Mean Look (move)

Mean Look (Japanese: くろいまなざし Dark Look) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation II.

Effect

Generations II to IV

Mean Look prevents the target from switching out or fleeing (including via Teleport). The effect only applies as long as the Pokémon that used it remains in battle.

The affected Pokémon can still switch out via Baton Pass, but in that case, the Pokémon that switches in will now be affected. Affected Pokémon can also switch out with U-turn. Conversely, the Pokémon that used Mean Look can switch out with Baton Pass and the effects of Mean Look will still apply. Also, if the affected Pokémon is Roared at or hit with a Whirlwind, they will still be switched out.

If a wild Pokémon uses Mean Look on the player's Pokémon, the player will be unable to escape, unless the player's Pokémon has Run Away or is holding a Smoke Ball.

Generation V

If a Pokémon traps a target with Mean Look and then switches with Baton Pass the target will no longer be trapped. Pokémon affected by Mean Look can switch out with Volt Switch. Also, Dragon Tail and Circle Throw will force the affected Pokémon to switch out.

Generation VI

Mean Look no longer affects Ghost-type Pokémon.

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
041		Zubat	Poison	Flying	36			36			29				29	34	34 29
042		Golbat	Poison	Flying	42			42			33				33	38	38 32
092		Gastly	Ghost	Poison	13			13	48	8				8			8
093		Haunter	Ghost	Poison	13			13	64	8				8			8
094		Gengar	Ghost	Poison	13			13	64	8				8			8
124		Jynx	Ice	Psychic	35			35			21				25			25
169		Crobat	Poison	Flying	42			42			33				33	38	38 32
197		Umbreon	Dark		Dark	42			42			57				57	37	37
198		Murkrow	Dark	Flying	41			48			41				41			41
200		Misdreavus	Ghost		Ghost	19			23			19				19			19
238		Smoochum	Ice	Psychic	35			33			21				25			25
302		Sableye	Dark	Ghost				45			57				60			1, 60 46
355		Duskull	Ghost		Ghost				45			38				41			41 46
356		Dusclops	Ghost		Ghost				51			43				49			49 52
477		Dusknoir	Ghost		Ghost							43				49			49 52
504		Patrat	Normal		Normal											31			31
505		Watchog	Normal		Normal											36			36
562		Yamask	Ghost		Ghost											45			45
563		Cofagrigus	Ghost		Ghost											51			51
678		Meowstic	Psychic		Psychic														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.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Type		Father
					II		III		IV		V		VI
088		Grimer	Poison		Poison
203		Girafarig	Normal	Psychic
280		Ralts	Psychic	Fairy
302		Sableye	Dark	Ghost
359		Absol	Dark		Dark
495		Snivy	Grass		Grass
551		Sandile	Ground	Dark
574		Gothita	Psychic		Psychic
624		Pawniard	Dark	Steel
629		Vullaby	Dark	Flying
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.

Special move

Generation V

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with 0553 Krookodile Ground Dark Dream World - Rugged Mountain 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 event

Generation V

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with 0235 Smeargle Normal 2013 World Championships Smeargle 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 other games

Description

In the anime

Haunter Dusknoir Watchog Oshawott failing to return due to Mean Look
The user affixes the foe with a dark, arresting look. The target becomes unable to flee.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Haunter's eyes glow light purple, preventing the opponent from escaping.
Morty's Haunter	From Ghost to Ghost		Debut
	Misdreavus opens its eyes wide and its body flashes black. The opponent can no longer run away from the battle.
Nelson's Misdreavus	Entei at Your Own Risk		None
	Dusclops's iris glows purple and it releases a black ring from its eye at the opponent. When the ring hits the opponent, the opponent becomes surrounded by a purple aura, causing the opponent to no longer be able to be recalled into its Poké Ball.
Brandon's Dusclops	Gathering the Gang of Four!		None
	Dusknoir's iris glows purple and it releases a black ring from its eye at the opponent. When the ring hits the opponent, it flips around so it's above the opponent, and it falls down onto it. The ring then disappears and the opponent's body flashes black, preventing it from escaping.
Conway's Dusknoir	Working on a Right Move!		None
	Watchog closes its eyes and its body becomes surrounded in a dark purple aura. It then opens its eyes and they start glowing bright red. The purple aura then rises into the air and forms together into an oval shape. The aura then solidifies and forms into a black oval. The top part of the oval then opens, forming itself into an eye with a pure black pupil. The eye itself and the pupil then becomes surrounded in a magenta aura and multiple smaller eyes, each with a magenta aura around it, form and appear around it and spread throughout the battlefield. The opponent's body then becomes surrounded in a magenta colored aura. Once it does, the eyes disappear. The opponent can then no longer go back into its Poké Ball. If the Trainer tries, a purple forcefield appears around the opponent.
Lenora's Watchog	The Battle According to Lenora!		None

In the manga

In the Be the Best! Pokémon B+W manga

Watchog
The user projects an evil eye at the opponent, scaring it and preventing it from running.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Watchog projects an evil eye at the opponent, scaring it and preventing it from running.
Monta's Watchog	Let's Master Pokémon Capturing!		Debut

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Smoochum
The user fires black eye beams at the opponent, preventing them from escaping.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Smoochum fires black eye beams at the opponent from its eyes, stunning it and preventing it from escaping.
Crystal's Chumee	Slugging It Out with Slugma		Debut

In the Pokémon Gold and Silver: The Golden Boys manga

Gastly Gengar The effect
The user looks at the opponent and eyes are targeted at it.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Gastly makes a scary face at the opponent and at least five eyes are targeting it.
Black's Gastly	Extreme Power!! The Friday Pokémon		Debut
	Gengar makes a scary face at the opponent and a few eyes are targeting it, causing the opponent to shudder in fear.
Morty's Gengar	A Promise Given to Miltank		None

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Umbreon
Multiple eyes appear which prevents the foe from doing anything.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Umbreon looks at the foe and multiple eyes appear.
Karen's Umbreon	A Challenge to the Elite Four!		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, andSky	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, andSky	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, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 黑色眼光 Hēi​sè​ Yǎn​guāng Danish Ondt Blik Dutch Boze Oog Finnish Inhonaama French Regard Noir German Horrorblick Greek Άγρια Ματιά Indonesian Tatapan Gelap Mata Hitam Italian Malosguardo Korean 검은눈빛 Geom-eun Nunbit Polish Ciemne Spojrzenie Portuguese Brazil Olhar Malvado Portugal Olhar Paralisante Serbian Zao Pogled Spanish Latin America Mirada Maligna (EP182) Cara Mala (EP259) Mirada Mala (AG189, BW015-BW016) Mal de Ojo (DP185) Spain Mal de Ojo

Variations of the move Mean Look
Block • Mean Look • Spider Web

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.