Shadow Ball (move)

Shadow Ball シャドーボール Shadow Ball

The user hurls a shadowy blob at the foe. It may also lower the foe's Sp. Def stat.

Battles Type  Ghost Category  Special PP  15 (max. 24) Power  80 Accuracy  100% Priority  {{{priority}}} Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by BrightPowder Not affected by King's Rock

Target Foe Foe Self Ally May affect anyone but the user

Availability Introduced  Generation II TM30 in Generation II TM30 in Generation III TM30 in Generation IV

Contests Category  Smart Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ Jam  0 Shifts the judge's attention from others.

Super Contests Category  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Earn +2 if the Pokémon performs first in the turn.

Shadow Ball on Legendary Pokémon MoveDex Shadow Ball on Eevee's Movedex

Shadow Ball (Japanese: シャドーボール Shadow Ball) is a damage-dealing Ghost-type move first introduced in the movie Mewtwo Strikes Back. It was first introduced as a usable attack in the Generation II video games.

Effect

Shadow Ball deals damage and has a 20% chance of lowering the target's Special Defense.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Shadow Ball is Mewtwo's standard special move in Super Smash Bros. Melee. It is chargeable and moves in a zigzag. Lucario, who debuted in Super Smash Brothers Brawl, has Aura Sphere, which functions similarly.

Learnset

Generation II

By TM30

#   Pokémon Type 019 Rattata Normal 020 Raticate Normal 031 Nidoqueen Poison Ground 034 Nidoking Poison Ground 035 Clefairy Normal 036 Clefable Normal 039 Jigglypuff Normal 040 Wigglytuff Normal 052 Meowth Normal 053 Persian Normal 063 Abra Psychic 064 Kadabra Psychic 065 Alakazam Psychic 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic 080 Slowbro Water Psychic 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 096 Drowzee Psychic 097 Hypno Psychic 108 Lickitung Normal 113 Chansey Normal 115 Kangaskhan Normal 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 124 Jynx Ice Psychic 133 Eevee Normal 134 Vaporeon Water 135 Jolteon Electric 136 Flareon Fire 143 Snorlax Normal 150 Mewtwo Psychic 151 Mew Psychic 161 Sentret Normal 162 Furret Normal 173 Cleffa Normal 174 Igglybuff Normal 175 Togepi Normal 176 Togetic Normal Flying 190 Aipom Normal 196 Espeon Psychic 197 Umbreon Dark 198 Murkrow Dark Flying 199 Slowking Water Psychic 200 Misdreavus Ghost 203 Girafarig Normal Psychic 209 Snubbull Normal 210 Granbull Normal 215 Sneasel Dark Ice 228 Houndour Dark Fire 229 Houndoom Dark Fire 238 Smoochum Ice Psychic 241 Miltank Normal 242 Blissey Normal 249 Lugia Psychic Flying 250 Ho-Oh Fire Flying 251 Celebi Grass Psychic Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation III

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 36FRLG 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 45FRLG 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 45FRLG 292 Shedinja Bug Ghost 38 302 Sableye Dark Ghost 41 353 Shuppet Ghost 44 354 Banette Ghost 48 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By TM30

