Substitute (move)

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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 Mirror Move
  • 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  Cute
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jamming  0  
Prevents the user from being startled one time this turn.

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

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 current HP is less than 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to make a substitute and the move will fail. If the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will faint upon creating the substitute. 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 type and stats as the Pokémon that created it.

Once created, any damage inflicted by the opponent will be redirected to the substitute instead. If the substitute runs out of HP (it takes total damage equal to or greater than the HP used to make it), it will break. A one-hit KO move, if it hits, will always break a substitute.

While the user has a substitute up, the opponent cannot lower the user's stat stages, nor poison, freeze, burn, or flinch it. The opponent can paralyze the user through a status move's primary effect (like Thunder Wave), but not a damaging move's side effect (like Thunderbolt). Conversely, the opponent can confuse the user through a damaging move's side effect (like Confusion), but not a status move's primary effect (like Confuse Ray), and not if the damaging move causes the substitute to break. A substitute does not protect the user against sleep. If the substitute breaks after an opponent's move, it will do so after all primary and side effects of the move have been determined. Therefore, for example, Ice Beam will never freeze the user even if the move just caused the substitute to break.

A substitute will not prevent the user from gaining HP or from losing HP due to crash damage, recoil damage, or recurring damage from an already existing status condition. Additionally, Substitute will not alter the use of the opponent's Disable, Leech Seed, Super Fang, Transform, or partial trapping moves; the user's Bide, Counter, or Rage; nor Haze by either side.

Due to a glitch, if a user with a substitute takes self-inflicted confusion damage, the damage is applied to the opponent's substitute instead. If the opponent does not have a substitute, the damage effectively vanishes.

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 still disappear until it switches out (or uses Substitute itself). 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 HP-draining move, no HP will be restored to it. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Pay Day, that use of Pay Day will not count toward the money its Trainer picks up at the end of the battle. If an opponent attacks a substitute with a multi-strike move, the hits will automatically end if the substitute breaks.

In Stadium, several oddities and glitches listed above were fixed:

  • A substitute will always block the opponent from inflicting paralysis and confusion, as well as sleep (thus blocking all non-volatile status conditions).
  • If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Explosion or Selfdestruct, it will faint as usual.
  • Draining moves will fail entirely against a Pokémon with a substitute.
  • 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.

Generation II

In general, the fixed effects from Stadium in Generation I are retained. For example:

  • If the user's current HP is equal to or lower than 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to create a substitute.
  • The substitute will prevent the opponent from lowering the user's stat stages, inflicting any non-volatile status condition, or flinching it.
  • The substitute will not prevent the user from gaining HP, nor will it prevent the user from losing HP due to recoil, an already-existing status condition such as poison, or other forms of recurrent damage such as by a Sandstorm.
  • Moves that change effect based on the user's current HP (such as Super Fang) will not behave any differently with Substitute.
  • Rage works as normal.
  • If the user's substitute is broken by an opponent's Self-Destruct or Explosion, the opponent will faint.
  • A substitute protects the user against draining moves, including an opponent's Pain Split (even if the user would gain HP from it). (The user can still itself use Pain Split normally, even if it would lose HP.)

Mechanics changed between Stadium and Generation II include:

  • The substitute's HP is now exactly equal to the HP lost to create the substitute, instead of being 1 + the HP lost.
  • Leech Seed is now considered a draining move, and will fail against a substitute.
  • If the user takes self-inflicted confusion damage, the damage will be given directly to the user rather than to the substitute.
  • The user can use Bide, but the damage it inflicts will not count damage dealt to the user's substitute.
  • Because recoil damage is calculated from how much HP the target has actually lost, if an opponent hits the user's substitute with a recoil move, the opponent will only take 1 HP recoil damage. (Jump Kick and Hi Jump Kick crash damage is calculated normally.) Breaking a substitute with a recoil move no longer prevents recoil damage.
  • A multi-strike move can now continue hitting even after a substitute has been broken, then dealing damage directly to the targeted Pokémon. (However, as Twineedle performs the poison check only once at the beginning of the move, it will never poison a target with a substitute even if the first hit breaks it and the second hit directly damages the target.)
  • Pay Day now works as normal.

