Z-Move
A Z-Move (Japanese: Zワザ Z-Move) is a special type of move introduced in Generation VII, in which a Trainer and their Pokémon's wishes combine to unleash an attack comprising the full power of both. Z-Moves require one of several available Z-Crystals and a Z-RingSM or Z-Power RingUSUM to channel Z-Power through.
They are no longer present in the core series from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! onwards, but they still appear in some spin-off games, such as Pokémon Masters EX.
In the core series games
Z-Moves are very powerful, but they can only be used once per battle, unless Z-Rotom Power is used.
There are three different kinds of Z-Moves: Z-Moves which can be used by any Pokémon, with one Z-Move for each of the 18 types; status moves that have been turned into Z-Moves by one of the 18 type-specific Z-Crystals; and Z-Moves that can only be used by specific Pokémon. The Z-Move that a Pokémon can perform depends on the Z-Crystal it holds. There are 18 different Z-Crystals that correspond to each of the 18 types, and several others that correspond to specific Pokémon. Z-Moves work by powering up one of the Pokémon's normal moves, so the Pokémon must also know an appropriate move. For the type-related Z-Crystals, the Pokémon must know a move of the same type as the Z-Crystal it is holding. For the Pokémon-specific Z-Crystals, the move required differs for each Pokémon.
A Pokémon can only use a Z-Move if its Trainer is wearing a Z-RingSM or Z-Power RingUSUM and has the same Z-Crystal the Pokémon is holding. Mega Evolved and Primal Pokémon cannot use Z-Moves, even when holding an appropriate Z-Crystal (such as after Transform).
History
- Main article: Z-Power
The origins of Z-Power, and by extension, Z-Moves, are largely shrouded in mystery. However, information by Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet indicate that Z-Power may be related to the energy produced by Ultra Wormholes.[1] In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the Ultra Recon Squad reveal that the Z-Power that surrounds the user and their Pokémon when using a Z-Move and the aura that surrounds Totem Pokémon are a result of Necrozma's light shining down on Alola long ago.[2]
Alolan legends found in the Malie Library also indicate that SolgaleoSUS/LunalaMUM gifted the Tapunium Z to the guardian deities after fighting against them. The letter Z found at the start of Z-Move, Z-Power, Z-Ring, and Z-Power Ring comes from the word Zenith (Japanese: ゼンリョク/全力, zenryoku[3] "full power/force"), as the action of performing a Z-Move is done through a Trainer and their Pokémon combining their strength and vigor with one another.
Battle mechanics
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Are Z-Moves always obeyed? |
When using a Z-Move in the games, a special cutscene plays, first showing the Trainer performing a certain pose, before shifting to the Pokémon surrounding itself with its Z-Power and executing the Z-Move. This cutscene cannot be deactivated, even if battle animations are turned off.
Z-Moves draw upon the PP of the Pokémon's original moves in order to execute, requiring and consuming PP upon use. When the Z-Move option is chosen in battle, a list of Z-Moves overlays the Pokémon's original list of moves, with each compatible move of the Pokémon's original moves overlain by a Z-Move option that draws upon that move.
Damaging Z-Moves derive their category (physical or special) and power from the base move. For example, a Gigavolt Havoc based on Nuzzle (with a power of 20) will have a power of 100 and be a physical move, while one based on Thunderbolt (with a power of 90) will have a power of 175 and be a special move. If the Pokémon knows more than one compatible move, it will be able to choose among different versions of the Z-Move with different stats, with the instance that has the highest power sparkling. Damaging Z-Moves do not inherit any other properties from the base move, so they have neutral priority and do not have the additional effects of the base move.
Exclusive Z-Moves can be used only by specific Pokémon, and require a specific move to be upgraded. They have a fixed category and power. Exclusive Z-Moves can be used by a Pokémon transformed into an appropriate species regardless of its original species, if it holds the corresponding Z-Crystal; if, however, the Pokémon who the move is exclusive to is transformed, it cannot use its own species' exclusive Z-Move unless it is transformed into another Pokémon of the same species.
