Mega Drain
メガドレイン Mega Drain
Type  Grass
Category  Special
PP  15 (max. 24)
Power  40
Accuracy  100%
Priority  0
Range
Opponent Opponent Opponent
Self Ally Ally
Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Clever
Appeal  1
Jam  4 ♥♥♥♥
Badly startles the Pokémon in front.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  1
Earn +3 if two Pokémon raise the Voltage in a row.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jamming  3 ♥♥♥
Startles the last Pokémon to act before the user.

Mega Drain (Japanese: メガドレイン Mega Drain) is a damage-dealing Grass-type move introduced in Generation I. It is TM21 in Generation I and TM53 in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

It is the second in a line of three Grass-type HP draining attacks, the other two being Absorb and Giga Drain.

Effect

Generations I and II

Mega Drain inflicts damage, and up to 50% of the damage dealt to the target is restored to the user as HP (but not less than 1 HP), restoring up to the Pokémon's maximum HP. Mega Drain has 40 base power and 10 PP.

In the localized versions of the Generation I games, if Mega Drain breaks a substitute, no HP will be restored to the user. In the Japanese version of Generation I games, and all versions of the Pokémon Stadium series and Generation II games, Mega Drain will always miss if the target has a substitute.

Generation III

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

Mega Drain can be used as the second move of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining 1 bonus appeal point if Growth was used in the previous turn.

Mega Drain is no longer affected by King's Rock.

Generation IV

Mega Drain's base PP was increased to 15. 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 V

Mega Drain is now affected by King's Rock.

Generation VI

Mega Drain 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!, Mega Drain's power was changed from 40 to 75, while its PP was reduced back to 10. This makes it functionally identical to Giga Drain, a change likely implemented due to the latter move's absence from the game.

Generation VIII onwards

Mega Drain's power was changed back to 40, and its PP was changed back to 15.

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.
RSEColoXD An attack that absorbs half the damage inflicted.
FRLG A tough attack that drains half the damage it inflicted to restore HP.
DPPtHGSSPBR
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
SwShBDSPLA
A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by half the damage taken by the target.
SV A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by up to half the damage taken by the target.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0043 Oddish
Grass 21 21 21XY
19ORAS
19 22 12 12 12
0044 Gloom
Grass 23 23 23XY
19ORAS
19 27 12 12 12
0045 Vileplume
Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0048 Venonat
Bug 25
0049 Venomoth
Bug 25
0102 Exeggcute
Grass 15 15 15
0103 Exeggutor
Grass 1 1 1
0103 Exeggutor
Exeggutor
Alolan Form

Grass 1 1
0114 Tangela Grass 31 31 26 26BW
23B2W2
23 23 34 12 12
0140 Kabuto
Water 1
Water 3
46 49 36 36 36 36
0141 Kabutops
Water 1
Water 3
51 55 36 36 36 36
0182 Bellossom Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0187 Hoppip
Fairy
Grass
30 30 25 25 25 25 25 22
0188 Skiploom
Fairy
Grass
36 36 28 28 28 28 28 24
0189 Jumpluff
Fairy
Grass
44 44 28 29 29 29 29 24
0191 Sunkern Grass 10 13 5 5BW
10B2W2
10 10 10 10
0192 Sunflora Grass 5 5BW
10B2W2
10 10 10 10
0252 Treecko Monster
Dragon
26 26 26 26XY
13ORAS
13 9 9 9
0253 Grovyle Monster
Dragon
13ORAS 13 9 9 9
0254 Sceptile Monster
Dragon
13ORAS 13 5 5 5
0267 Beautifly
Bug 24 24 24 24XY
22ORAS
22 22
0270 Lotad
Water 1
Grass
43 19 19 19XY
18ORAS
18 12 12 12
0271 Lombre
Water 1
Grass
12 12 12
0272 Ludicolo
Water 1
Grass
1 1 1 1 1 1 Rem.
0273 Seedot Field
Grass
15 15 15
0274 Nuzleaf
Field
Grass
18 18 18
0275 Shiftry
Field
Grass
1 1 Rem.
0285 Shroomish Fairy
Grass
16 17 17 17XY
12ORAS
12 12 12
0286 Breloom
Fairy
Grass
16 17 17 17XY
12ORAS
12 12 12
0315 Roselia
Fairy
Grass
17 13 13 13 13 5 5
0345 Lileep
Water 3 20 20
0346 Cradily
Water 3 20 20
0387 Turtwig Monster
Grass
25 25 25 25 25 25
0388 Grotle Monster
Grass
27 27 27 27 27 27
0389 Torterra
Monster
Grass
27 27 27 27 27 27
0406 Budew
No Eggs Discovered 13 13 13 13
0407 Roserade
Fairy
Grass
1 1 1 1 1 1
0465 Tangrowth Grass 26 26BW
23B2W2
23 23 12 12
0495 Snivy Field
Grass
22 22 22 22
0496 Servine Field
Grass
24 24 24 24
0497 Serperior Field
Grass
24 24 24 24
0546 Cottonee
Grass
Fairy
13 13 13 12 12
0547 Whimsicott
Grass
Fairy
1 1 1 1 1
0548 Petilil Grass 13 13 13 9 9
0549 Lilligant Grass 1 1 1 1 1
0549 Lilligant
Lilligant
Hisuian Form

