Substitute (move)

Substitute みがわり Scapegoat

The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP. The copy serves as the user's decoy.

Battles 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 BrightPowder Not affected by King's Rock

Target Foe Foe Self Ally Affects the user

Availability Introduced  Generation I TM50 in Generation I Move tutor in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness Move tutor in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen TM90 in Generation IV

Contests Category  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  0 Can avoid being startled by others once.

Super Contests Category  Smart Appeal  1 ♥ Earn +3 if the Pokémon gets the lowest score.

Substitute on Legendary Pokémon MoveDex Substitute on Eevee's Movedex

Substitute (Japanese: みがわり Scapegoat) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I.

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 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(s) and current stats of the Pokémon that created it.

Once created, all stat modifying attacks and side effects used by the target 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. Until it breaks, a Substitute will absorb all damage done by the target (even if the damage done exceeds the remaining HP of the Substitute), but will not reduce the actual amount of damage that the target's attacks do. An one-hit KO will break a Substitute on contact.

Substitute will not protect the user from self-inflicted status ailments, but it will protect it from any status ailment generated by an opponent move and damage due to those status ailments.

Substitute will not alter the execution of Bide, Counter, Disable, Haze, Leech Seed, Super Fang, Transform, or partial trapping moves, and it will not absorb crash damage, recoil damage, or recurrent damage. However, a Substitute will absorb self-inflicted confusion damage and prevent the user from flinching.

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 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.

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 create a Substitute, and then faint.

In Stadium, Substitute will protect the user from Absorb, Dream Eater, Leech Life, Leech Seed, Mega Drain, and all status ailments inflicted by the opponent. 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 Explosion or Selfdestruct, it will faint.

Generation II - IV

The effects of Substitute are the same as the previous generation; however, if the user has a status ailment, they will still take any damage from that status ailment after they have used Substitute.

If the Substitute is broken by a target's Selfdestruct or Explosion, the user of that move will faint.

If the user of Substitute has 25% or less of its Max HP (rounded down), or it only has a maximum of 1 HP, such as Shedinja, it will be unable to make a Substitute.

A Substitute can be Baton Passed, and can absorb damage due to partial-trapping moves.

Learnset

Generation I

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 47 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 TM50

All Pokémon that can learn TMs in Generation I can learn Substitute.

Generation II

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 11 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 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 9RSE 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 8FRLG 352 Kecleon Normal 40 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 breeding

#   Pokémon Type Father 108 Lickitung* Normal Lapras Snorlax 113 Chansey* Normal Clefairy, Clefable Togetic Marill, Azumarill Skitty, Delcatty 115 Kangaskhan* Normal Lickitung Snorlax Marill, Azumarill 131 Lapras* Water Ice Lickitung Snorlax Marill, Azumarill 143 Snorlax* Normal Lickitung Lapras 161 Sentret Normal Kecleon 173 Cleffa* Normal Clefairy, Clefable Togetic Marill, Azumarill Skitty, Delcatty Plusle Minun 175 Togepi* Normal Clefairy, Clefable Togetic Marill, Azumarill Skitty, Delcatty Plusle Minun 183 Marill* Water Clefairy, Clefable Lapras Togetic Marill, Azumarill Skitty, Delcatty Plusle Minun 263 Zigzagoon* Normal Kecleon 300 Skitty* Normal Clefairy, Clefable Sentret, Furret Togetic Marill, Azumarill Zigzagoon, Linoone Plusle, Minun Spoink, Grumpig Kecleon Absol 311 Plusle* Electric Clefairy, Clefable Togetic Marill, Azumarill Skitty, Delcatty Minun 312 Minun* Electric Clefairy, Clefable Togetic Marill, Azumarill Skitty, Delcatty Plusle 325 Spoink Psychic Kecleon 359 Absol Dark Kecleon Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution gets STAB from this move. *Indicates Pokémon that can only learn the move through chain breeding.

