Poison Sting (move)

Poison Sting どくばり Poison Needle

Battles Type  Poison Category  Physical PP  35 (max. 56) Power  15 Accuracy  100% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation I Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  3 ♥♥♥ Startles the Pokémon that appealed before the user.

Super Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Prevents the Voltage from going down in the same turn.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Clever Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jamming  3 ♥♥♥ Startles the last Pokémon to act before the user.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Poison Sting (Japanese: どくばり Poison Needle) is a damage-dealing Poison-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Generation I

Poison Sting does damage and has a 20% chance of poisoning the target.

Generation II onward

Poison Sting now has a 30% chance to poison the target.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Category  Physical PP  20 Agile Strong Power  30  20  40 Accuracy  100%  100%  100% Action speed modifier Self  0  0  +5 Target  0  +3  0 Additional effect Chance  50%  50%  100% Turns  5  3  7    ?  ? Inflicts the target with poison

Description

Games Description Stad A Poison-type attack. Has a one-in-five chance of leaving the target with the lingering effects of poison. Stad2 A Poison-type attack. Has a one-in-three chance of leaving the target poisoned. GSC An attack that may poison the target. RSEColoXD A toxic attack with barbs, etc., that may poison. FRLG The foe is stabbed with a toxic barb, etc. It may poison the foe. DPPtHGSSPBR The foe is stabbed with a poisonous barb of some sort. It may also poison the target. BWB2W2 XYORAS SMUSUMPE SwShBDSPLA The user stabs the target with a poisonous stinger. This may also poison the target.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0013		Weedle		Bug		Bug	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1BDSP
0015		Beedrill		Bug		Bug								1, 17BDSP
0023		Ekans		Field	Dragon	10	9	8	4	4	4	4SMUSUM 1PE	4BDSP
0024		Arbok		Field	Dragon	1, 10	1, 9	1, 8	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4SMUSUM 1PE	1, 4BDSP
0027		Sandshrew		Field		Field	24	17	17	9	9BW 5B2W2	5	5SMUSUM 4PE	3SwShBDSP
0028		Sandslash		Field		Field	27	17	17	9	9BW 1, 5B2W2	1, 5	1, 5SMUSUM 1, 4PE	1SwShBDSP
0029		Nidoran♀		Monster	Field	14RGB 17Y	17	17	13	13	13	13SMUSUM 6PE	1SwShBDSP
0030		Nidorina		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	14RGB 19Y	19	18	13	13	13	13SMUSUM 1, 6PE	1SwShBDSP
0031		Nidoqueen		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	14RGB		1	1	1	1	1	1SwShBDSP
0032		Nidoran♂		Monster	Field	14RGB 17Y	17	17	13	13	13	13SMUSUM 6PE	1SwShBDSP
0033		Nidorino		Monster	Field	14RGB 19Y	19	18	13	13	13	13SMUSUM 1, 6PE	1SwShBDSP
0034		Nidoking		Monster	Field	1, 14RGB 1Y	1	1	1	1	1	1	1SwShBDSP
0072		Tentacool		Water 3		Water 3	18	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0073		Tentacruel		Water 3		Water 3	18	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0167		Spinarak		Bug		Bug		1	1	1	1	1	1	1BDSP
0168		Ariados		Bug		Bug		1	1	1	1	1	1	1BDSP
0207		Gligar		Bug		Bug		1	1	1	1	1	1	1BDSPLA
0211		Qwilfish		Water 2		Water 2		1	1	1	1	1	1	1SwShBDSP
211H		Qwilfish Hisuian Form		Water 2		Water 2								1LA
0265		Wurmple		Bug		Bug			5	5	5	5	5	5BDSP 1LA
0266		Silcoon		Bug		Bug								1LA
0267		Beautifly		Bug		Bug								1BDSPLA
0268		Cascoon		Bug		Bug								1LA
0269		Dustox		Bug		Bug								1BDSPLA
0315		Roselia		Fairy	Grass			9	7	7	7	7	1, Evo.SwShBDSP 1LA
0331		Cacnea		Grass	Human-Like			1	1	1	1	1	1BDSP
0332		Cacturne		Grass	Human-Like			1	1	1	1	1	1BDSP
0406		Budew		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								1LA
0407		Roserade		Fairy	Grass				1	1	1	1	1
0416		Vespiquen		Bug		Bug				3	3BW 1B2W2	1	1	1SwShBDSP
0451		Skorupi		Bug	Water 3				1	1	1	1	1
0452		Drapion		Bug	Water 3				1	1	1	1	1
0453		Croagunk		Human-Like		Human-Like				8	8	8	8	1
0454		Toxicroak		Human-Like		Human-Like				1, 8	1, 8	1, 8	1, 8	1
0472		Gliscor		Bug		Bug								1BDSPLA
0543		Venipede		Bug		Bug					5	5	5	1SwSh
0544		Whirlipede		Bug		Bug					1, 5	1, 5	1, 5	1SwSh
0545		Scolipede		Bug		Bug					1, 5	1, 5	1, 5	1SwSh
0592		Frillish		Amorphous		Amorphous								4SwSh
0593		Jellicent		Amorphous		Amorphous								1SwSh
0747		Mareanie		Water 1		Water 1							1	1SwSh
0748		Toxapex		Water 1		Water 1							1	1SwSh
0904		Overqwil		Water 2		Water 2								1LA
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
0595		Joltik		Bug		Bug	✔	✔	✔	✔SwSh
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

