Leech Life (move)

Leech Life
きゅうけつ Suck Blood
Leech Life IX.png
Leech Life IX 2.png
Type  Bug
Category  Physical
PP  10 (max. 16)
Power  80
Accuracy  100%
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  3 ♥♥♥
Startles the Pokémon that appealed before the user.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  1
Earn +3 if two Pokémon raise the Voltage in a row.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  1
Jamming  0  
Shows off the Pokémon's appeal about as well as the move used just before it.

Leech Life (Japanese: きゅうけつ Suck Blood) is a damage-dealing Bug-type move introduced in Generation I.

It is:

Effect

Generations I and II

Leech Life inflicts damage, and up to 50% of the damage dealt to the target is restored to the user as HP. If this attack deals 1 HP of damage, 1 HP will be restored to the user.

If Leech Life breaks a substitute, no HP will be restored to the user. If HP is restored to the user when its current HP is greater than its maximum HP, its current HP will be set equal to its maximum HP.

In the Japanese version of Generation I games, Pokémon Stadium series and Generation II games, Leech Life will always miss if the target has a substitute.

Generations III and IV

Leech Life will now properly heal the user when damaging a substitute, even if it was broken. If the target has the Ability Liquid Ooze, the user takes damage instead of restoring HP.

If the user is holding a Big Root, the HP restored is increased by 30% (making the restored HP 65% of the damage dealt). Big Root does not increase the damage dealt.

Leech Life is no longer affected by King's Rock.

Generation V

Leech Life is now affected by King's Rock.

Generation VI

Leech Life cannot be used if the user is under the effects of Heal Block.

Generation VII onwards

Leech Life's power was quadrupled from 20 to 80 and its PP was changed from 15 to 10. Accompanying this change it was also replaced by Absorb on many Pokémon's learnsets.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Category  Physical
PP  10
Agile Strong
Power  75  60  90
Accuracy  100%  100%  100%
Action speed modifier
Self  0  0  +5
Target  0  +3  0
Additional effect
Heal  50%  50%  75%
   ?  ?
   ?  ?
Restores the user's HP by a percentage of the damage dealt

Description

Games Description
StadStad2 An HP-draining attack. It adds half the HP it drained from the target to the attacker's HP.
GSC Steals 1/2 of the damage inflicted.
RSE An attack that steals half the damage inflicted.
FRLG An attack that absorbs half the damage it inflicted to restore HP.
Colo.XD An attack that absorbs half the damage inflicted.
DPPtHGSSPBR A blood-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by half the damage taken by the target.
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
SwShBDSPLA
The user drains the target's blood. The user's HP is restored by half the damage taken by the target.
SV The user drains the target's blood. The user's HP is restored by up to half the damage taken by the target.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
041   Zubat
 
 
Flying Flying 1 1 1 1 1 1 31SMUSUM
25PE
55SwShBDSP
43LA
042   Golbat
 
 
Flying Flying 1 1 1 1 1 1 35SMUSUM
31PE
69SwShBDSP
43LA
046   Paras
 
 
Bug Grass 20 19 19 11 11 11 23PE
047   Parasect
 
 
Bug Grass 1, 20 19 19 1, 11 1, 11 1, 11 23PE
048   Venonat
 
 
Bug Bug 27 25 25 17 17 17 35SMUSUM
28PE
35BDSP 35
049   Venomoth
 
 
Bug Bug 1, 27RGB
27Y
25 25 17 17 17 37SMUSUM
28PE
37BDSP 37
071   Victreebel
 
 
Grass Grass 1PE
140   Kabuto
 
 
Water 1 Water 3 48PE 45SwShBDSP
141   Kabutops
 
 
Water 1 Water 3 54PE 49SwShBDSP
167   Spinarak
 
 
Bug Bug 23 23 12 12 12 29BDSP
168   Ariados
 
 
Bug Bug 25 25 12 12 12 32BDSP
169   Crobat
 
 
Flying Flying 1 1 1 1 1 35 69SwShBDSP
43LA
267   Beautifly
 
 
Bug Bug 25BDSP
269   Dustox
 
 
Bug Bug 25BDSP
290   Nincada
 
 
Bug Bug 5 5 5 5
291   Ninjask
 
 
Bug Bug 1, 5 1, 5 1, 5 1, 5
292   Shedinja
 
 
Mineral Mineral 5 5 5 5
355   Duskull
  Amorphous Amorphous 18LA
356   Dusclops
  Amorphous Amorphous 18LA
402   Kricketune
  Bug Bug 14 14 14
477   Dusknoir
  Amorphous Amorphous 18LA
595   Joltik
 
 
Bug Bug 1 1
596   Galvantula
 
 
Bug Bug 1 1
616   Shelmet
  Bug Bug 1 1
617   Accelgor
  Bug Bug 1 1
636   Larvesta
 
 
Bug Bug 10 10 36SwSh 36
637   Volcarona
 
 
Bug Bug 1, 10 1, 10 36SwSh 36
714   Noibat
 
 
Flying Dragon 5
715   Noivern
 
 
Flying Dragon 5
751   Dewpider
 
 
Water 1 Bug 29 44SwSh
752   Araquanid
 
 
Water 1 Bug 33 56SwSh
794   Buzzwole
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 29
988   Slither Wing
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 84
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.


