Absorb (move)

Absorb すいとる Absorb

Battles Type  Grass Category  Special PP  25 (max. 40) Power  20 Accuracy  100% Priority  {{{priority}}} Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Target Foe Foe Foe Self Ally Ally May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation I Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  3 ♥♥♥ Startles the Pokémon that appealed before the user.

Super Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  1 ♥ Earn +3 if two Pokémon raise the Voltage in a row.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Clever Appeal  4 ♥♥♥♥ Jamming  0   Quite an appealing move.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII

Absorb (Japanese: すいとる Absorb) is a damage-dealing Grass-type move introduced in Generation I. Absorb is the first in a line of three Grass-type HP-draining attacks, the other two being Mega Drain and Giga Drain.

Effect

Generations I and II

Absorb inflicts damage, and up to 50% of the damage dealt to the target is restored to the user as HP. If this attack deals 1 HP of damage, 1 HP will be restored to the user.

If Absorb breaks a substitute, no HP will be restored to the user. If HP is restored to the user when its current HP would be greater than its maximum HP, its current HP will be set equal to its maximum HP. Absorb has 20 PP.

In the Japanese version of Generation I games, Pokémon Stadium series and Generation II games, Absorb will always miss if the target has a substitute.

Generation III

Absorb will now properly heal the user when damaging a substitute, even if it was broken. When used on a Pokémon with the Liquid Ooze Ability, the user will lose the amount of HP it would have gained instead.

Absorb can also be used as part of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining extra two appeal points if the move Growth was used in the prior turn.

Generations IV and V

Absorb's PP is increased to 25. If the user is holding a Big Root, the HP restored is increased by 30% (making the restored HP 65% of the damage dealt). Big Root does not increase the damage dealt.

Generation VI

Absorb cannot be used if the user is under the effects of Heal Block.

Generation VII

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Absorb's power was changed from 20 to 40, while its PP was reduced to 15.

Generation VIII

Absorb's power was changed back to 20, and its PP back to 25.

Description

Games Description StadStad2 A Grass-type attack. It adds half the HP it drained from the target to the attacker's HP. GSC Steals 1/2 of the damage inflicted. RSEColo.XD An attack that absorbs half the damage inflicted. FRLG An attack that absorbs half the damage it inflicted to restore HP. DPPtHGSSPBR BWB2W2 XYORAS SMUSUMPE SwSh A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by half the damage taken by the target.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
041		Zubat		Flying		Flying							1	1
042		Golbat		Flying		Flying							1	1
043		Oddish		Grass		Grass	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
044		Gloom		Grass		Grass	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
045		Vileplume		Grass		Grass		1	1				1PE	1
046		Paras		Bug	Grass							11SMUSUM 9PE
047		Parasect		Bug	Grass							1, 11SMUSUM 9PE
102		Exeggcute		Grass		Grass								1
103		Exeggutor		Grass		Grass								1
103		Exeggutor Alolan Form		Grass		Grass								1
114		Tangela		Grass		Grass	29RGB 27Y	10	10	8	8BW 10B2W2	10	10SMUSUM 1PE	1
140		Kabuto		Water 1	Water 3	34	10	13	6	6	6	6SMUSUM 18PE	1
141		Kabutops		Water 1	Water 3	1, 34	1, 10	1, 13	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6SMUSUM 1, 18PE	1
167		Spinarak		Bug		Bug							5
168		Ariados		Bug		Bug							1, 5
169		Crobat		Flying		Flying							1	1
182		Bellossom		Grass		Grass		1	1					1
187		Hoppip		Fairy	Grass							1USUM
188		Skiploom		Fairy	Grass							1USUM
189		Jumpluff		Fairy	Grass							1USUM
191		Sunkern		Grass		Grass		1	1	1	1	1	1
192		Sunflora		Grass		Grass		1	1	1	1	1	1
252		Treecko		Monster	Dragon			6	6	6	6XY 5ORAS	5
253		Grovyle		Monster	Dragon			1, 6	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6XY 1, 5ORAS	1, 5
254		Sceptile		Monster	Dragon			1, 6	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6XY 1, 5ORAS	1, 5
267		Beautifly		Bug		Bug			1, 10	1, 10	1, 10	1, 10XY 12ORAS	12
270		Lotad		Water 1	Grass			7	5	5	5XY 6ORAS	6	3
271		Lombre		Water 1	Grass			7	5	5	5XY 6ORAS	6	1
272		Ludicolo		Water 1	Grass			1					1
273		Seedot		Field	Grass								3
274		Nuzleaf		Field	Grass								1
275		Shiftry		Field	Grass								1
285		Shroomish		Fairy	Grass			1	1	1	1	1
286		Breloom		Fairy	Grass			1	1	1	1	1
290		Nincada		Bug		Bug							5	21
291		Ninjask		Bug		Bug							1, 5	23
292		Shedinja		Mineral		Mineral							1, 5	23
315		Roselia		Fairy	Grass			1	1	1	1	1	1
331		Cacnea		Grass	Human-Like			5	5	5	5XY 4ORAS	4
332		Cacturne		Grass	Human-Like			1, 5	1, 5	1, 5	1, 5XY 1, 4ORAS	1, 4
387		Turtwig		Monster	Grass				9	9	9	9
388		Grotle		Monster	Grass				9	9	9	1, 9
389		Torterra		Monster	Grass				1, 9	1, 9	1, 9	1, 9
402		Kricketune		Bug		Bug							14
406		Budew		Undiscovered		Undiscovered				1	1	1	1	1
407		Roserade		Fairy	Grass								1
465		Tangrowth		Grass		Grass				8	8BW 10B2W2	10	10	1
546		Cottonee		Grass	Fairy					1	1	1	1
547		Whimsicott		Grass	Fairy								1
548		Petilil		Grass		Grass					1	1	1	1
549		Lilligant		Grass		Grass								1
556		Maractus		Grass		Grass					1	1	1	1
590		Foongus		Grass		Grass					1	1	1	1
591		Amoonguss		Grass		Grass					1	1	1	1
592		Frillish		Amorphous		Amorphous					5	5	5	1
593		Jellicent		Amorphous		Amorphous					1, 5	1, 5	1, 5	1
595		Joltik		Bug		Bug							1	1
596		Galvantula		Bug		Bug							1	1
616		Shelmet		Bug		Bug							1	1
617		Accelgor		Bug		Bug							1	1
636		Larvesta		Bug		Bug							10
637		Volcarona		Bug		Bug							1, 10
704		Goomy		Dragon		Dragon						5	5	1
705		Sliggoo		Dragon		Dragon						5	1, 5	1
706		Goodra		Dragon		Dragon						5	1, 5	1
714		Noibat		Flying	Dragon							5	1
715		Noivern		Flying	Dragon							1, 5	1
742		Cutiefly		Bug	Fairy							1	1
743		Ribombee		Bug	Fairy							1	1
755		Morelull		Grass		Grass							1	1
756		Shiinotic		Grass		Grass							1	1
769		Sandygast		Amorphous		Amorphous							1	1
770		Palossand		Amorphous		Amorphous							1	1
781		Dhelmise		Mineral		Mineral							1	1
797		Celesteela		Undiscovered		Undiscovered							1	1
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
252		Treecko		Monster	Dragon							✔
636		Larvesta		Bug		Bug							✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By event

