String Shot (move)

String Shot
いとをはく Spit Thread
String Shot IX.png
[[File:|300px|center]]
Type  Bug
Category  Status
PP  40 (max. 64)
Power  —
Accuracy  95%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
Affects all adjacent foes, but not allies
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  3 ♥♥♥
Startles the Pokémon that appealed before the user.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Prevents the Voltage from going down in the same turn.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jamming  3 ♥♥♥
Startles the last Pokémon to act before the user.

String Shot (Japanese: いとをはく Spit Thread) is a non-damaging Bug-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Generations I to II

String Shot decreases the targets' Speed stat by one stage.

In the Generation I and II core series games, when an in-game opponent outside of the Battle Tower uses String Shot, the move has a 25% chance to fail in addition to its normal chance to miss.

Generations III to V

In battles with multiple opponents, String Shot targets all adjacent foes.

String Shot can be used as the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing Spider Web to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn.

Generation VI onwards

String Shot now decreases the targets' Speed stat by two stages.

String Shot can also be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, causing any of the moves Electroweb, Spider Web and Sticky Web to give an extra three appeal points if used in the next turn.

If powered up by a Buginium Z into Z-String Shot, the user's Speed stat is raised by one stage.

Description

Games Description
StadStad2 Strings are sprayed out and wrapped around the target to reduces its Speed.
GSC A move that lowers the foe's Speed.
RSEColo.XD Binds the foe with string to reduce its Speed.
FRLG The foe is bound with strings shot from the mouth to reduce its Speed.
DPPtHGSSPBR The foe is bound with silk blown from the user's mouth. It reduces the target's Speed stat.
BWB2W2 The targets are bound with silk blown from the user's mouth. This silk reduces the targets' Speed stat.
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
The opposing Pokémon are bound with silk blown from the user's mouth that harshly lowers the Speed stat.
SwShBDSP Opposing Pokémon are bound with silk blown from the user's mouth that harshly lowers the Speed stat.
SV The user blows silk from its mouth that binds opposing Pokémon and harshly lowers their Speed stats.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0010     Bug Bug 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0012    
 
Bug Bug 1 1
0013    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0015    
 
Bug Bug 1
0167    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0168    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0193    
 
Bug Bug 30
0265     Bug Bug 1 1 1 1 1 1
0267    
 
Bug Bug 1
0269    
 
Bug Bug 1
0412  
Burmy
All forms
  Bug Bug 20
0413  
Wormadam
All forms
 
 
Bug Bug 20
0414    
 
Bug Bug 20
0469    
 
Bug Bug 30
0540    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1
0541    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1
0542    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1
0595    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 12 12
0596    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 12 12
0636    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1 1
0637    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1 1
0664     Bug Bug 1 1 1
0684     Fairy Fairy 21
0685     Fairy Fairy 21
0736     Bug Bug 4 5 5
0737    
 
Bug Bug 1, 4 1 1
0738    
 
Bug Bug 1, 4 1 1
0917     Bug Bug 1
0918     Bug Bug 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 Egg Groups Egg Move
0636    
 
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 Move Tutor

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Compatibility
0001    
 
Monster Grass
0002    
 
Monster Grass
0003    
 
Monster Grass
0010     Bug Bug
0011     Bug Bug
0012    
 
Bug Bug
0013    
 
Bug Bug
0014    
 
Bug Bug
0015    
 
Bug Bug
0046    
 
Bug Grass
0047    
 
Bug Grass
0048    
 
Bug Bug
0049    
 
Bug Bug
0127     Bug Bug
0151     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0165    
 
Bug Bug
0166    
 
Bug Bug
0167    
 
Bug Bug
0168    
 
Bug Bug
0193    
 
Bug Bug
0204     Bug Bug
0205    
 
Bug Bug
0213    
 
Bug Bug
0223     Water 1 Water 2
0224     Water 1 Water 2
0226    
 
Water 1 Water 1
0265     Bug Bug
0266     Bug Bug
0267    
 
Bug Bug
0268     Bug Bug
0269    
 
Bug Bug
0283    
 
Water 1 Bug
0284    
 
Water 1 Bug
0290    
 
Bug Bug
0291    
 
Bug Bug
0292    
 
Mineral Mineral
0313     Bug Human-Like
0314     Bug Human-Like
0345    
 
Water 3 Water 3
0346    
 
Water 3 Water 3
0347    
 
Water 3 Water 3
0348    
 
Water 3 Water 3
0401     Bug Bug
0402     Bug Bug
0412     Bug Bug
0413  
Wormadam
All forms
 
 
Bug Bug
0414    
 
Bug Bug
0415    
 
Bug Bug
0416    
 
Bug Bug
0422  
Shellos
All forms
  Water 1 Amorphous
0423  
Gastrodon
All forms
 
 
Water 1 Amorphous
0469    
 
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.