#   Pokémon Type 012 Butterfree Bug Flying 019 Rattata Normal 020 Raticate Normal 031 Nidoqueen Poison Ground 034 Nidoking Poison Ground 035 Clefairy Normal 036 Clefable Normal 039 Jigglypuff Normal 040 Wigglytuff Normal 041 Zubat Poison Flying 042 Golbat Poison Flying 052 Meowth Normal 053 Persian Normal 063 Abra Psychic 064 Kadabra Psychic 065 Alakazam Psychic 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic 080 Slowbro Water Psychic 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 096 Drowzee Psychic 097 Hypno Psychic 108 Lickitung Normal 109 Koffing Poison 110 Weezing Poison 113 Chansey Normal 115 Kangaskhan Normal 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 124 Jynx Ice Psychic 133 Eevee Normal 134 Vaporeon Water 135 Jolteon Electric 136 Flareon Fire 137 Porygon Normal 143 Snorlax Normal 150 Mewtwo Psychic 151 Mew Psychic 161 Sentret Normal 162 Furret Normal 163 Hoothoot Normal Flying 164 Noctowl Normal Flying 169 Crobat Poison Flying 173 Cleffa Normal 174 Igglybuff Normal 175 Togepi Normal 176 Togetic Normal Flying 177 Natu Psychic Flying 178 Xatu Psychic Flying 190 Aipom Normal 193 Yanma Bug Flying 196 Espeon Psychic 197 Umbreon Dark 198 Murkrow Dark Flying 199 Slowking Water Psychic 200 Misdreavus Ghost 203 Girafarig Normal Psychic 206 Dunsparce Normal 209 Snubbull Normal 210 Granbull Normal 211 Qwilfish Water Poison 215 Sneasel Dark Ice 222 Corsola Water Rock 228 Houndour Dark Fire 229 Houndoom Dark Fire 233 Porygon2 Normal 234 Stantler Normal 238 Smoochum Ice Psychic 241 Miltank Normal 242 Blissey Normal 249 Lugia Psychic Flying 250 Ho-Oh Fire Flying 251 Celebi Grass Psychic 261 Poochyena Dark 262 Mightyena Dark 263 Zigzagoon Normal 264 Linoone Normal 267 Beautifly Bug Flying 269 Dustox Bug Poison 273 Seedot Grass 274 Nuzleaf Grass Dark 275 Shiftry Grass Dark 280 Ralts Psychic 281 Kirlia Psychic 282 Gardevoir Psychic 283 Surskit Bug Water 284 Masquerain Bug Flying 287 Slakoth Normal 288 Vigoroth Normal 289 Slaking Normal 290 Nincada Bug Ground 291 Ninjask Bug Flying 292 Shedinja Bug Ghost 293 Whismur Normal 294 Loudred Normal 295 Exploud Normal 300 Skitty Normal 301 Delcatty Normal 302 Sableye Dark Ghost 307 Meditite Fighting Psychic 308 Medicham Fighting Psychic 313 Volbeat Bug 314 Illumise Bug 315 Roselia Grass Poison 316 Gulpin Poison 317 Swalot Poison 325 Spoink Psychic 326 Grumpig Psychic 327 Spinda Normal 335 Zangoose Normal 337 Lunatone Rock Psychic 338 Solrock Rock Psychic 343 Baltoy Ground Psychic 344 Claydol Ground Psychic 351 Castform Normal 351 Castform Fire 351 Castform Water 351 Castform Ice 352 Kecleon Normal 353 Shuppet Ghost 354 Banette Ghost 355 Duskull Ghost 356 Dusclops Ghost 358 Chimecho Psychic 359 Absol Dark 361 Snorunt Ice 362 Glalie Ice 368 Gorebyss Water 375 Metang Steel Psychic 376 Metagross Steel Psychic 380 Latias Dragon Psychic 381 Latios Dragon Psychic 385 Jirachi Steel Psychic 386 Deoxys Normal Forme Psychic 386 Deoxys Attack Forme Psychic 386 Deoxys Defense Forme Psychic 386 Deoxys Speed Forme Psychic Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation IV

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 29 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 33 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 33 200 Misdreavus Ghost 37 292 Shedinja Bug Ghost 59 302 Sableye Dark Ghost 53 353 Shuppet Ghost 31 354 Banette Ghost 31 425 Drifloon Ghost Flying 38 426 Drifblim Ghost Flying 44 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By TM30

