Leech Seed (move)

Leech Seed
やどりぎのタネ Mistletoe Seed
[[File:|center]]
Type  Grass
Category  Status
PP  10 (max. 16)
Power  —
Accuracy  90%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  2 ♥♥
Startles all Pokémon that have done their appeals.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  0  
Earn a higher score the later the Pokémon performs.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  0  
Jamming  0  

Leech Seed (Japanese: やどりぎのタネ Mistletoe Seed) is a non-damaging Grass-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Generation I

Leech Seed plants a seed on the target. At the end of each turn that the target is under the effect of Leech Seed, 1/16 of the target's HP will be drained, and the same amount of HP will be restored to the target's opponent (even if it was not the Pokémon that originally used the attack). Recurrent Leech Seed draining will not occur if the seeded Pokémon defeats the target. Unlike other types of damage, the recurrent damage done by Leech Seed can exceed the target's current HP. Leech Seed will not work against Grass-type Pokémon.

If the target has less than 16 HP, Leech Seed will drain 1 HP per turn. Leech Seed draining will occur even if the seeded Pokémon knocks itself out with crash damage, recoil damage, or self-inflicted confusion damage, or by making a substitute before the end of its turn. Draining from Leech Seed is done after continuing partial trapping damage and recurrent poison or burn damage. Leech Seed can be removed by Haze or switching. If the target is seeded during a round that it switches in, it will take recurrent damage during that round, but only if its speed is less than or equal to the user's speed.

If the target of Leech Seed is also under the effect of Toxic, Leech Seed damage will increase every turn as the N value of Toxic increases because Leech Seed and Toxic both use the same damage algorithm ( N × max (1, int (0.0625 × Max HP)). If the current HP of the recipient of Leech Seed's HP-restoring effect is greater than its maximum HP, its current HP will be set equal to its maximum HP.

In Pokémon Stadium, Leech Seed will not work against a target with a substitute.

Generation II

1/8 of the target's HP is drained instead. Rapid Spin will release a Pokémon from the effects of Leech Seed. Also, Leech Seed's effects on the move Toxic are no longer present.

Generation III

In a Double Battle, Leech Seed will only heal the Pokémon in the position that used Leech Seed. If the Trainer only has two Pokémon left, and the Pokémon that was being healed by Leech Seed is knocked out, the effect of Leech Seed simply disappears rather than transferring over to the remaining Pokémon.

Generation IV and on

If the user has a Big Root as its held item, it will recover 30% more HP than it normally would. Big Root does not increase damage dealt. All other effects remain the same.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Leech Seed is one of the random outcomes of Togepi's Metronome. All characters within the area of effect will receive a flower on their head that saps 5% health every few seconds.

Description

Games Description
Plants a seed on the target Pokémon. The seed slowly drains the target's HP for the attacker.
Plants a seed on the target Pokémon. It slowly drains the target's HP for the attacker.
Steals HP from the foe on every turn.
RSE Plants a seed on the foe to steal HP on every turn.
FRLG A seed is planted on the foe to steal some HP for the user on every turn.
Plants a seed on the target to steal HP on every turn.
A seed is planted on the foe. It steals some HP from the foe to heal the user on every turn.
A seed is planted on the target. It steals some HP from the target every turn.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Type Level
I II III IV V VI
001   Bulbasaur Grass Poison 7 7 7 7 7 '
002   Ivysaur Grass Poison --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 '
003   Venusaur Grass Poison --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 '
102   Exeggcute Grass Psychic 28 13 13 11 11 '
187   Hoppip Grass Flying   20 20 22 22 '
188   Skiploom Grass Flying   22 22 24 24 '
189   Jumpluff Grass Flying   22 22 24 24 '
191   Sunkern Grass Grass       17 17 13 '
192   Sunflora Grass Grass       17 17 13 '
251   Celebi Psychic Grass   -- -- -- -- '
285   Shroomish Grass Grass     10 13 13 '
286   Breloom Grass Fighting     --, 10 --, 13 --, 13 '
315   Roselia Grass Poison     21 16 16 '
331   Cacnea Grass Grass     13 13 13 '
332   Cacturne Grass Dark     13 13 13 '
387   Turtwig Grass Grass       29 29 '
388   Grotle Grass Grass       32 32 '
389   Torterra Grass Ground       33 33 '
420   Cherubi Grass Grass       10 10 '
421   Cherrim Grass Grass       10 10 '
492   Shaymin Grass Grass       19 19 '
495   Snivy Grass Grass         19 '
496   Servine Grass Grass         20 '
497   Serperior Grass Grass         20 '
511   Pansage Grass Grass         16 '
546   Cottonee Grass Grass         8 '
547   Whimsicott Grass Grass         -- '
548   Petilil Grass Grass         8 '
549   Lilligant Grass Grass         -- '
585   Deerling Normal Grass         13 '
586   Sawsbuck Normal Grass         13 '
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 Type Father
II III IV V VI
046   Paras Grass Bug                               
114   Tangela Grass Grass                                                            
152   Chikorita Grass Grass                                                                  
191   Sunkern Grass Grass                                                            
252   Treecko Grass Grass                    
270   Lotad Water Grass                                                            
273   Seedot Grass Grass                                                            
357   Tropius Grass Flying                                                            
455   Carnivine Grass Grass                                                 
459   Snover Grass Ice                                                 
556   Maractus Grass Grass                               
597   Ferroseed Grass Steel                               
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 Type Obtained with
0043   Oddish Grass Poison New York Pokémon Center
Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move.
Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB
from this move.


