Poison Tail (move)

Poison Tail ポイズンテール Poison Tail

Battles Type  Poison Category  Physical PP  25 (max. 40) Power  50 Accuracy  100% Priority  0 Makes contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation III TM026 in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ Jam  0   Worsens the condition of those that made appeals.

Super Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Earn +2 if the Judge's Voltage goes up.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Clever Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ Jamming  0   Brings down the energy of any Pokémon that have already used a move this turn.

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

Poison Tail (Japanese: ポイズンテール Poison Tail) is a damage-dealing Poison-type move introduced in Generation III. Prior to Generation V, it was the signature move of Seviper, but other Pokémon could still inherit it via breeding. It is TM026 in Generation IX.

Effect

Poison Tail deals damage and has an increased critical hit ratio. It has a 10% chance of poisoning the target.

Poison Tail can also be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, with the user gaining extra three appeal points if the move Focus Energy was used in the prior turn.

Description

Games Description RSEColoXD Has a high critical-hit ratio. May also poison. FRLG An attack with a high critical-hit ratio. It may also poison the foe. DPPtHGSSPBR An attack with a high critical-hit ratio. This tail attack may also poison the foe. BWB2W2 The user hits the target with its tail. It may also poison the target. Critical hits land more easily. XYORAS SMUSUMPE SwShBDSPLA The user hits the target with its tail. This may also poison the target. Critical hits land more easily. SV The user hits the target with its tail. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit and may also poison the target.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII		IX
										SMUSUM	SwSh	BDSP	SV
0194		Wooper Paldean Form		Water 1	Field								8
0207		Gligar		Bug		Bug	−	−	−	−	−		−	19
0336		Seviper		Field	Dragon	16	16	16BW 12B2W2	12XY 10ORAS	9		9	9
0543		Venipede		Bug		Bug			19	19	19	12
0544		Whirlipede		Bug		Bug			19	19	19	12
0545		Scolipede		Bug		Bug			19	19	19	12
0690		Skrelp		Water 1	Dragon				23	23	25		25
0691		Dragalge		Water 1	Dragon				23	23	25		25
0706		Goodra		Dragon		Dragon				−	−	1		1
0890		Eternatus		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered						1		1
0980		Clodsire		Water 1	Field								12
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
						IX
						SV TM026
0023		Ekans		Field	Dragon	✔
0024		Arbok		Field	Dragon	✔
0151		Mew		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0194		Wooper Paldean Form		Water 1	Field	✔
0206		Dunsparce		Field		Field	✔
0207		Gligar		Bug		Bug	✔
0211		Qwilfish		Water 2		Water 2	✔
0211		Qwilfish Hisuian Form		Water 2		Water 2	✔
0215		Sneasel Hisuian Form		Field		Field	✔
0336		Seviper		Field	Dragon	✔
0434		Stunky		Field		Field	✔
0435		Skuntank		Field		Field	✔
0472		Gliscor		Bug		Bug	✔
0690		Skrelp		Water 1	Dragon	✔
0691		Dragalge		Water 1	Dragon	✔
0706		Goodra		Dragon		Dragon	✔
0757		Salandit		Monster	Dragon	✔
0758		Salazzle		Monster	Dragon	✔
0843		Silicobra		Field	Dragon	✔
0844		Sandaconda		Field	Dragon	✔
0849		Toxtricity All forms		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0890		Eternatus		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0903		Sneasler		Field		Field	✔
0904		Overqwil		Water 2		Water 2	✔
0945		Grafaiai		Field		Field	✔
0980		Clodsire		Water 1	Field	✔
0982		Dudunsparce All forms		Field		Field	✔
1014		Okidogi		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
1016		Fezandipiti		No Eggs Discovered		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.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Egg Move
						IV	V	VI	VII	VIII		IX
									SMUSUM	SwSh	BDSP	SV
0023		Ekans		Field	Dragon	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔
0029		Nidoran♀		Monster	Field	−	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0032		Nidoran♂		Monster	Field	−	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0207		Gligar		Bug		Bug	−	✔	✔	✔		✔	−
0451		Skorupi		Bug	Water 3	−	✔	✔	✔	−	✔
0621		Druddigon		Dragon	Monster		✔	✔	✔	✔
0704		Goomy		Dragon		Dragon			✔	✔	−		−
0843		Silicobra		Field	Dragon					✔		✔
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.

Special move

Generation IX

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0024		Arbok		Field	Dragon	Wild Tera Pokémon - Mossfell ConfluenceSVTM
0206		Dunsparce		Field		Field	Wild Tera Pokémon - South Province (Area Three)SV
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

Poison Tail inflicts damage and may leave the target poisoned. The move has increased critical-hit ratio (50% in the Rescue Team series, 30% in the Explorers series).

