Critical hit: Difference between revisions

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This article is about the random event. For the video podcast, see It's Super Effective (podcast) → Related podcasts.

A critical hit (Japanese: 急所 pressure point) is a (generally) random event that multiplies the damage of a damage-dealing move. When one occurs, the game will display the message "A critical hit!" (Japanese: 急所に　当たった！ Hit a pressure point!) after the damage is dealt.

In Generation I

Damage

When a move lands a critical hit, the attacker's level will be doubled during damage calculation, which approximately (but not quite) doubles the damage dealt. A rough formula for the damage multiplier is (2L+5)/(L+5) where L is the attacker's level; as a result, lower-leveled Pokémon have a smaller critical hit boost than higher-leveled Pokémon. For example, a level 5 Pokémon will inflict about 1.5× damage on a critical hit, while a level 20 Pokémon will inflict 1.8× and a level 95 Pokémon will inflict 1.95×.

Critical hits ignore all stat stage modifiers and the halved Attack from burn. This includes beneficial stat modifiers as well, making it possible for a critical hit to deal less damage than a non-critical hit if the attacker has at least doubled their Attack/Special or the target's Defense/Special is at least halved.

Probability

Whether a move scores a critical hit is determined by comparing a 1-byte random number (0 to 255) against a 1-byte threshold value (also 0 to 255); if the random number is less than the threshold, the Pokémon scores a critical hit. If the threshold value is T, then this means the probability (P) of scoring a critical hit is P = T / 256. (It is impossible for a critical hit to be guaranteed; there will always be at least a 1/256 chance that a critical hit will not be scored.)

The value of T is based on a Pokémon's base Speed. For a normal move, T is half the base Speed:

T = BaseSpeed / 2 or P = BaseSpeed / 512

Due to a bug in Generation I, Focus Energy and Dire Hit lower a Pokémon's chance of scoring a critical hit instead of raising it, dividing T by 4:

TFE = BaseSpeed / 8 or PFE = BaseSpeed / 2048

If the move being used has a high critical-hit ratio (Crabhammer, Karate Chop, Razor Leaf, or Slash), T is multiplied by 8:

THighCHR = BaseSpeed * 4 or PHighCHR = BaseSpeed / 64

Both effects may also be active at the same time. This would result in:

TFE+HighCHR = BaseSpeed or PFE+HighCHR = BaseSpeed / 256

At all times, the maximum value for T is 255 (which equally means the maximum value for P is 255/256). All operations that factor into T are also integer operations (meaning divisions are rounded down to the nearest whole number). (Note that the division in P = T / 256 is not rounded.) Due to the process the game uses to compute T, BaseSpeed is also effectively rounded down to the nearest even number.

In Pokémon Stadium

In Pokémon Stadium, the threshold value T is determined by a different formula.

For a normal move, T is:

T = ( BaseSpeed + 76 ) / 4 or P = ( BaseSpeed + 76 ) / 1024

Focus Energy is slightly more complicated than in the core games, but it does correctly raise the chance of a critical hit instead of lowering it:

TFE = ( BaseSpeed + 236 ) / 2 or PFE = ( BaseSpeed + 236 ) / 512

If the move being used has a high critical-hit ratio (Crabhammer, Karate Chop, Razor Leaf, or Slash), T is multiplied by 8:

THighCHR = ( BaseSpeed + 76 ) * 2 or PHighCHR = ( BaseSpeed + 76 ) / 128

If both effects are active at the same time, then:

TFE+HighCHR = ( BaseSpeed + 236 ) * 4 or PFE+HighCHR = ( BaseSpeed + 236 ) / 64

Since 236 * 4 is well beyond 255, any Pokémon will have a maximum chance to score a critical hit if both effects are active.

As with the core games, the maximum value for T is always 255 (or 255/256 for P) and any divisions that factor into T are rounded down to the nearest whole number. Due to the process the game uses to compute T, BaseSpeed is also effectively rounded down to the nearest multiple of 4.

Generation II onwards

Damage

In Generations II-V, a critical hit deals 2 times the damage a move would otherwise do. From Generation VI onwards, a critical hit deals 1.5 times a move's normal damage.

