Substitute (move)

Substitute
みがわり Scapegoat
Substitute.png
[[File:|center]]
Type  Normal
Category  Status
PP  10 (max. 16)
Power  —
Accuracy  —%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
  • Does not make contact
  • Not affected by Protect
  • Not affected by Magic Coat
  • Affected by Snatch
  • Not affected by King's Rock
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
Affects the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  0  
Can avoid being startled by others once.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  1
Earn +3 if the Pokémon gets the lowest score.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  0  
Jamming  0  

Substitute (Japanese: みがわり Scapegoat) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM50 in Generation I before losing its TM status in Generation II. It regained its TM status, albeit as TM90, in Generation IV onwards.

Effect

Generation I

Using 25% of its maximum HP, the user creates a substitute with 1 HP more than the amount of HP lost by the user. If the user's maximum HP is 3 or less, it will not lose any HP when the substitute is made. A substitute will have the same current type(s) and current stats of the Pokémon that created it.

Once created, all stat modifying attacks and side effects of attacks used by the opponent against the user will fail, though all current stat modifiers will remain in effect and any stat modifiers used by the user will also be applied to the substitute. The substitute will break when the damage the substitute has taken is greater than the HP used to make it. Until it breaks, a substitute will absorb all damage done by the opponent (even if the damage done exceeds the remaining HP of the substitute), but will not reduce the actual amount of damage that the opponent's attacks do. A one-hit KO move, if it hits, will always break a substitute.

Substitute will not protect the user from self-inflicted status ailments, but it will protect it from any status ailment generated by an opponent move and damage due to those status ailments.

Substitute will not alter the execution of Bide, Counter, Disable, Haze, Leech Seed, Super Fang, Transform, or partial trapping moves, and it will not absorb crash damage, recoil damage, or recurrent damage. However, a substitute will absorb self-inflicted confusion damage and prevent the user from flinching.

If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Hyper Beam, it will not need to recharge. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Explosion or Selfdestruct, it will not faint, though its picture will no longer be visible until it switches out or uses Substitute. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a recoil move, it will not take any recoil damage. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a draining move, no HP will be restored to it. Note that in each of these cases, the substitute has to be broken, not merely damaged, by the referenced attack.

If the user's current HP is less than 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to make a substitute. If the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will faint upon creating the Substitute.

In Stadium, Substitute will protect the user from Absorb, Dream Eater, Leech Life, Leech Seed, Mega Drain, and all status ailments inflicted by the opponent. If the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to create a substitute. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Explosion or Selfdestruct, it will faint.

Generation II, III and IV

The effects of Substitute are the same as the previous generation; however, if the user has a status ailment, they will still take any damage from that status ailment after they have used Substitute.

If the substitute is broken by a target's Selfdestruct or Explosion, the user of that move will faint.

If Perish Song has been used, the substitute will not protect the user from Perish Song's effect.

If the user of Substitute has 25% or less of its max HP (rounded down), or it only has a maximum of 1 HP, such as Shedinja, it will be unable to make a substitute.

A substitute can be Baton Passed, and can absorb damage due to partial-trapping moves. A substitute will not block the Evasion decrease caused by Defog.

Intimidate is blocked by Substitute, but is the only Ability affected by Substitute.

Generation V

Substitute now blocks the stat lowering effect of Defog, and Transform and Sky Drop will fail if used against a Pokémon behind a substitute. The only status moves that target the user of Substitute that aren't blocked are: Attract, Curse, Destiny Bond, Disable, Encore, Foresight, Grudge, Guard Swap, Haze, Heart Swap, Imprison, Miracle Eye, Odor Sleuth, Perish Song, Psych Up, Roar, Role Play, Skill Swap, Spite, Taunt, Torment, Transform* and Whirlwind.

