Shadow Tag (Ability)

Shadow Tag (Japanese: かげふみ Stepping on Shadows) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. Prior to Generation V, it was the signature Ability of Wynaut and Wobbuffet.

Effect

In battle

Shadow Tag prevents all foes from fleeing (including Teleport) or switching out while the Pokémon with this Ability is on the field.

Using Baton Pass, U-turn, Volt Switch, or Parting Shot will still cause the Pokémon to switch out. Having the Ability Run Away or holding a Smoke Ball allows the Pokémon to flee or Teleport, but not switch.

If the player does not switch out a fainted Pokémon and instead attempts to flee, they will not be affected by a wild Pokémon with Shadow Tag.

Shadow Tag does not affect allies.

Generation IV

Shadow Tag now makes the Pokémon immune to the effects of other Pokémon's Shadow Tag. Holding a Shed Shell allows the Pokémon to switch out, but not flee or Teleport.

Generation VI

Ghost-type Pokémon are now immune to Shadow Tag.

Outside of battle

Shadow Tag has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Shadow Tag

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
094M	Gengar	Gengar	Ghost	Poison	Shadow Tag	None	None
0202		Wobbuffet	Psychic		Psychic	Shadow Tag	None	Telepathy
0360		Wynaut	Psychic		Psychic	Shadow Tag	None	Telepathy
0574		Gothita	Psychic		Psychic	Frisk	Competitive	Shadow Tag
0575		Gothorita	Psychic		Psychic	Frisk	Competitive	Shadow Tag
0576		Gothitelle	Psychic		Psychic	Frisk	Competitive	Shadow Tag
Please note that abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

• In the Generation V games, Litwick, Lampent, and Chandelure have Shadow Tag as their Hidden Ability, but they cannot be obtained by any legitimate means. Their Hidden Ability is replaced with Infiltrator in Generation VI.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Mega Gengar
When the user is hidden in shadows, the opponent is unable to retreat.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	When Mega Gengar is hidden in shadows, the opponent is unable to retreat.
X's Garma	Changing Gengar		Debut

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 踩影 Cháaiyíng * 影子遊戲 Yíngjí Yàuhhei * Mandarin 踩影 Cǎiyǐng * 影子遊戲 Yǐngzǐ Yóuxì * French Marque Ombre German Wegsperre Italian Pedinombra Korean 그림자 밟기 Geurimja Balgi Portuguese Fio de Sombra European Spanish Sombra Trampa* Sombratrampa*

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.