SOS Battle

SOS redirects here. For SOS mail, see Wonder Mail.

An SOS Battle (Japanese: 乱入バトル Intruder Battle) is a type of Pokémon battle in the Generation VII games, introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon. An SOS Battle is a battle in which a wild Pokémon calls for help from allies, turning a normal one-on-one wild battle into a two-on-one battle.

A Totem Pokémon calling for an ally in an SOS Battle
An ally appearing in an SOS Battle

In the Generation VII core series games, once the player clears Ilima's trial at Verdant Cavern, battles with wild Pokémon can turn into SOS Battles. Trial Pokémon (excluding Totem Pokémon and the Pokémon in Lana's Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon trial), Island Scan Pokémon, Legendary Pokémon, and Ultra Beasts do not call for help. Totem Pokémon always call for help, but use different mechanics than other wild Pokémon.

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Pokémon that can only be found through SOS Battles will have an Adrenaline Orb next to the icons showing where they can be found when looking up their locations on the Rotom Pokédex.

Mechanics

At the end of a turn, a wild Pokémon may attempt to call for help if it does not already have an ally. If its call is successful, that ally will appear in battle.

When an ally appears, it is affected by any entry hazards and any of its Abilities that activate when it enters battle (such as Intimidate) will activate.

If the player's Pokémon currently in battle has the Ability Synchronize when the ally is called, there is a 50% chance that the ally will have the same Nature as that Pokémon (however, due to a bug, if the Pokémon with Synchronize was not originally in the first slot of the party and moved to it during the battle, the called Pokémon will synchronize to the Nature of the Pokémon that was originally in the first slot, instead of the Nature of the Pokémon with Synchronize that replaced it).

Totem Pokémon

In battles with a Totem Pokémon, at the end of the first turn, it will always call for help. A Totem Pokémon's calls are always answered. Totem Pokémon only have a predefined set of allies they can call during battle (usually two); once those allies have fainted, they cannot be called again.

Totem Pokémon with two allies will call a specific ally on its first turn, and call the other ally if its HP is below 2/3 (once the first ally has been defeated). If its HP drops below 2/3 before it has a chance to call an ally, it will call the latter ally first, then call the first ally at the first opportunity after its other ally has fainted. Once one of these allies is defeated, it cannot be called again.

Unlike other Totem Pokémon, Totem Salazzle can call an unlimited number of allies, as can Totem GumshoosUS/RaticateUM during the rematch against it when attempting to return Ilima's Normalium Z.

Brooklet Hill special Pokémon

In Pokémon Sun and Moon, in the leadup to Lana's trial at Brooklet Hill, the player has to battle two Wishiwashi. The second of these Wishiwashi will successfully call for help every turn. This Wishiwashi will even call for help when it has a status condition.

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, during Lana's trial at Brooklet Hill, the player has to drive Wishiwashi downstream. In the third lake in the area (the second that is part of the trial), both the Wishiwashi and optional Dewpider will successfully call for help every turn as long as it does not already have an ally (even if it has a status condition). They always call allies of the same species. If the original Pokémon is defeated, the Pokémon originally called as an ally will no longer call for help.

Other wild Pokémon

In regular wild Pokémon battles, at the end of a turn, if there is only one wild Pokémon on the field, it may call for an ally. Sometimes, no ally answers this call. In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, a wild Pokémon will only call one ally per battle, unless the player uses an Adrenaline Orb. Wild Pokémon that have a non-volatile status condition or are in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig will not attempt to call for allies.

The chance that a given Pokémon will call for help depends on its species, by default being equal to its base call rate (in percent).[1] Species with a call rate of 0% (most Pokémon that exclusively appear as allies in SOS Battles) never call for help. The call rate can be increased by multipliers under certain conditions, with the multipliers stacking multiplicatively if multiple are applicable.

