Whirlpool
うずしお Whirl Tide
Whirlpool VII.png
[[File:|300px|center]]
Type  Water
Category  Special
PP  15 (max. 24)
Power  35
Accuracy  85%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation II
Condition  Beauty
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jam  0  
Temporarily stops the crowd from growing excited.
Condition  Beauty
Appeal  0  
Earn a higher score the later the Pokémon performs.
Condition  Beautiful
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jamming  0  
Temporarily stops the crowd from growing excited.

Whirlpool (Japanese: うずしお Whirl Tide) is a damage-dealing Water-type move introduced in Generation II. It was HM06 in Generation II and HM05 in HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Effect

In battle

Generation II

Whirlpool inflicts 1/16 of the target's maximum HP as damage for two to five turns upon use, in addition to the damage dealt when it is used. The text "<Pokémon> was trapped!" will appear. It also traps the target, preventing switching and escape. If a trapped Pokémon uses Rapid Spin, it will be freed.

Whirlpool has a power of 15 and an accuracy of 70.

Generations III and IV

Whirlpool can hit Pokémon during the semi-invulnerable turn of Dive, and if it does, it will have its power doubled.

If a wild Pokémon uses Whirlpool on the player's Pokémon, the player may escape if the affected Pokémon has Run Away or is holding a Smoke Ball. However, these do not allow the player to switch the Pokémon out. The text also changes to "<Pokémon> was trapped in the vortex!"

If the user of Whirlpool is holding a Grip Claw, the duration will always be 5 turns. Also, if an affected Pokémon is holding a Shed Shell, it can switch out.

Whirlpool can also be used as part of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining extra three appeal points if the move Rain Dance was used in the prior turn.

Generation V

Whirlpool's power and accuracy were increased to 35 and 85 respectively, and it now lasts for four to five turns. In addition, if the user of Whirlpool is holding a Binding Band, it inflicts 1/8 of the target's maximum HP instead of 1/16 when the target is trapped.

If Whirlpool hits Pokémon during the semi-invulnerable turn of Dive, now technically the damage will be doubled, resulting in virtually the same effect.

Generation VI onward

The end-of-turn damage of Whirlpool is increased from 1/16 to 1/8 of the target's maximum HP. If the user is holding a Binding Band, the end-of-turn damage will increase to 1/6 of the target's maximum HP. Ghost-type Pokémon cannot be trapped by Whirlpool.

Outside of battle

Generation II

Whirlpool clears whirlpools in the field while surfing.

Generation IV

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Whirlpool allows the user to cross whirlpools on the field, instead of clearing them away as it did in Generation II.

Areas in which Whirlpool is usable

Region Area
Johto Route 41, granting access to the Whirl Islands
Dragon's Den

Description

Games Description
Stad2 Lasts two to five turns. Foe becomes trapped in a vortex, making it impossible to switch.
GSC Traps the foe for 2-5 turns.
RSE Traps and hurts the foe in a whirlpool for 2 to 5 turns.
ColoXD Traps and hurts target in a whirlpool for 2 to 5 turns.
FRLG The foe is trapped in a fast, vicious whirlpool for two to five turns.
DPPtPBR The user traps the foe inside a fast, vicious whirlpool that lasts for two to five turns.
HGSS Traps the foe inside a whirlpool that lasts for two to five turns. The user can pass through whirlpools.*
Traps foes in a violent swirling whirlpool. It can also be used to traverse whirlpools.*
BWB2W2 Traps foes in a violent swirling whirlpool for four to five turns.
XYORAS
SMUSUM
The user traps the target in a violent swirling whirlpool for four to five turns.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
0090     Water 3 Water 3 37 40 40 40
0258     Monster Water 1 33 33 33 33 33
0320     Field Water 2 19 14 14 14XY
13ORAS
13
0321     Field Water 2 19 14 14 14XY
13ORAS
13
0366     Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1 1 1
0367     Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1 1 1
0368     Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1 1 1
0393     Water 1 Field 32 32 32 32
0394     Water 1 Field 37 37 37 37
0395    
 
Water 1 Field 39 39 39 39
0418     Water 1 Field 36 36BW
31B2W2
31 31
0419     Water 1 Field 39 39BW
35B2W2
35 35
0456     Water 2 Water 2 38 38 38 38
0457     Water 2 Water 2 42 42 42 42
0489     Water 1 Fairy 39 39 39 39
0490     Water 1 Fairy 39 39 39 39
0594     Water 1 Water 2 49
0781    
 
Mineral Mineral 27
0788    
 
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
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
0131    
 
Monster Water 1
0138    
 
Water 1 Water 3
0170    
 
Water 2 Water 2
0258     Monster Water 1
0339    
 
Water 2 Water 2
0550     Water 2 Water 2
0564    
 
Water 1 Water 3
0746     Water 2 Water 2 USUM
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 HM