Mechanics newly introduced in Generation II include:

  • A substitute can be Baton Passed, and it will keep whatever HP it has remaining.
  • While behind a substitute, the user is unable to use Counter, Mirror Coat, Protect, Detect, or Endure. The opponent can still use these moves.
  • While behind a substitute, the user is immune to an opponent's Lock-On, Mind Reader, Nightmare, Ghost-type Curse, and Sketch. The user can still use these moves itself.
  • While most end-of-turn effects (such as Sandstorm) bypass a substitute, a substitute redirects the damage from Future Sight. It will also redirect the damage from Pursuit as the user switches out.
  • Partial-trapping moves will not trap the user if they are behind a substitute. In addition, creating a substitute will cause the user to escape a partial-trapping move.
  • If the opponent uses Swagger, the user will have their Attack sharply increased as normal, but the substitute will prevent them from becoming confused.
  • If the opponent uses Thief, the user's item will not be stolen. The user can still use Thief normally itself.

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:


Generation III

The following effects are carried over/expanded from Generation II:

  • The opponent still cannot lower the user's stat stages, so the substitute will now block Intimidate (which is the only Ability affected by it).
  • The opponent cannot remove the user's held item, which now applies to Covet, Knock Off, and Trick (the latter will fail even if the user is not holding an item). The user can still use Trick to lose its own held item.
  • The substitute will block damage from Doom Desire as well as Future Sight.
  • Yawn is blocked by the substitute, as it is considered a move that inflicts sleep. However, if the user was already drowsy from Yawn on the turn it created the substitute, it can still fall asleep.

The following effects are changed between Generations II and III:

  • Twineedle now performs its poison check on both hits, and so can poison a target if it broke a substitute on its first hit.
  • Rage's effect will now no longer activate if its user's substitute is hit.
  • Swagger (and the newly introduced Flatter) will now fail entirely against a substitute.
  • Pay Day now does not cause its Trainer to gain money if it hits a substitute.
  • Protect, Detect, and Endure now behave as normal.
  • Damaging draining moves (except Dream Eater) can now hit a substitute as normal, and the user of the move will gain HP depending on the HP the substitute lost. The same applies for recoil moves. (Leech Seed is still blocked by the substitute.)
  • Trapping moves are now blocked by the substitute.
  • Mimic is now blocked by the substitute.

The following effects are newly introduced in Generation III:

  • Shedinja, having a maximum of only 1 HP, cannot make a substitute.
  • Substitute can be stolen by Snatch.
  • SmellingSalt will not have any of its additional effects applied if it hits a substitute, even if the Pokémon behind it is paralyzed.

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:


Generation IV

The following effects are carried over/expanded from Generation III:

  • The opponent still cannot remove the user's held item, which now also applies to Pluck and Bug Bite. Switcheroo behaves identically to Trick.
  • Like Counter and Mirror Coat, Metal Burst also does not count damage taken by its user's substitute.
  • Similar to SmellingSalt, Wake-Up Slap will not have any of its additional effects applied if it hits a substitute, even if the Pokémon behind it is asleep.

The following effects are changed between Generations III and IV:

  • Twineedle reverts to its Generation II behavior.[citation needed]
  • Self-confusing Berries such as the Figy Berry now no longer confuse a user behind a substitute.

The following effects are newly introduced in Generation IV:

  • The Enigma Berry will not activate if its holder is behind a substitute.
  • If an opponent's U-turn breaks the user's substitute, and the opponent then switches in a Pokémon with Intimidate, the substitute will not fade until after it has successfully blocked the new Intimidate.
  • If Toxic Spikes are up, using Baton Pass to pass a substitute will prevent the recipient from being poisoned as usual, but if the recipient is a grounded Poison-type, the Toxic Spikes will still be absorbed.
  • The user will be protected from all side effects of an opponent's Fling, including beneficial ones.
  • An opponent's Defog will not lower the user's evasiveness, but it will still remove fog as well as artifacts (Reflect, Stealth Rock, etc.) on the user's side.
  • A substitute blocks Copycat, Embargo, Gastro Acid, Psycho Shift, Worry Seed, Heal Block, and Acupressure (for the latter, regardless of whether an ally or the user itself targeted the user with Acupressure).

