Hyper Beam (Japanese: はかいこうせんDestruction Beam) is a damage-dealing Template:Type2move introduced in Generation I. It can be learned via TM by many fully evolved Pokémon that can learn TMs, including Pokémon that were fully evolved at one point but later received one or more evolved forms, such as Porygon or Seadra.
Hyper Beam inflicts damage. A recharge turn is required on the turn after damage is done, during which no action may be performed.
Hyper Beam will not require a recharge turn if it misses, breaks a Substitute, defeats the target, or if the user is targeted by a partial trapping move (even if it misses), flinches, or is put to sleep after the attack but before the recharge turn. However, freeze does not negate the recharge turn of Hyper Beam. If the user is confused, the recharge turn of Hyper Beam will not count towards the number of turns the user will remain confused.
In a round where the target attacks before a user which must recharge, if the opponent uses a partial trapping move that misses, the user will automatically use Hyper Beam during that turn. If at such a time Hyper Beam has 0 PP, Hyper Beam will still be used, and afterward its PP will roll over to 63, and full PP ups will be applied to it.
If a frozen Pokémon that has not yet recharged is defrosted via Haze, it will remain unable to attack, switch, or do anything, and nothing (not even being refrozen and then defrosted by a Template:Type2 move) will be able to change this.
In Stadium, Hyper Beam requires a recharge turn every time it is used.
Generation II and on
Hyper Beam will always recharge if it hits, even if the target is knocked out, unless the battle is completed in that turn. If the user has Truant, the recharge and "slacking off" take place on the same turn.
Golduck puts two fingers from both hands up on either side of the gem on its forehead and the gem starts glowing orange. A large orange beam is then released from it at the opponent.
Salamence opens its mouth and a blue or orange ball appears in front of its mouth. It then fires a beam of orange energy from its mouth at the opponent.
Scizor fires two orange beams from its claws at the opponent, or Scizor just fires one orange beam from one of its claws at the opponent, or Scizor puts its claws out in front of it and fires an orange beam from the middle of them at the opponent.
Claydol points one or both of its arms at the opponent, and an orange ball appears at the point at the end of its arms. It then fires an orange beam from the ball at the opponent.
An orange ball forms between the top of Metagross's head and the 'X' on its face, in front of the 'X' on its face, or its mouth and an orange beam is fired from the ball at the opponent.
The braille pattern on Regirock's face glows orange, and an orange ball appears in front of them. Regirock then fires an orange beam from the ball at the opponent, or Regirock holds out its arms and static electricity appears between them. An orange ball then appears in the static electricity, and Regirock fires a beam from the ball at the opponent.
The bralle pattern on Registeel's face glows white and it fires an orange beam from it at the opponent, or Registeel holds out its hands and creates an orange ball in between them. It then fires an orange beam from the ball at the opponent.
The braille pattern on Regice's face glows orange and it fires an orange beam from its face at the opponent, or Regice lifts its arms and a orange ball appears in between them. It then brings its arms forwards and fires an orange beam from the ball at the opponent.
Regigigas puts its hands out in front of it and fires two orange beams from its hands at the opponent. For a larger beam, Regigigas puts its arms in front of it and fires a huge orange beam from in between its arms at the opponent.
An orange ball appears in front of Heracross's mouth and it fires an orange beam from the ball at the opponent. Or Heracross's horn glows gold and it fires an orange beam from it at the opponent.
In Generations I and II, Dratini and Dragonair learn Hyper Beam via level up, but are incompatible with the TM for it.
Kabuto can learn the move via TM in Pokémon Yellow only, and no other games.
In Generation I, Clefable is the only fully evolved Pokémon that can learn TMs that can't learn Hyper Beam via TM15. This was changed in subsequent generations.
In the anime, Hyper Beam is commonly used without having to recharge.
In the movies, Hyper Beam is a very common move used by the larger legendary Pokémon.
In the Brazilian dub of the anime, Hyper Beam has been given many names, such as Hiper-farol, Hiper-fusão, Super-chama and Raio Solar, the latter causing many confusion due to its homonym.
Hyper Beam is a reference to anime Casshern, where the main character's strongest attack is called Super Destruction Beam, or Chou Hakai Kousen. Both moves represent a small charge time followed by a powerful blast of energy, only to end the user in a state of severe exhaustion.