Shadow Tag (Ability)

Shadow Tag (Japanese: かげふみ Stepping on Shadows) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. Six Pokémon can have this Ability. Prior to Generation V, it was the signature Ability of Wynaut and Wobbuffet.

Effect

In battle

Shadow Tag prevents all foes from fleeing or switching out as long as the user remains in battle.

Using Baton Pass, U-turn or Volt Switch, or holding a Shed Shell will allow the Pokémon to switch out under all circumstances. Run Away and the Smoke Ball will circumvent its effect to prevent fleeing and teleporting, but not to prevent switching. This Ability has no effect in the Safari Zone.

From Generation IV on, if two Pokémon with Shadow Tag face one another, both may switch out or flee. From Generation VI on, this Ability does not affect Ghost-type Pokémon.

In Double Battles and Triple Battles, Shadow Tag does not affect allies.

Outside of battle

Shadow Tag has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Shadow Tag

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0094		Gengar	Ghost	Poison	Shadow Tag	None	None
0202		Wobbuffet	Psychic		Psychic	Shadow Tag	None	Telepathy
0360		Wynaut	Psychic		Psychic	Shadow Tag	None	Telepathy
0574		Gothita	Psychic		Psychic	Frisk	Competitive	Shadow Tag
0575		Gothorita	Psychic		Psychic	Frisk	Competitive	Shadow Tag
0576		Gothitelle	Psychic		Psychic	Frisk	Competitive	Shadow Tag
Please note that abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

• In Generation V games, Litwick, Lampent, and Chandelure have Shadow Tag as their Hidden Ability, but they cannot be obtained by any legitimate means. Their Hidden Ability is replaced with Infiltrator in Generation VI.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 影子遊戲 Yǐngzǐ Yóuxì French Marque Ombre German Wegsperre Italian Pedinombra Korean 그림자 밟기 Geurimja Balgi Portuguese Fio de Sombra European Spanish Sombra Trampa (Gen. VI) Sombratrampa (Prior to Gen. VI)

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.