  • The call rate is multiplied by a factor of 3 if the calling Pokémon's remaining HP is between 20% and 50% of its maximum HP (i.e. if its HP bar is yellow).
  • The call rate is multiplied by a factor of 5 if the calling Pokémon's remaining HP is below 20% (i.e. the HP bar is red).
  • The call rate is multiplied by a factor of 2 if an Adrenaline Orb has been used in the battle. The Adrenaline Orb can only be used once per battle and will fail if used repeatedly (wasting a turn without being consumed).

The chance that a call for help is answered by an ally depends on several factors, by default being equal to four times the species' call rate (in percent).[1] The answer rate can be increased by multipliers under certain conditions, with the multipliers being cumulative if more than one is applicable.

  • The answer rate is multiplied by a factor of 1.2 if the player's leading Pokémon has Intimidate, Unnerve or Pressure.
  • The answer rate is multiplied by a factor of 1.5 if the wild Pokémon called for help on the previous turn and is calling again consecutively, regardless of whether the previous call was answered or not.
  • The answer rate is multiplied by a factor of 3 if the Pokémon's most recent call for help was not answered.
  • The answer rate is multiplied by a factor of 2 if the calling Pokémon was hit by, and survived, a super effective move earlier in the same turn that it makes the call. Whether any other Pokémon was hit by a super effective move, and possibly fainted as a result, does not affect eligibility for this factor.

Within an SOS Battle, the chance for the called Pokémon to be Shiny, have perfect IVs, or have its Hidden Ability increases with the number of answered calls.[2] In Pokémon Sun and Moon, after 255 Pokémon have been called into battle, the counter rolls over and these rates go back to their default values but will continue to rise as usual after more Pokémon are called in.[3] In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, this restriction does not exist - the counter will stop counting at 255 and all bonuses will remain in effect. If a Pokémon successfully calls an ally, all EVs earned by defeating a Pokémon are doubled for the rest of the battle (including those from Power items).

Chain length Perfect IVs Hidden Ability chance Shiny Rolls
5 1 0% 1
10 2 5% 1
11 2 5% 5
20 3 10% 5
21 3 10% 9
30 4 15% 9
31 4 15% 13

SOS Battle allies

Most wild Pokémon only call for allies of the same species as themselves. The list below describes all Pokémon that can summon allies that are not of the same species as the original encounter.