Grass 1
0556 Maractus Grass 13 13 13 8
0590 Foongus
Grass 15 15 15 12 12
0591 Amoonguss
Grass 15 15 15 12 12
0616 Shelmet Bug 20 20 20 12
0617 Accelgor Bug 20 20 20 12
0755 Morelull
Grass 15 12
0756 Shiinotic
Grass 15 12
0769 Sandygast
Amorphous 18 15 15
0770 Palossand
Amorphous 18 15 15
0781 Dhelmise
Mineral 5 12
0787 Tapu Bulu
No Eggs Discovered 20
0797 Celesteela
No Eggs Discovered 13 15
0854 Sinistea
Sinistea
All forms
Mineral
Amorphous
12 12
0855 Polteageist
Polteageist
All forms
Mineral
Amorphous
1 1
0898 Calyrex
Calyrex
All forms

No Eggs Discovered 1 1
0928 Smoliv
Grass 20
0929 Dolliv
Grass 20
0930 Arboliva
Grass 20
0946 Bramblin
Grass 25
0947 Brambleghast
Grass 25
0948 Toedscool
Grass 16
0949 Toedscruel
Grass 16
0986 Brute Bonnet
No Eggs Discovered 14
1001 Wo-Chien
No Eggs Discovered 20
1012 Poltchageist
Poltchageist
All forms

Mineral
Amorphous
24
1013 Sinistcha
Sinistcha
All forms

Mineral
Amorphous
24
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By breeding

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Egg Move
0102 Exeggcute
Grass
0114 Tangela Grass
0140 Kabuto
Water 1
Water 3
0345 Lileep
Water 3
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By TM

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Compatibility
0001 Bulbasaur
Monster
Grass
0002 Ivysaur
Monster
Grass
0003 Venusaur
Monster
Grass
0012 Butterfree
Bug
0015 Beedrill
Bug
0023 Ekans Field
Dragon
0024 Arbok Field
Dragon
0041 Zubat
Flying
0042 Golbat
Flying
0043 Oddish
Grass
0044 Gloom
Grass
0045 Vileplume
Grass
0046 Paras
Bug
Grass
0047 Parasect
Bug
Grass
0048 Venonat
Bug
0049 Venomoth
Bug
0069 Bellsprout
Grass
0070 Weepinbell
Grass
0071 Victreebel
Grass
0072 Tentacool
Water 3
0073 Tentacruel
Water 3
0088 Grimer Amorphous
0088 Grimer
Grimer
Alolan Form

Amorphous
0089 Muk Amorphous
0089 Muk
Muk
Alolan Form

Amorphous
0092 Gastly
Amorphous
0093 Haunter
Amorphous
0094 Gengar
Amorphous
0102 Exeggcute
Grass
0103 Exeggutor
Grass
0103 Exeggutor
Exeggutor
Alolan Form

