Substitute (move): Difference between revisions

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{{Cleanup}}
{{Incomplete|needs=There were a lot of effects missing that I added, but I'm not 100% certain everything sourced was perfectly accurate; also needs organization/rewording and maybe removal/reworking of the "Substitute does not block these" tables as the effect descriptions now contain much fewer generalizations}}
{{MoveInfobox|
{{MoveInfobox|
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==Effect==
==Effect==
===Generation I===
===Generation I===
Using 25% of its maximum {{stat|HP}}, the user creates a substitute with 1 HP more than the amount of HP lost by the user. If the user's maximum HP is 3 or less, it will not lose any HP when the substitute is made. A substitute will have the same current type and current stats as the Pokémon that created it.
Using 25% of its maximum {{stat|HP}}, the user creates a substitute with 1 HP more than the amount of HP lost by the user. If the user's current HP is less than 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to make a substitute and the move will fail. If the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will faint upon creating the substitute. If the user's maximum HP is 3 or less, it will not lose any HP when the substitute is made. A substitute will have the same type and stats as the Pokémon that created it.


Once created, all stat modifying attacks and side effects of attacks used by the opponent against the user will fail, though all current stat modifiers will remain in effect and any stat modifiers used by the user will also be applied to the substitute. The substitute will break when the damage the substitute has taken is equal to or greater than the HP used to make it. Until it breaks, a substitute will absorb all damage done by the opponent (even if the damage done exceeds the remaining HP of the substitute), but will not reduce the actual amount of damage that the opponent's attacks do. A [[One-hit knockout move|one-hit KO move]], if it hits, will always break a substitute.
Once created, any damage inflicted by the opponent will be redirected to the substitute instead. If the substitute runs out of HP (it takes total damage equal to or greater than the HP used to make it), it will break. A [[One-hit knockout move|one-hit KO move]], if it hits, will always break a substitute.


Substitute will not protect the user from self-inflicted [[status condition]]s, but it will protect it from any status condition generated by an opponent's move and damage due to those status conditions.
While the user has a substitute up, the opponent cannot lower the user's [[stat stages]], nor poison, freeze, burn, or {{status|flinch}} the user. The opponent can paralyze the user through a status move's primary effect (like {{m|Thunder Wave}}), but not a damaging move's side effect (like {{m|Thunderbolt}}). Conversely, the opponent can confuse the user through a damaging move's side effect (like {{m|Confusion}}), but not a status move's primary effect (like {{m|Confuse Ray}}), and not if the damaging move causes the substitute to break. Substitutes do not protect the user against sleep. The substitute breaks after all primary and side effects of a move have been determined, so, for example, {{m|Ice Beam}} will never freeze the user even if the move just caused the substitute to break.


Substitute will not alter the execution of {{m|Bide}}, {{m|Counter}}, {{m|Disable}}, {{m|Haze}}, {{m|Leech Seed}}, {{m|Super Fang}}, {{m|Transform}}, or partial trapping moves, nor will it absorb crash, recoil, or recurrent damage. However, a substitute will absorb self-inflicted confusion damage and prevent the user from {{status|Flinch|flinching}}.
Substitutes will not prevent the user from gaining HP or from losing HP due to crash damage, recoil damage, or recurring damage from an already existing status condition. Additionally, Substitute will not alter the use of the opponent's {{m|Disable}}, {{m|Leech Seed}}, {{m|Super Fang}}, {{m|Transform}}, or partial trapping moves; the user's {{m|Bide}}, {{m|Counter}}, or {{m|Rage}}; and {{m|Haze}} by either side.


If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with {{m|Hyper Beam}}, it will not need to recharge. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with {{m|Explosion}} or {{m|Selfdestruct}}, it will not faint, though its picture will no longer be visible until it switches out or uses Substitute. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a recoil move, it will not take any recoil damage. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a draining move, no HP will be restored to it. Note that in each of these cases, the substitute has to be broken, not merely damaged, by the referenced attack.
Due to a glitch, if a user with a substitute takes self-inflicted confusion damage, the damage is applied to the opponent's substitute instead. If the opponent does not have a substitute, the damage effectively vanishes.


If the user's current HP is less than 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to make a substitute. If the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will faint upon creating the Substitute.
If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with {{m|Hyper Beam}}, it will not need to recharge. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with {{m|Explosion}} or {{m|Selfdestruct}}, it will not faint, though its picture will still disappear until it switches out (or uses Substitute itself). If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a recoil move, it will not take any recoil damage. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a draining move, no HP will be restored to it. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with {{m|Pay Day}}, that use of Pay Day will not count toward the money its Trainer picks up at the end of the battle. If an opponent attacks a Substitute with a multi-hit attack, the hits will automatically end if the substitute breaks.


In Stadium, if the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to create a substitute. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with {{m|Explosion}} or {{m|Selfdestruct}}, it will faint.
In Stadium, several oddities and glitches listed above were fixed:
* A substitute will always block the opponent from inflicting paralysis and confusion, as well as sleep (thus blocking all six major status conditions).
* If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with {{m|Explosion}} or {{m|Selfdestruct}}, it will faint as usual.
* Draining moves will fail entirely against a Pokémon with a substitute.
* If the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to create a substitute.


===Generation II===
===Generation II===
If the user has a status condition, they will still take any damage from that status condition after they have used Substitute.
In general, the fixed effects from Stadium in Generation I are retained. For example:
* If the user's current HP is equal to or lower than 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to create a substitute.
* The substitute will block the opponent from lowering the user's stat stages, and inflicting all six major status conditions as well as flinching. Whether or not the substitute breaks is determined after all primary and side effects of an attack, so for example Ice Beam will not freeze the user even if the substitute breaks from the damage.
* The substitute will not prevent the user from gaining HP, nor will it prevent the user from losing HP due to recoil, an already-existing status condition such as poison, or other forms of recurrent damage such as the newly introduced {{m|Sandstorm}}.
* Moves that change effect based on the user's current HP (such as Super Fang) will not behave any differently with Substitute. This applies to newly introduced moves such as {{m|Flail}}, {{m|Reversal}}, {{m|False Swipe}}, etc.
* Rage works as normal.
* If the user's substitute is broken by an opponent's {{m|Self-Destruct}} or {{m|Explosion}}, the opponent will faint.
* Substitute protects the user against draining moves, including an opponent's {{m|Pain Split}} (even if the user would gain HP from it). (The user can still itself use Pain Split normally, even if it would lose HP.)