Generation III

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with
0043   Oddish Grass Poison Pokémon Center Japan: Distribution #2
Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move.
Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB
from this move.


Generation V

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with
0114   Tangela Grass Dream World - Pleasant Forest
0270   Lotad Water Grass Dream World - Pleasant Forest
0357   Tropius Grass Flying Dream World - Windswept Sky
0556   Maractus Grass Dream World - Rugged Mountain
Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move.
Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB
from this move.


In the anime

 
Bulbasaur
 
Sunflora
 
Lilligant
 
Skiploom
A seed is planted on the foe. It steals some HP from the foe.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  A seed sprouts from Bulbasaur's bulb, which shoots out to the opponent. When hit, the opponent becomes wrapped in thin vines and leaves that restrain it. The vines and leaves then glow red and suck energy from the opponent. Sometimes, the vines have no leaves at all.
Ash's Bulbasaur The Ninja Poké-Showdown Debut
  Skiploom shoots one or two seeds from the middle of the flower on top of its head towards the opponent. When hit, the opponent is wrapped in vines that restrain it. The vines then glow red and suck energy from the opponent.
Ephraim's Skippy The Grass Route None
  Shroomish shoots multiple seeds from the hole on its head towards the opponent. When the opponent is hit, the seeds sprout vines which wrap around the opponent. The vines glow red and suck energy from the opponent.
Alex's Shroomish Taming of the Shroomish None
  Turtwig lowers its head and the sprout on its head releases a brown seed at the opponent. The seed digs into the opponent and sprouts vines which wrap around the opponent and drain its energy.
Gardenia's Turtwig The Grass-type is Always Greener! None
  Sunflora releases two brown seeds from the back of its head at the opponent. When the seeds hit the opponent, the seeds sprout vines and wrap up the opponent.
Nando's Sunflora The Secret Sphere of Influence! None
  Lilligant releases one giant seed from its head at the opponent.
Mona's Lilligant Beauties Battling for Pride and Prestige! None


In the manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga


In the Pokémon Adventures manga


In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga


In other generations

Trivia

  • Though Leech Seed cannot normally affect Grass-type Pokémon in the games, Grass-type Pokémon have been affected in the anime.
  • Leech Seed is referred to as "Mistletoe Seed" in Japanese because the mistletoe is a well-known parasitic plant that leeches nutrients from its host plant. Ironically, Grass-type Pokémon are immune to its effects.
  • Although Leech Seed is singular, the games depict three seeds being planted. In the anime usually just one seed is planted, but sometimes two are. In the manga, only one seed is planted when the attack is used.
  • Because all Pokémon that can learn Leech Seed are at least part Grass-type, all Pokémon that can learn Leech Seed are immune to its effects.

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 寄生種子 Jìshēng Zhǒngzǐ
  Danish Iglefrø
  Dutch Onttrek HP
  Finnish Iilisiemen (season 1)
Imusiemen (Johto series)
Loissiemen (AG)
  French Vampigraine
  German Egelsamen
  Greek Παρασιτικόσπορος
  Hindi लीच का बीज Leech Ka Beej
लिपटने वाली बेल Lipatne Wali Bayl
  Italian Parassiseme
  Korean 씨뿌리기 Ssi Ppurigi
  Norwegian Snyltefrø
  Polish Nasionko Mocy
Portuguese   Brazil Semente Sanguessuga
  Portugal Semente sanguessuga
  Romanian Sămânța Parazit
  Serbian Semenka Pijavica
  Spanish Drenadoras



Variations of the move Leech Seed
  Leech SeedToxic


  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.