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team and Explorers of Time, Darkness and Explorers of Sky, Poison Sting is a move with 3 base power, 19 PP and 73% accuracy. The user targets enemy in the front, while cutting corners, possibly inflicting poison.

Pokémon Conquest

	>

Stars: ★ Power: 12 Accuracy: 100%

Effect: Has a 30% chance of poisoning each target.

Users:

Grid assumes the user is in the square marked by > facing to the right.
Orange squares indicate spaces that are hit.
Red squares indicate the knockback on hit Pokémon.
A blue square indicates the user's position after performing the move.

Pokémon Masters EX

Category	Move Gauge	MP	Base Power	Max Power	Accuracy	Target	Effect Tag	Description
Physical	1	—	12	14	100%	An opponent	—	Has a chance (30%) of leaving the target poisoned.

Past Description

• Prior to Version 2.10.0 (from June 28, 2021): Has a moderate chance of leaving the target poisoned.

Pokémon GO

Poison Sting
Fast Attack
Gyms & Raids Power 5 Energy boost 7 Duration 0.6 seconds Damage window 0.375 - 0.575 seconds
Trainer Battles Power 3 Energy boost 9 Turns 2
Eligible Pokémon:
Standard eligibility By Elite Fast TM By GO Snapshot As Shadow Pokémon As Purified Pokémon Formerly eligible None

Updates

Gyms & Raids

• July 30, 2016
  • Energy boost: 4 → 8
• February 16, 2017
  • Duration: 0.575 → 1.075 seconds
• February 21, 2017
  • Power: 6 → 5
  • Energy boost: 8 → 7
  • Duration: 1.075 → 0.6 seconds

Trainer Battles

• November 9, 2020
  • Energy boost: 6 → 8
• May 31, 2021
  • Energy boost: 8 → 9

Description

Games Description MDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It may also leave the target poisoned, damaging it over several turns. MDTDS Inflicts damage on the target. It may also afflict the targeted enemy with a Poisoned status condition, which causes periodic damage. BSL てきポケモンに ダメージをあたえる しかも いっていのかくりつで どくじょうたいにして いっていターンごとに ダメージを あたえる Conq. Sting the enemy with a poisoned needle. May poison the target. MDGtI It damages an enemy. It could also cause the Poisoned status condition. With the Poisoned status, the enemy keeps taking damage and can't restore its HP naturally. SMD It damages an enemy. It could also make the enemy poisoned.