Description

Games Description
StadStad2 Uses 1/4 of the user's maximum HP to create a substitute that takes the opponent's attacks.
GSC Makes a decoy with 1/4 user's max HP.
RSEColoXD Creates a decoy using 1/4 of the user’s maximum HP.
FRLG The user creates a decoy using one-quarter of its full HP.
DPPtHGSSBW The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP. The copy serves as the user’s decoy.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Type Level
I II III IV V VI
122   Mr. Mime Psychic Psychic 47 11 9 8 29 29 '
352   Kecleon Normal Normal     40 37 39 37 '
439   Mime Jr. Psychic Psychic       29 29 '
479   Rotom Electric Ghost       36 36 '
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 Type Machine
I
TM50
II
--
III
--
IV
TM90
V
TM90
VI
TM08
All Pokémon who can learn TMs can learn Substitute.
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 Type Father
II III IV V VI
108   Lickitung Normal Normal        
113   Chansey Normal Normal        
115   Kangaskhan Normal Normal        
131   Lapras Water Ice        
143   Snorlax Normal Normal        
161   Sentret Normal Normal        
173   Cleffa Normal Normal        
175   Togepi Normal Normal        
183   Marill Water Water        
263   Zigzagoon Normal Normal        
300   Skitty Normal Normal        
311   Plusle Electric Electric        
312   Minun Electric Electric        
325   Spoink Psychic Psychic        
359   Absol Dark Dark        
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 Move Tutor

