Leech Seed (move)

Leech Seed
やどりぎのタネ Mistletoe Seed
[[File:|300pxpx|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  Clever
Appeal  1
Jamming  0  
Gets the Pokémon pumped up. Helps prevent nervousness, too.

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, and attempts to seed an already-seeded Pokémon will fail.

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

Generation II

⅛ 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. If a Pokémon uses Baton Pass, Leech Seed will still be under effect, even if the switched in Pokémon is a Grass-type.

Generation III

In a Double Battle, Leech Seed will only heal the Pokémon that is in the same position as the Pokémon that originally used Leech Seed was in. If no Pokémon is in that position (for example, if it fainted and could not be replaced), Leech Seed will not take any health from the seeded Pokémon. However, if a Pokémon is later able to occupy that position (if it was revived), Leech Seed will once again sap HP from the seeded Pokémon. This also means that for as long as a seeded Pokémon stays in battle and Leech Seed is not removed by Rapid Spin or Haze, that Pokémon will not be able to be seeded again.

If the target has the Ability Liquid Ooze, the user takes damage instead of restoring HP.

Generation IV

If the user is under the effect of Heal Block, Leech Seed will not restore any of the user's HP. However, the effect damage will be dealt normally.

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.

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 7
002   Ivysaur Grass Poison --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7
003   Venusaur Grass Poison --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7 --, 7
102   Exeggcute Grass Psychic 28 13 13 11 11 11
187   Hoppip Grass Flying   20 20 22 22 22
188   Skiploom Grass Flying   22 22 24 24 24
189   Jumpluff Grass Flying   22 22 24 24 24
191   Sunkern Grass Grass       17 17 13 13
192   Sunflora Grass Grass       17 17 13 13
251   Celebi Psychic Grass   -- -- -- -- --
285   Shroomish Grass Grass     10 13 13 13
286   Breloom Grass Fighting     --, 10 --, 13 --, 13 --, 13
315   Roselia Grass Poison     21 16 16 16
331   Cacnea Grass Grass     13 13 13 13
332   Cacturne Grass Dark     13 13 13 13
387   Turtwig Grass Grass       29 29 29
388   Grotle Grass Grass       32 32 32
389   Torterra Grass Ground       33 33 33
420   Cherubi Grass Grass       10 10 10
421   Cherrim Grass Grass       10 10 10
492   Shaymin Grass Grass       19 19 19
495   Snivy Grass Grass         19 19
496   Servine Grass Grass         20 20
497   Serperior Grass Grass         20 20
511   Pansage Grass Grass         16 16
546   Cottonee Grass Fairy         8 8
547   Whimsicott Grass Fairy         -- --
548   Petilil Grass Grass         8 8
549   Lilligant Grass Grass         -- --
585   Deerling Normal Grass         13 13
586   Sawsbuck Normal Grass         13 13
650   Chespin Grass Grass           15
651   Quilladin Grass Grass           15
652   Chesnaught Grass Fighting           15
672   Skiddo Grass Grass           12
673   Gogoat Grass Grass           12
708   Phantump Ghost Grass           23
709   Trevenant Ghost Grass           23
710   Pumpkaboo Ghost Grass           20
711   Gourgeist Ghost Grass           20
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.


Special 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.


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 Egg Pokémon Present
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 other games

In the Super Smash Bros. series

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 causes 5% damage every few seconds.

In the anime

 
Lilligant
 
Sunflora
 
Being drained
 
Being unaffected by the drain
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 multiple 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
  Pumpkaboo shoots several seeds from its mouth into the ground. The seeds immediately grow into vines that latch onto a target and drain them of their energy. When a Grass-type Pokémon is seeded, the target is still bound by the roots, but they are a dull gray-brown color, and it is unaffected by the energy draining.
Jessie's Pumpkaboo The Bamboozling Forest! None
  Gogoat fires multiple seeds at the opponent. The seeds immediately grow into vines that bind the opponent, or Gogoat fires a seed from its mouth into the ground. The seed immediately grows into vines that latch onto a target and drain them of their energy.
Ramos's Gogoat Thawing an Icy Panic! 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 affect Grass-type Pokémon in the games, Grass-type Pokémon have been affected in the anime.
  • Despite the origin of its Japanese name being a parasite that attaches itself to a host plant and absorbs nutrients, Leech Seed cannot affect Grass-type Pokémon.
  • 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.
    • The exception to this is Smeargle, who can learn Leech Seed via Sketch, and is not immune.

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 寄生種子 Jìshēng Zhǒngzǐ
  Czech Semínkový útok
  Danish Iglefrø
  Dutch Onttrek HP
  Finnish Iilisiemen (season 1)
Imusiemen (Johto series)
Loissiemen (AG series)
  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 Pnącze 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.