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:


Generation V

Incinerate's item-removing effect will not work against a substitute, but the Ability Pickpocket and the Item Drop from Wonder Launcher still will. A user behind a substitute can use Bestow to remove its own held item, but an opponent cannot use Bestow against the user's substitute.

If Smack Down, Clear Smog, Circle Throw, or Dragon Tail target a substitute, their secondary effects will not trigger. The move Sky Drop will not work against a substitute at all.

A user behind a substitute can now use Acupressure to target itself, but can still not be targeted by allies.

Substitute now blocks Transform and Imposter.

Twineedle reverts again to its Generation III behavior. Dream Eater can now hit a Pokémon behind a substitute and acts the same way as other damaging draining moves.

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:


Generation VI

Substitute no longer blocks sound-based moves, such as Metal Sound, or moves used by Pokémon with the Ability Infiltrator.

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.
DPPtHGSS
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SM
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 Types Egg Groups Level
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
0122     Human-Like Human-Like 47 11 9RSE
8FRLG
29 29 29
0352     Field Field 40 37DP
39PtHGSS
37 37XY
42ORAS
0439     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 29 29 29
0479     Amorphous Amorphous 36 36 36
0656     Water 1 Water 1 35
0657     Water 1 Water 1 38
0658     Water 1 Water 1 43
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
0108     Monster Monster
0113     Fairy Fairy
0115     Monster Monster
0131     Monster Water 1
0143     Monster Monster
0161     Field Field
0173     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
0175     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
0183     Water 1 Fairy
0263     Field Field
0300     Field Fairy
0311     Fairy Fairy
0312     Fairy Fairy
0325     Field Field
0359     Field Field
0440     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
0446     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
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 Types Egg Groups Machine
I
TM50
II
--
III
--
IV
TM90
V
TM90
VI
TM90
VII
TM90
VIII
--
IX
--
All Pokémon who can learn TMs can learn Substitute except Unown,
Wobbuffet, Wynaut, Kricketot, Burmy, Tynamo, and Spewpa.
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 Types Egg Groups Game
FRLG E XD
0001     Monster Grass
0002     Monster Grass
0003     Monster Grass
0004     Monster Dragon
0005     Monster Dragon
0006     Monster Dragon
0007     Monster Water 1
0008     Monster Water 1
0009     Monster Water 1
0012     Bug Bug
0015     Bug Bug
0016     Flying Flying
0017     Flying Flying
0018     Flying Flying
0019     Field Field
0020     Field Field
0021     Flying Flying
0022     Flying Flying
0023     Field Dragon
0024     Field Dragon
0025     Field Fairy
0026     Field Fairy
0027     Field Field
0028     Field Field
0029     Monster Field
0030     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
0031     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
0032     Monster Field
0033     Monster Field
0034     Monster Field
0035     Fairy Fairy
0036     Fairy Fairy
0037     Field Field
0038     Field Field
0039     Fairy Fairy
0040     Fairy Fairy
0041     Flying Flying
0042     Flying Flying
0043     Grass Grass
0044     Grass Grass
0045     Grass Grass
0046     Bug Grass
0047     Bug Grass
0048     Bug Bug
0049     Bug Bug
0050     Field Field
0051     Field Field
0052     Field Field
0053     Field Field
0054     Water 1 Field
0055     Water 1 Field
0056     Field Field
0057     Field Field
0058     Field Field
0059     Field Field
0060     Water 1 Water 1
0061     Water 1 Water 1
0062     Water 1 Water 1
0063     Human-Like Human-Like
0064     Human-Like Human-Like
0065     Human-Like Human-Like
0066     Human-Like Human-Like
0067     Human-Like Human-Like
0068     Human-Like Human-Like
0069     Grass Grass
0070     Grass Grass
0071     Grass Grass
0072     Water 3 Water 3
0073     Water 3 Water 3
0074     Mineral Mineral
0075     Mineral Mineral
0076     Mineral Mineral
0077     Field Field
0078     Field Field
