Instruct (move)

Instruct
さいはい Command
Instruct IX.png
Instruct IX 2.png
Type  Psychic
Category  Status
PP  15 (max. 24)
Power  —
Accuracy  —%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
  • Does not make contact
  • Affected by Protect
  • Not affected by Magic Coat
  • Not affected by Snatch
  • Not affected by Mirror Move
  • Not affected by King's Rock
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation VII
Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]]
Appeal  0  
Jam  0  
Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]]
Appeal  0  
Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]]
Appeal  0  
Jamming  0  

Instruct (Japanese: さいはい Command) is a non-damaging Psychic-type move introduced in Generation VII. It is the signature move of Oranguru.

Effect

Instruct causes the target to repeat its most recent move immediately; PP will be deducted from moves used in this manner, and damage dealt by moves used in this manner is considered for the purpose of Counter, Mirror Coat, and Metal Burst (even if the target did not select a move this turn). If the target hasn't yet made a move this turn (but has on a previous turn) when instructed to use its most recent move, it will repeat its move from the previous turn, then later on when its natural turn order comes up, it can use its newly selected move normally.

Instruct will fail if the target has not made any move; the target is in the middle of Bide, Focus Punch, Beak Blast, Shell Trap, or a consecutively executed move (excluding Raging Fury as of Generation IX); the target has been picked up by Sky Drop (even if one of the Pokémon has No Guard); the instructed move's PP is depleted; the target does not know the move that would be instructed (e.g. if the last move it used was due to Dancer, or it has leveled up and replaced that move since it used it); or the target is a Dynamax Pokémon. It will also fail if the target's most recent move is Instruct itself, Bide, Focus Punch, Beak Blast, Shell Trap, Sketch, Transform, Mimic, King's Shield, Struggle, a move that requires recharging (such as Hyper Beam), a move with a charging turn (such as Dig or Skull Bash), a move that calls another move (such as Metronome), a Z-Move, or a Max Move.

Using an instructed move is a separate action, and effects bound to a Pokémon's actions are applied individually: for example, a Pokémon may hit itself in confusion or loaf around for the first of its actions, but execute a move normally for its second. For action-bound status conditions that can be recovered from, such as sleep or confusion, using an instructed move both gives a chance of recovery, and counts as a turn towards guaranteed recovery if applicable. All actions that are not bound to a Pokémon's actions still apply once for the entire turn: for example, if a Pokémon has flinched, this applies to all of its actions for the remainder of the turn.

A Pokémon can successfully be instructed to repeat a move when under the effect of Torment or to use a status move while holding an Assault Vest. When instructed to use Fake Out, Mat Block, or First Impression, the target will attempt to use the move and PP will be deducted from it, but the move will fail. When instructed to use a move that would be prevented by Disable, Heal Block, Gravity, Throat Chop, Taunt, or Imprison, the target will attempt to use it, but the move will fail without PP being deducted.

The instructed move will target the same Pokémon slot as the previously used move, as long as a Pokémon is present in that slot.

Instructed moves retain their original priority, regardless of the priority of Instruct - for example, Sucker Punch still fails in Psychic Terrain when Instruct is used at 0 priority to call it. Similarly, non-priority moves succeed when instructed in Psychic Terrain, even if the Instruct user has Prankster. Prankster-instructed non-priority status moves used on a Dark-type-type Pokémon will also succeed, as will Prankster-instructed non-priority moves used on a Pokémon protected by Armor Tail or Queenly Majesty.

If powered up by a Psychium Z into Z-Instruct, the user's Special Attack rises one stage.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Instruct cannot be selected in a battle.

Description

Games Description
SMUSUM
SwShLA
The user instructs the target to use the target's last move again.
BDSP This move can't be used. It's recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can't be remembered.
SV The user instructs the target to reuse the move last used by the target.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0765    
 
Field Field 32 50 50
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 the anime

 
Oranguru
 
Effect
The user instructs the target to use the target's last move again.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  The leaves on Oranguru's fan glow multi-colored and it thrusts it forward, causing the target to become outlined in a white glow. The target then uses its most recent move on a different target that Oranguru chooses.
Oranguru (anime) Mallow and the Forest Teacher! Debut


In other generations

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 號令 Houhlihng
Mandarin 號令 / 号令 Hàolìng
  Dutch Commando
  French Sommation
  German Kommando
  Italian Imposizione
  Korean 지휘 Jihwi
  Polish Instruktaż
  Brazilian Portuguese Instrução
  Russian Инструктаж Instruktazh
  Spanish Mandato


  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.