If the substitute is broken by a target's {{m|Self-Destruct}} or {{m|Explosion}}, the user of that move will faint. Breaking a substitute no longer prevents recoil damage.
Mechanics changed between Stadium and Generation II include:
* The substitute's HP is now exactly equal to the HP lost to create the substitute, instead of being 1 + the HP lost.
* Leech Seed is now considered a draining move, and will fail against a substitute.
* If the user takes self-inflicted confusion damage, the damage will be given directly to the user rather than to the substitute.
* The user can use Bide, but the damage it inflicts will not count damage dealt to the user's substitute.
* Because recoil damage is calculated from how much HP the target has actually lost, if an opponent hits the user's substitute with a recoil move, the opponent will only take 1 HP recoil damage. (Jump Kick and Hi Jump Kick crash damage is calculated normally.) Breaking a substitute with a recoil move no longer prevents recoil damage.
* A multi-hit attack can now continue hitting even after a substitute has been broken, dealing damage directly to the target. (However, as {{m|Twineedle}} performs the poison check only once at the beginning of the move, it will never poison a target with a substitute even if the first hit breaks it and the second hit directly damages the target.)
* Pay Day now works as normal.


If the user of Substitute has 25% or less of its max HP (rounded down), it will be unable to make a substitute.
Mechanics newly introduced in Generation II include:
 
* A substitute can be {{m|Baton Pass}}ed, and it will keep whatever HP it had remaining.
A substitute can be {{m|Baton Pass}}ed, and can absorb damage from partial-trapping moves.
* While behind a substitute, the user is unable to use {{m|Counter}}, {{m|Mirror Coat}}, {{m|Protect}}, {{m|Detect}}, or {{m|Endure}}. The opponent can still use these moves.
* While behind a substitute, the user is immune to an opponent's {{m|Lock-On}}, {{m|Mind Reader}}, {{m|Nightmare}}, Ghost-type {{m|Curse}}, and {{m|Sketch}}. The user can still use these moves themselves.
* While most end-of-turn effects (such as Sandstorm) bypass a substitute, a substitute can successfully block the damage from {{m|Future Sight}}. It will also block the damage from {{m|Pursuit}} as the user switches out.
* Partial-trapping moves will not trap the user if they are behind a substitute. In addition, creating a substitute will cause the user to escape a partial-trapping move.
* If the opponent uses {{m|Swagger}}, the user will have their Attack sharply increased as normal, but the substitute will prevent them from becoming confused.
* If the opponent uses {{m|Thief}}, the user's item will not be stolen. The user can still use Thief normally themselves.


The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:
The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:
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! width="100px" | {{color2|000|Type}}
! width="100px" | {{color2|000|Type}}
{{movelist|Attract|Normal}}
{{movelist|Attract|Normal}}
{{movelist|Curse|???}}
{{movelist|Destiny Bond|Ghost}}
{{movelist|Destiny Bond|Ghost}}
{{movelist|Disable|Normal}}
{{movelist|Disable|Normal}}
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{{movelist|Foresight|Normal}}
{{movelist|Foresight|Normal}}
{{movelist|Haze|Ice}}
{{movelist|Haze|Ice}}
{{movelist|Mean Look|Normal}}
{{movelist|Mimic|Normal}}
{{movelist|Perish Song|Normal}}
{{movelist|Perish Song|Normal}}
{{movelist|Psych Up|Normal}}
{{movelist|Psych Up|Normal}}
{{movelist|Roar|Normal}}
{{movelist|Roar|Normal}}
{{movelist|Spite|Normal}}
{{movelist|Spider Web|Bug}}
{{movelist|Spikes|Ground}}
{{movelist|Spite|Ghost}}
{{movelist|Transform|Normal}}
{{movelist|Transform|Normal}}
{{movelist|Whirlwind|Normal}}
{{movelist|Whirlwind|Normal}}
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<br clear="left">
<br clear="left">


===Generations III and IV===
===Generation III===
[[Multi-strike move]]s may now continue attacking after breaking a substitute, doing damage directly to the opponent.
The following effects are carried over/expanded from Generation II:
* The opponent still cannot lower the user's stat stages, so the substitute will now block {{a|Intimidate}} (which is the only [[Ability]] affected by it).
* The opponent cannot remove the user's held item, which now applies to {{m|Covet}}, {{m|Knock Off}}, and {{m|Trick}} (the latter will fail even if the user is not holding an item). The user can still use Trick to lose its own held item.
* The substitute will block damage from {{m|Doom Desire}} as well as Future Sight.
* Yawn is blocked by the substitute, as it is considered a move that inflicts sleep. However, if the user was already drowsy from Yawn on the turn it created the substitute, it can still fall asleep.


{{a|Intimidate}} is blocked by the substitute and is the only [[Ability]] affected by it. A substitute will not block {{m|Defog}}'s evasion decrease.
The following effects are changed between Generations II and III:
* Twineedle now performs its poison check on both hits, and so can poison a target if it broke a substitute on its first hit.
* Rage's effect will now no longer activate if its user's substitute is attacked.
* Swagger (and the newly introduced {{m|Flatter}}) will now fail entirely against a substitute.
* Pay Day now does not cause its Trainer to gain money if it hits a substitute.<!-- Constrast: In Gen II, it always gained money, in Gen I, it gained money unless it *broke* a substitute. -->
* Protect, Detect, and Endure now behave as normal.
* Damaging draining moves (''except'' {{m|Dream Eater}}) can now hit a substitute as normal, and the user of the move will gain HP depending on the HP the substitute lost. The same applies for recoil moves. (Leech Seed is still blocked by the substitute.)
* Trapping moves are now blocked by the substitute.
* Mimic is now blocked by the substitute.


{{p|Shedinja}}, having a maximum of only 1 HP, cannot make a substitute.
The following effects are newly introduced in Generation III or IV:
* {{p|Shedinja}}, having a maximum of only 1 HP, cannot make a substitute.
* Substitute can be stolen by {{m|Snatch}}.
* {{m|SmellingSalt}} will not have any of its additional effects applied if the target is behind a substitute and paralyzed.
 
The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:
{| width="300px" class="roundy" style="background: #{{normal color light}}; border: 5px solid #{{normal color}}"
|-
|
{| border=1 width="100%" class="sortable" class="expandable" style="background: #FFF; border:1px solid #{{normal color light}}; border-collapse:collapse; margin:auto"
|- style="background: #{{normal color light}}"
! width="100px" | {{color2|000|Move}}
! width="100px" | {{color2|000|Type}}
! width="100px" | {{color2|000|Damage category|Cat.}}
{{movelist|Attract|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Destiny Bond|Ghost|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Disable|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Encore|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Foresight|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Grudge|Ghost|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Haze|Ice|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Imprison|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Magic Coat|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Odor Sleuth|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Perish Song|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Psych Up|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Roar|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Role Play|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Skill Swap|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Spite|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Taunt|Dark|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Tickle|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Torment|Dark|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Transform|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Whirlwind|Normal|cat=Status}}
|}
|}
<br clear="left">
 
===Generation IV===
The following effects are carried over/expanded from Generation III:
* The opponent still cannot remove the user's held item, which now applies to {{m|Pluck}} and {{m|Bug Bite}}. {{m|Switcheroo}} behaves identically to Trick.
* Like Counter and Mirror Coat, {{m|Metal Burst}} also does not count damage taken by its user's substitute.
* The interactions between Substitute and SmellingSalt now also apply to {{m|Wake-Up Slap}}.
 
