Self-Destruct (move)

Self-Destruct じばく Self-Destruct

Battles Type  Normal Category  Physical PP  5 (max. 8) Power  200 Accuracy  100% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally All Others: Affects all Pokémon adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation I TM36 in Generation I Move Tutor in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  8 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Jam  0   Makes a great appeal, but allows no more to the end.

Super Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  0   Earn +15 if all the Pokémon choose the same Judge.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Beauty Appeal  0   Jamming  0

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Self-Destruct (Japanese: じばく Self-Destruct), formatted as Selfdestruct prior to Pokémon X and Y, is a damage-dealing Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM36 in Generation I.

Effect

Generation I

Resembling a weaker version of Explosion, Self-Destruct inflicts damage, and causes the user to faint. Though its power is listed as 130, the target's Defense will be halved when damage from this attack is calculated, giving it an effective power of 260. The game will bump 0 up to 1 to avoid infinite damage, so Self-Destruct would have an effective power of 130 if it could be used against a target with a Defense value of 1 (although such circumstances would almost never happen in normal play).

If Self-Destruct breaks a target's substitute, the user will not faint, though its image will be replaced by a blank image. Additionally, if the user of Self-Destruct had a substitute at the time of such a situation, uses Substitute later, or switches out, its regular image will once again become visible.

If the user of Self-Destruct attacks first and faints itself, the target will not attack or be subjected to recurrent damage during that round.

In Stadium, if Self-Destruct breaks a target's substitute, the user will faint. The base power listed in Stadium is the one after halving Defense, ie. 260.

Generation II

The move's power is increased to 200 instead. The target's Defense is still halved, giving it an effective power of 400.

If Self-Destruct is used against a substitute, a Ghost type, or a Pokémon that has used Protect or Detect, it will still faint.

Unlike the previous game, Stadium 2 lists Self-Destruct's base power before halving Defense.

The Focus Band won't prevent the user of Self-Destruct from fainting.

Generations III and IV

Self-Destruct cannot be used when a Pokémon with the Ability Damp is on the field.

The Focus Sash won't prevent the user of Self-Destruct from fainting.

Generation V

Self-Destruct no longer halves the target's Defense. The user faints before dealing damage, unlike previous generations.

Sturdy won't prevent the user of Self-Destruct from fainting.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

Self-Destruct does not cause the user to faint, but instead cuts its HP in half, and affects all Pokémon, items, and walls within one tile of the user, reducing HP by half on teammates, by 50 on hostile Pokémon, and destroying all walls, items, and special tiles. Self-Destruct cannot be used in rain or on any floor with a Pokémon with the Ability Damp. Additionally, Fire-type Pokémon take only 50% of usual damage.