Damaging Z-Moves bypass accuracy checks to always hit, unless the opponent is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly. Damaging Z-Moves cannot be fully protected against by protection moves (such as Protect and Spiky Shield), instead dealing 25% of the original damage. The types of damaging Z-Moves are unaffected by type-modifying Abilities (although status Z-Moves' types are). However, their types are affected by Ion Deluge (if the Z-Move would be Normal-type) and Electrify. A Z-Move based on Nature Power will become a damaging Z-Move of the corresponding type based on the terrain, rather than a Z-Status Move.
Z-Moves based on status moves are enhanced versions of the original moves, having a Z- prefixed to the start of the status move's name. While they have the effects of the original status move, the user usually also receives a Z-Power effect (Japanese: Zパワーこうか Z-Power effect), which is executed before the move itself. For example, Z-Splash also boosts the user's Attack by 3 stages, while Z-Parting Shot also restores the switch-in ally's HP by 100%. These effects are not affected by Contrary, Simple, or Heal Block.
If a status Z-Move misses, fails (including failure caused by heavy rain, extremely harsh sunlight, or strong winds), or is blocked by a protection move, it still applies its Z-Power effect. Status Z-Moves can be used without regard to the effects of Gravity, but Gravity will still cause them to fail after applying their Z-Power effect (e.g. Z-Magnet Rise will raise the user's evasion but then fail).
Additionally, when used as a Z-Move, most moves that call other moves convert the called move into its corresponding Z-Move, although status moves called this way do not get their Z-Power effect. Moves stolen by Z-Snatch, reflected by Z-Magic Coat, or instructed by Z-Instruct are not turned into Z-Moves.
Z-Moves may be used without regard to the effects of Taunt, Torment, Disable, Encore, Imprison, and Heal Block; however, the Pokémon never has an opportunity to select a Z-Move if it is forced to use Struggle (e.g. if it is affected by Taunt and only knows status moves). Even if the target of Z-Heal Pulse or Z-Floral Healing is affected by Heal Block, that Pokémon's HP is restored.
Like any other move, Z-Moves can be redirected by effects such as Follow Me and Storm Drain. Z-Moves are affected normally by Powder and weather. Weather-changing moves turned into Z-Moves will disappear as usual during, but will apply their Z-Power effects regardless.
If a Pokémon uses a damaging Z-Move on a Pokémon with Cursed Body, that damaging Z-Move can be disabled (with no effect on the base move). However, if Cursed Body would disable a status Z-Move (such as Z-Nature Power), the base status move will be disabled.
Power
With the exceptions of Mega Drain (120), Weather Ball (160), Hex (160), V-create (220), Flying Press (170), and Core Enforcer (140), the powers of the type-specific damaging Z-Moves follow the following conversion table for base moves that have fixed powers and are not multistrike moves. Struggle has a power of 1 as a Z-Move in the game data, which does not follow this table, but it is not possible to turn Struggle into a Z-Move. Using a one-hit knockout move as the base move results in a Z-Move with a base power of 180.