# Pokémon Type Game
FRLG E XD
001   Bulbasaur Grass Poison
002   Ivysaur Grass Poison
003   Venusaur Grass Poison
004   Charmander Fire Fire
005   Charmeleon Fire Fire
006   Charizard Fire Flying
007   Squirtle Water Water
008   Wartortle Water Water
009   Blastoise Water Water
012   Butterfree Bug Flying
015   Beedrill Bug Poison
016   Pidgey Normal Flying
017   Pidgeotto Normal Flying
018   Pidgeot Normal Flying
019   Rattata Normal Normal
020   Raticate Normal Normal
021   Spearow Normal Flying
022   Fearow Normal Flying
023   Ekans Poison Poison
024   Arbok Poison Poison
025   Pikachu Electric Electric
026   Raichu Electric Electric
027   Sandshrew Ground Ground
028   Sandslash Ground Ground
029   Nidoran♀ Poison Poison
030   Nidorina Poison Poison
031   Nidoqueen Poison Ground
032   Nidoran♂ Poison Poison
033   Nidorino Poison Poison
034   Nidoking Poison Ground
035   Clefairy Normal Normal
036   Clefable Normal Normal
037   Vulpix Fire Fire
038   Ninetales Fire Fire
039   Jigglypuff Normal Normal
040   Wigglytuff Normal Normal
041   Zubat Poison Flying
042   Golbat Poison Flying
043   Oddish Grass Poison
044   Gloom Grass Poison
045   Vileplume Grass Poison
046   Paras Bug Grass
047   Parasect Bug Grass
048   Venonat Bug Poison
049   Venomoth Bug Poison
050   Diglett Ground Ground
051   Dugtrio Ground Ground
052   Meowth Normal Normal
053   Persian Normal Normal
054   Psyduck Water Water
055   Golduck Water Water
056   Mankey Fighting Fighting
057   Primeape Fighting Fighting
058   Growlithe Fire Fire
059   Arcanine Fire Fire
060   Poliwag Water Water
061   Poliwhirl Water Water
062   Poliwrath Water Fighting
063   Abra Psychic Psychic
064   Kadabra Psychic Psychic
065   Alakazam Psychic Psychic
066   Machop Fighting Fighting
067   Machoke Fighting Fighting
068   Machamp Fighting Fighting
069   Bellsprout Grass Poison
070   Weepinbell Grass Poison
071   Victreebel Grass Poison
072   Tentacool Water Poison
073   Tentacruel Water Poison
074   Geodude Rock Ground
075   Graveler Rock Ground
076   Golem Rock Ground
077   Ponyta Fire Fire
078   Rapidash Fire Fire
079   Slowpoke Water Psychic
080   Slowbro Water Psychic
081   Magnemite Electric Steel
082   Magneton Electric Steel
083   Farfetch'd Normal Flying
084   Doduo Normal Flying
085   Dodrio Normal Flying
086   Seel Water Water
087   Dewgong Water Ice
088   Grimer Poison Poison
089   Muk Poison Poison
090   Shellder Water Water
091   Cloyster Water Ice
092   Gastly Ghost Poison
093   Haunter Ghost Poison
094   Gengar Ghost Poison
095   Onix Rock Ground
096   Drowzee Psychic Psychic
097   Hypno Psychic Psychic
098   Krabby Water Water
099   Kingler Water Water
100   Voltorb Electric Electric
101   Electrode Electric Electric
102   Exeggcute Grass Psychic
103   Exeggutor Grass Psychic
104   Cubone Ground Ground
105   Marowak Ground Ground
106   Hitmonlee Fighting Fighting
107   Hitmonchan Fighting Fighting
108   Lickitung Normal Normal
111   Rhyhorn Ground Rock
112   Rhydon Ground Rock
113   Chansey Normal Normal
114   Tangela Grass Grass
115   Kangaskhan Normal Normal
116   Horsea Water Water
117   Seadra Water Water
118   Goldeen Water Water
119   Seaking Water Water
120   Staryu Water Water
121   Starmie Water Psychic
122   Mr. Mime Psychic Psychic
123   Scyther Bug Flying
124   Jynx Ice Psychic
125   Electabuzz Electric Electric
126   Magmar Fire Fire
127   Pinsir Bug Bug
128   Tauros Normal Normal
130   Gyarados Water Flying
131   Lapras Water Ice
133   Eevee Normal Normal
134   Vaporeon Water Water
135   Jolteon Electric Electric
136   Flareon Fire Fire
137   Porygon Normal Normal
138   Omanyte Rock Water
139   Omastar Rock Water
140   Kabuto Rock Water
141   Kabutops Rock Water
142   Aerodactyl Rock Flying
143   Snorlax Normal Normal
144   Articuno Ice Flying
145   Zapdos Electric Flying
146   Moltres Fire Flying
147   Dratini Dragon Dragon
148   Dragonair Dragon Dragon
149   Dragonite Dragon Flying
150   Mewtwo Psychic Psychic
151   Mew Psychic Psychic
152   Chikorita Grass Grass
153   Bayleef Grass Grass
154   Meganium Grass Grass
155   Cyndaquil Fire Fire
156   Quilava Fire Fire
157   Typhlosion Fire Fire
158   Totodile Water Water
159   Croconaw Water Water
160   Feraligatr Water Water
161   Sentret Normal Normal
162   Furret Normal Normal
163   Hoothoot Normal Flying
164   Noctowl Normal Flying
165   Ledyba Bug Flying
166   Ledian Bug Flying
167   Spinarak Bug Poison
168   Ariados Bug Poison
169   Crobat Poison Flying
170   Chinchou Water Electric
171   Lanturn Water Electric
172   Pichu Electric Electric
173   Cleffa Normal Normal
174   Igglybuff Normal Normal
175   Togepi Normal Normal
176   Togetic Normal Flying
177   Natu Psychic Flying
178   Xatu Psychic Flying
179   Mareep Electric Electric
180   Flaaffy Electric Electric
181   Ampharos Electric Electric
182   Bellossom Grass Grass
183   Marill Water Water
184   Azumarill Water Water
185   Sudowoodo Rock Rock
186   Politoed Water Water
187   Hoppip Grass Flying
188   Skiploom Grass Flying
189   Jumpluff Grass Flying
190   Aipom Normal Normal
191   Sunkern Grass Grass
192   Sunflora Grass Grass
193   Yanma Bug Flying
194   Wooper Water Ground
195   Quagsire Water Ground
196   Espeon Psychic Psychic
197   Umbreon Dark Dark
198   Murkrow Dark Flying
