For the move commonly referred to in competitive battling as "HP", see Hidden Power. For the Pokémon Trading Card Game set officially abbreviated as "HP," see EX Holon Phantoms.

HP (Japanese: HP), short for Hit Point (Japanese: ヒットポイント Hit Point), is a stat that determines how much damage a Pokémon can receive before fainting.

In the core series

Each Pokémon has a maximum HP value, and the current HP value which is somewhere between 0 (if it has fainted) or the maximum HP (if it has full HP).

As with other stats, a Pokémon's maximum HP usually increases with their level, and is a combination of the Pokémon's base stats, individual values, and effort values. Some Pokémon species tend to have a higher or lower HP than others, and some individual Pokémon may have different HP even if they are of the same species and level. A Pokémon's maximum HP may reach hundreds of points. However, Shedinja is a special case, whose maximum HP is always 1.

A Pokémon needs to have at least 1 HP to be able to battle. If a Pokémon reaches 0 HP, it has fainted. However, a fainted Pokémon can still use field moves outside of battle, such as Cut, Surf, Fly, Headbutt, Sweet Scent, etc.

The player's Pokémon are able to enter into battle with less than full HP if they have not been healed yet. The opposing Pokémon (both wild and owned by NPCs) always start battles with full HP. However, if a roaming Pokémon takes damage and then flees from the current battle, it will still have the same damage (that is, the amount of HP lost) when it is found for the next battle.

In a battle between Trainers, the objective is causing all the opposing Pokémon to reach 0 HP and faint, at which point the battle ends. In a battle against a wild Pokémon, the player may wish to deal some damage to the wild Pokémon and decrease its HP for the purpose of catching it more easily. However, if the wild Pokémon reaches 0 HP and faints, the battle will end and this Pokémon will not be caught.

If all Pokémon in the player's party faint, then the player blacks out. This causes the player to lose a sum of money and be sent to a Pokémon Center (or to the player's house at the start of the game), at which point all of the player's Pokémon will be healed automatically.

HP bar

The current and maximum HP of each Pokémon is usually shown as a horizontal bar, which displays how much HP each Pokémon has; this is visible in a Pokémon battle, as well as in the party and summary screens. Additionally, the player may see exactly the number of current and maximum HP for each of their Pokémon. The Pokémon that are not owned by the player (including Pokémon owned by non-player characters, as well as wild Pokémon) have their HP bars visible in battle as well, but the exact number of their current and maximum HP number is not revealed to the player.

In Generation I, if the HP bar's fill was 27 pixels or wider (out of a total end-to-end length of 48 pixels), it would be colored green; if it was between 10 and 26 pixels, it would be colored yellow; and if it was less than 10 pixels wide, it would be colored red. This means the HP bar turns yellow noticeably earlier than in the later games, or at about 56% of the Pokémon's maximum HP.

From Generation II onwards, if a Pokémon has more than half of its max HP, its HP bar remains green. If the Pokémon has between one-fifth and half of its HP, the bar will turn yellow (in Generation II, a Pokémon revived to exactly half of their HP will have a green HP bar). If a Pokémon has less than one-fifth of its HP remaining, the bar will turn red and a beeping sound (Generations I-IV), a change of battle music with the beep as a metronome (Generation V), or a series of 4 beeping sounds before fading away (since Generation VI) will notify the player that his or her Pokémon is in danger of fainting. Before Generation VI, this beeping will continue until the Pokémon is switched out to another Pokémon which has at least one-fifth of its HP, has its HP raised to one-fifth or higher by any means, or faints.

The HP bar also affects the Pokémon's cry. Since Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, if a Pokémon's HP bar is green, the player will hear the cry of the Pokémon in its normal sounding rate, but if the Pokémon faints, its cry will be lowered by a whole step. Also, since Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, if the Pokémon has less than half its total HP, its cry will be lowered by a half-step to indicate its weakened state.

  This gallery is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this gallery to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Missing HP bars for Legends: Arceus, Scarlet, Violet, and side series games

Animation

Prior to Generation VI, the speed at which the HP bar depletes after a Pokémon has received damage is dependent on a Pokémon's HP. Its relation to HP is different per generation,[1] but the speed is noticeably different between Pokémon with high and low HP stats. The HP bar in Generation IV depletes 1 HP for every 2 frames at 60 FPS (except for the first HP lost, which only takes 1 frame) for Pokémon with more HP than the number of pixels in the HP bar.[2] This leads to Pokémon like Blissey taking over twenty seconds to faint from full health at high levels.

Interestingly, HP depletion speed can be used to narrow down how much damage an opponent's Pokémon has taken without seeing its actual HP stats.

   

The HP bar visibly decreases slower for Drifblim compared to Shuckle in Pokémon Black and White.

Prior to Generation V, the HP bar immediately drops to 0 for the user of a move that causes the user to faint, such as Explosion.

  

Electrode's HP immediately dropping to 0 in Generation IV compared to Gigalith's HP depleting gradually in Generation V.

Losing HP

The most common way for a Pokémon to lose HP is by being hit by a move that deals damage; most physical and special moves can deal damage. However, there are other ways to lose HP, such as making contact to a Pokémon with Iron Barbs, or being hit by a sandstorm.

