		43	49	49	49
0280		Ralts		Amorphous		Amorphous	31	32	34	34^XY 29^ORAS	29
0281		Kirlia		Amorphous		Amorphous	33	36	39	39^XY 33^ORAS	33
0282		Gardevoir		Amorphous		Amorphous	33	40	45	45^XY 35^ORAS	35
0343		Baltoy		Mineral		Mineral				43^ORAS	43
0344		Claydol		Mineral		Mineral				52^ORAS	52
0436		Bronzor		Mineral		Mineral		12	12^BW 9^B2W2	9	9
0437		Bronzong		Mineral		Mineral		1, 12	1, 12^BW 1, 9^B2W2	1, 9	1, 9
0480		Uxie		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered		6	6	6	6
0481		Mesprit		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered		6	6	6	6
0482		Azelf		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered		6	6	6	6
0517		Munna		Field		Field			13	13	13
0527		Woobat		Field	Flying			19	19	19
0528		Swoobat		Field	Flying			19	19	19
0570		Zorua		Field		Field			53	53	53
0571		Zoroark		Field		Field			59	1, 59	1, 59
0605		Elgyem		Human-Like		Human-Like			25	25	25
0606		Beheeyem		Human-Like		Human-Like			25	25	25
0607		Litwick		Amorphous		Amorphous			24	24	24
0608		Lampent		Amorphous		Amorphous			24	24	24
0643		Reshiram		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered			8, 64	8, 64	8, 64
0644		Zekrom		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered			8, 64	8, 64	8, 64
0645		Landorus		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered			9	7	1
0646		Kyurem Normal Kyurem		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered			8, 64	8, 64	8, 64
646B		Kyurem Black Kyurem		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered			8, 64	8, 64	8, 64
646W		Kyurem White Kyurem		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered			8, 64	8, 64	8, 64
0678		Meowstic Male		Field		Field				45	45
0707		Klefki		Mineral		Mineral				36	36
0772		Type: Null		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered					15
0773		Silvally		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered					1
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0088		Grimer		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
088A		Grimer Alola Form		Amorphous		Amorphous					✔
0200		Misdreavus		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0302		Sableye		Human-Like		Human-Like				✔	✔
0353		Shuppet		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0355		Duskull		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0442		Spiritomb		Amorphous		Amorphous		✔	✔	✔	✔
0562		Yamask		Mineral	Amorphous			✔	✔	✔
0577		Solosis		Amorphous		Amorphous			✔	✔	✔
0582		Vanillite		Mineral		Mineral			✔	✔	✔
0708		Phantump		Grass	Amorphous				✔	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

Special move

Generation IV

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0355		Duskull		Amorphous		Amorphous	Pokéwalker - Winner's Path
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

Generation V

#		Egg Groups	Obtained with
0578	Duosion	Amorphous	Amorphous	Dream World - Spooky Manor
0583	Vanillish	Mineral	Mineral	Dream World - Icy Cave
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By event

Generation V

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0575		Gothorita		Human-Like		Human-Like	Japanese Global Link
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Imprison will afflict the target with a Paused status.

Description

Games	Description
MDRB	Inflicts the Paused status on the target, making it incapable of action.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Pokémon	Method
Kirlia
The user creates a forcefield around the enemies' body that prevents it from moving.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Kirlia creates a forcefield around its body that prevents it from moving.
Ruby's Rara	Rayquaza Redemption I	Debut

In other generations

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

The kanji featured in Imprison's Japanese animations is 封, which is the first kanji of 封印 (ふういん Fūin (Seal)), which is its Japanese name.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		封印 Fēngyìn
French		Possessif
German		Begrenzer
Greek		Επισφράγιση
Italian		Esclusiva
Korean		봉인 Bong'in
Brazilian Portuguese		Aprisionar
Serbian		Zatvaranje
Spanish		Cerca
Vietnamese		Phong Ấn

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.

Imprison (move)

Contents

Effect

Generations III and IV

Generation V onward

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

By breeding

Special move

Generation IV

Generation V

By event

Generation V

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Description

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In other generations

Trivia

In other languages

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