Base move power | Z-Move power |
---|---|
0-55 | 100 |
60-65 | 120 |
70-75 | 140 |
80-85 | 160 |
90-95 | 175 |
100 | 180 |
110 | 185 |
120-125 | 190 |
130 | 195 |
140+ | 200 |
List of Z-Moves
For each type
For specific Pokémon
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Z-Power effects of status moves
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In the spin-off games
Pokémon Masters EX
In Pokémon Masters EX, several sync pairs, mainly those featuring Trainers from Alola, perform a sync move based on a Z-Move. The following sync pairs perform Z-Move-based sync moves:
Trainer | Pokémon | Sync move | Base power | Max power | Additional effect |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scottie/Bettie |
Solgaleo |
Shining Friendship Sunraze Smash | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) |
Hau |
Raichu ♂ Alola Form |
Endless Summer Gigavolt Havoc | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) |
Sygna Suit Hau |
Tapu Koko |
Thundering Deity Gigavolt Havoc | 200 | 240 | This attack's power increases when the field is Electric Terrain. (6★ EX effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) (EX role effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) |
Sophocles |
Togedemaru ♀ |
Whiz Kid Gigavolt Havoc | 200 | 240 | This attack’s power increases when the target is flinching. |
Mina |
Granbull ♂ |
Wandering Artist Twinkle Tackle | 200 | 240 | The more the opponent's Attack is lowered, the greater the power of this move. (6★ EX effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) |
Sygna Suit Mina |
Tapu Fini |
Ocean Colors Twinkle Tackle | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Olivia |
Lycanroc ♂ Midnight Form |
Shining Gem Continental Crush | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) |
Hapu |
Mudsdale ♂ |
Ultimately Worthy Tectonic Rage | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) |
Kahili |
Toucannon ♂ |
Supersonic Skystrike Drive | 250 | 300 | No additional effect. |
Nanu |
Persian ♀ Alola Form |
Dark Authority Black Hole Eclipse | 200 | 240 | This attack's power increases when the target is flinching. |
Acerola |
Palossand ♀ |
Never-Ending Royal Nightmare | 200 | 240 | The more the user's Defense is raised, the greater the power of this attack. (6★ EX effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) |
Sygna Suit Acerola |
Tapu Bulu |
Gentle Warning Bloom Doom | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Leaf |
Eevee ♂ |
Endless Possibilities Extreme Evoboost | - | - | Charges the user's move gauge by its current move level. Raises the Attack, Defense, Sp. Atk, Sp. Def, Speed, and accuracy of all allied sync pairs by 2 stat ranks. (6★ EX effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Kukui |
Lycanroc ♂ Midday Form |
Island Splintered Stormshards | 250 | 300 | Removes the Physical and Special Damage Reduction effects from the opponents’ field of play. (6★ EX effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) |
Guzma |
Ariados ♂ |
Shake Things Up Savage Spin-Out | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) (EX role effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) |
Plumeria |
Salazzle ♀ |
Wicked Enforcer Acid Downpour | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) |
Plumeria |
Gengar ♂ |
Ready to Go Acid Downpour | 200 | 240 | The more the user's Speed is raised, the greater the power of this attack. (6★ EX effect: The first time the user’s sync move is used each battle, the sync move countdown is reduced by three.) (EX role effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) |
Lusamine |
Pheromosa |
Motherly Love Savage Spin-Out | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) |
Sygna Suit Lusamine |
Necrozma Ultra Necrozma |
Loving Light That Burns the Sky | 250 | 300 | Become Ultra Necrozma until the end of battle. (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) (EX role effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Lillie (Anniversary 2024) |
Solgaleo |
Wholesome Heart Sunraze Smash | 200 | 240 | The more the target's Speed is lowered, the greater the power of this attack. (6★ EX effect: The first time the user's sync move is used each battle, the sync move countdown is reduced by three.) (EX role effect: Implements the following field effect just before the user's sync move is used the first time each battle. Extends the field effect duration only that time. • Steel Zone) |
Molayne |
Dugtrio ♂ Alola Form |
Supernova Corkscrew Crash | 250 | 300 | No additional effect. |
Mallow |
Tsareena ♀ |
Bold-Flavored Bloom Doom | 200 | 240 | This attack's power increases when the target is confused. (6★ EX effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) |
Mallow |
Shiinotic ♀ |
Strong Kick to It Bloom Doom | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Selene |
Umbreon ♀ |
Floating High Black Hole Eclipse | 200 | 240 | The more the target’s Defense is lowered, the greater the power of this attack. (6★ EX effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) (EX role effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Selene (Alt.) |
