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Substitute (move) - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokmon encyclopedia

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

If you were looking for the the doll produced by the move Substitute, see Substitute (doll).

Substitute (Japanese: みがわり Substitute) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I.

It is:

It was Mr. Mime's signature move in Generation II.

Effect

Main article: Substitute doll → Effect

This move creates a substitute at the cost of 25% of the user's maximum HP (rounded up). The created substitute has 1/4 of the user's maximum HP.

The move fails if the user already has a substitute or if losing the required HP would cause the user to faint. By extension, Substitute will fail if used by Shedinja (who only has 1 HP).

Snatch will steal the effect of Substitute when it is used.

Generation VI onwards

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Substitute, all of the user's lowered stats are reset.

Unaffected moves

151Mew.pngThis move effect may be in need of research.
Reason:
  • Confirm if Roar/Whirlwind are blocked in Gen I
  • Confirm Supersonic in Gen V
  • Confirm if Mimic is blocked from Gen III onwards
  • Which moves are unaffected in Generation VIII and IX?
    You can discuss this on the talk page.

Since Generation VI, a Pokémon with Infiltrator can ignore a substitute with any move except Transform or Sky Drop.

Different moves are able to ignore Substitute and Shed Tail in each generation. Moves marked with a ✓ in the following table can affect a Pokémon regardless of its substitute. (This applies to moves used by one Pokémon against another with a substitute; if a Pokémon with a substitute uses a move that affects itself, it receives the move's effect normally.)

  • ↑ Acupressure will fail even if used by the user.
  • ↑ Swagger only raises the target's Attack; they are not confused.

    • Description

    GamesDescription
    StadStad2Uses 1/4 of the user's maximum HP to create a substitute that takes the opponent's attacks.
    GSCMakes a decoy with 1/4 user's max HP.
    RSEColoXDCreates a decoy using 1/4 of the user's maximum HP.
    FRLGThe user creates a decoy using one-quarter of its full HP.
    DPPtHGSSPBR
    BWB2W2
    XYORAS
    SMUSUMPE    		The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP. The copy serves as the user's decoy.
    SwShBDSPLAThe user creates a substitute for itself using some of its HP. The substitute serves as the user's decoy.
    SVThe user creates a substitute for itself using some of its own HP. The substitute serves as the user's decoy.

    Learnset

    By leveling up

    By TM/TR/Move Tutor

    By breeding

    By event

    Generation II

    In other games

    Greninja using Substitute

    Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

    In the Rescue Team, Explorers and Adventure Squad series, Substitute targets the Pokémon in front of them, ally or enemy, and inflicts the Decoy status condition on them. The Pokémon with this status will be preferentially attacked by allies and enemies. The status lasts for 21-50 turns. This move is affected by Snatch.

    From Gates to Infinity, Substitute instead causes the Substitute status by cutting the user's HP in half. The user will not be targeted by enemies, but the user cannot use moves or items, and cannot restore its HP naturally. If the user is attacked by a move (such as Earthquake which affects the whole room), Substitute will not protect the user from damage. The status lasts 11 turns.

    Super Smash Bros. series

    Substitute is Greninja's down special. The substitute doll it summons resembles those from the core series games, though it can also summon a log. The move functions as a counter, attacking opponents who hit Greninja while it is posing.

    There is a trophy of the substitute doll in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

    Trophy information

    If it looks like a Pokémon and it gets attacked like a Pokémon, it's probably a- Oh, no, it could also be a Substitute Doll. This cute plush figure appears out of nowhere when a Pokémon uses the move Substitute. Is that a smile on its face or a grimace of determination? Only the doll knows, and it's not telling.

    Pokkén Tournament

    Substitute is the move used by Whimsicott when called as a Support Pokémon. It conjures up a set of three substitute dolls that rotate around the Battle Pokémon, blocking incoming projectile attacks.[1] It also restores a little of the Battle Pokémon's HP.

    Pokémon UNITE

    In Pokémon UNITE, Substitute is Greninja's second move as Froakie. The user dashes while leaving behind a targetable decoy. The user is unstoppable while dashing. After evolving into Frogadier at level 5, this move is replaced by either Double Team or Smokescreen.

    Substitute Dolls appear on their own as part of the Practice Area mode.

    Description

    GamesDescription
    MDRBThe target gains the Decoy status, making it the target of its fellow Pokémon.
    MDTD*Afflicts the targeted enemy with a Decoy status condition. A Pokémon with the Decoy status becomes a decoy that is seen as an enemy by its allies and can draw their attacks.
    MDTD*
    MDS    		Afflicts the targeted Pokémon with a Decoy status condition. A Pokémon with the Decoy status is viewed as a foe by its allies. It also becomes likely to draw the attention of foes.
    BSLポケモンを みがわりじょうたいにかえる みがわりじょうたいになると ねらわれやすくなったり なかまから こうげきされたりする
    MDGtIYou will get the Substitute status, but every time you use this move, your HP decreases. With the Substitute status, you won't be targeted by enemies, but you can't use moves or items, nor restore your HP naturally.
    SMDYou create a decoy using your HP. You won't be targeted, but you can't use moves or items.*
    You'll create a substitute, but every time you use this move, your HP decreases. When you create a substitute, you won't be targeted by enemies, but you can't use moves or items, nor can you restore your HP naturally.*
    Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii UDeceive with a substitute, and then counter an attack.*
    Pokkén TournamentTemporarily protects against some long-range attacks.
    Also recovers a small amount of HP.

    In the anime

    In the manga

    Phantom Thief Pokémon 7

    Pokémon Adventures

    Pokémon Battle Frontier

    In other generations

    Core series games

    Side series games

    Spin-off series games

    Trivia

    • Shedinja can learn Substitute despite being incapable of using it, as its HP is too low to create a substitute.
      • However, in the Mystery Dungeon series, it is able to use the move, due to being able to possess more than 1 HP.
    • This move plays its animation even if the battle animations are turned off.
    • In Generation I games, if the player used Substitute, then looked at the stats of a Pokémon in their party and then exited the menu, the opponent's Pokémon sprite would change to a glitchy version of the Pokémon that was just viewed.
    • In Generation VII, Substitute is the only TM that can be learned by all Pokémon that can learn TMs, except Pokémon that can only learn moves via TM that they can also learn by other means.

    In other languages

    References

    External links

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