In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

String Shot lowers the Travel Speed of the target by one stage. This move is affected by Magic Coat.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB - - 16 - 75% - 10 tiles away All Yes
MDTDS - - 16 - 75% - 10 tiles away All Yes
BSL - - 16 - 75% - 10 tiles away All Yes
MDGtI - - 18 50 80% 98% 10 tiles away All Yes
SMD - - 18 40 80% 98% 4 tiles away Enemy Yes
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including String Shot could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. String Shot could be seen as a move used by Boss Grubbin.

  String Shot
Charge time 1.06 seconds
Range type Arc (wide)
Target Enemy
Additional effect None

Description

Games Description
MDRB Reduces the target's Movement Speed by one level, even at a distance.
MDTDS Reduces the target's Movement Speed by 1 level, even at a distance.
BSL はなれたポケモンの いどうそくどを 1だんかいさげる
MDGtI It reduces even a faraway Pokémon's Travel Speed.
SMD
MDRTDX
It reduces the Travel Speed of a Pokémon, even one far away.


In the anime

Main series

 
Leavanny
 
Spewpa
 
Vikavolt
 
Caterpie
The user blows silk from its mouth that binds opposing Pokémon.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Caterpie shoots white string from its mouth at the opponent, tying them up. Caterpie can also shoot it from its rear end to hang from trees.
Ash's Caterpie Ash Catches a Pokémon Debut
Multiple Caterpie from the Azalea Gym Gettin' the Bugs Out None
Bucky's Caterpie The Dunsparce Deception None
Multiple wild Caterpie Celebi: The Voice of the Forest None
Multiple wild Caterpie For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll! None
Zander's Caterpie Caterpie's Big Dilemma None
A wild Caterpie Butterfree and Me! None
Goh's Caterpie Getting More Than You Battled For! None
A wild Caterpie The Same Moon, Now and Forever! None
Two wild Caterpie The Treasure After the Storm! None
  Spinarak shoots a white string from its mouth or its abdomen and ties the opponent up.
Officer Jenny's Spinarak Spinarak Attack None
Bugsy's Spinarak Gettin' the Bugs Out None
A wild Spinarak Pikachu and Pichu None
Dr. Anna's Spinarak Hassle in the Castle None
Multiple wild Spinarak Ariados, Amigos None
Multiple wild Spinarak Celebi: The Voice of the Forest None
Multiple wild Spinarak For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll! None
Three wild Spinarak Hocus Pokémon None
A wild Spinarak Abandon Ship! None
  Metapod shoots white string from the middle of its body and ties up the opponent. Sometimes, the middle of its body glows while shooting thread.
Multiple Metapod from the Azalea Gym Gettin' the Bugs Out None
Ash's Metapod I Choose You! None
  Weedle shoots white string from its mouth and ties up the opponent.
Multiple Weedle from the Azalea Gym Gettin' the Bugs Out None
Multiple wild Weedle Celebi: The Voice of the Forest None
Multiple wild Weedle For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll! None
Two wild Weedle The Treasure After the Storm! None
  Kakuna shoots white strings from the hole right below its head at the opponent, tying it up. It can also shoot string from the back of its head to hang from trees.
Multiple Kakuna from the Azalea Gym Gettin' the Bugs Out None
  Ariados shoots multiple white strings from its mouth or abdomen at the opponent, tying it up.
Tōkichi's Ariados Ariados, Amigos None
Multiple wild Ariados For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll! None
Oakley's Ariados Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias None
Forrester Franklin's Ariados All in a Day's Wurmple None
Harley's Ariados A Hurdle for Squirtle None
A Trainer's Ariados From Cradle to Save None
Multiple wild Ariados Following a Maiden's Voyage! None
J's Ariados Mutiny in the Bounty! None
An Ariados captured by Kellyn's Capture Styler Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part 1 None
An Ariados Angie used briefly One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team! None
A wild Ariados Historical Mystery Tour! None
Multiple wild Ariados DPS01 None
A wild Ariados A Slippery Encounter! None
A wild Ariados Defending the Homeland! None
A ninja's Ariados The Legend of the Ninja Hero! None
A wild Ariados Time After Time! None
Doctor Zed's four Ariados Secrets of the Jungle None
Ilunas's Ariados Night and Day, You are the Ones! None
  Beautifly shoots a white string from its mouth at the opponent, tying it up.
Janet's Beautifly All Things Bright and Beautifly! None
May's Beautifly Now That's Flower Power! None
  Wurmple shoots white string from its mouth at the opponent. It can also shoot string from in between the two large horns behind it to hang from trees.
May's Wurmple All in a Day's Wurmple None
Jessie's Wurmple Which Wurmple's Which? None
Goh's two Wurmple Best Friend...Worst Nightmare! None
  One of Silcoon's horns comes out and it releases a thin white string from it, allowing Silcoon to hang from it; or, Silcoon shoots white string from the front of its face at the opponent, tying it up.
May's Silcoon A Mudkip Mission None
  Cascoon releases a thin white string from the front of its face at the opponent, tying it up.
Jessie's Cascoon The Three Team Scheme! None
  Skitty releases a white string from a white orb on its paw at the opponent, tying it up.
May's Skitty All Torkoal, No Play Used via Assist
  Sewaddle releases a stream of white sticky string from its mouth at the opponent. It can also shoot string from the back of its head to hang from trees.
Ash's Sewaddle Sewaddle and Burgh in Pinwheel Forest! None
  Leavanny releases a stream of sticky white string from its mouth at the opponent.
Burgh's Leavanny Sewaddle and Burgh in Pinwheel Forest! None
Ash's Leavanny Rocking the Virbank Gym! Part 1 None
A Trainer's Leavanny Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot! None
Team Rocket's Leavanny Suffering the Flings and Arrows! None
  Swadloon opens its mouth and fires one or three white sticky strings from its mouth at the opponent. When the strings reach the opponent, they wrap themselves around its body.
Ash's Swadloon Battling For The Love of Bug-Types! None
A Trainer's Swadloon Lost at the Stamp Rally! None
A Trainer's Swadloon Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot! None
  Larvesta releases a white stream of sticky string from its mouth at the opponent. When the string hits the opponent, it wraps itself around its body.
Luke's Larvesta The Club Battle Hearts of Fury: Emolga Versus Sawk! None
  Galvantula releases a thick white stream of sticky string from its mouth at the opponent. When the string gets near the opponent, it wraps itself around its body.
Two wild Galvantula Crisis at Chargestone Cave! None
  Spewpa shoots a stream of white thread from its mouth at the opponent, preventing it from moving by tying it up.
A wild Spewpa To Catch a Pokémon Smuggler! None
  Grubbin shoots a stream of white thread from its mouth at the opponent, preventing it from moving by tying it up.
A wild Grubbin First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Style! None
A wild Grubbin Secrets of the Jungle None
  Charjabug shoots a stream of white thread from its mouth at the opponent, preventing it from moving by tying it up.
Sophocles's Charjabug Mounting an Electrifying Charge! None
  Vikavolt shoots a stream of white thread from its mouth at the opponent, preventing it from moving by tying it up.
Sophocles's Vikavolt A High-Speed Awakening! None
Sterling's Vikavolt Narrowing the Chaser Chase! None