The following effects are changed between Generations III and IV:
* Twineedle reverts to its Generation II behavior.{{fact}}
* Self-confusing [[Berries]] such as the [[Figy Berry]] now no longer confuse a user behind a substitute.
 
The following effects are newly introduced in Generation IV:
* The [[Enigma Berry]] will not activate if its holder is behind a substitute.
* If an opponent's {{m|U-turn}} does enough damage to break the user's substitute, and the opponent then switches in a Pokémon with Intimidate, the substitute will not fade until after it has successfully blocked the new Intimidate.
* If {{m|Toxic Spikes}} are up, using Baton Pass to pass a substitute will prevent the recipient from being poisoned as usual, but if the recipient is a grounded Poison-type, the Toxic Spikes will still be absorbed.
* The user will be protected from all side effects of an opponent's {{m|Fling}}, including beneficial ones.
* An opponent's {{m|Defog}} will not lower the user's evasiveness, but it will still remove fog as well as artifacts (Reflect, Stealth Rock, etc.) on the user's side.
* A substitute blocks {{m|Copycat}}, {{m|Embargo}}, {{m|Gastro Acid}}, {{m|Psycho Shift}}, {{m|Worry Seed}}, {{m|Heal Block}}, and {{m|Acupressure}} (for the latter, regardless of whether an ally or the user itself targeted the user with Acupressure).


The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:
The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:
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! width="100px" | {{color2|000|Damage category|Cat.}}
! width="100px" | {{color2|000|Damage category|Cat.}}
{{movelist|Attract|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Attract|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Curse|???|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Defog|Flying|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Destiny Bond|Ghost|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Destiny Bond|Ghost|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Disable|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Disable|Normal|cat=Status}}
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{{movelist|Heart Swap|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Heart Swap|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Imprison|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Imprison|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Magic Coat|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Miracle Eye|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Miracle Eye|Psychic|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Odor Sleuth|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Odor Sleuth|Normal|cat=Status}}
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{{movelist|Spite|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Spite|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Taunt|Dark|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Taunt|Dark|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Tickle|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Torment|Dark|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Torment|Dark|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Transform|Normal|cat=Status}}
{{movelist|Transform|Normal|cat=Status}}
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===Generation V===
===Generation V===
Substitute now blocks {{m|Transform}} and the stat-lowering effect of {{m|Defog}}, and {{m|Sky Drop}} will fail if used against a Pokémon behind a substitute.
{{m|Incinerate}}'s item-removing effect will not work against a substitute, but the Ability {{a|Pickpocket}} and the [[Item Drop]] from [[Wonder Launcher]] still will. A user behind a substitute can use {{m|Bestow}} to remove its own held item, but an opponent cannot use Bestow against the user's substitute.
 
The secondary effects of {{m|Smack Down}}, {{m|Clear Smog}}, {{m|Circle Throw}}, and {{m|Dragon Tail}} will not affect a substitute. The move {{m|Sky Drop}} will not work against a substitute at all.
 
A user behind a substitute can now use {{m|Acupressure}} to target itself, but allies still cannot.
 
Substitute now blocks {{m|Transform}}.{{fact}}
 
Twineedle reverts again to its Generation III behavior. Dream Eater can now hit a Pokémon behind a substitute and act the same way as other damaging draining moves.


The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:
The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:
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|ro=Substituirea}}
|ro=Substituirea}}
{{-}}
{{-}}
==References==
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20140909104759/http://www.upokecenter.com/dex/?lang=en&move=164]


{{Generation I TMs}}
{{Generation I TMs}}

Revision as of 08:47, 19 May 2016

0572Minccino.png This article does not yet meet the quality standards of Bulbapedia. Please feel free to edit this article to make it conform to Bulbapedia norms and conventions.
050Diglett.png This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: There were a lot of effects missing that I added, but I'm not 100% certain everything sourced was perfectly accurate; also needs organization/rewording and maybe removal/reworking of the "Substitute does not block these" tables as the effect descriptions now contain much fewer generalizations

Substitute
みがわり Scapegoat
Substitute.png
[[File:|center]]
Type  Normal
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 King's Rock
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
Affects the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  0  
Can avoid being startled by others once.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  1
Earn +3 if the Pokémon gets the lowest score.
Condition  Cute
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jamming  0  
Prevents the user from being startled one time this turn.

Substitute (Japanese: みがわり Scapegoat) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM50 in Generation I before losing its TM status in Generation II. It regained its TM status, albeit as TM90, in Generation IV onwards. It was Mr. Mime's signature move in Generation II.

Effect

Generation I

Using 25% of its maximum HP, the user creates a substitute with 1 HP more than the amount of HP lost by the user. If the user's current HP is less than 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to make a substitute and the move will fail. If the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will faint upon creating the substitute. If the user's maximum HP is 3 or less, it will not lose any HP when the substitute is made. A substitute will have the same type and stats as the Pokémon that created it.

Once created, any damage inflicted by the opponent will be redirected to the substitute instead. If the substitute runs out of HP (it takes total damage equal to or greater than the HP used to make it), it will break. A one-hit KO move, if it hits, will always break a substitute.

While the user has a substitute up, the opponent cannot lower the user's stat stages, nor poison, freeze, burn, or flinch the user. The opponent can paralyze the user through a status move's primary effect (like Thunder Wave), but not a damaging move's side effect (like Thunderbolt). Conversely, the opponent can confuse the user through a damaging move's side effect (like Confusion), but not a status move's primary effect (like Confuse Ray), and not if the damaging move causes the substitute to break. Substitutes do not protect the user against sleep. The substitute breaks after all primary and side effects of a move have been determined, so, for example, Ice Beam will never freeze the user even if the move just caused the substitute to break.

Substitutes will not prevent the user from gaining HP or from losing HP due to crash damage, recoil damage, or recurring damage from an already existing status condition. Additionally, Substitute will not alter the use of the opponent's Disable, Leech Seed, Super Fang, Transform, or partial trapping moves; the user's Bide, Counter, or Rage; and Haze by either side.

Due to a glitch, if a user with a substitute takes self-inflicted confusion damage, the damage is applied to the opponent's substitute instead. If the opponent does not have a substitute, the damage effectively vanishes.