Description

Games Description The user explodes, inflicting damage on the enemy, then faints. Useless against Ghost-type. The user explodes, damaging the enemy, then faints. Useless against the Ghost-type. Powerful but makes the user faint. RSE Inflicts severe damage but makes the user faint. FRLG The user blows up to inflict severe damage, even making itself faint. The user blows up to inflict damage on all Pokémon in battle. The user faints upon using this move. The user attacks everything around it by causing an explosion. The user faints upon using this move.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
074		Geodude	Rock	Ground	21			21			21			18				29			29
075		Graveler	Rock	Ground	--, 21			--, 21			21			18				31			31
076		Golem	Rock	Ground	--, 21			--, 21			21			18				31			31
100		Voltorb	Electric		Electric	22			23			27			29				33			33
101		Electrode	Electric		Electric	--, 22			--, 23			27			29				35			35
109		Koffing	Poison		Poison	40			17			17			19				24	23	23
110		Weezing	Poison		Poison	43			--, 17			--, 17			19				24	23	23
204		Pineco	Bug		Bug				8			8			6				6			6
205		Forretress	Bug	Steel				--, 8			--, 8			--, 6				--, 6			--
343		Baltoy	Ground	Psychic							19			19				21	25	25
344		Claydol	Ground	Psychic							19			19				21	25	25
597		Ferroseed	Grass	Steel														38			38
598		Ferrothorn	Grass	Steel														38			38
649		Genesect	Bug	Steel														77			77
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
185		Sudowoodo	Rock		Rock
438		Bonsly	Rock		Rock
446		Munchlax*	Normal		Normal
568		Trubbish	Poison		Poison
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 TM36		II --		III --		IV --		V --		VI --
074		Geodude	Rock	Ground	✔															✔
075		Graveler	Rock	Ground	✔															✔
076		Golem	Rock	Ground	✔															✔
088		Grimer	Poison		Poison	✔															✔
089		Muk	Poison		Poison	✔															✔
090		Shellder	Water		Water	✔															✔
091		Cloyster	Water	Ice	✔															✔
092		Gastly	Ghost	Poison	✔															✔
093		Haunter	Ghost	Poison	✔															✔
094		Gengar	Ghost	Poison	✔															✔
095		Onix	Rock	Ground	✔															✔
100		Voltorb	Electric		Electric	✔															✔
101		Electrode	Electric		Electric	✔															✔
102		Exeggcute	Grass	Psychic	✔															✔
103		Exeggutor	Grass	Psychic	✔															✔
109		Koffing	Poison		Poison	✔															✔
110		Weezing	Poison		Poison	✔															✔
143		Snorlax	Normal		Normal	✔															✔
150		Mewtwo	Psychic		Psychic	✔															✔
151		Mew	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. 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
074		Geodude	Rock	Ground						✔
075		Graveler	Rock	Ground						✔
076		Golem	Rock	Ground						✔
088		Grimer	Poison		Poison						✔
089		Muk	Poison		Poison						✔
090		Shellder	Water		Water						✔
091		Cloyster	Water	Ice						✔
092		Gastly	Ghost	Poison						✔
093		Haunter	Ghost	Poison						✔
094		Gengar	Ghost	Poison						✔
095		Onix	Rock	Ground						✔
100		Voltorb	Electric		Electric						✔
101		Electrode	Electric		Electric						✔
102		Exeggcute	Grass	Psychic						✔
103		Exeggutor	Grass	Psychic						✔
109		Koffing	Poison		Poison						✔
110		Weezing	Poison		Poison						✔
143		Snorlax	Normal		Normal						✔
150		Mewtwo	Psychic		Psychic						✔
151		Mew	Psychic		Psychic						✔
185		Sudowoodo	Rock		Rock						✔
204		Pineco	Bug		Bug						✔
205		Forretress	Bug	Steel						✔
208		Steelix	Steel	Ground						✔
211		Qwilfish	Water	Poison						✔
218		Slugma	Fire		Fire						✔
219		Magcargo	Fire	Rock						✔
222		Corsola	Water	Rock						✔
273		Seedot	Grass		Grass						✔
274		Nuzleaf	Grass	Dark						✔
275		Shiftry	Grass	Dark						✔
299		Nosepass	Rock		Rock						✔
316		Gulpin	Poison		Poison						✔
317		Swalot	Poison		Poison						✔
320		Wailmer	Water		Water						✔
321		Wailord	Water		Water						✔
323		Camerupt	Fire	Ground						✔
324		Torkoal	Fire		Fire						✔
337		Lunatone	Rock	Psychic						✔
338		Solrock	Rock	Psychic						✔
343		Baltoy	Ground	Psychic						✔
344		Claydol	Ground	Psychic						✔
362		Glalie	Ice		Ice						✔
375		Metang	Steel	Psychic						✔
376		Metagross	Steel	Psychic						✔
377		Regirock	Rock		Rock						✔
378		Regice	Ice		Ice						✔
379		Registeel	Steel		Steel						✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Special move

Generation IV

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with 0109 Koffing Lv.13 Poison Pokéwalker - Town Outskirts 0446 Munchlax Normal Pokéwalker - Winner's Path 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

Ditto transformed as Voltorb Pineco
The Pokémon becomes angry and white and then explodes.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Voltorb's body glows white and yellow sparks appear around its body. It then explodes violently.
Koga's Voltorb	The Ninja Poké-Showdown		Debut
Duplica's Ditto in the form of Voltorb	Ditto's Mysterious Mansion		Used via Transform
Keith's Voltorb	So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd		None
Multiple wild Voltorb	Showdown at the Po-ké Corral		None
Unknown Trainer's Voltorb	Pikachu Re-Volts		None
Unknown Trainer's Voltorb	Arceus and the Jewel of Life		None
Multiple wild Voltorb	Bucking the Treasure Trend!		None
	Pineco's body glows blue or white. It then suddenly explodes.
Multiple wild Pineco	Going Apricorn!		None
Brock's Pineco	Going Apricorn!		None
Multiple wild Pineco	Bucking the Treasure Trend!		None

In the manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Haunter
The user explodes violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Haunter's body swells up and it explodes violently. Haunter also takes it's own life in the explosion.
Black Fog	Haunting my Dreams		Debut

In the How I Became a Pokémon Card manga

Clefairy
The user explodes violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Clefairy explodes violently.
Unknown Trainer's Clefairy	PW20		Debut Used via Metronome

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Electrode
The user explodes violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Electrode explodes violently.
Lt. Surge's Electrode	Electrode's Big Shock!		Debut

In the Pocket Monsters HGSS Jou's Big Adventure manga

Koffing
The user explodes violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Koffing glows and then explodes violently.
Proton's Koffing	JBA2		Debut

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

Weezing
The user explodes violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Weezing explodes violently.
Koga's Weezing	Fuchsia City		Debut

In other generations

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

• In Generation I, if Self-Destruct or Explosion causes the player to win and lose at the same time, the player blacks out as normal, but the victory music plays.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 自爆 Zìbào Danish Selvdestruktion Dutch Zelfvernietiging Finnish Itsetuho French Destruction German Finale Greek Αυτοκαταστροφή Italian Autodistruz. Korean 자폭 Japok Polish Samo-Zniszczenie Brazilian Portuguese Autodestruição Serbian Samouništenje Spanish Autodestruc

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.