Nihilego |
Cute Quirks Continental Crush | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) (EX role effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) |
Elio |
Primarina ♂ |
Sunshine Oceanic Operetta | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Elio |
Espeon ♂ |
Shining High Shattered Psyche | 200 | 240 | The more the target’s Sp. Def is lowered, the greater the power of this attack. (6★ EX effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) (EX role effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Elio (Alt.) |
Stakataka |
Stacked-Up Emotions Continental Crush | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) (EX role effect: The first time the user's sync move is used each battle, the sync move countdown is reduced by three.) |
Lana |
Araquanid ♀ |
Seaside Sister Hydro Vortex | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Sygna Suit Lana |
Tapu Lele |
Guileless Jest Shattered Psyche | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) |
Kiawe |
Marowak ♂ Alola Form |
Fire Dance Inferno Overdrive | 250 | 300 | (6★ EX effect: The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used.) |
Kiawe |
Arcanine ♂ |
Dance Together Inferno Overdrive | 200 | 240 | This attack’s power increases when the target is burned. (6★ EX effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) |
The Masked Royal |
Incineroar ♂ |
Heel Turn Malicious Moonsault | 200 | 240 | The more the user's Speed has been raised, the greater the power of this attack. (6★ EX effect: Sync move power will be multiplied by 1.5.) |
Ash |
Pikachu ♂ World Cap* |
Best Buds 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt | 250 | 300 | Except in certain circumstances, successful hits with this attack become critical hits. (6★ EX effect: Sync moves will target all opposing sync pairs.) |
Pokémon Ga-Olé
Pokémon Mezastar
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Incineroar's Final Smash uses the Z-Move Malicious Moonsault.
The Mimikyu summon from a Poké Ball will use the Z-Move Let's Snuggle Forever.
In the TCG
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, a mechanic similar to Z-Moves, introduced in the Sun & Moon expansion, is a type of attack called attacks. They are distinguished from normal attacks by a "GX" suffix following the attack's name, such as in "Pulverizing Pancake". Only Pokémon are printed with attacks. Z-Crystal cards can allow other Pokemon to use a GX attack printed on the Z-Crystal card if the Pokemon has a move of the correct name.
Like Z-Moves, attacks have very powerful effects compared to those of other attacks. However, each player may only use one GX attack per game. markers are used to denote whether a player has used their GX attack yet. If a player uses a GX attack, their marker is flipped over to expose its reverse side. Some effects check if a player has used a GX attack, either on the previous turn or in the game overall.
A rare few effects, such as that of Misty & Lorelei, allow for a player to use a GX attack even though they have already used a GX attack on a prior turn. When GX attacks are used as the effect of other attacks, such as through Nihilego's Nightcap attack, this still counts as using a GX attack and the GX marker must still be flipped. If the permission to use a GX attack has already been spent, the copied attack has no effect. (Many Sun & Moon series cards are designed to avoid this question. For example, Zoroark-GX's Trickster-GX is already a GX attack and therefore never fails to copy a GX attack due to that player having used a GX attack before Trickster-GX. Another example is that Mimikyu's Copycat is unable to copy GX attacks.)
In animation
Similar to the games, Z-Moves are powerful moves that can be executed by a Pokémon that knows an appropriate move that corresponds to the type of Z-Crystal on the Trainer's Z-Ring. Z-Moves were first featured in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon in episode Alola to New Adventure!, where Kiawe and his Turtonator used Inferno Overdrive, with the help of Kiawe's Z-Ring and Firium Z, to defeat Zipp's Yungoos, Tupp's Salandit, and Rapp's Zubat.
According to Professor Kukui in Alola to New Adventure!, only Trainers who are successful in the island challenge can use Z-Moves. As seen with Ash's Rowlet in Young Kiawe Had a Farm!, Z-Moves drain a lot of the Pokémon's energy, but with adequate training, the Pokémon can reduce the amount of energy necessary to execute a Z-Move. In a similar manner, in Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!, Lana's Popplio failed its first attempt at Hydro Vortex since it was not strong enough to execute the move. In Showdown on Poni Island!, Gladion's Lycanroc, having endured Ash's Lycanroc's Splintered Stormshards, was able to take advantage of its opponent's fatigue by finishing it with a Z-Move of its own.