By TM/TR

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Machine
I
--
II
--
III
--
IV
--
V
--
VI
--
VII
TM28
VIII
TR18
IX
TM095
027   Sandshrew
  Field Field SwSh
027   Sandshrew
Alolan Form
 
 
Field Field SwSh
028   Sandslash
  Field Field SwSh
028   Sandslash
Alolan Form
 
 
Field Field SwSh
041   Zubat
 
 
Flying Flying SwSh
042   Golbat
 
 
Flying Flying SwSh
046   Paras
 
 
Bug Grass
047   Parasect
 
 
Bug Grass
048   Venonat
 
 
Bug Bug
049   Venomoth
 
 
Bug Bug
140   Kabuto
 
 
Water 1 Water 3 SwSh
141   Kabutops
 
 
Water 1 Water 3 SwSh
151   Mew
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered SwSh
167   Spinarak
 
 
Bug Bug
168   Ariados
 
 
Bug Bug
169   Crobat
 
 
Flying Flying SwSh
283   Surskit
 
 
Water 1 Bug
284   Masquerain
 
 
Water 1 Bug
290   Nincada
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
291   Ninjask
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
292   Shedinja
 
 
Mineral Mineral SwSh
402   Kricketune
  Bug Bug
452   Drapion
 
 
Bug Water 3 SwSh
469   Yanmega
 
 
Bug Bug
595   Joltik
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
596   Galvantula
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
616   Shelmet
  Bug Bug SwSh
617   Accelgor
  Bug Bug SwSh
636   Larvesta
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
637   Volcarona
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
649   Genesect
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered SwSh
714   Noibat
 
 
Flying Dragon SwSh
715   Noivern
 
 
Flying Dragon SwSh
725   Litten
  Field Field SwSh
726   Torracat
  Field Field SwSh
727   Incineroar
 
 
Field Field SwSh
742   Cutiefly
 
 
Bug Fairy SwSh
743   Ribombee
 
 
Bug Fairy SwSh
751   Dewpider
 
 
Water 1 Bug SwSh
752   Araquanid
 
 
Water 1 Bug SwSh
753   Fomantis
  Grass Grass SwSh
754   Lurantis
  Grass Grass SwSh
757   Salandit
 
 
Monster Dragon SwSh
758   Salazzle
 
 
Monster Dragon SwSh
767   Wimpod
 
 
Bug Water 3 SwSh
768   Golisopod
 
 
Bug Water 3 SwSh
778   Mimikyu
 
 
Amorphous Amorphous SwSh
794   Buzzwole
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered SwSh
804   Naganadel
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered USUM SwSh
825   Dottler
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
826   Orbeetle
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
850   Sizzlipede
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
851   Centiskorch
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
859   Impidimp
 
 
Fairy Human-Like SwSh
860   Morgrem
 
 
Fairy Human-Like SwSh
861   Grimmsnarl
 
 
Fairy Human-Like SwSh
864   Cursola
  Water 1 Water 3 SwSh
873   Frosmoth
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
882   Dracovish
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered SwSh
917   Tarountula
  Bug Bug
918   Spidops
  Bug Bug
919   Nymble
  Bug Bug
920   Lokix
 
 
Bug Bug
953   Rellor
  Bug Bug
954   Rabsca
 
 
Bug Bug
988   Slither Wing
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.


By Move Tutor

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Game
SwSh SwSh
EP
BDSP LA
041   Zubat
 
 
Flying Flying
042   Golbat
 
 
Flying Flying
046   Paras
 
 
Bug Grass
047   Parasect
 
 
Bug Grass
169   Crobat
 
 
Flying Flying
193   Yanma
 
 
Bug Bug
267   Beautifly
 
 
Bug Bug
355   Duskull
  Amorphous Amorphous
356   Dusclops
  Amorphous Amorphous
402   Kricketune
  Bug Bug
452   Drapion
 
 
Bug Water 3
455   Carnivine
  Grass Grass
469   Yanmega
 
 
Bug Bug
477   Dusknoir
  Amorphous Amorphous
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.


By breeding

# Pokémon Types Parent
Egg Groups
Egg Move
II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
069   Bellsprout
 
 
Grass Grass BDSP
193   Yanma
 
 
Bug Bug BDSP
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.