Moves that cost HP

Main article: Category:Moves that cost HP to use

There are some moves that cost HP to use.

Move Type Category HP cost Power Accuracy Notes
Substitute Normal Status 1/4 of maximum HP The user creates a substitute, which is targeted by the opponent's next moves in place of the user, as long as the substitute is in battle
Clangorous Soul Dragon Status 1/3 of maximum HP This move raises the user's Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed by one stage each
Belly Drum Normal Status 1/2 of maximum HP This move maximizes the user's Attack stat
Curse Ghost Status If the user is Ghost-type, it pays the HP cost and places a curse on the target; the cursed Pokémon loses 1/4 of HP each turn from now on
If the user is not Ghost-type, there is no HP cost involved; the user's Speed will drop one stage, while its Attack and Defense will rise one stage each

Restoring HP

The player may use a Pokémon Center to heal completely heal all the Pokémon in the party (including their HP, PP, and status conditions).

In Generation I, it is possible to start a link battle with Pokémon that have less than full HP if they have not been healed yet. However, all Pokémon are completely healed after each link battle. From Generation II onwards, all Pokémon are automatically healed before all link battles.

In Generation I, the Pokémon deposited in the Pokémon Storage System are not healed. From Generation II onwards, the deposited Pokémon are completely healed.

In all core series games, the player's Pokémon are also automatically healed after the first battle against a rival character.

HP-restoring items

Main article: Category:HP-restoring items

These are the items that restore a Pokémon's HP. Most of these items are consumed when used, except the repeatable items such as Leftovers. Almost all these items only work on Pokémon that are not fainted, except the reviving items at the end of the list.

Sprite Name HP restored by generation Method of use Notes
I II III IV V VI VII VIII Bag Held item
Berry 10
  Oran Berry 10
  Potion 20 Increases the first partner Pikachu's friendship in Pokémon Yellow, even if the item would have no effect
  Berry Juice 20
  Rage Candy Bar 20 20 In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, this is a Key Item that can be exchanged for TM64 (Explosion)
From Generation VII onwards, this item heals status conditions
  Sweet Heart 20
Gold Berry 30
  Sitrus Berry 30 ¼
  Fresh Water 50 30
  Super Potion 50 60 Increases the first partner Pikachu's friendship in Pokémon Yellow, even if the item would have no effect
  Energy Powder 50 60 Lowers friendship
  Soda Pop 60 50
  Lemonade 80 70
  Moomoo Milk 100
  Hyper Potion 200 120 Increases the first partner Pikachu's friendship in Pokémon Yellow, even if the item would have no effect
  Energy Root 200 120 Lowers friendship
  Aguav Berry ½ Confuses a Pokémon that dislikes the bitter flavor
  Figy Berry ½ Confuses a Pokémon that dislikes the spicy flavor
  Iapapa Berry ½ Confuses a Pokémon that dislikes the sour flavor
  Mago Berry ½ Confuses a Pokémon that dislikes the sweet flavor
  Wiki Berry ½ Confuses a Pokémon that dislikes the dry flavor
  Enigma Berry ¼ Restores the holder's HP when hit by a super effective move
  Max Potion Full Increases the first partner Pikachu's friendship in Pokémon Yellow, even if the item would have no effect
  Full Restore Full Fully restores a Pokémon, including its HP, and status conditions
Increases the first partner Pikachu's friendship in Pokémon Yellow, even if the item would have no effect
  Heal Ball Full Fully restores a wild Pokémon that was caught with this item and sent to the party
(as opposed to the Storage System, in which all Pokémon are fully healed regardless of the type of Poké Ball)
Repeatable items
  Leftovers 1/16
(rounded down, minimum 1 HP)
Restores the holder's HP at the end of each turn
  Black Sludge 1/16
(rounded down, minimum 1 HP)
If the holder is Poison-type, restores the holder's HP at the end of each turn
If the holder is not Poison-type, the holder takes damage
  Shell Bell 1/8 of damage dealt to the target
(rounded down, minimum 1 HP)
Restores the holder's HP when the holder deals damage with a move
Reviving items
  Rare Candy the amount of HP gained when leveling up,
otherwise 2 HP
(except a fainted Shedinja revives with 1 HP)
It increases a Pokémon's level, up to level 100
The Pokémon may gain some HP as a natural result of leveling up
It can be used to revive a fainted Pokémon with little HP
  Revive Half
  Max Revive Full
  Revival Herb Full HalfRS
FullFRLGE
Full Lowers friendship
  Sacred Ash Full This item can only be used outside of battle
In Generation II, fully restores all Pokémon in the party, provided there is at least one fainted Pokémon
From Generation III onwards, fully restores all fainted Pokémon

HP-restoring moves

Main article: Category:Moves that restore HP

These are moves that restore HP.