0079     Monster Water 1
0080     Monster Water 1
0081     Mineral Mineral
0082     Mineral Mineral
0083     Field Flying
0084     Flying Flying
0085     Flying Flying
0086     Water 1 Field
0087     Water 1 Field
0088     Amorphous Amorphous
0089     Amorphous Amorphous
0090     Water 3 Water 3
0091     Water 3 Water 3
0092     Amorphous Amorphous
0093     Amorphous Amorphous
0094     Amorphous Amorphous
0095     Mineral Mineral
0096     Human-Like Human-Like
0097     Human-Like Human-Like
0098     Water 3 Water 3
0099     Water 3 Water 3
0100     Mineral Mineral
0101     Mineral Mineral
0102     Grass Grass
0103     Grass Grass
0104     Monster Monster
0105     Monster Monster
0106     Human-Like Human-Like
0107     Human-Like Human-Like
0108     Monster Monster
0109     Amorphous Amorphous
0110     Amorphous Amorphous
0111     Monster Field
0112     Monster Field
0113     Fairy Fairy
0114     Grass Grass
0115     Monster Monster
0116     Water 1 Dragon
0117     Water 1 Dragon
0118     Water 2 Water 2
0119     Water 2 Water 2
0120     Water 3 Water 3
0121     Water 3 Water 3
0122     Human-Like Human-Like
0123     Bug Bug
0124     Human-Like Human-Like
0125     Human-Like Human-Like
0126     Human-Like Human-Like
0127     Bug Bug
0128     Field Field
0130     Water 2 Dragon
0131     Monster Water 1
0133     Field Field
0134     Field Field
0135     Field Field
0136     Field Field
0137     Mineral Mineral
0138     Water 1 Water 3
0139     Water 1 Water 3
0140     Water 1 Water 3
0141     Water 1 Water 3
0142     Flying Flying
0143     Monster Monster
0144     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
0145     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
0146     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
0147     Water 1 Dragon
0148     Water 1 Dragon
0149     Water 1 Dragon
0150     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
0151     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
0152     Monster Grass
0153     Monster Grass
0154     Monster Grass
0155     Field Field
0156     Field Field
0157     Field Field
0158     Monster Water 1
0159     Monster Water 1
0160     Monster Water 1
0161     Field Field
0162     Field Field
0163     Flying Flying
0164     Flying Flying
0165     Bug Bug
0166     Bug Bug
0167     Bug Bug
0168     Bug Bug
0169     Flying Flying
0170     Water 2 Water 2
0171     Water 2 Water 2
0172     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
0173     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
0174     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
0175     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
0176     Fairy Flying
0177     Flying Flying
0178     Flying Flying
0179     Monster Field
0180     Monster Field
0181     Monster Field
0182     Grass Grass
0183     Water 1 Fairy
0184     Water 1 Fairy
0185     Mineral Mineral
0186     Water 1 Water 1
0187     Fairy Grass
0188     Fairy Grass
0189     Fairy Grass
0190     Field Field
0191     Grass Grass
0192     Grass Grass
0193     Bug Bug
0194     Water 1 Field
0195     Water 1 Field
0196     Field Field
0197     Field Field
0198     Flying Flying
0199     Monster Water 1
0200     Amorphous Amorphous
0203     Field Field
0204     Bug Bug
0205     Bug Bug
0206     Field Field
0207     Bug Bug
0208     Mineral Mineral
0209     Field Fairy
0210     Field Fairy
0211     Water 2 Water 2
0212     Bug Bug
0213     Bug Bug
0214     Bug Bug
0215     Field Field
0216     Field Field
0217     Field Field
0218     Amorphous Amorphous
0219     Amorphous Amorphous
0220     Field Field
0221     Field Field
0222     Water 1 Water 3
0223     Water 1 Water 2
0224     Water 1 Water 2
0225     Water 1 Field
0226     Water 1 Water 1
0227     Flying Flying
0228     Field Field
0229     Field Field
0230     Water 1 Dragon
0231     Field Field
0232     Field Field
0233     Mineral Mineral
0234     Field Field
0236     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
0237     Human-Like Human-Like
0238     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
0239     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
0240     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
0241     Field Field
0242     Fairy Fairy
0243     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