In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, and Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, Leech Life is a move with 4 base power, 90% accuracy, and 19 PP. The user attacks enemy in the front, and up to 50% of the damage dealt to the target is restored to the user as HP, including excess damage. This move is affected by Muzzled status condition.

In Gates to Infinity, the user will heal based on how much HP the target lost, with excess damage not being accounted for. This is changed back to what it previously was in Super Mystery Dungeon.

Pokémon GO

  Leech Life
Charged Attack
Gyms & Raids
Power ?
Energy cost ?
Duration 2.5 seconds
Damage window 1.15 - 1.4 seconds
Trainer Battles
Power ?
Energy cost ?
Secondary effect ?
Effect chance ?%
Eligible Pokémon:
Standard eligibility
By Elite Charged TM
By GO Snapshot
As Shadow Pokémon
As Purified Pokémon
Formerly eligible
None

Pokémon Rumble Rush

  Leech Life
★★★★
Attack power 26.3395
Charge time 0.5 seconds
Range type Projectile
Number of hits 1
Number of projectiles 1
Critical hit rate 1.5%
Additional effect Drains HP

Pokémon Masters EX

Category Move Gauge MP Base Power Max Power Accuracy Target Effect Tag Description Playable Users
Physical 3 91 109 100% An opponent Absorbs The more damage dealt to the target, the more this move restores the user's HP.* Lillie (New Year's 2021) & Ribombee
Lana & Araquanid
Scottie/Bettie & Support Paras/Parasect Egg
  • Description prior to Version 2.10.0*: Restores the user's HP based on the amount of damage dealt to the target.

Description

Games Description
MDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It also restores the user's HP based on the damage it inflicted.
MDTDS Inflicts damage on the target, then restores the user's HP based on the damage inflicted.
BSL てきポケモンに ダメージをあたえる あたえたダメージにおうじて じぶんのHPが かいふくする
MDGtI
SMD
MDRTDX
It damages an enemy. It also restores your HP. The greater the damage it causes, the more HP it restores.


In the anime

       
Zubat
The user bites the opponent and drains their energy.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Zubat Zubat bites down on the opponent, draining their energy.
Rapp's three Zubat Alola to New Adventure! Debut


In the manga

Pokémon Adventures


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

  • Leech Life is the only Bug-type HP-draining move.
  • Due to the power of Leech Life being quadrupled in Generation VII, this marks the largest increase for the power of a move in percentage.
    • This is also the greatest increase to a move in terms of power since Self-Destruct and Explosion in Generation II.
    • However, the change also includes a removal from the level-up learnsets of many Pokémon which could learn Leech Life early on in previous generations, with Absorb taking its place instead.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 吸血 Kāphyut
Mandarin 吸血 Xīxuè / Xīxiě *
汲取 Jíqǔ *
  Czech Pijavičí útok
  Danish Livigle
Sug Liv
  Dutch Onttrek Leven
  French Vampirisme
  German Blutsauger
  Greek Παρασιτισμός Parasitismós
  Italian Sanguisuga
  Korean 흡혈 Heuphyeol
  Polish Pijawka*
Wysysanie Krwi*
Portuguese   Brazil Suga-vidas (games, anime, HeartGold & SoulSilver-present, manga)
Suga-Vida (Fossil)
Sanguessuga (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Dreno de Energia
  Portugal Suga-Vidas
  Russian Пиявка Piyavka
  Serbian Isisavanje
  Spanish Chupavidas*
Chupa Vidas*
  Thai ดูดเลือด
  Vietnamese Hút Máu



Generation VII TMs
SMUSUM
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920
2122232425262728293031323334353637383940
4142434445464748495051525354555657585960
6162636465666768697071727374757677787980
81828384858687888990919293949596979899100
PE
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920
2122232425262728293031323334353637383940
4142434445464748495051525354555657585960
Generation VIII TMs
SwSh
0001020304050607080910111213141516171819
2021222324252627282930313233343536373839
4041424344454647484950515253545556575859
6061626364656667686970717273747576777879
8081828384858687888990919293949596979899
BDSP
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920
2122232425262728293031323334353637383940
4142434445464748495051525354555657585960
6162636465666768697071727374757677787980
81828384858687888990919293949596979899100
Generation VIII TRs (SwSh)
0001020304050607080910111213141516171819
2021222324252627282930313233343536373839
4041424344454647484950515253545556575859
6061626364656667686970717273747576777879
8081828384858687888990919293949596979899
Generation IX TMs
001002003004005006007008009010011012013014015016017018019
020021022023024025026027028029030031032033034035036037038
039040041042043044045046047048049050051052053054055056057
058059060061062063064065066067068069070071072073074075076
077078079080081082083084085086087088089090091092093094095
096097098099100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114
115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133
134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152
153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171


  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.