Recall: Difference between revisions

If you were looking for the card released in the Gym Heroes expansion, see Recall (Gym Heroes 116).

This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Recall features like different recalling effects in Pokémon-Amie in Generation VI

Recalling (Japanese: ポケモンチェンジ Pokémon change) a Pokémon is taking it out of battle. It is also referred to as withdrawing, switching out, returning, retreating, and shifting.

In the games

Magikarp being recalled from battle

There are several reasons for recalling Pokémon in the games. The most basic can be a simple strategic decision to battle using another Pokémon in lieu of using a move, recalling the active one to switch in another; the new Pokémon switches in at the start of the turn but cannot be commanded until the next turn. Any Pokémon that faints must also be recalled, and the Trainer can switch in another Pokémon to continue the battle if possible. In a wild Pokémon battle, after a Pokémon faints, its Trainer may attempt to flee instead of continuing the battle, but if it fails, they must switch in a new Pokémon instead. A handful of moves also include switching as part of their effect: Baton Pass, U-turn, and Volt Switch return the user to the party and allow the Trainer to send in a different Pokémon. The held item Eject Button also makes the holder switch out when hit by an attack.

In some cases, Pokémon may be forced to withdraw from a battle. The moves Circle Throw, Dragon Tail, Roar, and Whirlwind force their target to be recalled and randomly replaced by another Pokémon. The held item Red Card causes a Pokémon that hits the item's holder to switch out and be replaced by a random Pokémon from its party.

There are also a variety of circumstances that may trap a Pokémon, preventing it from being recalled from battle. The moves Block, Mean Look, Shadow Hold, Spider Web, and Thousand Waves prevent opposing Pokémon from leaving battle, and Fairy Lock does the same for the next turn only. The Abilities Arena Trap, Magnet Pull, and Shadow Tag also prevent opposing Pokémon from leaving battle. A trapped Pokémon can bypass these restrictions with a Shed Shell, by using Baton Pass, U-turn, or Volt Switch, or if it is hit by Circle Throw, Dragon Tail, Roar, or Whirlwind. Starting in Generation VI, Ghost-type Pokémon are also immune to these trapping effects. A Pokémon that has used Ingrain is similarly prevented from leaving the battle under most circumstances and can only be recalled after an opponent is defeated or by using Baton Pass, U-turn, or Volt Switch.

Manually withdrawing a Pokémon happens before all moves, except Pursuit if it is targetting the Pokémon that is switching out.

Experience is fundamentally evenly divided among Pokémon that participated in a battle (and are not fainted) against an opponent that has not switched out, but many factors can affect this.

In Single Battles against NPC Trainers (excluding Battle Tower Trainers), if the Battle Style is set as "Shift" ("Switch" in Generation VI), then after defeating one of the opponent's Pokémon, the player is notified what the opponent's next Pokémon will be and given the option to recall their own Pokémon before the next turn.

In the anime

Ash recalling Oshawott

In the anime, if the Trainer does not send out a replacement Pokémon, he or she must forfeit the match, although running from Trainer battles is illegal in the games (unless it's in the Battle Frontier or with a real person).

It appears as though a Pokémon can actually refuse, or even dodge a Trainer's recall command. While this usually is a result of disobedience, it can sometimes be a sign that the Pokémon is concerned for its Trainer, such as in Snow Way Out!, or another person or Pokémon, as seen in Cottonee in Love!.

Usually during Gym battles, there are rules preventing Gym Leaders from switching their Pokémon, but challengers are allowed to make substitutions if needed. It is not uncommon for Trainers to recall their Pokémon to cure confusion.

During Contest Battles, Coordinators are never allowed to recall their Pokémon. When a Pokémon is unable to continue battling, the judging panel will rule Battle Off, putting an end to the battle and declaring the Coordinator with the remaining Pokémon as the winner of the match.

In the TCG

Main article: Retreat cost

This is a list of cards in the TCG related to switching.

Name	Type	Rarity	Set	Set no.
Switch	T		Base Set	95/102
			Base Set 2	123/130
			Expedition Base Set	157/165
			EX Ruby & Sapphire	92/109
			EX FireRed & LeafGreen	102/112
			EX Delta Species	102/113
			EX Dragon Frontiers	83/101
			Diamond & Pearl	119/130
			Secret Wonders	128/132
			Stormfront	93/100
			HeartGold & SoulSilver	102/123
			Black & White	104/114

Trivia

• In the Generation I and II games, if the player chooses to switch their Pokémon when the opponent is about to send out a new Pokémon, the opponent is shown sending out their Pokémon before the player switches their Pokémon (even though the player's withdrawn Pokémon does not gain experience). This was changed in all later Generations, instead showing the player's switch before the opponent sends out their next Pokémon.

Related articles

• Pokémon Change

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