In Generation II, when a move scores a critical hit, all stat stage modifiers, the halved Attack from burn, and the defensive boosts from Light Screen and Reflect are ignored if the target's defending stat stage (Defense or Special Defense) is greater than or equal to the attacker's attacking stat stage (Attack or Special Attack). From Generation III onwards, when a move scores a critical hit, the attacker's negative stat stages, the defender's positive stat stages, and the defensive boosts from Light Screen, Reflect, and Aurora Veil are always ignored. However, the halved Attack from burn is no longer ignored.

Examples

• If the attacker is using a physical move and is at +2 Attack stages while the target is at +1 Defense stage...
  • Gen II: a critical hit will not ignore either stat. (Damage with a critical hit will have an 8/3× modifier.)
  • Gen III-V: a critical hit will ignore the Defense boost. (Damage with a critical hit will have a 4× modifier.)
  • Gen VI+: a critical hit will ignore the Defense boost. (Damage with a critical hit will have a 3× modifier.)
• If the attacker is using a physical move and is at -1 Attack stages while the target is at -2 Defense stage...
  • Gen II: a critical hit will not ignore either stat. (Damage with a critical hit will have a 2.64× modifier.)
  • Gen III-V: a critical hit will ignore the Attack drop. (Damage with a critical hit will have a 4× modifier.)
  • Gen VI+: a critical hit will ignore the Attack drop. (Damage with a critical hit will have a 3× modifier.)

Other effects

If a Pokémon with the Sniper Ability gets a critical hit, the damage dealt will be multiplied by an additional factor of 1.5.

If Galarian Farfetch'd lands three critical hits in a single battle, it evolves into Sirfetch'd.

Probability

The probability of landing a critical hit is no longer based on the attacker's base Speed, but rather is based on a fixed formula for all Pokémon. Similar to stats, there are temporary in-battle stages used to determine the probability that a particular move will be a critical hit.

If a Pokémon has maximum affection, the probability from above is multiplied by 2.^[1]

An attacking move will start out at stage 0, but there are several ways to increase a move's stage as detailed in the table below.

An effect cannot stack with an effect in the same column (including itself), with the exception of G-Max Chi Strike, whose effect can stack with anything (including more uses of itself)^[2]. A Pokémon may acquire the effect of a Lansat Berry even if it is already holding another item, through the use of Baton Pass, Pluck, Bug Bite, or Fling; or by obtaining another item after consuming the Berry, such as via Thief or Symbiosis.

Other factors

The Abilities Battle Armor and Shell Armor prevent Pokémon from landing critical hits on the Pokémon with that Ability. Lucky Chant prevents Pokémon from landing critical hits on the Pokémon it is protecting for a span of five turns.

Pokémon with the Ability Merciless will always score critical hits on poisoned Pokémon (unless prevented by one of the above effects).

The moves Storm Throw, Frost Breath, Zippy Zap, Surging Strikes, and Wicked Blow, along with any move used by a Pokémon that is under the effect of Laser Focus, will always result in a critical hit (unless prevented by one of the above effects).

In side-games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

Rescue Team and Explorers

There are some differences from how critical works in main series:

• Critical hits do only 50% more damage, unless the Pokémon has Sniper, in which case it will do double damage.
• Male or genderless Pokémon will have the move's base critical hit rate multiplied by 1.5x.
• Scope Lens, Patsy Band, Sharpshooter IQ skill and Super Luck add a flat modifier to the move's critical hit rate (30% in Red/Blue Rescue Team, 15% in Explorers).
• Type Advantage Master will set the critical hit rate to 40%, ignoring all other effects.
• Focus Energy will guarantee critical hits, provided the critical hits are not prevented by exclusive items, Abilities, Critical Dodger IQ skill or Lucky Chant.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 要害 Yiuhoih Mandarin 要害 Yàohài French Coup critique German Volltreffer Italian Brutto colpo Korean 급소 Geupso Brazilian Portuguese Golpe crítico Russian Критический урон Kriticheskiy uron Spanish Latin America Golpe Directo Spain Golpe crítico (II - VII) Ataque crítico (I) Swedish Kritiskt slag Vietnamese Đòn chí mạng

See also

• Same-type attack bonus
• Damage

References

This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.