If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Hyper Beam, it will not need to recharge. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Explosion or Selfdestruct, it will not faint, though its picture will still disappear until it switches out (or uses Substitute itself). If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a recoil move, it will not take any recoil damage. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a draining move, no HP will be restored to it. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Pay Day, that use of Pay Day will not count toward the money its Trainer picks up at the end of the battle. If an opponent attacks a Substitute with a multi-hit attack, the hits will automatically end if the substitute breaks.

In Stadium, several oddities and glitches listed above were fixed:

  • A substitute will always block the opponent from inflicting paralysis and confusion, as well as sleep (thus blocking all six major status conditions).
  • If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Explosion or Selfdestruct, it will faint as usual.
  • Draining moves will fail entirely against a Pokémon with a substitute.
  • If the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to create a substitute.

Generation II

In general, the fixed effects from Stadium in Generation I are retained. For example:

  • If the user's current HP is equal to or lower than 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to create a substitute.
  • The substitute will block the opponent from lowering the user's stat stages, and inflicting all six major status conditions as well as flinching. Whether or not the substitute breaks is determined after all primary and side effects of an attack, so for example Ice Beam will not freeze the user even if the substitute breaks from the damage.
  • The substitute will not prevent the user from gaining HP, nor will it prevent the user from losing HP due to recoil, an already-existing status condition such as poison, or other forms of recurrent damage such as the newly introduced Sandstorm.
  • Moves that change effect based on the user's current HP (such as Super Fang) will not behave any differently with Substitute. This applies to newly introduced moves such as Flail, Reversal, False Swipe, etc.
  • Rage works as normal.
  • If the user's substitute is broken by an opponent's Self-Destruct or Explosion, the opponent will faint.
  • Substitute protects the user against draining moves, including an opponent's Pain Split (even if the user would gain HP from it). (The user can still itself use Pain Split normally, even if it would lose HP.)

Mechanics changed between Stadium and Generation II include:

  • The substitute's HP is now exactly equal to the HP lost to create the substitute, instead of being 1 + the HP lost.
  • Leech Seed is now considered a draining move, and will fail against a substitute.
  • If the user takes self-inflicted confusion damage, the damage will be given directly to the user rather than to the substitute.
  • The user can use Bide, but the damage it inflicts will not count damage dealt to the user's substitute.
  • Because recoil damage is calculated from how much HP the target has actually lost, if an opponent hits the user's substitute with a recoil move, the opponent will only take 1 HP recoil damage. (Jump Kick and Hi Jump Kick crash damage is calculated normally.) Breaking a substitute with a recoil move no longer prevents recoil damage.
  • A multi-hit attack can now continue hitting even after a substitute has been broken, dealing damage directly to the target. (However, as Twineedle performs the poison check only once at the beginning of the move, it will never poison a target with a substitute even if the first hit breaks it and the second hit directly damages the target.)
  • Pay Day now works as normal.

Mechanics newly introduced in Generation II include:

  • A substitute can be Baton Passed, and it will keep whatever HP it had remaining.
  • While behind a substitute, the user is unable to use Counter, Mirror Coat, Protect, Detect, or Endure. The opponent can still use these moves.
  • While behind a substitute, the user is immune to an opponent's Lock-On, Mind Reader, Nightmare, Ghost-type Curse, and Sketch. The user can still use these moves themselves.
  • While most end-of-turn effects (such as Sandstorm) bypass a substitute, a substitute can successfully block the damage from Future Sight. It will also block the damage from Pursuit as the user switches out.
  • Partial-trapping moves will not trap the user if they are behind a substitute. In addition, creating a substitute will cause the user to escape a partial-trapping move.
  • If the opponent uses Swagger, the user will have their Attack sharply increased as normal, but the substitute will prevent them from becoming confused.
  • If the opponent uses Thief, the user's item will not be stolen. The user can still use Thief normally themselves.

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:


Generation III

The following effects are carried over/expanded from Generation II:

  • The opponent still cannot lower the user's stat stages, so the substitute will now block Intimidate (which is the only Ability affected by it).
  • The opponent cannot remove the user's held item, which now applies to Covet, Knock Off, and Trick (the latter will fail even if the user is not holding an item). The user can still use Trick to lose its own held item.
  • The substitute will block damage from Doom Desire as well as Future Sight.
  • Yawn is blocked by the substitute, as it is considered a move that inflicts sleep. However, if the user was already drowsy from Yawn on the turn it created the substitute, it can still fall asleep.

The following effects are changed between Generations II and III:

  • Twineedle now performs its poison check on both hits, and so can poison a target if it broke a substitute on its first hit.
  • Rage's effect will now no longer activate if its user's substitute is attacked.
  • Swagger (and the newly introduced Flatter) will now fail entirely against a substitute.
  • Pay Day now does not cause its Trainer to gain money if it hits a substitute.
  • Protect, Detect, and Endure now behave as normal.
  • Damaging draining moves (except Dream Eater) can now hit a substitute as normal, and the user of the move will gain HP depending on the HP the substitute lost. The same applies for recoil moves. (Leech Seed is still blocked by the substitute.)
  • Trapping moves are now blocked by the substitute.
  • Mimic is now blocked by the substitute.

The following effects are newly introduced in Generation III or IV:

  • Shedinja, having a maximum of only 1 HP, cannot make a substitute.
  • Substitute can be stolen by Snatch.
  • SmellingSalt will not have any of its additional effects applied if the target is behind a substitute and paralyzed.

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:


Generation IV

The following effects are carried over/expanded from Generation III:

  • The opponent still cannot remove the user's held item, which now applies to Pluck and Bug Bite. Switcheroo behaves identically to Trick.
  • Like Counter and Mirror Coat, Metal Burst also does not count damage taken by its user's substitute.
  • The interactions between Substitute and SmellingSalt now also apply to Wake-Up Slap.

The following effects are changed between Generations III and IV:

  • Twineedle reverts to its Generation II behavior.[citation needed]
  • Self-confusing Berries such as the Figy Berry now no longer confuse a user behind a substitute.

The following effects are newly introduced in Generation IV:

  • The Enigma Berry will not activate if its holder is behind a substitute.
  • If an opponent's U-turn does enough damage to break the user's substitute, and the opponent then switches in a Pokémon with Intimidate, the substitute will not fade until after it has successfully blocked the new Intimidate.
  • If Toxic Spikes are up, using Baton Pass to pass a substitute will prevent the recipient from being poisoned as usual, but if the recipient is a grounded Poison-type, the Toxic Spikes will still be absorbed.
  • The user will be protected from all side effects of an opponent's Fling, including beneficial ones.
  • An opponent's Defog will not lower the user's evasiveness, but it will still remove fog as well as artifacts (Reflect, Stealth Rock, etc.) on the user's side.
  • A substitute blocks Copycat, Embargo, Gastro Acid, Psycho Shift, Worry Seed, Heal Block, and Acupressure (for the latter, regardless of whether an ally or the user itself targeted the user with Acupressure).