In the anime

Main series

Toxapex Roserade Tentacruel Skorupi
The user stabs the target with a poisonous stinger. This may also poison the target.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Weedle jumps at the opponent with its stinger pointed at it and stabs it.
A wild Weedle	Challenge of the Samurai		Debut
	Beedrill stabs the opponent with its body stinger.
Multiple wild Beedrill	Challenge of the Samurai		None
Jeanette Fisher's Beedrill	The Fourth Round Rumble		None
Multiple wild Beedrill	A Battle of Aerial Mobility!		None
	Arbok open its mouth and fires multiple white darts from its mouth at the opponent.
Jessie's Arbok	The Flame Pokémon-athon!		None
	Tentacruel stabs the opponent with the large blue beak on its face, or Tentacruel fires multiple white or purple darts from under its beak at the opponent, or the middle orb on Tentacruel's forehead glows purple and it fires multiple purple darts from it at the opponent. On occasion, this will poison the opponent.
Marina's Tentacruel	Bye Bye Psyduck		None
Captain Crook's Tentacruel	Viva Las Lapras		None
Kim's Tentacruel	Cerulean Blues		None
Kail's Tentacruel	Cerulean Blues		None
Kai's Tentacruel	Cerulean Blues		None
A Coordinator's Tentacruel	A Cacturne for the Worse		None
Multiple wild Tentacruel	The Brockster Is In!		None
A Trainer's Tentacruel	Making Battles in the Sand!		None
	Gligar points the large stinger at the end of its tail at the opponent and it starts to glow white. Multiple white needles are then shot at the opponent from the stinger.
Gligarman's Gligar	The Superhero Secret		None
	Sandslash rolls into a ball and spins around quickly, firing white needles from out of the quills on its back at the opponent.
Koji's Sandslash	Good 'Quil Hunting		None
	Spinarak fires multiple white needles from its mouth at the opponent.
Bugsy's Spinarak	Gettin' the Bugs Out		None
	Nidorina fires multiple white darts from her mouth at the opponent.
Whitney's Nidorina	A Goldenrod Opportunity		None
	Venonat jumps into the air and spins around quickly, releasing multiple white needles from its body at the opponent.
Aya's Venonat	Ariados, Amigos		Venonat cannot legally learn Poison Sting
	Dustox opens its mouth and white or purple darts are fired from its mouth at the opponent.
Jessie's Dustox	Seeing is Believing!		None
	Cacturne fires multiple white or purple darts from the middle hole of its mouth at the opponent.
Harley's Cacturne	A Cacturne for the Worse		None
	Ariados fires multiple purple needles from its mouth at the opponent.
Multiple wild Ariados	Following a Maiden's Voyage!		None
Multiple wild Ariados	Historical Mystery Tour!		None
Multiple wild Ariados	DPS01		None
A Ninja's Ariados	A Festival of Decisions!		None
	Croagunk fires multiple purple darts from its mouth at the opponent.
Brock's Croagunk	Gymbaliar!		None
	Drapion opens its mouth and fires multiple purple darts from its mouth at the opponent.
J's Drapion	Mutiny in the Bounty!		None
	Nidoran♂ opens its mouth and fires multiple purple darts from its mouth at the opponent.
A wild Nidoran♂	Leading a Stray!		None
	Whirlipede jumps into the air and spins its body quickly. It then fires multiple glowing purple darts from in between its antennae at the opponent.
Burgh's Whirlipede	Battling For The Love of Bug-Types!		None
A wild Whirlipede	Meowth, Colress and Team Rivalry!		None
	Scolipede releases a spray of multiple purple darts from its mouth at the opponent. Or, Scolipede's horns glow purple and it lunges forward, firing purple darts at the opponent from its horns.
Emmanuel's Scolipede	Reunion Battles In Nimbasa!		None
Three wild Scolipede	A Cellular Connection!		None
	Roserade releases a spray of multiple purple darts from its mouth at the opponent.
Cher's Roseradette	Beauties Battling for Pride and Prestige!		None
	Nidoking releases a spray of multiple purple darts from its mouth at the opponent.
A wild Nidoking	Mystery on a Deserted Island!		None
	Skorupi thrusts its tail and then multiple light purple darts shoot from around the tail towards the opponent.
A Team Flare Grunt's Skorupi	A Towering Takeover!		None
	Toxapex latches onto its opponent with its body, stinging it with poison.
A wild Toxapex	Fighting Back the Tears!		None
	Nidorino shoots multiple darts of purple poison from its forehead towards the opponent.
Team Rocket's Nidorino	Restore and Renew!		None

