Hold Back (move)

Hold Back (Japanese: てかげん Go Easy) is a damage-dealing Normal-type event-exclusive move introduced in Generation VI.

Hold Back てかげん Go Easy

Battles Type  Normal Category  Physical PP  40 (max. 64) Power  40 Accuracy  100% Priority  0 Makes contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation VI Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]] Appeal  0   Jam  0

Super Contests Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]] Appeal  0

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Cool Appeal  4 ♥♥♥♥ Jamming  0   Makes the audience quickly grow bored when an appeal move has little effect.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Effect

Hold Back inflicts damage, but will leave the target with 1 HP if it would otherwise cause it to faint. If the target has 1 HP remaining, Hold Back will hit and leave the target at 1 HP.

Hold Back does not reduce its damage when hitting a substitute.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Hold Back cannot be selected in a battle.

Description

Games Description XYORAS The user holds back when it attacks and the target is left with at least 1 HP. SMUSUMPE SwShLA SV The user holds back when it attacks, and the target is left with at least 1 HP. BDSP This move can't be used. It's recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can't be remembered.

Learnset

Special move

Generation VI

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0251		Celebi		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	Pokémon Bank Celebi
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 VI

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0179		Mareep		Monster	Field	National Pokédex Mareep
0374		Beldum		Mineral		Mineral	Steven's Beldum
0497		Serperior		Field	Grass	Hidden Ability Present Serperior
0500		Emboar		Field		Field	Hidden Ability Present Emboar
0503		Samurott		Field		Field	Hidden Ability Present Samurott
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 VII

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0446		Munchlax		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	Snorlium Z Munchlax
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 generations

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	SV	Legends: Z-A	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

• Hold Back was first revealed on the December 18, 2013 episode of Nintendo Direct.

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	手下留情 Sáuhah Làuhchìhng
	Mandarin	手下留情 Shǒuxià Liúqíng
French		Retenue
German		Zurückhaltung
Italian		Riguardo
Korean		적당히손봐주기 Jeokdanghisonbwajugi
Russian		Воздержание Vozderzhaniye
Spanish		Clemencia

Variations of the move False Swipe
False Swipe • Hold Back

	Event exclusives
Pokémon Pikachu in a cap • Spiky-eared Pichu • Mega Garchomp Z • Victini • Mega Chesnaught • Mega Delphox Mega Greninja • Ash-Greninja • Poké Ball Pattern Vivillon • Diancie • Original Color Magearna Zeraora • Zarude • Mega Baxcalibur • Walking Wake • Iron Leaves • Pecharunt Moves Happy Hour • Celebrate • Hold Hands • Hold Back Items Bluesky Mail • Mirage Mail • Eon Ticket • MysticTicket • AuroraTicket • Old Sea Map • Brick Mail Member Card • Oak's Letter • Enigma Stone • Liberty Pass • Discount Coupon • Dynamax Crystal Mythical Pecha Berry • Chesnaughtite • Delphoxite • Greninjite • Garchompite Z • Baxcalibrite Pokéwalker Routes Yellow Forest • Winner's Path • Sightseeing • Rally • Amity Meadow Other C-Gear Skins

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.