199   Slowking Water Psychic
200   Misdreavus Ghost Ghost
203   Girafarig Normal Psychic
204   Pineco Bug Bug
205   Forretress Bug Steel
206   Dunsparce Normal Normal
207   Gligar Ground Flying
208   Steelix Steel Ground
209   Snubbull Normal Normal
210   Granbull Normal Normal
211   Qwilfish Water Poison
212   Scizor Bug Steel
213   Shuckle Bug Rock
214   Heracross Bug Fighting
215   Sneasel Dark Ice
216   Teddiursa Normal Normal
217   Ursaring Normal Normal
218   Slugma Fire Fire
219   Magcargo Fire Rock
220   Swinub Ice Ground
221   Piloswine Ice Ground
222   Corsola Water Rock
223   Remoraid Water Water
224   Octillery Water Water
225   Delibird Ice Flying
226   Mantine Water Flying
227   Skarmory Steel Flying
228   Houndour Dark Fire
229   Houndoom Dark Fire
230   Kingdra Water Dragon
231   Phanpy Ground Ground
232   Donphan Ground Ground
233   Porygon2 Normal Normal
234   Stantler Normal Normal
236   Tyrogue Fighting Fighting
237   Hitmontop Fighting Fighting
238   Smoochum Ice Psychic
239   Elekid Electric Electric
240   Magby Fire Fire
241   Miltank Normal Normal
242   Blissey Normal Normal
243   Raikou Electric Electric
244   Entei Fire Fire
245   Suicune Water Water
246   Larvitar Rock Ground
247   Pupitar Rock Ground
248   Tyranitar Rock Dark
249   Lugia Psychic Flying
250   Ho-Oh Fire Flying
251   Celebi Grass Psychic
252   Treecko Grass Grass
253   Grovyle Grass Grass
254   Sceptile Grass Grass
255   Torchic Fire Fire
256   Combusken Fire Fighting
257   Blaziken Fire Fighting
258   Mudkip Water Water
259   Marshtomp Water Ground
260   Swampert Water Ground
261   Poochyena Dark Dark
262   Mightyena Dark Dark
263   Zigzagoon Normal Normal
264   Linoone Normal Normal
267   Beautifly Bug Flying
269   Dustox Bug Poison
270   Lotad Water Grass
271   Lombre Water Grass
272   Ludicolo Water Grass
273   Seedot Grass Grass
274   Nuzleaf Grass Dark
275   Shiftry Grass Dark
276   Taillow Normal Flying
277   Swellow Normal Flying
278   Wingull Water Flying
279   Pelipper Water Flying
280   Ralts Psychic Psychic
281   Kirlia Psychic Psychic
282   Gardevoir Psychic Psychic
283   Surskit Bug Water
284   Masquerain Bug Flying
285   Shroomish Grass Grass
286   Breloom Grass Fighting
287   Slakoth Normal Normal
288   Vigoroth Normal Normal
289   Slaking Normal Normal
290   Nincada Bug Ground
291   Ninjask Bug Flying
292   Shedinja Bug Ghost
293   Whismur Normal Normal
294   Loudred Normal Normal
295   Exploud Normal Normal
296   Makuhita Fighting Fighting
297   Hariyama Fighting Fighting
298   Azurill Normal Normal
299   Nosepass Rock Rock
300   Skitty Normal Normal
301   Delcatty Normal Normal
302   Sableye Dark Ghost
303   Mawile Steel Steel
304   Aron Steel Rock
305   Lairon Steel Rock
306   Aggron Steel Rock
307   Meditite Fighting Psychic
308   Medicham Fighting Psychic
309   Electrike Electric Electric
310   Manectric Electric Electric
311   Plusle Electric Electric
312   Minun Electric Electric
313   Volbeat Bug Bug
314   Illumise Bug Bug
315   Roselia Grass Poison
316   Gulpin Poison Poison
317   Swalot Poison Poison
318   Carvanha Water Dark
319   Sharpedo Water Dark
320   Wailmer Water Water
321   Wailord Water Water
322   Numel Fire Ground
323   Camerupt Fire Ground
324   Torkoal Fire Fire
325   Spoink Psychic Psychic
326   Grumpig Psychic Psychic
327   Spinda Normal Normal
328   Trapinch Ground Ground
329   Vibrava Ground Dragon
330   Flygon Ground Dragon
331   Cacnea Grass Grass
332   Cacturne Grass Dark
333   Swablu Normal Flying
334   Altaria Dragon Flying
335   Zangoose Normal Normal
336   Seviper Poison Poison
337   Lunatone Rock Psychic
338   Solrock Rock Psychic
339   Barboach Water Ground
340   Whiscash Water Ground
341   Corphish Water Water
342   Crawdaunt Water Dark
343   Baltoy Ground Psychic
344   Claydol Ground Psychic
345   Lileep Rock Grass
346   Cradily Rock Grass
347   Anorith Rock Bug
348   Armaldo Rock Bug
349   Feebas Water Water
350   Milotic Water Water
351   Castform Normal Normal
352   Kecleon Normal Normal
353   Shuppet Ghost Ghost
354   Banette Ghost Ghost
355   Duskull Ghost Ghost
356   Dusclops Ghost Ghost
357   Tropius Grass Flying
358   Chimecho Psychic Psychic
359   Absol Dark Dark
361   Snorunt Ice Ice
362   Glalie Ice Ice
363   Spheal Ice Water
364   Sealeo Ice Water
365   Walrein Ice Water
366   Clamperl Water Water
367   Huntail Water Water
368   Gorebyss Water Water
369   Relicanth Water Rock
370   Luvdisc Water Water
371   Bagon Dragon Dragon
372   Shelgon Dragon Dragon
373   Salamence Dragon Flying
375   Metang Steel Psychic
376   Metagross Steel Psychic
377   Regirock Rock Rock
378   Regice Ice Ice
379   Registeel Steel Steel
380   Latias Dragon Psychic
381   Latios Dragon Psychic
382   Kyogre Water Water
383   Groudon Ground Ground
384   Rayquaza Dragon Flying
385   Jirachi Steel Psychic
386   Deoxys Psychic Psychic
386   Deoxys Psychic Psychic
386   Deoxys Psychic Psychic
386   Deoxys Psychic Psychic
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 Type Obtained with
0185   Sudowoodo Rock New York City Pokémon Center
0204   Pineco Bug New York City Pokémon Center
Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move.
Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB
from this move.


