Absorb (move)

Absorb すいとる Absorb

Battles Type  Grass Category  Special PP  20 (max. 32) Power  30 Accuracy  100% Priority  0 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

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: 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 Generation IX

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. RSEColoXD 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 SwShBDSP 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	IX
0041		Zubat		Flying		Flying							1	1
0042		Golbat		Flying		Flying							1	1
0043		Oddish		Grass		Grass	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0044		Gloom		Grass		Grass	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0045		Vileplume		Grass		Grass		1	1				1PE	1
0046		Paras		Bug	Grass							11SMUSUM 9PE	11BDSP 1LA
0047		Parasect		Bug	Grass							1, 11SMUSUM 9PE	1, 11BDSP 1LA
0102		Exeggcute		Grass		Grass								1
0103		Exeggutor		Grass		Grass								1
103A		Exeggutor Alolan Form		Grass		Grass								1
0114		Tangela		Grass		Grass	29RGB 27Y	10	10	8	8BW 10B2W2	10	10SMUSUM 1PE	1
0140		Kabuto		Water 1	Water 3	34	10	13	6	6	6	6SMUSUM 18PE	1
0141		Kabutops		Water 1	Water 3	1, 34	1, 10	1, 13	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6SMUSUM 1, 18PE	1
0167		Spinarak		Bug		Bug							5	5BDSP
0168		Ariados		Bug		Bug							1, 5	1, 5BDSP
0169		Crobat		Flying		Flying							1	1
0182		Bellossom		Grass		Grass		1	1					1
0187		Hoppip		Fairy	Grass							1USUM	1BDSP
0188		Skiploom		Fairy	Grass							1USUM	1BDSP
0189		Jumpluff		Fairy	Grass							1USUM	1BDSP
0191		Sunkern		Grass		Grass		1	1	1	1	1	1	7BDSP
0192		Sunflora		Grass		Grass		1	1	1	1	1	1	7BDSP
0252		Treecko		Monster	Dragon			6	6	6	6XY 5ORAS	5
0253		Grovyle		Monster	Dragon			1, 6	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6XY 1, 5ORAS	1, 5
0254		Sceptile		Monster	Dragon			1, 6	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6XY 1, 5ORAS	1, 5
0267		Beautifly		Bug		Bug			1, 10	1, 10	1, 10	1, 10XY 12ORAS	12	12BDSP
0270		Lotad		Water 1	Grass			7	5	5	5XY 6ORAS	6	3
0271		Lombre		Water 1	Grass			7	5	5	5XY 6ORAS	6	1
0272		Ludicolo		Water 1	Grass			1					1
0273		Seedot		Field	Grass								3
0274		Nuzleaf		Field	Grass								1
0275		Shiftry		Field	Grass								1
0285		Shroomish		Fairy	Grass			1	1	1	1	1	1BDSP
0286		Breloom		Fairy	Grass			1	1	1	1	1	1BDSP
0290		Nincada		Bug		Bug							5	21
0291		Ninjask		Bug		Bug							1, 5	23
0292		Shedinja		Mineral		Mineral							1, 5	23
0315		Roselia		Fairy	Grass			1	1	1	1	1	1SwShBDSP 6LA
0331		Cacnea		Grass	Human-Like			5	5	5	5XY 4ORAS	4	4BDSP
0332		Cacturne		Grass	Human-Like			1, 5	1, 5	1, 5	1, 5XY 1, 4ORAS	1, 4	1, 4BDSP
0355		Duskull		Amorphous		Amorphous								1LA
0356		Dusclops		Amorphous		Amorphous								1LA
0387		Turtwig		Monster	Grass				9	9	9	9
0388		Grotle		Monster	Grass				9	9	9	1, 9	1BDSP
0389		Torterra		Monster	Grass				1, 9	1, 9	1, 9	1, 9	1BDSP
0401		Kricketot		Bug		Bug								1LA
0402		Kricketune		Bug		Bug							14	14BDSP 1LA
0406		Budew		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered				1	1	1	1	1SwShBDSP 6LA
0407		Roserade		Fairy	Grass								1SwShBDSP 6LA
0420		Cherubi		Fairy	Grass								1LA
0421		Cherrim		Fairy	Grass								1LA
0455		Carnivine		Grass		Grass								1LA
0465		Tangrowth		Grass		Grass				8	8BW 10B2W2	10	10	1
0477		Dusknoir		Amorphous		Amorphous								1LA
0546		Cottonee		Grass	Fairy					1	1	1	1
0547		Whimsicott		Grass	Fairy								1
0548		Petilil		Grass		Grass					1	1	1	1
0549		Lilligant		Grass		Grass								1
549H		Lilligant Hisuian Form		Grass		Grass								1LA
0556		Maractus		Grass		Grass					1	1	1	1
0590		Foongus		Grass		Grass					1	1	1	1
0591		Amoonguss		Grass		Grass					1	1	1	1
0592		Frillish		Amorphous		Amorphous					5	5	5	1
0593		Jellicent		Amorphous		Amorphous					1, 5	1, 5	1, 5	1
0595		Joltik		Bug		Bug							1	1
0596		Galvantula		Bug		Bug							1	1
0616		Shelmet		Bug		Bug							1	1
0617		Accelgor		Bug		Bug							1	1
0636		Larvesta		Bug		Bug							10
0637		Volcarona		Bug		Bug							1, 10
0704		Goomy		Dragon		Dragon						5	5	1
0705		Sliggoo		Dragon		Dragon						5	1, 5	1
0706		Goodra		Dragon		Dragon						5	1, 5	1
0714		Noibat		Flying	Dragon							5	1
0715		Noivern		Flying	Dragon							1, 5	1
0742		Cutiefly		Bug	Fairy							1	1
0743		Ribombee		Bug	Fairy							1	1
0755		Morelull		Grass		Grass							1	1
0756		Shiinotic		Grass		Grass							1	1
0769		Sandygast		Amorphous		Amorphous							1	1
0770		Palossand		Amorphous		Amorphous							1	1
0781		Dhelmise		Mineral		Mineral							1	1
0797		Celesteela		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | 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. 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	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0252		Treecko		Monster	Dragon							✔
0636		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. 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 event

Generation II

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0231		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. 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 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 Masters EX

Category	Move Gauge	MP	Base Power	Max Power	Accuracy	Target	Effect Tag	Description
Special	1	—	19	22	100%	An opponent	Absorbs	The more damage dealt to the target, the more this move restores the user's HP.*

Past Description

• Prior to Version 2.10.0 (from June 28, 2021): Restores the user's HP based on the amount of damage dealt to the target.

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 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 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 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

Pokémon Adventures

Tangela Breloom
The user absorbs the opponent's energy and adds it to its own.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Tangela sticks the end of its vines into the opponent's body and absorbs its energy.
Erika's Angela	Striking Golduck		Debut
	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.

Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master!

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

Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!!

Budew
The user absorbs the opponent's energy.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	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	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	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, andSky	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, andSky	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, andSky	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, andSky	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, andSky	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.