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:


Generation V

Incinerate's item-removing effect will not work against a substitute, but the Ability Pickpocket and the Item Drop from Wonder Launcher still will. A user behind a substitute can use Bestow to remove its own held item, but an opponent cannot use Bestow against the user's substitute.

The secondary effects of Smack Down, Clear Smog, Circle Throw, and Dragon Tail will not affect a substitute. The move Sky Drop will not work against a substitute at all.

A user behind a substitute can now use Acupressure to target itself, but allies still cannot.

Substitute now blocks Transform.[citation needed]

Twineedle reverts again to its Generation III behavior. Dream Eater can now hit a Pokémon behind a substitute and act the same way as other damaging draining moves.

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:


Generation VI

Substitute no longer blocks sound-based moves, such as Metal Sound, or moves used by Pokémon with the Ability Infiltrator.

Description

Games Description
StadStad2 Uses 1/4 of the user's maximum HP to create a substitute that takes the opponent's attacks.
GSC Makes a decoy with 1/4 user's max HP.
RSEColo.XD Creates a decoy using 1/4 of the user's maximum HP.
FRLG The user creates a decoy using one-quarter of its full HP.
DPPtHGSS
BWB2W2
XYORAS
The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP. The copy serves as the user's decoy.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Type Level
I II III IV V VI
122 Mr. Mime Mr. Mime Psychic Fairy 47 11 9 8 29 29 29
352 Kecleon Kecleon Normal Normal     40 37 39 37 37
42
439 Mime Jr. Mime Jr. Psychic Fairy       29 29 29
479 Rotom Rotom Electric Ghost       36 36 36
656 Froakie Froakie Water Water           35
657 Frogadier Frogadier Water Water           38
658 Greninja Greninja Water Dark           43
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 Type Father
II III IV V VI
108 Lickitung Lickitung* Normal Normal   Lapras Lapras  
113 Chansey Chansey* Normal Normal   Skitty Skitty  
115 Kangaskhan Kangaskhan* Normal Normal   Lapras Lapras  
131 Lapras Lapras* Water Ice   Marill Marill  
143 Snorlax Snorlax* Normal Normal   Lapras Lapras  
161 Sentret Sentret Normal Normal   Kecleon Kecleon  
173 Cleffa Cleffa* Normal Normal   Skitty Skitty  
175 Togepi Togepi* Normal Normal   Skitty Skitty  
183 Marill Marill* Water Water   Skitty Skitty  
263 Zigzagoon Zigzagoon Normal Normal   Kecleon Kecleon  
300 Skitty Skitty Normal Normal   Kecleon Kecleon  
311 Plusle Plusle* Electric Electric   Skitty Skitty  
312 Minun Minun* Electric Electric   Skitty Skitty  
325 Spoink Spoink Psychic Psychic   Kecleon Kecleon  
359 Absol Absol Dark Dark   Kecleon Kecleon  
440 Happiny Happiny* Normal Normal     Skitty  
446 Munchlax Munchlax* Normal Normal     Lapras  
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 TM

# Pokémon Type Machine
I
TM50
II
--
III
--
IV
TM90
V
TM90
VI
TM90
All Pokémon who can learn TMs can learn Substitute except Unown, Wobbuffet, Wynaut, Kricketot, Burmy, Tynamo, and Spewpa.
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 Move Tutor