Due to their vast blast radius and power, they can usually be used to wipe out many targets at once, like in a Battle Royal. Typically, bipedal or semi-bipedal Pokémon with arm-like forelimbs tend to mimic the poses of their Trainer during the activation. On the other hand, quadrupeds and the like, whose forelimbs show no manual dexterity, tend to stay still and wait until the activation is completed before acting.
As revealed in A Battle Hand-Off!, a Pokémon using a Z-Move can receive Z-Power from multiple other people and Pokémon provided they do the Z-Move pose as well. The additional participants do not need a Z-Ring or Crystal to contribute. The Team Rocket trio exemplifies this, as usually whenever Jessie or James uses a Z-Move the entire team does the poses together. In Heart of Fire! Heart of Stone!, Brock helped Olivia and her Lycanroc use a variation of Continental Crush he named Continental Crush on You (Japanese: ワールズエンドフォーリンラブ World's End Fall in Love).
In Filling the Light with Darkness!, an Ultra Wormhole sucked away Ultra Aura from Alola, weakening everyone's Z-Moves to almost unusable levels until Necrozma had left the dimension. In Parallel Friendships!, Dia revealed that the use of Z-Moves had become impossible in the Ultra Ruin after the dimension's Tapu Koko left, indicating that a guardian deity's presence is necessary for the use of Z-Moves. However, this didn't stop Z-Moves from being used outside of Alola in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon and Pokémon Journeys: The Series. In All Out, All of the Time!, it was emphasized that a Trainer and their Pokémon's hearts must be in perfect sync in order for a Z-Move to properly succeed.
In A Plethora of Pikachu! Jessie discovered that if she continues to maintain the pose for a Z-Move, the Z-Move continues to stay at full power. This property was only used in this episode, for Let's Snuggle Forever.
Ash first performed a Z-Move in The Guardian's Challenge!, with his Pikachu using Gigavolt Havoc thanks to the Z-Ring and Electrium Z Ash had received from Tapu Koko. After using the attack, however, the Electrium Z shattered, preventing Ash from using the move again until he obtained a new Electrium Z in Trial and Tribulation!.
In the Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and Thai versions, when a Z-Move is used, the name of the specific move is shown, like in the games; however, the names are removed in most other dubs.
List of Z-Moves used in the animated series
Pokémon | Trainer/ Partner |
Z-Move | Pose | Image | Debut | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Turtonator | Kiawe | Inferno Overdrive | Alola to New Adventure! | |||
Pikachu | Ash | Gigavolt Havoc | The Guardian's Challenge! | |||
Hariyama | Hala | All-Out Pummeling | Trial and Tribulation! | |||
Pikachu | Ash | Breakneck Blitz | Trial and Tribulation! | |||
Rowlet | Ash | Breakneck Blitz | Young Kiawe Had a Farm! | |||
Rockruff | Ash | Breakneck Blitz | A Guardian Rematch! | |||
Lycanroc | Gladion | Continental Crush | A Glaring Rivalry! | |||
Snorlax | Oluolu | Pulverizing Pancake | Pulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper! | |||
Marshadow | None | Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike | I Choose You! | |||
Litten | Ash | Breakneck Blitz | Currying Favor and Flavor! | |||
Lycanroc | Olivia | Continental Crush | Trials and Determinations! | |||
Rowlet | Ash | Bloom Doom | Trials and Determinations! | |||
Lycanroc | Ash | Continental Crush | Mimikyu Unmasked! | |||
Brionne | Ida | Hydro Vortex | Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence! | |||
