Rough Skin (Ability)

Rough Skin

さめはだ

Rough Skin

Flavor text

Generation III
Hurts to touch.


Generation IV
Inflicts damage to the foe on contact.


Generation V
Inflicts damage to the foe on contact.


Generation VI
Currently unknown


Generation VII
Currently unknown


Generation VIII
Currently unknown


Generation IX
Currently unknown

Rough Skin (Japanese: さめはだ Rough Skin) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. Six Pokémon can have this Ability. Prior to Generation V, it was the signature Ability of Carvanha and Sharpedo.

Effect

In battle

Generation III

When a Pokémon with Rough Skin is hit with a move that makes contact, the attacker loses 1/16 of its own maximum HP, after all turn-based damage is dealt. The damage will repeat for multi-strike moves such as Fury Swipes and Gear Grind.

Generation IV-V

The damage dealt is now equal to 1/8 of the attacking Pokémon's maximum HP.

If the user is holding a Rocky Helmet the damage will stack (dealing 7/24 of the attacker's maximum HP).

If Rough Skin causes both the user and the attacker to faint, then the attacker will faint first.

Mystery Dungeon

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon and the sequel, if an enemy directly in front of the Pokémon attacks it, the attacker is damaged by half of the damage done.

Outside of battle

Rough Skin has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Rough Skin

#		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0318	Carvanha	Water	Dark	Rough Skin	None	Speed Boost
0319	Sharpedo	Water	Dark	Rough Skin	None	Speed Boost
0443	Gible	Dragon	Ground	Sand Veil	None	Rough Skin
0444	Gabite	Dragon	Ground	Sand Veil	None	Rough Skin
0445	Garchomp	Dragon	Ground	Sand Veil	None	Rough Skin
0621	Druddigon	Dragon		Dragon	Rough Skin	Sheer Force	Mold Breaker
Please note that abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In the anime

Pokémon	Method
Sharpedo
The user scrapes its skin against the opponent. The skin is rough enough to cause abrasion.
User	First Used In	Notes
	Sharpedo scrapes its skin against the opponent, causing it to get hurt. Sharpedo can choose whether to make its skin rough or not.
A wild Sharpedo	Sharpedo Attack!	Debut

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Pokémon	Method
Carvanha and Sharpedo
When the user makes contact with the opponent, it saps their energy.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	When Sharpedo makes contact with the opponent, it saps their energy.
Matt's Sharpedo	VS. Ludicolo	Debut
	When Carvanha makes contact with the opponent, it saps their energy.
Amber's Carvanha	VS. Ludicolo	Debut

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		蛇皮 Shépí
French		Peau Dure
German		Rauhaut
Italian		Cartavetro
Korean		까칠한 피부 Kkaechilhan Pibu
Portuguese		Pele Áspera
Spanish		Piel Tosca

Variations of the Ability Rough Skin
Rough Skin • Iron Barbs

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.