Game Base Power Max Power Base PP Max PP Base Accuracy Max Accuracy Range Target Cuts corners MDRB 10 - 17 - 88% - Front Enemy No MDTDS 10 - 15 - 88% - Front Enemy No BSL 10 - 15 - 88% - Front Enemy No MDGtI 5 99 18 50 95% 98% Front Enemy No SMD 5 99 18 40 95% 98% Front Enemy No With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games: MD Rescue Team = Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald. MD Time and Darkness = Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. MD Sky = Pokémon Platinum. MD Adventure Squad = ??. MD Gates to Infinity = Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Super Mystery Dungeon = Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. MD Rescue Team DX = Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Pokémon Conquest

	>

Stars: ★★ Power: 29 Accuracy: 100%

Effect: Has a 10% chance of poisoning each target and an increased critical hit ratio.

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 Masters EX

Name	Category	Move gauge cost	MP (uses)	Base power	Max power	Accuracy	Target	Effect tag	Description	Playable sync pair(s)
Poison Tail	Physical	2	—	38	45	100%	An opponent	—	Critical hits land more easily. Has a chance (10%) of leaving the target poisoned.	Roxie & Whirlipede/Scolipede Giovanni & Nidorino Scottie/Bettie & Ekans/ArbokEgg (Strike/support roles only) Scottie/Bettie & Nidoran♀/Nidorina/NidoqueenEgg (Strike/support roles only)

• Description prior to version 2.10.0 (from June 28, 2021): Critical hits land more easily. Has a very small chance of leaving the target poisoned.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

Poison Tail

★★★
Attack power	57.15929
Charge time	0.98 seconds
Range type	Dash
Number of hits	1
Number of projectiles	1
Critical hit rate	3%
Additional effect	May poison the foe

Description

Games Description MDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It may also leave the target poisoned. It has a high critical-hit rate. MDTDS Inflicts damage on the target. It may also afflict the targeted enemy with a Poisoned status condition, which causes periodic damage. It has a high critical-hit rate. BSL てきポケモンに ダメージをあたえる しかも いっていのかくりつで どくじょうたいにかえる きゅうしょにあたりやすい Conq. An attack with a high critical-hit ratio. This tail attack may also poison the target. MDGtI It damages an enemy. It could also cause the Poisoned status condition. With the Poisoned status, the enemy keeps taking damage and can't restore its HP naturally. SMD It could make an enemy poisoned. It has a high critical-hit rate.* It damages an enemy. It could also make the enemy poisoned. It has a high critical-hit rate.*

In animation

Pokémon animated series

Seviper Sean's father's Scolipede Scolipede
Part of the user's tail glows purple and it then hits the opponent with it. This may also poison the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	The dagger part of Seviper's tail glows purple and Seviper hits the opponent with it. On occasion, this will poison the opponent.
Jessie's Seviper	A Tail with a Twist		Debut
Lucy's Seviper	Queen of the Serpentine!		None
	Scolipede's tails glow purple and Scolipede hits the opponent with them.
Sean's father's Scolipede	Battling the Bully!		None
A wild Scolipede	Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!		None

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Seviper
The user stabs the opponent with its poisonous tail.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Seviper stabs the opponent with the tip of its tail.
Lucy's Seviper	Swanky Showdown with Swalot		Debut

Pokémon Battle Frontier

Seviper
The user attacks the opponent with its poisonous tail.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Seviper jabs the opponent with its tail.
Lucy's Seviper	The Predestined Battle!		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	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	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	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	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	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	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	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	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

Trivia

• Goomy and Sliggoo cannot learn Poison Tail through TM in Generation IX, despite learning it through breeding in Generations VI and VII.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 毒尾 Duhkméih Mandarin 毒尾 Dúwěi Dutch Gifstaart Finnish Myrkkyhäntä French Queue-Poison German Giftschweif Greek Δηλητηριώδης Ουρά Hindi ज़हरीली पूँछ Zehreeli Poonch Indonesian Ekor Beracun Italian Velenocoda Korean 포이즌테일 Poijeunteil Polish Trujący Ogon Portuguese Cauda Venenosa Romanian Coada Otrăvitoare Serbian Otrovni Rep Spanish Latin America Cola Venenosa Spain Cola Veneno Turkish Zehirli Kuyruk Vietnamese Đuôi Độc

Variations of the move Karate Chop
Karate Chop • Poison Tail

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.