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Machine
I
--
II
HM06
III
--
IV
HM05
V
--
VI
--
VII
--
VIII
--
IX
--
0007     Monster Water 1 HGSS
0008     Monster Water 1 HGSS
0009     Monster Water 1 HGSS
0031    
 
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 HGSS
0034    
 
Monster Field HGSS
0054     Water 1 Field HGSS
0055     Water 1 Field HGSS
0060     Water 1 Water 1 HGSS
0061     Water 1 Water 1 HGSS
0062    
 
Water 1 Water 1 HGSS
0072    
 
Water 3 Water 3 HGSS
0073    
 
Water 3 Water 3 HGSS
0079    
 
Monster Water 1 HGSS
0080    
 
Monster Water 1 HGSS
0086     Water 1 Field HGSS
0087    
 
Water 1 Field HGSS
0090     Water 3 Water 3 HGSS
0091    
 
Water 3 Water 3 HGSS
0098     Water 3 Water 3 HGSS
0099     Water 3 Water 3 HGSS
0108     Monster Monster HGSS
0112    
 
Monster Field HGSS
0115     Monster Monster HGSS
0116     Water 1 Dragon HGSS
0117     Water 1 Dragon HGSS
0118     Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0119     Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0120     Water 3 Water 3 HGSS
0121    
 
Water 3 Water 3 HGSS
0128     Field Field HGSS
0130    
 
Water 2 Dragon HGSS
0131    
 
Monster Water 1 HGSS
0134     Field Field HGSS
0138    
 
Water 1 Water 3 HGSS
0139    
 
Water 1 Water 3 HGSS
0140    
 
Water 1 Water 3 HGSS
0141    
 
Water 1 Water 3 HGSS
0143     Monster Monster HGSS
0147     Water 1 Dragon HGSS
0148     Water 1 Dragon HGSS
0149    
 
Water 1 Dragon HGSS
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 HGSS
0158     Monster Water 1 HGSS
0159     Monster Water 1 HGSS
0160     Monster Water 1 HGSS
0161     Field Field HGSS
0162     Field Field HGSS
0170    
 
Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0171    
 
Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0183     Water 1 Fairy HGSS
0184     Water 1 Fairy HGSS
0186     Water 1 Water 1 HGSS
0194    
 
Water 1 Field HGSS
0195    
 
Water 1 Field HGSS
0199    
 
Monster Water 1 HGSS
0211    
 
Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0215    
 
Field Field HGSS
0222    
 
Water 1 Water 3 HGSS
0223     Water 1 Water 2 HGSS
0224     Water 1 Water 2 HGSS
0226    
 
Water 1 Water 1 HGSS
0230    
 
Water 1 Dragon HGSS
0241     Field Field HGSS
0245     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 HGSS
0248    
 
Monster Monster HGSS
0249    
 
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 HGSS
0258     Monster Water 1 HGSS
0259    
 
Monster Water 1 HGSS
0260    
 
Monster Water 1 HGSS
0263     Field Field HGSS
0264     Field Field HGSS
0270    
 
Water 1 Grass HGSS
0271    
 
Water 1 Grass HGSS
0272    
 
Water 1 Grass HGSS
0279    
 
Water 1 Flying HGSS
0295     Monster Field HGSS
0296     Human-Like Human-Like HGSS
0297     Human-Like Human-Like HGSS
0298     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 HGSS
0306    
 
Monster Monster HGSS
0318    
 
Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0319    
 
Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0320     Field Water 2 HGSS
0321     Field Water 2 HGSS
0339    
 
Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0340    
 
Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0341     Water 1 Water 3 HGSS
0342    
 
Water 1 Water 3 HGSS
0349     Water 1 Dragon HGSS
0350     Water 1 Dragon HGSS
0363    
 
Water 1 Field HGSS
0364    
 
Water 1 Field HGSS
0365    
 
Water 1 Field HGSS
0366     Water 1 Water 1 HGSS
0367     Water 1 Water 1 HGSS
0368     Water 1 Water 1 HGSS
0369    
 
Water 1 Water 2 HGSS
0370     Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
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 HGSS
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 HGSS
0382     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 HGSS
0384    
 
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 HGSS
0393     Water 1 Field HGSS
0394     Water 1 Field HGSS
0395    
 
Water 1 Field HGSS
0400    
 
Water 1 Field HGSS
0409     Monster Monster HGSS
0418     Water 1 Field HGSS
0419     Water 1 Field HGSS
0422     Water 1 Amorphous HGSS
0423    
 
Water 1 Amorphous HGSS
0445    
 
Monster Dragon HGSS
0446     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 HGSS
0456     Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0457     Water 2 Water 2 HGSS
0458    
 
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 HGSS
0461    
 
Field Field HGSS
0463     Monster Monster HGSS
0464    
 
Monster Field HGSS
0484    
 
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 HGSS
0489     Water 1 Fairy HGSS
0490     Water 1 Fairy HGSS
0493     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 HGSS
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

Whirlpool has a 10% chance of inflicting the Constriction status condition on an opponent. The damage done by Whirlpool is doubled if the target is under the Diving status condition.