Grass
0114 Tangela Grass
0140 Kabuto
Water 1
Water 3
0141 Kabutops
Water 1
Water 3
0151 Mew No Eggs Discovered
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Mega Drain inflicts damage and up to 50% of the damage dealt to the target is restored to the user as HP, including excess damage. In Adventure Squad only, the move heals by 20% of dealt damage instead. In Gates to Infinity only, the user will heal based on how much HP the target lost, and excess damage is not accounted for.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB 8 - 17 - 88% - Front Enemy No
MDTDS 8 - 17 - 88% - Front Enemy No
BSL 8 - 17 - 88% - Front Enemy No
MDGtI 4 99 15 50 95% 98% Front Enemy No
SMD 4 99 15 30 95% 98% Front Enemy No
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Pokémon Conquest

 
>
 
Stars: ★★
Power: 26
Accuracy: 100%
Effect: Restores the user's HP by half the damage taken by the target.
Users: Petilil
Grid assumes the user is in the square marked by > facing to the right, to act as their origin point.
A blue square indicates the user's position after performing the move, if the move changes their positioning at all.
Orange squares indicate spaces that are hit.
Red squares indicate the knockback on hit Pokémon.

Pokémon GO

 Mega Drain
Charged Attack
Gyms & Raids
Power 25
Energy cost 50
Duration 2.6 seconds
Damage window 0.95 - 2 seconds
Trainer Battles
Power 25
Energy cost 55
Secondary effect ?
Effect chance ?%
Max Battles
Power Level 1: 250
Level 2: 300
Level 3: 350
Eligible Pokémon:
Standard eligibility
By Elite Charged TM
By GO Snapshot
As Shadow Pokémon
As Purified Pokémon
Formerly eligible
None

Pokémon Rumble Rush

Mega Drain
★★
Attack power 39.7343
Charge time 0.76 seconds
Range type Arc (wide)
Number of hits 1
Number of projectiles 1
Critical hit rate 1.5%
Additional effect Drains HP

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 animation

Pokémon animated series


Golbat

Budew

Roserade

Morelull
The user drains a good portion of the opponent's energy to regain stamina.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Golbat Golbat's eyes glow yellow and it bites the opponent, draining their energy.
Mandi's Golbat Round One - Begin! Debut
Budew The bud on Budew's head glows white, and it shoots a dark green vortex from its bud at the opponent. The vortex traps the opponent inside and drains its energy. As the energy is being drained, the beam's color changes to red. Then, the vortex releases the opponent and returns to Budew, whose body glows golden as all of its injuries disappear.
Nando's Budew Dawn of a New Era! None
Roserade Roserade sticks out its arms and releases a green beam from the flowers on its hands at the opponent.
Drew's Roserade A Full Course Tag Battle! None
Morelull Morelull attaches its roots to the opponent. The roots glow green, draining the opponent's energy.
A wild Morelull Lulled to La-La Land! None

In the manga

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!

In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 超級吸取 Chīukāp Kāpchéui *
百萬噸吸收 Baakmaahn-dēun Kāpsāu *
超級吸收 Chīukāp Kāpsāu *
Mandarin 超級吸取 / 超级吸取 Chāojí Xīqǔ *
百萬噸吸收 / 百万吨吸收 Bǎiwàn-dùn Xīshōu *
Czech Mega sání
Dutch Mega Drain
Finnish Megapoisto
French Méga-SangsueIV+
Mega-SangsueIIII
German Megasauger
Greek Απομίζηση
Hindi मेगा ड्रेन Mega Drain *
बड़ी नाली Badi Naali
Indonesian Mega Drain
Italian MegassorbimentoIV+
Megassorb.IIII
Korean 메가드레인 Megadeurein
Polish Megaodpływ
Portuguese Brazil Megadreno (games, animated series, TCG, PS496)
Mega Dreno (PS073)
Portugal Megadreno
Romanian Curățenia Completă
Russian Мегаосушение Megaosusheniye
Serbian Mega isisavanje
Spanish Latin America Megadrenado
Spain MegaagotarIII+
Mega AgotarIII
Swedish Vattenattack*
Megasug*
Thai เมก้าเดรน Mega Drain
Turkish Mega Emiş*
Mega Boşaltma
Vietnamese Hút Năng Lượng
Generation I TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation I HMs
0102030405
Generation VII TMs
SMUSUM
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920
2122232425262728293031323334353637383940
4142434445464748495051525354555657585960
6162636465666768697071727374757677787980
81828384858687888990919293949596979899100
PE
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920
2122232425262728293031323334353637383940
4142434445464748495051525354555657585960
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.