Pokémon Origins

 
Metapod


The foe is bound with silk blown from the user.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Metapod shoots white, sticky string from the middle of its body and ties up the opponent, reducing its speed
Red's Metapod File 1: Red Debut


Pokémon Generations

 
Caterpie


The foe is bound with silk blown from the user's mouth.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Caterpie shoots white, sticky strings from its mouth at the opponent.
A wild Caterpie The Adventure Debut


In the manga

Ash & Pikachu


How I Became a Pokémon Card


Movie adaptations


Pokémon Adventures


  • Janine's Ariados was revealed to know String Shot on the official website, but he was never shown using the move.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!


Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys


Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All


Pokémon Pocket Monsters


Pokémon RéBURST


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

  • String Shot is the only Bug-type status move that has an accuracy less than 100%.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 吐絲 Tousī
Mandarin 吐絲 / 吐丝 Tǔsī
  Czech Zámotkový útok
  Danish Trådskud
  Dutch Bindschot
  Finnish Rihmaisku*
Narulaukaus (M05)
  French Sécrétion
  German Fadenschuss
  Greek Νηματική Έκκριση
  Hindi धागा छोरो Dhaga Choro
  Indonesian Tembakan Benang
  Italian Millebave
  Korean 실뿜기 Silppumgi
  Polish Pajęcza Nić*
Strzał Siecią*
Portuguese   Brazil Estilingada (BW103–present, TCG)
Jato de Seda (AG021AG035, DP071BW083)
Tiro de Estilingue (EP003, AG050AG062, DP020)
Other names include: Lançador de Teia*,
Lança-Teia*, Ataque de Seda*, Teia*, Estilingue*,
Fio de Seda*, Rajada de Corda*, Lançar Fio*
  Portugal Arremesso de Teia (anime)
Estilingada (TCG)
  Romanian Salva de Lovituri
  Serbian Struna
Spanish   Latin America Disparo de Seda (EP003, BW018-present)
Telaraña* (EP144, AG014)
Hilo de Seda (EP191)
Lanza Hilos (M05)
Resortera (AG013)
Ataque de Hilo (AG021)
Hilo (AG025-AG033)
Lanza Hilo (AG058)
Tiro de Hielo (AG142, DP071)
Tiro de Hilo (AG144-DP020)
Lanza Seda (DP153)
  Spain Disparo Demora*
Disp. Demora*
  Swedish Stringskott
  Vietnamese Phóng Tơ


  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.