Pokémon Origins

Nidorino
The foe is stabbed with a poisonous barb of some sort.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Nidorino fires a purple-glowing spike from his horn at the opponent.
A Trainer's Nidorino	File 1: Red		Debut

In the manga

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

Arbok
The user bites the target with its sharp teeth.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Arbok shows its sharp teeth and lurches forward. It then bites down on the opponent.
Jessie's Arbok	You Gotta Have Friends		Debut

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Nidoran♀
The user shoots sharp pins.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Nidoran♀ shoots sharp pins from her head.
An Unknown Trainer's Nidoran♀	PW34		Debut

Pokémon Adventures

Nidoqueen Agatha's Arbok Ariana's Arbok Qwilfish
The user strikes the opponent with a sharpened body part.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Nidoqueen stabs the opponent with one of her claws.
Giovanni's Nidoqueen	Long Live the Nidoqueen!?		Debut
	The tip of Arbok's tail turns into a horn-like object and it stabs the opponent with it, or Arbok opens its mouth and fires multiple small needles from it at the opponent.
Agatha's Arbok	Weezing Winks Out		None
Ariana's Arbok	Pleased as Punch With Parasect		None
	Qwilfish sucks up water until its body grows to a massive size. It then points the spines on the top of its head at the opponent and fires multiple thin energy beams from its spines at the opponent.
Crystal's Qwilfish	Querulous Qwilfish		None

• In Gotcha Where I Wantcha, Glalie, Poison Sting was used by an unknown Pokémon belonging to Guile Hideout.
• Green's Nidorina, Nido, was revealed to know Poison Sting on the official web site, but she was never shown using the move.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

Wurmple
The user shoots painful needles at the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Wurmple releases sharp needles from its mouth.
Team Galactic's Wurmple	Hareta's Very First Pokémon Battle!!		Debut
B-2's Wurmple	Hareta's Very First Pokémon Battle!!		Debut

Pokémon Zensho

Nidoqueen
The user shoots painful needles at the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Nidoqueen lands on all fours. She then fires multiple sharp needles from her back spikes at the opponent.
Giovanni's Nidoqueen	Saffron City		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 毒針 Duhkjām Mandarin 毒針 / 毒针 Dúzhēn Czech Jedovaté žihadlo Danish Giftstik Dutch Gifangel Finnish Myrkkypistos (original series) Myrkkypiikki (Advanced Generation) French Dard-Venin German Giftstachel Greek Δηλητηριώδες Κεντρί Dilitiriúdes Kentrí Hindi ज़ेहेरीली सुई Zehereeli Sui Indonesian Jarum Beracun Italian Velenospina Korean 독침 Dokchim Norwegian Giftangrep Polish Trujące Żądło* Zatrute Żądło* Trujące Ukąszenie* Ostre Igły* Atak Trucizny* Trujące Igły* Trujący Jad* Stalowe Igły* Zatrute Kolce* Ostre Żądło* Atak Jadem* Trucizna* Trujący Atak* Trujący Cios* Gazowy Atak/Trujący Gaz* Zatrute Ostrze* Portuguese Brazil Ferrão Venenoso (games, BW098-present, Unleashed-present, manga) Ferroada Venenosa (Base Set-HeartGold & SoulSilver) Picada Venenosa (early anime) Espinhos Venenosos (early anime) Portugal Picada Venenosa Romanian Acul Otrăvit Acul Veninos Russian Ядовитое жало Yadovitoe zhalo Serbian Otrovna žaoka Spanish Latin America Piquete Venenoso (EP033, HS02, HS03, AG093-DP152, BW098) Astillas Venenosas (EP040) Picotazo Venenoso (EP053-AG006, AG033, AG052, BW039) Aguja Venenosa (AG028, AG062, DP190) Piquete de Veneno (AG077) Piquete Veneno (AG079) Hilo Venenoso (BW023) Spain Picotazo Veneno* Picotazo Ven* Swedish Giftgadd Thai เหล็กในพิษ Turkish Zehirli İğne Vietnamese Kim Độc

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.