By move tutor

In Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, Emerald, and XD: Gale of Darkness

#   Pokémon Type 001 Bulbasaur Grass Poison 002 Ivysaur Grass Poison 003 Venusaur Grass Poison 004 Charmander Fire 005 Charmeleon Fire 006 Charizard Fire Flying 007 Squirtle Water 008 Wartortle Water 009 Blastoise Water 012 Butterfree Bug Flying 015 Beedrill Bug Poison 016 Pidgey Normal Flying 017 Pidgeotto Normal Flying 018 Pidgeot Normal Flying 019 Rattata Normal 020 Raticate Normal 021 Spearow Normal Flying 022 Fearow Normal Flying 023 Ekans Poison 024 Arbok Poison 025 Pikachu Electric 026 Raichu Electric 027 Sandshrew Ground 028 Sandslash Ground 029 Nidoran♀ Poison 030 Nidorina Poison 031 Nidoqueen Poison Ground 032 Nidoran♂ Poison 033 Nidorino Poison 034 Nidoking Poison Ground 035 Clefairy Normal 036 Clefable Normal 037 Vulpix Fire 038 Ninetales Fire 039 Jigglypuff Normal 040 Wigglytuff Normal 041 Zubat Poison Flying 042 Golbat Poison Flying 043 Oddish Grass Poison 044 Gloom Grass Poison 045 Vileplume Grass Poison 046 Paras Bug Grass 047 Parasect Bug Grass 048 Venonat Bug Poison 049 Venomoth Bug Poison 050 Diglett Ground 051 Dugtrio Ground 052 Meowth Normal 053 Persian Normal 054 Psyduck Water 055 Golduck Water 056 Mankey Fighting 057 Primeape Fighting 058 Growlithe Fire 059 Arcanine Fire 060 Poliwag Water 061 Poliwhirl Water 062 Poliwrath Water Fighting 063 Abra Psychic 064 Kadabra Psychic 065 Alakazam Psychic 066 Machop Fighting 067 Machoke Fighting 068 Machamp Fighting 069 Bellsprout Grass Poison 070 Weepinbell Grass Poison 071 Victreebel Grass Poison 072 Tentacool Water Poison 073 Tentacruel Water Poison 074 Geodude Rock Ground 075 Graveler Rock Ground 076 Golem Rock Ground 077 Ponyta Fire 078 Rapidash Fire 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic 080 Slowbro Water Psychic 081 Magnemite Electric Steel 082 Magneton Electric Steel 083 Farfetch'd Normal Flying 084 Doduo Normal Flying 085 Dodrio Normal Flying 086 Seel Water 087 Dewgong Water Ice 088 Grimer Poison 089 Muk Poison 090 Shellder Water 091 Cloyster Water Ice 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 095 Onix Rock Ground 096 Drowzee Psychic 097 Hypno Psychic 098 Krabby Water 099 Kingler Water 100 Voltorb Electric 101 Electrode Electric 102 Exeggcute Grass Psychic 103 Exeggutor Grass Psychic 104 Cubone Ground 105 Marowak Ground 106 Hitmonlee Fighting 107 Hitmonchan Fighting 108 Lickitung Normal 109 Koffing Poison 110 Weezing Poison 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock 112 Rhydon Ground Rock 113 Chansey Normal 114 Tangela Grass 115 Kangaskhan Normal 116 Horsea Water 117 Seadra Water 118 Goldeen Water 119 Seaking Water 120 Staryu Water 121 Starmie Water Psychic 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 123 Scyther Bug Flying 124 Jynx Ice Psychic 125 Electabuzz Electric 126 Magmar Fire 127 Pinsir Bug 128 Tauros Normal 130 Gyarados Water Flying 131 Lapras Water Ice 133 Eevee Normal 134 Vaporeon Water 135 Jolteon Electric 136 Flareon Fire 137 Porygon Normal 138 Omanyte Rock Water 139 Omastar Rock Water 140 Kabuto Rock Water 141 Kabutops Rock Water 142 Aerodactyl Rock Flying 143 Snorlax Normal 144 Articuno Ice Flying 145 Zapdos Electric Flying 146 Moltres Fire Flying 147 Dratini Dragon 148 Dragonair Dragon 149 Dragonite Dragon Flying 150 Mewtwo Psychic 151 Mew Psychic 152 Chikorita Grass 153 Bayleef Grass 154 Meganium Grass 155 Cyndaquil Fire 156 Quilava Fire 157 Typhlosion Fire 158 Totodile Water 159 Croconaw Water 160 Feraligatr Water 161 Sentret Normal 162 Furret Normal 163 Hoothoot Normal Flying 164 Noctowl Normal Flying 165 Ledyba Bug Flying 166 Ledian Bug Flying 167 Spinarak Bug Poison 168 Ariados Bug Poison 169 Crobat Poison Flying 170 Chinchou Water Electric 171 Lanturn Water Electric 172 Pichu Electric 173 Cleffa Normal 174 Igglybuff Normal 175 Togepi Normal 176 Togetic Normal Flying 177 Natu Psychic Flying 178 Xatu Psychic Flying 179 Mareep Electric 180 Flaaffy Electric 181 Ampharos Electric 182 Bellossom Grass 183 Marill Water 184 Azumarill Water 185 Sudowoodo Rock 186 Politoed Water 187 Hoppip Grass Flying 188 Skiploom Grass Flying 189 Jumpluff Grass Flying 190 Aipom Normal 191 Sunkern Grass 192 Sunflora Grass 193 Yanma Bug Flying 