Generation II

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
231		Phanpy		Field		Field	New York City Pokémon Center
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

In other games

Pokémon Conquest

	>

Stars: ★ Power: 20 Accuracy: 100%

Effect: It heals the attacking Pokémon of 50% of the damage inflicted. If the Pokémon has a 100% link with their Warrior, it heals 66% of the damage inflicted.

Users:

Grid assumes the user is in the square marked by > facing to the right.
Orange squares indicate spaces that are hit.
Red squares indicate the knockback on hit Pokémon.
A blue square indicates the user's position after performing the move.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Absorb is a move with 1 base power, 88% accuracy, and 18 PP. The user attacks enemy in the front, and up to 50% of the damage dealt to the target is restored to the user as HP, including excess damage. The move is affected by Muzzle status condition.

In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the move's PP was decreased to 15.

In Gates to Infinity, the user will heal based on how much HP the target lost, with excess damage not being accounted for. This is changed back to what it previously was in Super Mystery Dungeon.

Description

Games Description MDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It also restores the user's HP based on the damage it inflicted. MDTDS Inflicts damage on the target, then restores the user's HP based on the damage inflicted. BSL てきポケモンに ダメージをあたえる あたえたダメージに おうじて じぶんの ＨＰが かいふくする Conq. A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by half the damage taken by the target. MDGtI SMD MDRTDX It damages an enemy. It also restores your HP. The greater the damage it causes, the more HP it restores.

In the anime

Tangrowth	Bellsprout	Shroomish
A nutrient-draining attack that absorbs the opponent's energy and adds it to the user.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
Tangrowth	Tangrowth holds out its arms and fires two red beams from them at the opponent. When the opponent is hit, its body glows red and it drains its energy. Sometimes, the red parts of its hands glow red before it fires the beams.
A wild Tangrowth	Promoting Healthy Tangrowth!		Debut
Shroomish	Shroomish releases a red beam from the hole on its head at the opponent. When hit, the opponent's body glows red and it absorbs its energy.
A wild Shroomish	Promoting Healthy Tangrowth!		None
Bellsprout	Bellsprout releases two red beams from the leaves on the side of its body at the opponent. When it hits it, the opponent's body glows red and it absorbs its energy.
A wild Bellsprout	Promoting Healthy Tangrowth!		Bellsprout cannot legally learn Absorb

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

	Tangela	Breloom
The user absorbs the opponent's energy and adds it to its own.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Tangela	Tangela sticks the end of its vines into the opponent's body and absorbs its energy.
Erika's Angela	Striking Golduck		Debut
Breloom	Breloom attacks the opponenet with its arm.
A wild Breloom	Brushing Past Breloom		None

• Diamond's Turtwig, Tru, was revealed to know Absorb on the official web site, but he was never shown using the move.

In the Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master manga

	Treecko
The user absorbs the opponent's energy.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Treecko	Treecko absorbs the opponent's energy.
Ryū's Treecko	ABM02		Debut

In the Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King manga

	Budew
The user absorbs the opponent's energy.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Budew	Budew absorbs the opponent's energy.
A wild Budew	PBK1		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 吸取 Kāpchéui * 吸收 Kāpsāu * Mandarin 吸取 Xīqǔ * 吸收 Xīshōu * Czech Vstřebání Danish Opsuge Dutch Absorbeer French Vole-Vie* Vol-Vie* German Absorber Greek Απορρόφηση Aporrófisi Italian Assorbimento Korean 흡수 Heubsu Polish Absorpcja Portuguese Brazil Absorção (games, TCG, manga) Absorver (The Official Pokémon Handbook) Portugal Absorver Romanian Absorbirea Serbian Apsorpcija Spanish Absorber Thai ดูดซับ Turkish Emiş Vietnamese Hấp Thụ

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.