0244     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
0245     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
0246     Monster Monster
0247     Monster Monster
0248     Monster Monster
0249     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
0250     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
0251     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
0252     Monster Dragon
0253     Monster Dragon
0254     Monster Dragon
0255     Field Field
0256     Field Field
0257     Field Field
0258     Monster Water 1
0259     Monster Water 1
0260     Monster Water 1
0261     Field Field
0262     Field Field
0263     Field Field
0264     Field Field
0267     Bug Bug
0269     Bug Bug
0270     Water 1 Grass
0271     Water 1 Grass
0272     Water 1 Grass
0273     Field Grass
0274     Field Grass
0275     Field Grass
0276     Flying Flying
0277     Flying Flying
0278     Water 1 Flying
0279     Water 1 Flying
0280     Amorphous Amorphous
0281     Amorphous Amorphous
0282     Amorphous Amorphous
0283     Water 1 Bug
0284     Water 1 Bug
0285     Fairy Grass
0286     Fairy Grass
0287     Field Field
0288     Field Field
0289     Field Field
0290     Bug Bug
0291     Bug Bug
0292     Mineral Mineral
0293     Monster Field
0294     Monster Field
0295     Monster Field
0296     Human-Like Human-Like
0297     Human-Like Human-Like
0298     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
0299     Mineral Mineral
0300     Field Fairy
0301     Field Fairy
0302     Human-Like Human-Like
0303     Field Fairy
0304     Monster Monster
0305     Monster Monster
0306     Monster Monster
0307     Human-Like Human-Like
0308     Human-Like Human-Like
0309     Field Field
0310     Field Field
0311     Fairy Fairy
0312     Fairy Fairy
0313     Human-Like Bug
0314     Human-Like Bug
0315     Fairy Grass
0316     Amorphous Amorphous
0317     Amorphous Amorphous
0318     Water 2 Water 2
0319     Water 2 Water 2
0320     Field Water 2
0321     Field Water 2
0322     Field Field
0323     Field Field
0324     Field Field
0325     Field Field
0326     Field Field
0327     Field Human-Like
0328     Bug Bug
0329     Bug Bug
0330     Bug Bug
0331     Human-Like Grass
0332     Grass Human-Like
0333     Dragon Flying
0334     Dragon Flying
0335     Field Field
0336     Field Dragon
0337     Mineral Mineral
0338     Mineral Mineral
0339     Water 2 Water 2
0340     Water 2 Water 2
0341     Water 1 Water 3
0342     Water 1 Water 3
0343     Mineral Mineral
0344     Mineral Mineral
0345     Water 3 Water 3
0346     Water 3 Water 3
0347     Water 3 Water 3
0348     Water 3 Water 3
0349     Water 1 Dragon
0350     Water 1 Dragon
0351     Fairy Amorphous
0352     Field Field
0353     Amorphous Amorphous
0354     Amorphous Amorphous
0355     Amorphous Amorphous
0356     Amorphous Amorphous
0357     Monster Grass
0358     Amorphous Amorphous
0359     Field Field
0361     Fairy Mineral
0362     Fairy Mineral
0363     Water 1 Field
0364     Water 1 Field
0365     Water 1 Field
0366     Water 1 Water 1
0367     Water 1 Water 1
0368     Water 1 Water 1
0369     Water 1 Water 2
0370     Water 2 Water 2
0371     Dragon Dragon
0372     Dragon Dragon
0373     Dragon Dragon
0375     Mineral Mineral
0376     Mineral Mineral
0377     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
0378     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
0379     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
0380     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
0381     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
0382     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
0383     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
0384     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
0385     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
0386  
Deoxys
Normal Forme
  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
386A  
Deoxys
Attack Forme
  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
386D  
Deoxys
Defense Forme
  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
386S  
Deoxys
Speed Forme
  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
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
0185     Mineral Mineral New York City Pokémon Center
0204     Bug Bug 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