194 Wooper Water Ground 195 Quagsire Water Ground 196 Espeon Psychic 197 Umbreon Dark 198 Murkrow Dark Flying 199 Slowking Water Psychic 200 Misdreavus Ghost 203 Girafarig Normal Psychic 204 Pineco Bug 205 Forretress Bug Steel 206 Dunsparce Normal 207 Gligar Ground Flying 208 Steelix Steel Ground 209 Snubbull Normal 210 Granbull Normal 211 Qwilfish Water Poison 212 Scizor Bug Steel 213 Shuckle Bug Rock 214 Heracross Bug Fighting 215 Sneasel Dark Ice 216 Teddiursa Normal 217 Ursaring Normal 218 Slugma Fire 219 Magcargo Fire Rock 220 Swinub Ice Ground 221 Piloswine Ice Ground 222 Corsola Water Rock 223 Remoraid Water 224 Octillery Water 225 Delibird Ice Flying 226 Mantine Water Flying 227 Skarmory Steel Flying 228 Houndour Dark Fire 229 Houndoom Dark Fire 230 Kingdra Water Dragon 231 Phanpy Ground 232 Donphan Ground 233 Porygon2 Normal 234 Stantler Normal 236 Tyrogue Fighting 237 Hitmontop Fighting 238 Smoochum Ice Psychic 239 Elekid Electric 240 Magby Fire 241 Miltank Normal 242 Blissey Normal 243 Raikou Electric 244 Entei Fire 245 Suicune Water 246 Larvitar Rock Ground 247 Pupitar Rock Ground 248 Tyranitar Rock Dark 249 Lugia Psychic Flying 250 Ho-Oh Fire Flying 251 Celebi Psychic Grass 252 Treecko Grass 253 Grovyle Grass 254 Sceptile Grass 255 Torchic Fire 256 Combusken Fire Fighting 257 Blaziken Fire Fighting 258 Mudkip Water 259 Marshtomp Water Ground 260 Swampert Water Ground 261 Poochyena Dark 262 Mightyena Dark 263 Zigzagoon Normal 264 Linoone Normal 267 Beautifly Bug Flying 269 Dustox Bug Poison 270 Lotad Water Grass 271 Lombre Water Grass 272 Ludicolo Water Grass 273 Seedot Grass 274 Nuzleaf Grass Dark 275 Shiftry Grass Dark 276 Taillow Normal Flying 277 Swellow Normal Flying 278 Wingull Water Flying 279 Pelipper Water Flying 280 Ralts Psychic 281 Kirlia Psychic 282 Gardevoir Psychic 283 Surskit Bug Water 284 Masquerain Bug Flying 285 Shroomish Grass 286 Breloom Grass Fighting 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 296 Makuhita Fighting 297 Hariyama Fighting 298 Azurill Normal 299 Nosepass Rock 300 Skitty Normal 301 Delcatty Normal 302 Sableye Dark Ghost 303 Mawile Steel 304 Aron Steel Rock 305 Lairon Steel Rock 306 Aggron Steel Rock 307 Meditite Fighting Psychic 308 Medicham Fighting Psychic 309 Electrike Electric 310 Manectric Electric 311 Plusle Electric 312 Minun Electric 313 Volbeat Bug 314 Illumise Bug 315 Roselia Grass Poison 316 Gulpin Poison 317 Swalot Poison 318 Carvanha Water Dark 319 Sharpedo Water Dark 320 Wailmer Water 321 Wailord Water 322 Numel Fire Ground 323 Camerupt Fire Ground 324 Torkoal Fire 325 Spoink Psychic 326 Grumpig Psychic 327 Spinda Normal 328 Trapinch Ground 329 Vibrava Ground Dragon 330 Flygon Ground Dragon 331 Cacnea Grass 332 Cacturne Grass Dark 333 Swablu Normal Flying 334 Altaria Dragon Flying 335 Zangoose Normal 336 Seviper Poison 337 Lunatone Rock Psychic 338 Solrock Rock Psychic 339 Barboach Water Ground 340 Whiscash Water Ground 341 Corphish Water 342 Crawdaunt Water Dark 343 Baltoy Ground Psychic 344 Claydol Ground Psychic 345 Lileep Rock Grass 346 Cradily Rock Grass 347 Anorith Rock Bug 348 Armaldo Rock Bug 349 Feebas Water 350 Milotic Water 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 357 Tropius Grass Flying 358 Chimecho Psychic 359 Absol Dark 361 Snorunt Ice 362 Glalie Ice 363 Spheal Ice Water 364 Sealeo Ice Water 365 Walrein Ice Water 366 Clamperl Water 367 Huntail Water 368 Gorebyss Water 369 Relicanth Rock Water 370 Luvdisc Water 371 Bagon Dragon 372 Shelgon Dragon 373 Salamence Dragon Flying 375 Metang Steel Psychic 376 Metagross Steel Psychic 377 Regirock Rock 378 Regice Ice 379 Registeel Steel 380 Latias Dragon Psychic 381 Latios Dragon Psychic 382 Kyogre Water 383 Groudon Ground 384 Rayquaza Dragon Flying 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 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 29 352 Kecleon Normal 37DP 352 Kecleon Normal 39PtHGSS 439 Mime Jr. Psychic 29 479 Rotom Normal Rotom Electric Ghost 36 479 Rotom Heat Rotom Electric Ghost 36 479 Rotom Wash Rotom Electric Ghost 36 479 Rotom Frost Rotom Electric Ghost 36 479 Rotom Fan Rotom Electric Ghost 36 479 Rotom Mow Rotom Electric Ghost 36 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 TM90