Games Pokémon Possible allies Notes
SM USUM   Caterpie   Caterpie   Butterfree Anywhere but Route 1
SM   Metapod   Caterpie Only on Route 1
SM USUM   Metapod   Caterpie   Butterfree Anywhere but Route 1
USUM   Rattata   Rattata   Raticate Only on Route 8
USUM   Zubat   Zubat   Golbat Only in Diglett's Tunnel and Memorial Hill
SM   Golbat   Golbat   Crobat Only in Resolution Cave
USUM   Golbat   Golbat   Crobat Only in Resolution Cave and Lush Jungle
US   Dugtrio   Dugtrio   Golett Only at Haina Desert
UM   Dugtrio   Dugtrio   Baltoy Only at Haina Desert
USUM   Meowth   Meowth   Persian Only at Malie Garden
USUM   Psyduck   Psyduck   Zubat Only while surfing in Seaward Cave
SM   Tentacruel   Tentacruel   Lumineon Some encounters at Poni Wilds
SM   Slowpoke   Slowpoke   Slowbro Only at Kala'e Bay
USUM   Slowpoke   Slowpoke   Slowbro   Slowking Only at Kala'e Bay
SM USUM   Haunter   Haunter   Gengar
SM USUM   Cubone   Cubone   Kangaskhan
USUM   Chansey   Chansey   Blissey
SM USUM   Goldeen   Goldeen   Seaking
SM   Staryu   Staryu   Starmie Only on Route 7
USUM   Staryu   Staryu   Starmie
SM USUM   Tauros   Tauros   Miltank
SM USUM   Magikarp   Magikarp   Gyarados
SM USUM   Eevee   Eevee   Espeon Only during the day
SM USUM   Eevee   Eevee   Umbreon Only during the night
SM USUM   Dratini   Dratini   Dragonair Anywhere but Poni Gauntlet
SM USUM   Dratini   Dratini   Dragonair   Dragonite Only at Poni Gauntlet
USUM   Hoothoot   Hoothoot   Noctowl
USUM   Chinchou   Chinchou   Lanturn
SM USUM   Pichu   Pichu   Pikachu   Happiny
SM   Cleffa   Cleffa   Clefairy   Chansey
USUM   Cleffa   Cleffa   Clefairy   Happiny
SM USUM   Igglybuff   Igglybuff   Jigglypuff   Happiny
USUM   Natu   Natu   Xatu
USUM   Aipom   Aipom   Ambipom
SM USUM   Corsola   Corsola   Mareanie Mareanie will attack Corsola before targeting the player's Pokémon.
USUM   Remoraid   Remoraid   Octillery
USUM   Smoochum   Smoochum   Jynx   Happiny
SM   Elekid   Elekid   Electabuzz   Chansey
USUM   Elekid   Elekid   Electabuzz   Happiny
SM   Magby   Magby   Magmar
USUM   Magby   Magby   Magmar   Happiny
SM USUM   Miltank   Miltank   Tauros
USUM   Carvanha   Carvanha   Sharpedo
SM USUM   Wailmer   Wailmer   Wailord Only while fishing
US   Trapinch   Trapinch   Golett
UM   Trapinch   Trapinch   Baltoy
SM USUM   Barboach   Barboach   Whiscash
USUM   Corphish   Corphish   Crawdaunt
SM   Snorunt   Snorunt   Glalie Only at Mount Lanakila
USUM   Clamperl   Clamperl   Huntail Only during the night
USUM   Clamperl   Clamperl   Gorebyss Only during the day
SM USUM   Bagon   Bagon   Shelgon Only at Kala'e Bay
SM USUM   Bagon   Bagon   Salamence Only on Route 3
USUM   Buneary   Buneary   Lopunny Only in Poni Grove (all encounters during the day, some encounters at night)
SM USUM   Bonsly   Bonsly   Sudowoodo   Happiny
USUM   Mime Jr.   Mime Jr.   Mr. Mime   Happiny
SM USUM   Munchlax   Munchlax   Snorlax   Happiny
SM   Riolu   Riolu   Lucario   Chansey
USUM   Riolu   Riolu   Lucario   Happiny
USUM   Finneon   Finneon   Lumineon Only in Route 15
USUM   Mantyke   Mantyke   Remoraid
US   Krokorok   Krokorok   Golett
UM   Krokorok   Krokorok   Baltoy
USUM   Scraggy   Scraggy   Fearow Some encounters on Route 17 at night
SM   Trubbish   Trubbish   Garbodor
USUM   Druddigon   Druddigon   Golbat Some encounters at Resolution Cave at night
USUM   Bisharp   Pawniard
USUM   Larvesta   Larvesta   Volcarona
USUM   Fletchling   Fletchling   Fletchinder
SM USUM   Pancham   Pancham   Pangoro
USUM   Dedenne   Dedenne   Togedemaru
SM USUM   Carbink   Carbink   Sableye Only in caves. Sableye will attack Carbink before targeting the player's Pokémon.
SM   Trumbeak   Pikipek Only on Route 8
USUM   Trumbeak   Trumbeak   Toucannon Only on Route 11, Poni Grove, and Poni Plains
USUM   Yungoos   Yungoos   Gumshoos Only on Route 8
USUM   Charjabug   Grubbin   Vikavolt Only during the day
USUM   Mudbray   Mudbray   Mudsdale Only on Route 12 and Blush Mountain
USUM   Salandit   Salandit   Salazzle Only in Wela Volcano Park and Lush Jungle
USUM   Salandit   Salandit   Stufful Some encounters on Route 8 at night
S US   Passimian   Trumbeak
M UM   Oranguru   Trumbeak
USUM   Pyukumuku   Pyukumuku   Wingull Some encounters on Hano Beach at night
USUM   Togedemaru   Togedemaru   Dedenne
SM USUM   Jangmo-o   Hakamo-o   Kommo-o
Weather-dependent allies

In certain locations, when Pokémon call for allies, a special ally may appear if there is a weather condition in effect in the battle and Cloud Nine or Air Lock is not in effect. This includes weather caused by moves or Abilities during the battle. Castform can appear in any location where weather can affect the allies Pokémon can call, but aside from Castform, each location has a specific Pokémon that can be called in a specific weather (which usually occurs naturally there, though not always persistently).

