Surf (move)
From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
| Surf なみのり Surfing | ||||||||||||
| It swamps the entire battlefield with a giant wave. It can also be used for crossing water. | ||||||||||||
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Battles
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Availability
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Contests
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Super Contests
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Surf (Japanese: なみのり Surfing) is a damage-dealing Water-type move introduced in Generation I. It is HM03 in all generations.
Contents |
Effect
In battle
Generations I and II
Surf inflicts damage and has no secondary effect.
Generation III
Same as the previous generations, but in a double battle, Surf will hit both opposing Pokémon. Its base Power is doubled if it is targeted at a Pokémon using Dive.
Generation IV
Same as the previous generation; however, in a double battle, Surf will hit all other Pokémon battling, including the partner.
Outside of battle
Surf can be used outside of battle to travel over bodies of water. When doing so, wild Pokémon may be encountered. Surfing is a very important mechanic of the games. Surf is needed in most games to progress through it, sometimes to reach other islands and cities.
The speed of Surfing has varied dramatically through games. In Generations I and II, the speed was at the same speed as walking. In Generation III the speed was increased to running-speed.
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the Surfing speed was reduced to walking speed again. (However, it should be noted that the player characters in Generations I and II walk at a faster pace than Lucas and Dawn. The speed was returned to running speed in Pokémon Platinum.
In the anime
 Rhydon using Surf |
 Wailmer using Surf |
 Crawdaunt using Surf |
Pokémon
Rhydon. Rhydon swims through the water. In battle, sends a giant tidal wave towards the opponent, damaging every Pokémon on the field.
- Used by Pietra's Rhydon in Right On Rhydon. Debut.
- Used by an unnamed trainer's Rhydon in Tag! We're It!.
Whiscash. Whiscash creates a huge wave and rides on it.
- Used by Juan's Whiscash in Eight Ain't Enough!.
Wailmer. Wailmer creates a huge wave and crashes it down on the foe.
- Used by a trainer's Wailmer in Pruning a Passel of Pals!.
Crawdaunt. Crawdaunt star glows and then creates a huge wave and crashes it down on the foe.
- Used by Kyle's Crawdaunt in Strategy With a Smile!.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Piplup creates a wave and then surfs on it, pushing any players it hits.
Learnset
Generation I
By HM03
By Nintendo event
| # | Pokémon | Type | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 025 | 
| PikachuY | Electric | ||
| 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 II
By HM03
Generation III
By HM03
Special move
| # | Pokémon | Type | Obtained in | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 | 
| Pichu | Electric | Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire | |
| 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 HM03
Special move
| # | Pokémon | Type | Obtained in | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 025 |
| Pikachu | Electric | Pokémon Battle Revolution | |
| Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move. | |||||
Trivia
- Surf is used by Pokémon in order to swim and carry humans on their backs simultaneously. However, Pokémon can learn it that are far too small to possibly carry a 10-year-old on their backs, ie. Poliwag.
- Surf is one of the few moves which no Pokémon can learn by leveling up, largely because it's an HM move.
- Surf and Fly are the only HM moves that are special moves, that are known by an event Pokémon.
- Both of these moves are learned by event Pikachu.
In other languages
- French: Surf
- German: Surfer
- Italian: Surf
- Spanish: Surf
- Portuguese: Surf
- Korean: 파도타기 Padotagi
| Variations on the move Flamethrower | |
|---|---|
| Flamethrower | Ice Beam | Surf | Thunderbolt |
| Generation I TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |
| Generation I HMs | |
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | |
| Generation II TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |
| Generation II HMs | |
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | |
| Generation III TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |
| Generation III HMs | |
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | |
| Generation IV TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |
| 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | |
| 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | |
| Generation IV HMs | |
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | |
| This move article is part of Project MoveDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each move. |
