Confusion (move)

This article is about the Pokémon move. For the status condition, see Status condition.

Confusion
ねんりき Mindpower
Confusion VIII.png
Confusion VIII 2.png
Type  Psychic
Category  Special
PP  25 (max. 40)
Power  50
Accuracy  100%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
  • 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
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  3 ♥♥♥
Startles the Pokémon that appealed before the user.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
A basic performance using a move known by the Pokémon.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  4 ♥♥♥♥
Jamming  0  
Quite an appealing move.

Confusion (Japanese: ねんりき Mindpower) is a damage-dealing Psychic-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Confusion does damage and has a 10% chance of confusing the target.

Confusion can be used as part of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining extra two appeal points if any of the moves Calm Mind, Kinesis, or Psychic was used in the prior turn. It can also be used to start a combination, doubling the base appeal points of Future Sight, Kinesis, Psychic, and Teleport if used in the next turn.

Description

Games Description
StadStad2 A Psychic-type attack. Has a one-in-ten chance of leaving the target confused.
GSC An attack that may cause confusion.
RSEColoXD A psychic attack that may cause confusion.
FRLG A weak telekinetic attack that may also leave the foe confused.
DPPtHGSSPBR The foe is hit by a weak telekinetic force. It may also leave the foe confused.
BWB2W2 The target is hit by a weak telekinetic force. It may also leave the target confused.
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
SwSh
The target is hit by a weak telekinetic force. This may also confuse the target.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
0012    
 
Bug Bug 1, 12RGB
1, 10Y
1, 10 1, 10 1, 10 1, 10 1, 10 1, 11SMUSUM
1PE
8
0048    
 
Bug Bug 19Y 17 17 11 11 11 11SMUSUM
12PE
11BDSP
0049    
 
Bug Bug 1Y 17 17 11 11 11 11SMUSUM
1, 12PE
11BDSP
0054     Water 1 Field 36 16 16 18 18BW
15B2W2
15XY
11ORAS
10SMUSUM
14PE
6
0055     Water 1 Field 39 1, 16 16 18 18BW
15B2W2
15XY
11ORAS
10SMUSUM
1, 14PE
6
0064     Human-Like Human-Like 1, 16RGB
16Y
1, 16 1, 16 1, 16 1, 16 1, 16 1, 16SMUSUM
1PE
1, Evo.
0065     Human-Like Human-Like 1, 16RGB
16Y
1, 16 1, 16 1, 16 1, 16 1, 16 1, 16SMUSUM
1PE
1
077G  
Ponyta
Galarian Form
  Field Field 10
078G  
Rapidash
Galarian Form
 
 
Field Field 1
0079    
 
Monster Water 1 1 20 20RSE
17FRLG
15 14 14 14SMUSUM
18PE
12
079G  
Slowpoke
Galarian Form
  Monster Water 1 12
0080    
 
Monster Water 1 1 20 20RSE
17FRLG
15 14 14 14SMUSUM
18PE
12
080G  
Slowbro
Galarian Form
 
 
Monster Water 1 12
0096     Human-Like Human-Like 17 18 18RSE
11FRLG
9 9 9 9 9BDSP
0097     Human-Like Human-Like 1, 17 1, 18 1, 18RSE
1, 11FRLG
1, 9 1, 9 1, 9 1, 9 1, 9BDSP
0102    
 
Grass Grass 19 19 27 27 27 27SMUSUM
14PE
20
0103    
 
Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
103A  
Exeggutor
Alolan Form
 
 
Grass Grass 1 1
0114     Grass Grass 10PE
0122    
 
Human-Like Human-Like 1, 15 6 5 1 1 1 1 12
122G  
Mr. Mime
Galarian Form
 
 
Human-Like Human-Like 12
0124    
 
Human-Like Human-Like 12PE 12
144G  
Articuno
Galarian Form
 
 
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 5
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 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
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 1PE
0163    
 
Flying Flying 34 34 21 21 21 10 9
0164    
 
Flying Flying 41 41 22 22 22 10 9
0196     Field Field 16 16 15 15BW
9B2W2
9 1, Evo. 1, Evo.
0199    
 
Monster Water 1 20 20RSE
17FRLG
15 14 14 14 12
199G  
Slowking
Galarian Form
 
 
Monster Water 1 12
0200     Amorphous Amorphous 1BDSP
0203    
 
Field Field 1, 7 13 1 1 1 1 5BDSP
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 21 21 15 15 15 15 12
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 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0269    
 
