Mat Block (move)

Mat Block たたみがえし Tatami Flip

Battles Type  Fighting Category  Status PP  10 (max. 16) Power  — Accuracy  —% Priority  0 Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Affected by Snatch Not affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Your Side: Affects the user's side of the field

Availability Introduced  Generation VI Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]] Appeal  0   Jam  0

Super Contests Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]] Appeal  0

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Cool Appeal  1 ♥ Jamming  3 ♥♥♥ Badly startles all of the Pokémon to act before the user.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Mat Block (Japanese: たたみがえし Tatami Flip) is a non-damaging Fighting-type move introduced in Generation VI. Prior to Generation VII, it was the signature move of Greninja.

Effect

Mat Block protects all Pokémon on the user's side of the field from any physical or special moves for that turn. Unlike Protect, Mat Block is not an increased priority move. Mat Block will only work if used on the first turn after the Pokémon enters the field; the Pokémon must be switched out and back in to be able to use Mat Block again.

Some moves will do damage through Mat Block. Most damaging Z-Moves and Max Moves will only do 25% of their original damage, except G-Max One Blow and G-Max Rapid Flow which do full damage. Moves that break protection, like Feint, will do their full damage and remove the effects of Mat Block. The Ability Unseen Fist allows contact moves to bypass Mat Block. Additionally, Mat Block cannot protect against Future Sight or Doom Desire.

If powered up by a Fightinium Z into Z-Mat Block, the user's Defense stat rises by one stage.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Mat Block cannot be selected in a battle.

Generation IX

Mat Block cannot be selected in a battle.

Description

Games Description XYORAS SMUSUMPE SwShLA Using a pulled-up mat as a shield, the user protects itself and its allies from damaging moves. This does not stop status moves. BDSP SV This move can't be used. It's recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can't be remembered.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						VI	VII
							SMUSUM
0538		Throh		Human-Like		Human-Like	−	1
0658		Greninja All available forms		Water 1		Water 1	1	1
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.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Mat Block gives the Mat Block status to the user and teammates in the same room for one turn. This status protects the Pokémon from taking damage from moves, but not from thrown items or explosions. Successfully using Mat Block or other protection moves consecutively reduces the chance of success of it and these moves.

Game Base Power Max Power Base PP Max PP Base Accuracy Max Accuracy Range Target Cuts corners SMD - - 5 30 —% - Entire room Party Yes With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games: Super Mystery Dungeon = Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Mat Block appears at the start of Greninja's Final Smash, Secret Ninja Attack. The initial Mat Block flip sends opponents into the air, allowing Greninja to slice them repeatedly before launching them with a final blow.

Description

Games Description SMD It protects from physical and special moves. Its chance of failing rises if used in a row.* You and your teammates in the same room will get Mat Block status, which protects you from physical and special moves. But its chance of failure rises if you use it after you use a move that evades enemies' attacks.*

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Greninja
The user creates a mat that blocks the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Greninja summons multiple tiles that block attacks from the opponent.
Y's Croaky	Zygarde Agitated		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

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

Spin-off series games

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

• This move is a reference to a trick that has been used by ninjas, which involves flipping a tatami (a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms) to block incoming projectile attacks.
• While this move is usable in Pokémon Sword and Shield, no Pokémon can learn it in those games. The only way to obtain Mat Block in Pokémon Sword and Shield is to transfer a Throh that already knows the move from an earlier game via Pokémon HOME, since Greninja and Smeargle are not present in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
• Mat Block is the only protection move that is not of an increased priority. Additionally, it is the only one that works on the first turn only.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 掀榻榻米 Hīn Taaptaapmáih Mandarin 掀榻榻米 Xiān Tàtàmǐ French Tatamigaeshi German Tatami-Schild Italian Ribaltappeto Korean 마룻바닥세워막기 Marutbadaksewomaggi Brazilian Portuguese Esteira Bloqueio Spanish Escudo Tatami Vietnamese Lật Chiếu

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.