Struggle (move)
| Struggle わるあがき Vain Struggle | ||||||||||||
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Struggle is the one move that cannot be learned naturally by any Pokémon. However, every single Pokémon can use it, but only if all of their moves cannot be used, usually due to a lack of PP.
Effect
Struggle does damage to the opponent, and the user receives recoil damage. Up until Generation III, this recoil damage consisted of 50% of the damage the attack did. Starting in Generation IV, however, its recoil damage was increased to 25% of the user's HP. Struggle will automatically be used by a Pokémon that has no usable moves but is ordered to attack, and has infinite PP in such a situation.
If the user of Struggle attacks first and faints itself due to recoil damage, the opponent will not attack or be subjected to recurrent damage during that round. However, the user will still be subject to recurrent damage.
If Struggle breaks a Substitute, the user will take no recoil damage.
If Struggle were a normally obtainable move, it would have 10-16 PP (in Generation I) though no PP would ever be deducted from it, and self-inflicted recoil damage from Struggle from the previous turn could be countered if the opponent did not make a move on the following turn.
In Stadium, no recoil damage is taken if Struggle knocks out an opponent.
Type has no effect on the amount of damage that Struggle inflicts, meaning that Template:Type2 Pokémon will be affected by it even if the user has not previously used Foresight or Odor Sleuth. Pokémon with the Wonder Guard ability are not immune to Struggle.
Interestingly, Struggle has Contest stats despite being unable to be learned naturally. This is likely to prevent the game from crashing in case it is hacked, or because, as a move, it requires these statistics.
In the anime
Pokémon
Wobbuffet. Wobbuffet smashes its head against the target.
- Used by Jessie's Wobbuffet in Fear Factor Phony.
Learnset
All Pokémon can use Struggle when they are unable to use other moves.
In other languages
- Spanish: Combate
- German: Verzweifler
- French: Lutte