# Pokémon Type Game
FRLG E XD
001 Bulbasaur Bulbasaur Grass Poison
002 Ivysaur Ivysaur Grass Poison
003 Venusaur Venusaur Grass Poison
004 Charmander Charmander Fire Fire
005 Charmeleon Charmeleon Fire Fire
006 Charizard Charizard Fire Flying
007 Squirtle Squirtle Water Water
008 Wartortle Wartortle Water Water
009 Blastoise Blastoise Water Water
012 Butterfree Butterfree Bug Flying
015 Beedrill Beedrill Bug Poison
016 Pidgey Pidgey Normal Flying
017 Pidgeotto Pidgeotto Normal Flying
018 Pidgeot Pidgeot Normal Flying
019 Rattata Rattata Normal Normal
020 Raticate Raticate Normal Normal
021 Spearow Spearow Normal Flying
022 Fearow Fearow Normal Flying
023 Ekans Ekans Poison Poison
024 Arbok Arbok Poison Poison
025 Pikachu Pikachu Electric Electric
026 Raichu Raichu Electric Electric
027 Sandshrew Sandshrew Ground Ground
028 Sandslash Sandslash Ground Ground
029 Nidoran♀ Nidoran♀ Poison Poison
030 Nidorina Nidorina Poison Poison
031 Nidoqueen Nidoqueen Poison Ground
032 Nidoran♂ Nidoran♂ Poison Poison
033 Nidorino Nidorino Poison Poison
034 Nidoking Nidoking Poison Ground
035 Clefairy Clefairy Normal Normal
036 Clefable Clefable Normal Normal
037 Vulpix Vulpix Fire Fire
038 Ninetales Ninetales Fire Fire
039 Jigglypuff Jigglypuff Normal Normal
040 Wigglytuff Wigglytuff Normal Normal
041 Zubat Zubat Poison Flying
042 Golbat Golbat Poison Flying
043 Oddish Oddish Grass Poison
044 Gloom Gloom Grass Poison
045 Vileplume Vileplume Grass Poison
046 Paras Paras Bug Grass
047 Parasect Parasect Bug Grass
048 Venonat Venonat Bug Poison
049 Venomoth Venomoth Bug Poison
050 Diglett Diglett Ground Ground
051 Dugtrio Dugtrio Ground Ground
052 Meowth Meowth Normal Normal
053 Persian Persian Normal Normal
054 Psyduck Psyduck Water Water
055 Golduck Golduck Water Water
056 Mankey Mankey Fighting Fighting
057 Primeape Primeape Fighting Fighting
058 Growlithe Growlithe Fire Fire
059 Arcanine Arcanine Fire Fire
060 Poliwag Poliwag Water Water
061 Poliwhirl Poliwhirl Water Water
062 Poliwrath Poliwrath Water Fighting
063 Abra Abra Psychic Psychic
064 Kadabra Kadabra Psychic Psychic
065 Alakazam Alakazam Psychic Psychic
066 Machop Machop Fighting Fighting
067 Machoke Machoke Fighting Fighting
068 Machamp Machamp Fighting Fighting
069 Bellsprout Bellsprout Grass Poison
070 Weepinbell Weepinbell Grass Poison
071 Victreebel Victreebel Grass Poison
072 Tentacool Tentacool Water Poison
073 Tentacruel Tentacruel Water Poison
074 Geodude Geodude Rock Ground
075 Graveler Graveler Rock Ground
076 Golem Golem Rock Ground
077 Ponyta Ponyta Fire Fire
078 Rapidash Rapidash Fire Fire
079 Slowpoke Slowpoke Water Psychic
080 Slowbro Slowbro Water Psychic
081 Magnemite Magnemite Electric Steel
082 Magneton Magneton Electric Steel
083 Farfetch'd Farfetch'd Normal Flying
084 Doduo Doduo Normal Flying
085 Dodrio Dodrio Normal Flying
086 Seel Seel Water Water
087 Dewgong Dewgong Water Ice
088 Grimer Grimer Poison Poison
089 Muk Muk Poison Poison
090 Shellder Shellder Water Water
091 Cloyster Cloyster Water Ice
092 Gastly Gastly Ghost Poison
093 Haunter Haunter Ghost Poison
094 Gengar Gengar Ghost Poison
095 Onix Onix Rock Ground
096 Drowzee Drowzee Psychic Psychic
097 Hypno Hypno Psychic Psychic
098 Krabby Krabby Water Water
099 Kingler Kingler Water Water
100 Voltorb Voltorb Electric Electric
101 Electrode Electrode Electric Electric
102 Exeggcute Exeggcute Grass Psychic
103 Exeggutor Exeggutor Grass Psychic
104 Cubone Cubone Ground Ground
105 Marowak Marowak Ground Ground
106 Hitmonlee Hitmonlee Fighting Fighting
107 Hitmonchan Hitmonchan Fighting Fighting
108 Lickitung Lickitung Normal Normal
109 Koffing Koffing Poison Poison
110 Weezing Weezing Poison Poison
111 Rhyhorn Rhyhorn Ground Rock
112 Rhydon Rhydon Ground Rock
113 Chansey Chansey Normal Normal
114 Tangela Tangela Grass Grass
115 Kangaskhan Kangaskhan Normal Normal
116 Horsea Horsea Water Water
117 Seadra Seadra Water Water
118 Goldeen Goldeen Water Water
119 Seaking Seaking Water Water
120 Staryu Staryu Water Water
121 Starmie Starmie Water Psychic
122 Mr. Mime Mr. Mime Psychic Psychic
123 Scyther Scyther Bug Flying
124 Jynx Jynx Ice Psychic
125 Electabuzz Electabuzz Electric Electric
126 Magmar Magmar Fire Fire
127 Pinsir Pinsir Bug Bug
128 Tauros Tauros Normal Normal
130 Gyarados Gyarados Water Flying
131 Lapras Lapras Water Ice
133 Eevee Eevee Normal Normal
134 Vaporeon Vaporeon Water Water
135 Jolteon Jolteon Electric Electric
136 Flareon Flareon Fire Fire
137 Porygon Porygon Normal Normal
138 Omanyte Omanyte Rock Water
139 Omastar Omastar Rock Water
140 Kabuto Kabuto Rock Water
141 Kabutops Kabutops Rock Water
142 Aerodactyl Aerodactyl Rock Flying
143 Snorlax Snorlax Normal Normal
144 Articuno Articuno Ice Flying
145 Zapdos Zapdos Electric Flying
146 Moltres Moltres Fire Flying
147 Dratini Dratini Dragon Dragon
148 Dragonair Dragonair Dragon Dragon
149 Dragonite Dragonite Dragon Flying
150 Mewtwo Mewtwo Psychic Psychic
151 Mew Mew Psychic Psychic
152 Chikorita Chikorita Grass Grass
153 Bayleef Bayleef Grass Grass
154 Meganium Meganium Grass Grass
155 Cyndaquil Cyndaquil Fire Fire
156 Quilava Quilava Fire Fire
157 Typhlosion Typhlosion Fire Fire
158 Totodile Totodile Water Water
159 Croconaw Croconaw Water Water
160 Feraligatr Feraligatr Water Water
161 Sentret Sentret Normal Normal
162 Furret Furret Normal Normal
163 Hoothoot Hoothoot Normal Flying
164 Noctowl Noctowl Normal Flying
165 Ledyba Ledyba Bug Flying
166 Ledian Ledian Bug Flying
167 Spinarak Spinarak Bug Poison
168 Ariados Ariados Bug Poison
169 Crobat Crobat Poison Flying
170 Chinchou Chinchou Water Electric
171 Lanturn Lanturn Water Electric
172 Pichu Pichu Electric Electric
173 Cleffa Cleffa Normal Normal
174 Igglybuff Igglybuff Normal Normal
175 Togepi Togepi Normal Normal
176 Togetic Togetic Normal Flying
177 Natu Natu Psychic Flying
178 Xatu Xatu Psychic Flying
179 Mareep Mareep Electric Electric
180 Flaaffy Flaaffy Electric Electric
181 Ampharos Ampharos Electric Electric
182 Bellossom Bellossom Grass Grass
183 Marill Marill Water Water
184 Azumarill Azumarill Water Water
185 Sudowoodo Sudowoodo Rock Rock
186 Politoed Politoed Water Water
187 Hoppip Hoppip Grass Flying
188 Skiploom Skiploom Grass Flying
189 Jumpluff Jumpluff Grass Flying
190 Aipom Aipom Normal Normal
191 Sunkern Sunkern Grass Grass
192 Sunflora Sunflora Grass Grass
193 Yanma Yanma Bug Flying