#   Pokémon Type 012 Butterfree Bug Flying 019 Rattata Normal 020 Raticate Normal 031 Nidoqueen Poison Ground 034 Nidoking Poison Ground 035 Clefairy Normal 036 Clefable Normal 039 Jigglypuff Normal 040 Wigglytuff Normal 041 Zubat Poison Flying 042 Golbat Poison Flying 052 Meowth Normal 053 Persian Normal 063 Abra Psychic 064 Kadabra Psychic 065 Alakazam Psychic 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic 080 Slowbro Water Psychic 088 Grimer Poison 089 Muk Poison 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 096 Drowzee Psychic 097 Hypno Psychic 108 Lickitung Normal 109 Koffing Poison 110 Weezing Poison 113 Chansey Normal 115 Kangaskhan Normal 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 124 Jynx Ice Psychic 133 Eevee Normal 134 Vaporeon Water 135 Jolteon Electric 136 Flareon Fire 137 Porygon Normal 143 Snorlax Normal 150 Mewtwo Psychic 151 Mew Psychic 161 Sentret Normal 162 Furret Normal 163 Hoothoot Normal Flying 164 Noctowl Normal Flying 169 Crobat Poison Flying 173 Cleffa Normal 174 Igglybuff Normal 175 Togepi Normal 176 Togetic Normal Flying 177 Natu Psychic Flying 178 Xatu Psychic Flying 190 Aipom Normal 193 Yanma Bug Flying 196 Espeon Psychic 197 Umbreon Dark 199 Slowking Water Psychic 198 Murkrow Dark Flying 200 Misdreavus Ghost 203 Girafarig Normal Psychic 206 Dunsparce Normal 209 Snubbull Normal 210 Granbull Normal 211 Qwilfish Water Poison 215 Sneasel Dark Ice 222 Corsola Water Rock 228 Houndour Dark Fire 229 Houndoom Dark Fire 233 Porygon2 Normal 234 Stantler Normal 238 Smoochum Ice Psychic 241 Miltank Normal 242 Blissey Normal 243 Raikou Electric 244 Entei Fire 245 Suicune Water 249 Lugia Psychic Flying 250 Ho-Oh Fire Flying 251 Celebi Grass Psychic 261 Poochyena Dark 262 Mightyena Dark 263 Zigzagoon Normal 264 Linoone Normal 267 Beautifly Bug Flying 269 Dustox Bug Poison 273 Seedot Grass 274 Nuzleaf Grass Dark 275 Shiftry Grass Dark 280 Ralts Psychic 281 Kirlia Psychic 282 Gardevoir Psychic 283 Surskit Bug Water 284 Masquerain Bug Flying 287 Slakoth Normal 288 Vigoroth Normal 289 Slaking Normal 290 Nincada Bug Ground 291 Ninjask Bug Flying 292 Shedinja Bug Ghost 293 Whismur Normal 294 Loudred Normal 295 Exploud Normal 300 Skitty Normal 301 Delcatty Normal 302 Sableye Dark Ghost 303 Mawile Steel 307 Meditite Fighting Psychic 308 Medicham Fighting Psychic 313 Volbeat Bug 314 Illumise Bug 315 Roselia Grass Poison 316 Gulpin Poison 317 Swalot Poison 325 Spoink Psychic 326 Grumpig Psychic 327 Spinda Normal 335 Zangoose Normal 337 Lunatone Rock Psychic 338 Solrock Rock Psychic 343 Baltoy Ground Psychic 344 Claydol Ground Psychic 351 Castform Normal 351 Castform Fire 351 Castform Water 351 Castform Ice 352 Kecleon Normal 353 Shuppet Ghost 354 Banette Ghost 355 Duskull Ghost 356 Dusclops Ghost 358 Chimecho Psychic 359 Absol Dark 361 Snorunt Ice 362 Glalie Ice 368 Gorebyss Water 375 Metang Steel Psychic 376 Metagross Steel Psychic 380 Latias Dragon Psychic 381 Latios Dragon Psychic 385 Jirachi Steel Psychic 386 Deoxys Normal Forme Psychic 386 Deoxys Attack Forme Psychic 386 Deoxys Defense Forme Psychic 386 Deoxys Speed Forme Psychic 399 Bidoof Normal 400 Bibarel Normal Water 406 Budew Grass Poison 407 Roserade Grass Poison 413 Wormadam Plant Cloak Bug Grass 413 Wormadam Sandy Cloak Bug Ground 413 Wormadam Trash Cloak Bug Steel 414 Mothim Bug Flying 424 Ambipom Normal 425 Drifloon Ghost Flying 426 Drifblim Ghost Flying 427 Buneary Normal 428 Lopunny Normal 429 Mismagius Ghost 430 Honchkrow Dark Flying 431 Glameow Normal 432 Purugly Normal 433 Chingling Psychic 434 Stunky Poison Dark 435 Skuntank Poison Dark 436 Bronzor Steel Psychic 437 Bronzong Steel Psychic 439 Mime Jr. Psychic 440 Happiny Normal 442 Spiritomb Ghost Dark 446 Munchlax Normal 448 Lucario Fighting Steel 451 Skorupi Poison Bug 452 Drapion Poison Dark 453 Croagunk Poison Fighting 454 Toxicroak Poison Fighting 459 Snover Grass Ice 460 Abomasnow Grass Ice 461 Weavile Dark Ice 463 Lickilicky Normal 468 Togekiss Normal Flying 469 Yanmega Bug Flying 470 Leafeon Grass 471 Glaceon Ice 474 Porygon-Z Normal 475 Gallade Psychic Fighting 477 Dusknoir Ghost 478 Froslass Ice Ghost 479 Rotom Normal Rotom Electric Ghost 479 Rotom Heat Rotom Electric Ghost 479 Rotom Wash Rotom Electric Ghost 479 Rotom Frost Rotom Electric Ghost 479 Rotom Fan Rotom Electric Ghost 479 Rotom Mow Rotom Electric Ghost 480 Uxie Psychic 481 Mesprit Psychic 482 Azelf Psychic 487 Giratina Altered Forme Ghost Dragon 487 Giratina Origin Forme Ghost Dragon 488 Cresselia Psychic 490 Manaphy Water 491 Darkrai Dark 493 Arceus Fighting 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 the anime