Bug Bug 1, 10 1, 10 1, 10 1, 10XY
12ORAS
12 12BDSP
0280    
 
Human-Like Amorphous 6 6 6 6XY
4ORAS
4 6
0281    
 
Human-Like Amorphous 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6XY
1, 4ORAS
1, 4 1
0282    
 
Human-Like Amorphous 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6XY
1, 4ORAS
1, 4 1
0307    
 
Human-Like Human-Like 9 8 8 8XY
7ORAS
7 7BDSP
0308    
 
Human-Like Human-Like 1, 9 1, 8 1, 8 1, 8XY
1, 7ORAS
1, 7 1, 7BDSP
0325     Field Field 1BDSP
0326     Field Field 1BDSP
0337    
 
Mineral Mineral 7 1 1 1 1 1
0338    
 
Mineral Mineral 7 1 1 1 1 1
0343    
 
Mineral Mineral 1 1 1 1 1 6
0344    
 
Mineral Mineral 1 1 1 1 1 1
0358     Amorphous Amorphous 14 14 14 14XY
1, 10ORAS
1, 10 1, 10BDSP
0368     Water 1 Water 1 8 6 6 6XY
1ORAS
1 1BDSP
0375    
 
Mineral Mineral 20 1, 20 1, 20 1, 20 1, Evo. 1, Evo.
0376    
 
Mineral Mineral 1, 20 1, 20 1, 20 1, 20 1 1
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 15
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 15
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 1 1 1 1 1 1
0413  
Wormadam
Plant Cloak
 
 
Bug Bug 23 23 23 23 23BDSP
413G  
Wormadam
Sandy Cloak
 
 
Bug Bug 23 23 23 23 23BDSP
413S  
Wormadam
Trash Cloak
 
 
Bug Bug 23 23 23 23 23BDSP
0414    
 
Bug Bug 23 23 23 23 23BDSP
0429     Amorphous Amorphous 1BDSP
0433     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 14 14 14XY
10ORAS
10 10BDSP
0436    
 
Mineral Mineral 1 1 1 1 1
0437    
 
Mineral Mineral 1 1 1 1 1
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 1 1 1 1 12
0475    
 
Human-Like Amorphous 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6XY
1, 4ORAS
1, 4 1
0480     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 21DP
1PtHGSS
1 1 1 1
0481     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 21DP
1PtHGSS
1 1 1 1
0482     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 21DP
1PtHGSS
1 1 1 1
0488     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 1 1 1 1 1
0494    
 
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 1 1 1 1
0527    
 
Field Flying 1 1 1 5
0528    
 
Field Flying 1 1 1 1
0561    
 
Flying Flying 1
0574     Human-Like Human-Like 3 3 3 1
0575     Human-Like Human-Like 1, 3 1, 3 1, 3 1
0576     Human-Like Human-Like 1, 3 1, 3 1, 3 1
0577     Amorphous Amorphous 1
0578     Amorphous Amorphous 1
0579     Amorphous Amorphous 1
0605     Human-Like Human-Like 1 1 1 1
0606     Human-Like Human-Like 1 1 1 1
0648    
 
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 11 11 1, 11
0677     Field Field 9 9 9
0678     Field Field 9 1, 9 9
678F  
Meowstic
Female
  Field Field 9 1, 9 9
0720  
Hoopa
Confined
 
 
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 1 1
720U  
Hoopa
Unbound
 
 
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 1ORAS 1
0765    
 
Field Field 1 1
0779    
 
Water 2 Water 2 9
0786    
 
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 1 1
0792    
 
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 1 1
0800     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 1 1
800DM  
Necrozma
Dusk Mane
 
 
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 1USUM 1
800DW  
Necrozma
Dawn Wings
 
 
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 1USUM 1
0825    
 
Bug Bug 1, Evo.
0826    
 
Bug Bug 1
0856     Fairy Fairy 1
0857     Fairy Fairy 1
0858    
 
Fairy Fairy 1
0866    
 
Human-Like Human-Like 12
0898    
 
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 1
898I  
Calyrex
Ice Rider
 
 
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 1
898S  
Calyrex
Shadow Rider
 
 
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 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 Parent
Egg Groups
Egg Move
II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
0007     Monster Water 1
0032     Monster Field
0063     Human-Like Human-Like
0114     Grass Grass
0187    
 
Fairy Grass BDSP
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.