Move Gen Type Category HP restored Power Accuracy Notes
User Other Pokémon
Heal Order IV Bug Status 50% of maximum HP —%
Purify VII Poison Status —% Heals the user's HP, provided it also heals the target's status condition
Recover I Normal Status —%
Roost IV Flying Status —% A Flying-type user becomes grounded while using this move
Slack Off III Normal Status —%
Wish IV Normal Status —% Heals the user (or the Pokémon in the user's current position) on the next turn
Milk Drink II Normal Status 50% of maximum HP
(in battle)
20% of user's HP
(outside of battle)
—% These moves heal the user in battle
They are also used outside of battle to transfer HP from the user to another non-fainted Pokémon in the party
Soft-Boiled I Normal Status —%
Shore Up VII Ground Status ½ (outside of a sandstorm)
⅔ (during a sandstorm)
—%
Moonlight II Fairy Status Varies depending on the weather
In Generation II only, it also depends on the time
—% Prior to Generation VI, it was a Normal-type move
Morning Sun II Normal Status —%
Synthesis II Grass Status —%
Rest I Psychic Status Full HP —% The user starts sleeping once this move is used
Aqua Ring IV Water Status 1/16 of maximum HP —% Once any of these moves is used, the user is healed automatically at the end of every turn
Ingrain roots the user to the ground, preventing its escape
Ingrain III Grass Status —%
Jungle Healing VIII Grass Status 25% of maximum HP —% Heals the user, as well as its allies
Life Dew VIII Water Status —%
Grassy Terrain VI Grass Status 1/16 of maximum HP —% As long as this this terrain is in effect, grounded Pokémon are healed automatically at the end of every turn
Leech Seed I Grass Status 1/16 of seeded Pokémon's HP (Generation I)
1/8 of seeded Pokémon's HP (Generation II onwards)
90% Once Leech Seed is used, the target becomes seeded and it takes damage at the end of every turn
The user (or another Pokémon in the same place) restores the same amount of HP as the damage dealt
If the seeded Pokémon has Liquid Ooze, the user is damaged instead of healed
In Generation I only, this move's damage is calculated in the same way as Toxic, and only if Toxic is currently applied to the target.
Absorb I Grass Special 50% of damage dealt 20 100% These moves deal damage on the target and restore the user's HP
Dream Eater only works if the target is asleep
If the target has Liquid Ooze, the user is damaged instead of healed
Mega Drain I Grass Special 40 100%
Parabolic Charge VI Electric Special 65 100%
Drain Punch IV Fighting Physical 75 100%
Giga Drain II Grass Special 75 100%
Horn Leech V Grass Physical 75 100%
Leech Life I Bug Physical 80 100%
Matcha Gotcha IX Grass Special 80 100%
Bouncy Bubble VII Water Special 90 100%
Bitter Blade IX Fire Physical 90 100%
Dream Eater I Psychic Special 100 100%
Draining Kiss VI Fairy Special 75% of damage dealt 50 100%
Oblivion Wing VI Flying Special 80 100%
Strength Sap VII Grass Status The target's Attack 100% This move lowers the target's Attack by one stage
It also restores the user's HP by the same amount as the target's Attack stat (not counting the attack drop from Strength Sap).
If the target has Liquid Ooze, the user is damaged instead of healed
G-Max Finale VIII Fairy 1/6 of maximum HP —% Deals damage to the target; its category and power depend on the move it is based on
Heals the user as well as its allies
Floral Healing VII Fairy Status ½ (outside of Grassy Terrain)
⅔ (with Grassy Terrain)
—% Heals the target's HP
Heal Pulse V Psychic Status 50% of maximum HP —%
Pollen Puff VII Bug Special 90 100% Heals the target's HP when used on an ally
Deals damage when used on a foe
Pokémon with Bulletproof are immune to this move
Present II Normal Physical 25% of maximum HP 90% This move has a chance of either dealing damage or healing the target's HP
Healing Wish IV Psychic Status Full HP —% The user faints; the next Pokémon is completely healed, with full HP
Lunar Dance IV Psychic Status —%
Pain Split II Normal Status Varies —% This move splits the current HP between the user and the target

Dynamaxing

Main article: Dynamax → Dynamax Level and HP

When a Pokémon Dynamaxes, its HP is increased by 50% until the Dynamax state wears off. By increasing a Pokémon's Dynamax Level, this increase can be raised up to 100%, with each level providing a 5% increase.

In spin-off games

Trading Card Game series

Main article: HP (TCG) → Trading Card Game series

In the anime

Main series

Hit Points have only ever been mentioned in the anime once. Specifically, they were mentioned by Misty in Fire and Ice, and even then, this mention only exists in the dubbed version.

Pokémon Origins

As first seen in File 1: Red, facilities like Gyms and the Pokémon League feature screens that display a Pokémon's HP in the form a bar, similar to the games.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

HP has been mentioned several times throughout Pokémon Adventures, the first mention occurring in Wanted: Pikachu!.

Red, Green & Blue arc

In Just a Spearow Carrier, an HP bar similar to the games was seen at Indigo Plateau.

In the TCG

 
This Quaquaval card has 170 HP, as shown in the top-right corner
Main article: HP (TCG)

The Pokémon cards have an HP (Japanese: HP) value at the top-right corner. It represents the health of each Pokémon card and the amount of damage it can take before being Knocked Out.

References


  This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.