If special allies can appear, they always have a combined 11% chance of appearing over allies appearing in the usual, species-dependent way. The table below describes the likelihood of special allies to be called depending on the location and weather.[1][4]

Special ally Rain Hail Sandstorm Location
  Poliwhirl 10% Malie Garden
  Poliwrath 1%Day Malie Garden
  Politoed 1%Night Malie Garden
  Castform 11% 11% Malie Garden
1% 11% 11% Lush Jungle, Route 17, Exeggutor Island
11% 1% 11% Mount LanakilaSM, Mount Lanakila (base)USUM, Tapu Village
11% 11% Mount Lanakila (except base)USUM
11% 11% 1% Haina Desert
  Gabite 10% Haina Desert
  Vanillite 10% Tapu Village, Mount Lanakila (base)USUM
  Vanillish 10% Mount Lanakila (except base and icy cave)
  Vanilluxe 1% Mount Lanakila (except base and icy cave)USUM
  Goomy 10% Lush Jungle, Route 17
  Sliggoo 10% Exeggutor Island

Pokémon that do not call for help

Many Pokémon have a call rate of 0 and will never call for help. Pokémon that can be encountered in the wild that never call for help are Legendary Pokémon, the Ultra Beasts, Pokémon encountered via Island Scan, Pokémon encountered in Ultra Space Wilds, and the Pokémon listed below.

Pokémon
  Butterfree
  Poliwrath
  Gengar
  Electrode
  Exeggutor
  Chansey SM
  Starmie
  Mr. Mime
  Jynx
  Snorlax
  Dragonite
  Crobat
  Sudowoodo
  Politoed
  Espeon
  Umbreon
  Slowking
  Octillery
  Blissey
  Sableye
  Castform
  Huntail
  Gorebyss
  Salamence
  Ambipom
  Happiny
  Gabite
  Lucario
  Basculin
Blue-Striped Form
  Vanillite
  Vanillish
  Vanilluxe
  Pawniard
  Volcarona
  Floette
Orange Flower
  Floette
Blue Flower
  Floette
White Flower
  Pangoro
  Goomy
  Sliggoo
  Toucannon
  Vikavolt
  Mareanie
  Wimpod
  Minior
  Komala
  Kommo-o

In the anime

 
An SOS Battle in the anime

In Big Sky, Small Fry!, an Alomomola appeared to assist Totem Wishiwashi during Lana's Brooklet Hill trial against it.

In Currying Favor and Flavor!, Totem Lurantis called a Castform to help it during Ash's Lush Jungle trial.

Unlike in the games, Trainers in the anime are allowed to use two Pokémon at once during SOS Battles.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon arc

In Flash and Cosmog's Secret, Moon battled a Totem Lurantis for training. During the battle, Lurantis kept calling allies for help, forcing Moon to defeat them before she was able to defeat Lurantis.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 闖入對戰 Chóngyahp Deuijin
Mandarin 闖入對戰 / 闯入对战 Chuǎngrù Duìzhàn
  Czech SOS zápas
  Dutch SOS-gevechten
  French Intrusion
  German Quereinsteiger-Kampf
  Hungarian SOS Harc
  Italian Lotta con rinforzi
  Korean 난입배틀 Nanib Battle
  Polish Walka SOS
  Portuguese Batalha SOS
  Russian Сражение SOS Srazheniye SOS
  Spanish Combate con refuerzos

References


Pokémon battle variations
Double BattleMulti BattleTriple BattleRotation BattleHorde EncounterSOS BattleSupport PlayMax Raid BattleFull Battle
Contest BattleLauncher BattleSky BattleInverse BattleBattle RoyalDynamax AdventureAuto BattleTera Raid Battle
Battle modes


  This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.