Form change

Generation VII

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0800     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 Having no other movesUSUM
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.


Generation VIII

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0800     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 Having no other moves
0898    
 
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 Having no other moves
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, Confusion is a move with 5 base power, 100% accuracy and 22 PP. The user attacks enemy in front of them, possibly inflicting confusion.

In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the move's accuracy has been decreased to 85%.

Pokémon Conquest

 
>
 
Stars: ★★
Power: 29
Accuracy: 100%
Effect: 10% chance to confuse the 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.

Super Smash Bros. series

Mewtwo uses Confusion as its side special move. The move acts as a grab, ignoring shields while flipping the opponent in midair. Additionally, the move is capable of reflecting projectiles, although they would not damage the initial user of the projectile in Super Smash Bros. Melee. This was fixed in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U.

Pokémon Masters EX

Category Move Gauge MP Base Power Max Power Accuracy Target Effect Tag Description
Special 1 18 21 100% An opponent Has a chance (10%) of leaving the target confused.

Past Description

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

Pokémon GO

  Confusion
Fast Attack
Gyms & Raids
Power 20
Energy boost 15
Duration 1.6 seconds
Damage window 0.6 - 1.6 seconds
 
Trainer Battles
Power 16
Energy boost 12
Turns 4
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
    • Power: 12 → 15
    • Energy boost: 7 → 14
  • February 16, 2017
    • Power: 15 → 20
    • Energy boost: 14 → 10
    • Duration: 1.51 → 2.1 seconds
    • Damage window: 1.31 - 1.51 → 0.6 - 1.6 seconds
  • February 21, 2017
    • Energy boost: 10 → 15
    • Duration: 2.1 → 1.6 seconds
Trainer Battles
  • January 31, 2019
    • Power: 12 → 16

Description

Games Description
MDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It may also leave the target confused.
MDTDS Inflicts damage on the target. It may also afflict the targeted enemy with a Confused status condition, which makes its movements and attacks go astray.
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 こんらんじょうたいにかえる
Conq. The target is hit by a weak telekinetic force. It may also leave the target confused.
MDGtI It damages an enemy. It could also cause the Confused status condition. The Confused status impairs its sense of direction.
SMD It damages an enemy. It could also make the enemy confused.


In the anime

Main series


Pokédex entries

Episode Subject Source Entry
EP182 Confusion Ash's Pokédex Confusion. This powerful Psychic attack confuses an opponent and weakens it as well.

Pokémon Origins


In the manga

Ash & Pikachu


How I Became a Pokémon Card


Pokémon Adventures


  • Blaine's Mewtwo was revealed to know Confusion on the official website, but it was never shown using the move.
  • A wild Dustox was revealed to know Confusion on the official website, but it was never shown using the move.

Pokémon Colosseum Snatcher Leo


Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys


Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

  • The English name of this move is semantically dissimilar to its Japanese name, ねんりき Nenriki, which can be translated to mean mindpower. This has been known to cause some confusion when depicted in the English dub of the anime.
  • In the anime, Confusion seems to have exactly the same effect as the move Psychic.
  • A majority of the time when Confusion is featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, it causes the Defending Pokémon to be Paralyzed rather than Confused.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 念力 Nihmlihk *
精神念力 Jīngsàhn Nihmlihk
Mandarin 念力 Niànlì
  Czech Zmatení
  Danish Forvirring
  Dutch Verwarring
  Finnish Sekaannus (Original Series)
Hämmennys (Advanced Generation)
  French Choc Mental
  German Konfusion
  Greek Σύγχυση Sýgchysi
  Hindi चक्रादों Chakraado, Uljhan me daalna
  Italian Confusione
  Korean 염동력 Yeomdongryeok
  Norwegian Forvirring
  Polish Zamęt*
Konfuzja*
Zmieszanie*
Zmyłka*
Skołowanie*
Ogłupienie*
Zamieszanie*
Zawrót Głowy*
Dezorientacja*
Oszałamiający Atak*
Siła Umysłu*
Silny Atak*
Ogłupiający Atak*
Portuguese   Brazil Confusão
  Portugal Confusão (Pokémon Chronicles)
  Romanian Confuzie
  Serbian Zbunjivanje
  Spanish Confusión
  Swedish Förvirring
  Thai จิตตานุภาพ
  Turkish Karmaşa
  Vietnamese Gây Rối


  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.