Sprites

       
A substitute from
Generations I and II
A substitute from
Stadium 2
A substitute from
Generation III
       
A substitute from
Generation IV
A substitute from
Battle Revolution
A substitute from
Generation V

In the anime

 
Shaymin
 
Substitute fades away
 
Togepi
 
Accelgor
The user creates a substitute that resembles it. The substitute fades away soon after.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Shaymin creates a clone that looks exactly like itself. It then fades soon after.
Shaymin (M11) Giratina and the Sky Warrior Debut
  Delcatty creates an exact copy of itself. When it gets hit, it disappears in a puff of smoke.
Lila's Delcatty Battling the Generation Gap! None
  Togepi moves quickly when the opponent is about to attack and creates an afterimage of itself. When the afterimage gets hit, it disappears.
A wild Togepi Where No Togepi Has Gone Before! None
  Accelgor's body flashes white, and a double that looks exactly like Accelgor dashes out of its body and at the opponent. When the afterimage is hit by an attack, it disappears in a puff of smoke.
Professor Juniper's Accelgor Evolution Exchange Excitement! None


In the manga

In the Phantom Thief Pokémon 7 manga


In the Pokémon Adventures manga


In other generations

Trivia

 
A Substitute "levitating"
  • In most games, the decoy and the Pokémon will switch places when the Pokémon is attacking. The only exception is in Pokémon Battle Revolution, where the battle animations play out as if the substitute was the one performing the attack. It generally remains stationary, except for when using moves like Fly or Bounce.
  • In the Generation I and II games, the substitute resembles the Pokémon Rhydon. In subsequent generations, the plush does not resemble any Pokémon.
  • Shedinja is capable of learning Substitute by both FireRed and LeafGreen Move Tutor as well as by TM90 in Generation IV and V (as well as inheriting it from its pre-evolution). Despite this, it cannot use it, as its HP is too low to make a substitute; however, a Pokémon that has Transformed into Shedinja would be able to use it.
  • Substitutes are interpreted differently throughout all forms of Pokémon canon. In the games, substitutes are seen as a plush-like decoy which simply replaces the Pokémon. In the anime, substitutes are seen to be exact clones of the user. In the manga, substitutes are like the anime representation, but more spectral and transparent, as shown by Red's Pikachu in Peace of Mime.
  • In the Mystery Dungeon series, if the player eats an X-Eye Seed, all other Pokémon appear as a substitute.

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 替身 Tìshēn
  Dutch Kloon Aanval
  French Clonage
  German Delegator
  Greek Υποκατάστατο
  Indonesian Menyamar
Perasuk
  Italian Sostituto
  Korean 대타출동' Daetachuldong
  Brazilian Portuguese Substituição
  Romanian Substituirea
  Serbian Izmena
  Spanish Sustituto


Generation I TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation I HMs
0102030405
Generation IV TMs
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223
2425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
4748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869
7071727374757677787980818283848586878889909192
Generation IV HMs
01020304 • 05 (DPPtHGSS) • 060708
Generation V TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819
20212223242526272829303132333435363738
39404142434445464748495051525354555657
58596061626364656667686970717273747576
77787980818283848586878889909192939495
Generation V HMs
010203040506
  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.