Popplio | Lana | Hydro Vortex | Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence! | |||
Nebby | Ash | Searing Sunraze Smash | Revealing the Stuff of Legend! | |||
Pikachu (Alola Cap) |
Ash | 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt | 10,000,000 Reasons to Fight! | |||
Incineroar | Professor Kukui/ The Masked Royal |
Malicious Moonsault | Pushing the Fiery Envelope! | |||
Eevee | Ilima | Extreme Evoboost | Turning Heads and Training Hard! | |||
Alolan Marowak | Kiawe | Inferno Overdrive | The Young Flame Strikes Back! | |||
Mareanie | James | Black Hole Eclipse | Why Not Give Me a Z-Ring Sometime? | |||
Mimikyu | Jessie | Let's Snuggle Forever | A Battle Hand-Off! | |||
Alolan Persian | Nanu | Black Hole Eclipse | Guiding an Awakening! | |||
Lycanroc | Ash | Splintered Stormshards | Twirling with a Bang! | |||
Silvally | Gladion | Breakneck Blitz | The Prism Between Light and Darkness! | |||
Lunala | Gladion | Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom | Securing the Future! | |||
Boss | Pikala | Catastropika | A Plethora of Pikachu! | |||
Zeraora | Dia | Gigavolt Havoc | Parallel Friendships! | |||
Lycanroc | Gladion | Devastating Drake | Showdown on Poni Island! | |||
Primarina | Ida | Oceanic Operetta | Evolving Research! | |||
Charizard | Kiawe | Supersonic Skystrike | Run, Heroes, Run! | |||
Mudsdale | Hapu | Tectonic Rage | A Grand Debut! | |||
Pikachu | Ash | Corkscrew Crash | The Dealer of Destruction! | |||
Primarina | Lana | Oceanic Operetta | A Fiery Training Camp Trick! | |||
Vikavolt | Sophocles | Savage Spin-Out | A Fiery Training Camp Trick! | |||
Torracat | Ash | Inferno Overdrive | A Timeless Encounter! | |||
Snowy | Lillie | Subzero Slammer | Chasing Memories, Creating Dreams! | |||
Tsareena | Mallow | Bloom Doom | Battling Besties! | |||
Decidueye | Hau | Sinister Arrow Raid | Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy! | |||
Zoroark | Gladion | Never-Ending Nightmare | Enter the Champion! | |||
Naganadel | The Masked Royal | Gigavolt Havoc | Z-Move Showdown! | |||
Incineroar | Professor Kukui | Inferno Overdrive | Fiery Surprises! | |||
Tapu Koko | Professor Kukui | Guardian of Alola | From Z to Shining Z! | |||
Charizard | Kiawe | Inferno Overdrive | Dreams of the Sun and Moon! | |||
Kommo-o | All-Out Brothers | Clangorous Soulblaze | All Out, All of the Time! | |||
Pikachu (World Cap) |
Ash | 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt | Ultra Exciting from the Shocking Start! |
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon arc
Z-Moves first appeared in this arc. Olivia had her Lycanroc use Continental Crush while Nanu had his Alolan Persian use Black Hole Eclipse during an exhibition match against each other. Hala stepped in to stop both Pokémon before either could successfully use their moves.
During his battle against Gladion in an Iki Town festival tournament, Sun inadvertently used a Z-Move with his Dollar, allowing it to defeat Gladion's Type: Null with an incomplete version of Inferno Overdrive. Due to not knowing how to use Z-Moves at the time, Sun received Z-Power from a nearby Ultra Wormhole instead of building it up with a pose. Later, he was taught how to properly perform Z-Moves by Kiawe in order to battle Gladion a second time. With his newly obtained Z-Ring, Sun and Dollar successfully used Inferno Overdrive properly.
At Mount Lanakila, Ilima, Lana, Kiawe, Mallow, Sophocles, Molayne, Mina, and Hapu were attacked by a group of Aether Foundation Employees and their Ultra Beasts. With the power of their barrage of Z-Moves, the Ultra Beasts were defeated one by one.