 
Greninja using Substitute

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Substitute turns the foe in front into a decoy, causing other foes to attack it.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U

Substitute is the down special move for Greninja. The substitute doll it summons resembles those from the main games, though it can also summon a log. The move functions as a counter, attacking opponents who hit Greninja while it is posing. Additionally, there is a trophy of the substitute doll in the Wii U version of the game.

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.

Description

Games Description
MDRB The target gains the Decoy status, making it the target of its fellow Pokémon.


Sprites

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Missing the substitute images from Generation VI
         
A substitute from
Generations I and II
A substitute from
Stadium and Stadium 2
A substitute from
Generation III
      
A substitute from
Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team
A substitute from
Generation IV
A substitute from
Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky
  
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 the Pokémon Battle Frontier manga


In other generations

Trivia

 
A substitute "levitating"
 
A substitute in place of Masahiro Sakurai
  • In most games, the decoy and the Pokémon will switch places when the Pokémon executes a move. The only exception is in Pokémon Battle Revolution, where the battle animations play out as if the substitute was the one performing the move. It generally remains stationary, except when using moves like Fly or Bounce.
  • In the Generation I and II games, the substitute resembles the Pokémon Rhydon.
  • Shedinja can learn Substitute despite being incapable of using it, as its HP is too low to create a substitute.
  • Substitutes are interpreted differently throughout all forms of Pokémon canon. In the games, a substitute is seen as an inanimate decoy which simply stands in for the Pokémon. In the anime, substitutes are seen to be 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 substitutes.
  • The Plush Toy enemy in the Mystery Doors of the Magical Land Series movie in Pokéstar Studios is similar to a substitute.
  • In Pokémon Stadium, glitch Pokémon will appear as the substitutes. The color will vary, however, due to the player's ID and the glitch Pokémon's name. This is because the game treats the glitch Pokémon's name as a nickname, which cause Pokémon to change colors in the Stadium series.
  • In Generation VI, the size of the substitute depends on the size of the Pokémon using it. For example, a substitute made by a Kyurem will be bigger than that of a Flabébé.
  • In the Pokémon Origins episode File 4: Charizard, a Growlithe can be seen playing with a substitute plushie in Mr Fuji's Pokémon House.
  • During Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Direct on April 8, 2014, a substitute plushie is seen in place of Masahiro Sakurai as he goes to showcase some of the Pokémon available from the Poké Ball and Master Ball items.
  • In Under the Pledging Tree!, a Substitute doll was one of the items offered to Ash by a market vendor in Coumarine City.


In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 替身 Tìshēn
  Danish Reserve
  Dutch Kloon
  French Clonage
  German Delegator
  Greek Υποκατάσταση
  Indonesian Menyamar
Perasuk
  Italian Sostituto
  Korean 대타출동 Daetachuldong
  Polish Zastępca
  Brazilian Portuguese Substituição
  Romanian Substituirea
  Serbian Izmena
Spanish   Latin America Sustitución (DP095)
Sustituto (M11, BW063)
Señuelo* (DP142)
  Spain Sustituto
  Vietnamese Hoán Đổi


References

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
Generation VI TMs
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242526
2728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152
5354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778
798081828384858687888990919293 • 94 (XYORAS) • 9596979899100
Generation VI HMs
010203040506ORAS07ORAS
Generation VII TMs
SMUSUM
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920
2122232425262728293031323334353637383940
4142434445464748495051525354555657585960
6162636465666768697071727374757677787980
81828384858687888990919293949596979899100
PE
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920
2122232425262728293031323334353637383940
4142434445464748495051525354555657585960


  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.