Mewtwo	Gengar	Froslass	Dusknoir
The user forms a black ball out of energy. The user shoots it at its opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Episode Used In		Notes
Mewtwo	Mewtwo puts its hands together and forms a black ball out of energy. Mewtwo shoots it at its opponent.
Mewtwo	Mewtwo Strikes Back		Debut
Gengar	Gengar's hands spark with blue electricity. It then puts its hands together, forms a black ball, and shoots it at its opponent.
Morty's Gengar	Ghost of a Chance		None
Agatha's Gengar	The Scheme Team		None
Sneasel	Two small black orbs appear at the tips of Sneasel's claws. Then, Sneasel brings them together forming one black orb and fires it at the opponent.
Harrison's Sneasel	Pop Goes the Sneasel		None
Haunter	Haunter's hands glow with a blue aura, then a black ball forms in between Haunter's hands and it shoots the ball at the opponent.
A wild Haunter	Hoenn Alone!		None
Mightyena	A black ball forms in Mightyena's mouth. It closes its mouth over the black ball, then releases the ball at the opponent.
Tabitha's Mightyena	A Three Team Scheme!		None
Sableye	Sableye forms a black ball in its hands, then fires the ball at the opponent.
Cassidy's Sableye	A Date with Delcatty		None
Ninjask	Ninjask forms a black ball in between its arms. It then fires the ball at the opponent.
Colonel Hansen's Ninjask	The Princess and the Togepi		None
Slakoth	Slakoth forms a black ball of energy between its hands. It then fires the ball at the opponent.
Norman's Slakoth	Balance of Power		None
Xatu	Xatu's wings form a black ball out of energy. Xatu shoots it at its opponent.
Calista's Xatu	Me, Myself and Time		None
Houndoom	Houndoom opens its mouth to form a black ball out of energy. Houndoom shoots it at its opponent.
Joshua's Houndoom	Mean With Envy		None
Persian	Persian opens its mouth and forms a black ball out of energy. Persian shoots it at its opponent.
Vivica's Persian	Saved by the Beldum!		None
Shiftry	Shiftry forms a black ball out of energy in front of its mouth. Shiftry shoots it at its opponent.
Spenser's Shiftry	Ka Boom with a View!		None
Eevee	Eevee opens its mouth and forms a black ball out of energy. Eevee closes its mouth to shoot it at its opponent.
May's Eevee	What I Did for Love		None
Weavile	Weavile's claws turn black. It then puts its claws together to form a black ball out of energy. Weavile shoots it at its opponent.
A wild Weavile	Duels of the Jungle!		None
Alakazam	Alakazam crosses its spoons and forms a black ball out of energy. Alakazam shoots it at its opponent when the spoons separate.
Kenny's Alakazam	Settling a Not-So-Old Score		None
Umbreon	Umbreon opens its mouth and forms a black ball out of energy. Umbreon closes its mouth to shoot it at its opponent.
Gary's Umbreon	Ill-Will Hunting!		None
Johanna's Umbreon	DP138		None
Murkrow	Murkrow forms a black ball out of energy in front of its beak. Murkrow shoots it at its opponent.
Paul's Murkrow	Glory Blaze!		None
Spiritomb	Spiritomb forms a black ball out of energy in front of itself. Spiritomb shoots it at its opponent.
A wild Spiritomb	The Keystone Pops!		None
Golbat	Golbat forms a black ball out of energy in front of itself. Golbat shoots it at its opponent.
Galactic Grunt's Golbat	Enter Galactic!		None
Glaceon	Glaceon opens its mouth and forms a black ball out of energy. Glaceon shoots it at its opponent.
May's Glaceon	Strategy with a Smile!		None
Purugly	Purugly opens its mouth to form a black ball out of energy. Purugly shoots it at its opponent.
Mars's Purugly	Double Team Turnover!		None
Froslass	Froslass forms a black ball out of energy in front of its arms. Froslass shoots it at its opponent.
A wild Froslass	The Drifting Snorunt		None
Drowzee	Drowzee forms a black ball between its hands, it then throws it at the opponent.
Atsuki's Drowzee	DP135		None
Glameow	Glameow opens it's mouth and forms a black ball out of energy. Glameow then shoots it at it's opponent.
Johanna's Glameow	DP138		None
Dusknoir	Dusknoir opens its stomach "mouth" and forms a black ball out of energy. Dusknoir shoots it at its opponent.
Lord Dusknoir	Explorers of the Sky		None

Trivia

• Despite Ghost-type moves running off of the Pokémon's Attack prior to Generation IV, Shadow Ball has always lowered Special Defense.
• Although it is a Ghost-type move, which does not affect Normal-type Pokémon, it has hit Normal-type Pokémon multiple times in the anime.
• Mewtwo used Shadow Ball in the first movie, despite it not being released until Generation II.

In other languages

• French: Ball'ombre
• German: Spukball
• Dutch: Schaduwbal
• Italian: Palla Ombra
• Spanish: Bola Sombra
• Korean: 섀도볼 Seadoball
• Hindi: Chaya Ka Gola

Variations on the move Shadow Ball
	Shadow Ball | Energy Ball | Flash Cannon
	Crunch

This move article is part of Project MoveDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each move.