List of Z-Moves used
Pokémon | Trainer | Z-Move | Pose | Image | Debut | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dollar | Sun | Inferno Overdrive | The Final Match and a Surprising Finale! | |||
Dollar | Sun | Inferno Overdrive | A Photoshoot and the Abandoned Thrifty Megamart | |||
Gumshoos | Ilima | Breakneck Blitz | Destroy!! Results of the Training! | |||
Ribombee | Mina | Twinkle Tackle | Destroy!! Results of the Training! | |||
Araquanid | Lana | Hydro Vortex | Destroy!! Results of the Training! | |||
Mudsdale | Hapu | Tectonic Rage | Destroy!! Results of the Training! | |||
Alolan Dugtrio | Molayne | Corkscrew Crash | Destroy!! Results of the Training! | |||
Togedemaru | Sophocles | Gigavolt Havoc | Destroy!! Results of the Training! | |||
Alolan Marowak |
Kiawe | Inferno Overdrive | Destroy!! Results of the Training! | |||
Tsareena | Mallow | Bloom Doom | Destroy!! Results of the Training! |
Movie adaptations
Ash and his Pikachu performed the 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt Z-Move in ICYR1 during a battle against a Totem Kommo-o.
Marshadow and Ken performed the Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike Z-Move in ICYR2 in order to defeat Borosue.
Pokémon Horizon
Pokémon Journeys
Ash and his Pikachu performed the Z-Move, 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt in Ultra Exciting from the Shocking Start! & Trial on a Golden Scale! (Part 2) during a World Coronation Series battle against Volkner's Electivire.
Gallery
Artwork
Game art
Artwork of Gigavolt Havoc for Pokémon Sun and Moon | Artwork of Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike for Pokémon Sun and Moon |
Artwork for 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt for Pokémon Sun and Moon | Promotional artwork for Pokémon Center of Psyduck using a Z-Move |
Concept art
Concept art of Z-Moves and Z-Power for Pokémon Sun and Moon |
Trivia
- Internal data in the games also refer to Z-Move as ZenryokuWaza, which literally means "full-powered move".
- Roster -Behind the Scene- #2 GAME FREAK, a video focusing on the sound and music design of Sun and Moon, show cases an early build from 2015. In this build, another symbol is used rather than the usual Z-Power symbol used in the final version.
- Some animations and effects when using a Z-Move bear similarities to Spectacular Talent animations used in Pokémon Contest Spectaculars from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
- No NPC Trainer has a Pokémon holding a Z-Crystal for an exclusive Z-Move.
- No Pokémon with an exclusive Z-Move is capable of Mega Evolution.
- Electric and Ghost have the most Z-Moves out of any type, with both having four.
- Before the release of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Electric had the most amount of Z-Moves, with four.
- Overall, six Z-Moves haven't appeared in the animated series: Acid Downpour, Shattered Psyche, Twinkle Tackle, Stoked Sparksurfer, Genesis Supernova, and Light That Burns the Sky.
- Clangorous Soulblaze is the only Z-Move to have debuted outside of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon.
- Despite Z-Moves being unusable in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Iono briefly mentions 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, the exclusive move for Pikachu in a cap.[4]
- In Iono's dialogue, the Z-Move's name is misspelled as 10,000,000-volt Thunderbolt.
In other languages
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References
- ↑ Professor Kukui, Pokémon Sun and Moon:"Burnet and I are looking into them and we think they might have some connection to the energy that pours outta those Ultra Wormholes."
- ↑ Dulse, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon: "These...auras...must have been particularly strong at the trial locations. And the Z-Power for the Z-Moves... It is also similar to the auras of the Totem Pokémon. Both came to Alola as Necrozma's light!"
- ↑ トレーナーとポケモンが一体となって放つゼンリョクの攻撃「Zワザ」|『ポケットモンスター サン・ムーン』公式サイト
- ↑ Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: "You’re as flashy and bright as a 10,000,000-volt Thunderbolt, friendo!"
Related articles
Type-based Z-Moves | |
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Species-based Z-Moves | |
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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. |