Description

Games Description
MDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It may also cause constriction, making the foe incapable of movement. Inflicts double damage on a diving foe.
MDTD Inflicts damage on the target. It may also afflict the targeted enemy with a Constriction status condition, making it incapable of movement. It will inflict double damage on a diving target.
MDS Inflicts damage on the target. It may also afflict the targeted enemy with a Constriction status condition, making it incapable of movement. It will inflict double damage on a Diving target.
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 しめつけじょうたいにして いどうできなくする ダイビングじょうたいの ポケモンには 2ばいのダメージをあたえる
MDGtI  UNUSED
SMD It damages an enemy. It could also cause the Whirlpool status condition. It can hit a Pokémon in the Dive status condition.


In the anime

 
Lugia
 
Floatzel
 
Piplup
 
Dhelmise
The user traps the foe inside a fast, vicious whirlpool. It appears much stronger than in the games.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Lugia dives in the water and its eyes glow white. Then, it spins around and raises up to the surface. As it goes above the water, the whirlpool turns into a cyclone.
Lugia (M02) The Power of One Debut
  Mantine spins around the opponent quickly while underwater, creating a whirlpool.
Molly's Mantine Spell of the Unown: Entei None
  Rhydon dives underwater, faces the opponent, and spins its horn like a drill, creating a whirlpool that sucks up the opponent.
Pietra's Rhydon Right On, Rhydon! None
  Gyarados swims around the opponent quickly and creates a whirlpool, or Gyarados points its tail at the opponent and waves it around in circles, creating a whirlpool.
Misty's Gyarados Cerulean Blues None
A wild Gyarados Sandshrew's Locker! None
  Piplup's body glows a blueish-white color and it raises its arms and beak to the air. It then opens its beak and a huge whirlpool comes out of it and forms above Piplup. Piplup then throws the whirlpool at the opponent. While in the water, Piplup's body glows multicolored, and a whirlpool forms around it, or Piplup spins its body and glowing white water appears and forms around Piplup's body. The water's glow fades and spins with Piplup, turning into a whirlpool. Piplup then spins into the opponent. Piplup can also change the size of the whirlpool by choice. When Piplup is near the water, after it forms the whirlpool, it throws it at the water in front of the opponent, creating a large water vortex that sucks the opponent up.
Dawn's Piplup Getting the Pre-Contest Titters! None
Piplup of Team Poképals Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness None
Verity's Piplup I Choose You! None
  Floatzel raises its arms and a large whirlpool appears above its head. Floatzel then throws the whirlpool at the opponent.
Crasher Wake's Floatzel A Crasher Course in Power! None
Kenny's Floatzel Last Call - First Round! None
  Dhelmise spins around and creates a large whirlpool around its body.
A wild Dhelmise Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence! None


In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga


In the Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl manga


In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga


In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga


In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team manga


In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga


In other generations

In battle

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Outside of battle

Trivia

  • Although it is the first of three moves to lose HM status, it is also the first former HM to regain that status.
  • If a player teaches a Pokémon Whirlpool by HM in HeartGold and SoulSilver and trades it to Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum, the Pokémon can be freely imported to Black and White via the Poké Transfer, due to Whirlpool not being needed outside of battle in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. The same can be done with Defog by transferring a Pokémon that learned it by HM in Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum to HeartGold or SoulSilver.
  • This move was Poliwrath's attack (as うずしお / Whirl Tide in Japanese and as Whirlpool in English) in the Base Set set of the TCG prior to being introduced in Generation II of the games.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 潮旋 Chìuhsyùhn
Mandarin 潮旋 Cháoxuán
  Czech Vodopád
  Dutch Draaikolk
  Finnish Poreallas*
  French Siphon
  German Whirlpool
  Greek Δίνη Díni
  Hindi पानी का भवर Paani Ki Bhanwar
भवंडर Bawandar
  Indonesian Pusaran Air
  Italian Mulinello
  Korean 바다회오리 Bada Hoe'ori
  Polish Wir Wodny*
Wir*
Wirowanie*
Portuguese   Brazil Redemoinho
  Portugal Remoinho
  Romanian Vâltoarea
  Serbian Vodeni Vrtlog
Spanish   Latin America Remolino
  Spain Torbellino
  Swedish Strömvirvel
  Vietnamese Xoáy Nước



Variations of the move Fire Spin
  ClampSand Tomb
  Fire SpinWhirlpool


Generation II TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation II HMs
01020304050607
Generation IV TMs
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223
2425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
4748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869
7071727374757677787980818283848586878889909192
Generation IV HMs
01020304 • 05 (DPPtHGSS) • 060708


  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.