194 Wooper Wooper Water Ground
195 Quagsire Quagsire Water Ground
196 Espeon Espeon Psychic Psychic
197 Umbreon Umbreon Dark Dark
198 Murkrow Murkrow Dark Flying
199 Slowking Slowking Water Psychic
200 Misdreavus Misdreavus Ghost Ghost
203 Girafarig Girafarig Normal Psychic
204 Pineco Pineco Bug Bug
205 Forretress Forretress Bug Steel
206 Dunsparce Dunsparce Normal Normal
207 Gligar Gligar Ground Flying
208 Steelix Steelix Steel Ground
209 Snubbull Snubbull Normal Normal
210 Granbull Granbull Normal Normal
211 Qwilfish Qwilfish Water Poison
212 Scizor Scizor Bug Steel
213 Shuckle Shuckle Bug Rock
214 Heracross Heracross Bug Fighting
215 Sneasel Sneasel Dark Ice
216 Teddiursa Teddiursa Normal Normal
217 Ursaring Ursaring Normal Normal
218 Slugma Slugma Fire Fire
219 Magcargo Magcargo Fire Rock
220 Swinub Swinub Ice Ground
221 Piloswine Piloswine Ice Ground
222 Corsola Corsola Water Rock
223 Remoraid Remoraid Water Water
224 Octillery Octillery Water Water
225 Delibird Delibird Ice Flying
226 Mantine Mantine Water Flying
227 Skarmory Skarmory Steel Flying
228 Houndour Houndour Dark Fire
229 Houndoom Houndoom Dark Fire
230 Kingdra Kingdra Water Dragon
231 Phanpy Phanpy Ground Ground
232 Donphan Donphan Ground Ground
233 Porygon2 Porygon2 Normal Normal
234 Stantler Stantler Normal Normal
236 Tyrogue Tyrogue Fighting Fighting
237 Hitmontop Hitmontop Fighting Fighting
238 Smoochum Smoochum Ice Psychic
239 Elekid Elekid Electric Electric
240 Magby Magby Fire Fire
241 Miltank Miltank Normal Normal
242 Blissey Blissey Normal Normal
243 Raikou Raikou Electric Electric
244 Entei Entei Fire Fire
245 Suicune Suicune Water Water
246 Larvitar Larvitar Rock Ground
247 Pupitar Pupitar Rock Ground
248 Tyranitar Tyranitar Rock Dark
249 Lugia Lugia Psychic Flying
250 Ho-Oh Ho-Oh Fire Flying
251 Celebi Celebi Psychic Grass
252 Treecko Treecko Grass Grass
253 Grovyle Grovyle Grass Grass
254 Sceptile Sceptile Grass Grass
255 Torchic Torchic Fire Fire
256 Combusken Combusken Fire Fighting
257 Blaziken Blaziken Fire Fighting
258 Mudkip Mudkip Water Water
259 Marshtomp Marshtomp Water Ground
260 Swampert Swampert Water Ground
261 Poochyena Poochyena Dark Dark
262 Mightyena Mightyena Dark Dark
263 Zigzagoon Zigzagoon Normal Normal
264 Linoone Linoone Normal Normal
267 Beautifly Beautifly Bug Flying
269 Dustox Dustox Bug Poison
270 Lotad Lotad Water Grass
271 Lombre Lombre Water Grass
272 Ludicolo Ludicolo Water Grass
273 Seedot Seedot Grass Grass
274 Nuzleaf Nuzleaf Grass Dark
275 Shiftry Shiftry Grass Dark
276 Taillow Taillow Normal Flying
277 Swellow Swellow Normal Flying
278 Wingull Wingull Water Flying
279 Pelipper Pelipper Water Flying
280 Ralts Ralts Psychic Psychic
281 Kirlia Kirlia Psychic Psychic
282 Gardevoir Gardevoir Psychic Psychic
283 Surskit Surskit Bug Water
284 Masquerain Masquerain Bug Flying
285 Shroomish Shroomish Grass Grass
286 Breloom Breloom Grass Fighting
287 Slakoth Slakoth Normal Normal
288 Vigoroth Vigoroth Normal Normal
289 Slaking Slaking Normal Normal
290 Nincada Nincada Bug Ground
291 Ninjask Ninjask Bug Flying
292 Shedinja Shedinja Bug Ghost
293 Whismur Whismur Normal Normal
294 Loudred Loudred Normal Normal
295 Exploud Exploud Normal Normal
296 Makuhita Makuhita Fighting Fighting
297 Hariyama Hariyama Fighting Fighting
298 Azurill Azurill Normal Normal
299 Nosepass Nosepass Rock Rock
300 Skitty Skitty Normal Normal
301 Delcatty Delcatty Normal Normal
302 Sableye Sableye Dark Ghost
303 Mawile Mawile Steel Steel
304 Aron Aron Steel Rock
305 Lairon Lairon Steel Rock
306 Aggron Aggron Steel Rock
307 Meditite Meditite Fighting Psychic
308 Medicham Medicham Fighting Psychic
309 Electrike Electrike Electric Electric
310 Manectric Manectric Electric Electric
311 Plusle Plusle Electric Electric
312 Minun Minun Electric Electric
313 Volbeat Volbeat Bug Bug
314 Illumise Illumise Bug Bug
315 Roselia Roselia Grass Poison
316 Gulpin Gulpin Poison Poison
317 Swalot Swalot Poison Poison
318 Carvanha Carvanha Water Dark
319 Sharpedo Sharpedo Water Dark
320 Wailmer Wailmer Water Water
321 Wailord Wailord Water Water
322 Numel Numel Fire Ground
323 Camerupt Camerupt Fire Ground
324 Torkoal Torkoal Fire Fire
325 Spoink Spoink Psychic Psychic
326 Grumpig Grumpig Psychic Psychic
327 Spinda Spinda Normal Normal
328 Trapinch Trapinch Ground Ground
329 Vibrava Vibrava Ground Dragon
330 Flygon Flygon Ground Dragon
331 Cacnea Cacnea Grass Grass
332 Cacturne Cacturne Grass Dark
333 Swablu Swablu Normal Flying
334 Altaria Altaria Dragon Flying
335 Zangoose Zangoose Normal Normal
336 Seviper Seviper Poison Poison
337 Lunatone Lunatone Rock Psychic
338 Solrock Solrock Rock Psychic
339 Barboach Barboach Water Ground
340 Whiscash Whiscash Water Ground
341 Corphish Corphish Water Water
342 Crawdaunt Crawdaunt Water Dark
343 Baltoy Baltoy Ground Psychic
344 Claydol Claydol Ground Psychic
345 Lileep Lileep Rock Grass
346 Cradily Cradily Rock Grass
347 Anorith Anorith Rock Bug
348 Armaldo Armaldo Rock Bug
349 Feebas Feebas Water Water
350 Milotic Milotic Water Water
351 Castform Castform Normal Normal
352 Kecleon Kecleon Normal Normal
353 Shuppet Shuppet Ghost Ghost
354 Banette Banette Ghost Ghost
355 Duskull Duskull Ghost Ghost
356 Dusclops Dusclops Ghost Ghost
357 Tropius Tropius Grass Flying
358 Chimecho Chimecho Psychic Psychic
359 Absol Absol Dark Dark
361 Snorunt Snorunt Ice Ice
362 Glalie Glalie Ice Ice
363 Spheal Spheal Ice Water
364 Sealeo Sealeo Ice Water
365 Walrein Walrein Ice Water
366 Clamperl Clamperl Water Water
367 Huntail Huntail Water Water
368 Gorebyss Gorebyss Water Water
369 Relicanth Relicanth Water Rock
370 Luvdisc Luvdisc Water Water
371 Bagon Bagon Dragon Dragon
372 Shelgon Shelgon Dragon Dragon
373 Salamence Salamence Dragon Flying
375 Metang Metang Steel Psychic
376 Metagross Metagross Steel Psychic
377 Regirock Regirock Rock Rock
378 Regice Regice Ice Ice
379 Registeel Registeel Steel Steel
380 Latias Latias Dragon Psychic
381 Latios Latios Dragon Psychic
382 Kyogre Kyogre Water Water
383 Groudon Groudon Ground Ground
384 Rayquaza Rayquaza Dragon Flying
385 Jirachi Jirachi Steel Psychic
386 Deoxys Deoxys
Normal Forme
Psychic Psychic
386 Deoxys Deoxys
Attack Forme
Psychic Psychic
386 Deoxys Deoxys
Defense Forme
Psychic Psychic
386 Deoxys Deoxys
Speed Forme
Psychic Psychic
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By event