All Pokémon that can learn TMs in Generation IV can learn Substitute.

Sprites

Front	Back
Generations I and II
Generation III
Generation IV
Pokémon Stadium 2
Pokémon Battle Revolution

In the anime

Shaymin	Subtitute fades away	Delcatty	Subtitute breaks
Pokémon	Method
User	First Episode Used In		Notes
Shaymin	A substitute is formed that looks exactly like Shaymin. It soon fades away.
Wild Shaymin	Giratina and the Sky Warrior		Debut
Delcatty	A substitute is formed that looks exactly like Delcatty. It soon fades away.
Lila's Delcatty	Battling the Generation Gap!		None
Togepi	A substitute is formed that looks exactly like Togepi. It soon fades away.
A wild Togepi	The Worst Togepy Ever!		None

Trivia

A Substitute "Levitating"

• In most games, the Substitute and the Pokmon will switch places when the Pokémon is actually attacking. The only exception in Pokémon Battle Revolution, where the battle animations play out if the Substitute was the one performing the attack. It generally remains stationary, except for when using moves like Fly or Bounce.
• Substitutes are interpreted differently throughout all forms of Pokémon canon. In the games, Substitutes are seen as a plush-like decoy which simply replaces the Pokémon. In the anime, Substitutes are seen to be exact 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.
• Shedinja is capable of learning Substitute by both FireRed and LeafGreen move tutor as well as by TM90 in Generation IV (as well as inheriting it from its pre-evolution). Despite this, it cannot use it, as its HP is too low to make a substitute.
• In the Generation I-II games the plush resembles the Pokémon Rhydon. In subsequent generations, the plush slightly resembles Tyranitar.

In other languages

• French: Clonage
• Spanish: Sustituto
• Italian: Sostituto
• German: Delegator

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