Generation II

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with
0185 185 Sudowoodo Rock New York City Pokémon Center
0204 204 Pineco Bug New York City Pokémon Center
Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move.
Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB
from this move.


In other games

Greninja using Substitute

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Substitute turns the foe in front into a decoy, causing other foes to attack it.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U

Substitute is the down special move for Greninja. The substitute doll it summons resembles those from the main games, though it can also summon a log. The move functions as a counter, attacking opponents who hit Greninja while it is posing. Additionally, there is a trophy of the substitute doll in the Wii U version of the game.

Trophy Information

If it looks like a Pokémon and it gets attacked like a Pokémon, it's probably a- Oh, no, it could also be a Substitute Doll. This cute plush figure appears out of nowhere when a Pokémon uses the move Substitute. Is that a smile on its face or a grimace of determination? Only the doll knows, and it's not telling.

Description

Games Description
MDRB The target gains the Decoy status, making it the target of its fellow Pokémon.


Sprites

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Missing the substitute images from Generation VI (and Stadium, in case it's different from Stadium 2)
SubstituteG12f.pngSubstituteG12b.png SubstituteStadium2.png SubstituteG3f.pngSubstituteG3b.png
A substitute from
Generations I and II
A substitute from
Stadium 2
A substitute from
Generation III
SubstitutePMDF.png SubstituteG4f.pngSubstituteG4b.png SubstitutePMD2F.png
A substitute from
Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team
A substitute from
Generation IV
A substitute from
Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky
SubstituteG5f.pngSubstituteG5b.png
A substitute from
Generation V

In the anime

Shaymin Substitute.png
Shaymin
Shaymin Substitute disappears.png
Substitute fades away
Togepi Substitute.png
Togepi
Juniper Accelgor Substitute.png
Accelgor
The user creates a substitute that resembles it. The substitute fades away soon after.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Shaymin Shaymin creates a clone that looks exactly like itself. It then fades soon after.
Shaymin (M11) Giratina and the Sky Warrior Debut
Delcatty Delcatty creates an exact copy of itself. When it gets hit, it disappears in a puff of smoke.
Lila's Delcatty Battling the Generation Gap! None
Togepi Togepi moves quickly when the opponent is about to attack and creates an afterimage of itself. When the afterimage gets hit, it disappears.
A wild Togepi Where No Togepi Has Gone Before! None
Accelgor Accelgor's body flashes white, and a double that looks exactly like Accelgor dashes out of its body and at the opponent. When the afterimage is hit by an attack, it disappears in a puff of smoke.
Professor Juniper's Accelgor Evolution Exchange Excitement! None


In the manga

In the Phantom Thief Pokémon 7 manga


In the Pokémon Adventures manga


In the Pokémon Battle Frontier manga


In other generations

Trivia

A substitute "levitating"
A substitute in place of Masahiro Sakurai
  • In most games, the decoy and the Pokémon will switch places when the Pokémon executes a move. The only exception is in Pokémon Battle Revolution, where the battle animations play out as if the substitute was the one performing the move. It generally remains stationary, except when using moves like Fly or Bounce.
  • In the Generation I and II games, the substitute resembles the Pokémon Rhydon.
  • Shedinja can learn Substitute despite being incapable of using it, as its HP is too low to create a substitute.
  • Substitutes are interpreted differently throughout all forms of Pokémon canon. In the games, a substitute is seen as an inanimate decoy which simply stands in for the Pokémon. In the anime, substitutes are seen to be clones of the user. In the manga, substitutes are like the anime representation, but more spectral and transparent, as shown by Red's Pikachu in Peace of Mime.
  • In the Mystery Dungeon series, if the player eats an X-Eye Seed, all other Pokémon appear as substitutes.
  • The Plush Toy enemy in the Mystery Doors of the Magical Land Series movie in Pokéstar Studios is similar to a substitute.
  • In Pokémon Stadium, glitch Pokémon will appear as the substitutes. The color will vary, however, due to the player's ID and the glitch Pokémon's name. This is because the game treats the glitch Pokémon's name as a nickname, which cause Pokémon to change colors in the Stadium series.
  • In Generation VI, the size of the substitute depends on the size of the Pokémon using it. For example, a substitute made by a Kyurem will be bigger than that of a Flabébé.
  • In the Pokémon Origins episode File 4 - Charizard, a Growlithe can be seen playing with a substitute plushie in Mr Fuji's Pokémon House.
  • During Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Direct on April 8, 2014, a substitute plushie is seen in place of Masahiro Sakurai as he goes to showcase some of the Pokémon available from the Poké Ball and Master Ball items.
  • In Under the Pledging Tree!, a Substitute doll was one of the items offered to Ash by a market vendor in Coumarine City.

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 替身 Tìshēn
Denmark Flag.png Danish Reserve
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Kloon Aanval
France Flag.png French Clonage
Germany Flag.png German Delegator
Greece Flag.png Greek Υποκατάσταση
Indonesia Flag.png Indonesian Menyamar
Perasuk
Italy Flag.png Italian Sostituto
South Korea Flag.png Korean 대타출동' Daetachuldong
Poland Flag.png Polish Zastępca
Brazil Flag.png Brazilian Portuguese Substituição
Romania Flag.png Romanian Substituirea
Serbia Flag.png Serbian Izmena
Spanish CELAC Flag.png Latin America Sustitución (DP095)
Sustituto (M11, BW063)
Señuelo* (DP142)
Spain Flag.png Spain Sustituto


References

Generation I TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation I HMs
0102030405
Generation IV TMs
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223
2425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
4748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869
7071727374757677787980818283848586878889909192
Generation IV HMs
01020304 • 05 (DPPtHGSS) • 060708
Generation V TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819
20212223242526272829303132333435363738
39404142434445464748495051525354555657
58596061626364656667686970717273747576
77787980818283848586878889909192939495
Generation V HMs
010203040506
Generation VI TMs
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242526
2728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152
5354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778
798081828384858687888990919293 • 94 (XYORAS) • 9596979899100
Generation VI HMs
010203040506ORAS07ORAS


Project Moves and Abilities logo.png 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.