Mean Look (move)

Mean Look くろいまなざし Dark Look

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Battles Type  Normal Category  Status PP  5 (max. 8) Power  — Accuracy  —% Priority  {{{priority}}} Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Affected by Magic Coat and Magic Bounce Not affected by Snatch 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 II Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  0   Makes all Pokémon after the user nervous.

Super Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  2 ♥♥ Lowers the Voltage of all Judges by one each.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Beautiful Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jamming  0   Makes the remaining Pokémon nervous.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Mean Look (Japanese: くろいまなざし Dark Look) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation II.

Effect

Generation II

Mean Look prevents the target from switching out or fleeing (including via Teleport). It bypasses accuracy checks to always hit, unless the target is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly. The effect only applies as long as the Pokémon that used it remains in battle.

It will hit the target even if it has used Protect or Detect.

The affected Pokémon can still switch out via Baton Pass, but in that case, the Pokémon that switches in will now be affected. Conversely, the Pokémon that used Mean Look can switch out with Baton Pass and the effects of Mean Look will still apply. Also, if the affected Pokémon is Roared at or hit with a Whirlwind, they will still be switched out.

If a wild Pokémon uses Mean Look on the player's Pokémon, the player will be unable to escape.

Generations III and IV

Pokémon affected by Mean Look can escape (but not switch out) if the Pokémon has the Ability Run Away or is holding a Smoke Ball.

It is now blocked by Protect and Detect.

Pokémon affected by Mean Look can now switch out with U-turn.

Mean Look can be used as the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing Destiny Bond and Perish Song to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn. It can also be used to finish a combination, with the user gaining 2 bonus appeal points if Curse was used in the previous turn.

Generation V

If a Pokémon traps a target with Mean Look and then switches with Baton Pass, the target will no longer be trapped.

Pokémon affected by Mean Look can also switch out with Volt Switch.

Also, Dragon Tail and Circle Throw will force the affected Pokémon to switch out.

Generation VI onwards

Mean Look no longer affects Ghost-type Pokémon. It will now hit the target even if it has used Protect, Detect, or Spiky Shield, but will fail if the target is protected by Crafty Shield.

Pokémon affected by Mean Look can also switch out with Parting Shot and Flip Turn.

Mean Look can also be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, causing certain moves (Explosion, Memento, Perish Song and Self-Destruct) to give an extra three appeal points if used in the next turn.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Mean Look, the user's Special Defense stat is raised by one stage.

Description

Games Description Stad2 A probing stare that prevents the target from escaping until the attacking Pokémon is gone. GSC Prevents fleeing or switching. RSE Fixes the foe with a mean look that prevents escape. FRLG The foe is fixed with a mean look that prevents it from escaping. Colo.XD Fixes the target with a look that prevents escape. DPPtHGSSPBR The user affixes the foe with a dark, arresting look. The target becomes unable to flee. BWB2W2 XYORAS SMUSUM SwShBDSPLA SV The user pins the target with a dark, arresting look. The target becomes unable to flee.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
041		Zubat		Flying		Flying	36	36	29	29BW 34B2W2	34XY 29ORAS	29SMUSUM	10SwShBDSP
042		Golbat		Flying		Flying	42	42	33	33BW 38B2W2	38XY 32ORAS	32SMUSUM	1SwShBDSP
092		Gastly		Amorphous		Amorphous	13	13RSE 48FRLG	8	8	8	8SMUSUM	8SwShBDSP	8
093		Haunter		Amorphous		Amorphous	13	13RSE 64FRLG	8	8	8	8SMUSUM	1SwShBDSP	1
094		Gengar		Amorphous		Amorphous	13	13RSE 64FRLG	8	8	8	8SMUSUM	1SwShBDSP	1
124		Jynx		Human-Like		Human-Like	35	35	21	25	25	25SMUSUM	46
169		Crobat		Flying		Flying	42	42	33	33BW 38B2W2	38XY 32ORAS	32	1SwShBDSP
197		Umbreon		Field		Field	42	42	57	57BW 37B2W2	37	37	50SwShBDSP	50
198		Murkrow		Flying		Flying	41	48	41	41	41	41	41BDSP	35
200		Misdreavus		Amorphous		Amorphous	19	23	19	19	19	19	19BDSP	19
238		Smoochum		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	33	33	21	25	25	25	40
302		Sableye		Human-Like		Human-Like		45	57	60	1, 60XY 46ORAS	46	36	36
355		Duskull		Amorphous		Amorphous		45	38	41	41XY 46ORAS	46	28SwShBDSP
356		Dusclops		Amorphous		Amorphous		51	43	49	49XY 52ORAS	52	28SwShBDSP
429		Mismagius		Amorphous		Amorphous							1BDSP
430		Honchkrow		Flying		Flying							1BDSP
477		Dusknoir		Amorphous		Amorphous			43	49	49XY 52ORAS	52	28SwShBDSP
504		Patrat		Field		Field				31	31	36
505		Watchog		Field		Field				36	36	43
562		Yamask		Mineral	Amorphous				45	45	45	28
562		Yamask Galarian Form		Mineral	Amorphous							28
563		Cofagrigus		Mineral	Amorphous				51	51	51	28
678		Meowstic Male		Field		Field					1	1	1
785		Tapu Koko		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered						1	50
786		Tapu Lele		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered						1	50
787		Tapu Bulu		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered						1	50
788		Tapu Fini		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered						1	50
867		Runerigus		Mineral	Amorphous							28
987		Flutter Mane		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								14
100		Wo-Chien		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								1
100		Chien-Pao		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								1
100		Ting-Lu		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								1
100		Chi-Yu		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								1
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
088		Grimer		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔BDSP	✔
088		Grimer Alolan Form		Amorphous		Amorphous						✔
163		Hoothoot		Flying		Flying						✔USUM	✔BDSP
203		Girafarig		Field		Field				✔	✔	✔	✔BDSP	✔
280		Ralts		Human-Like	Amorphous		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
302		Sableye		Human-Like		Human-Like				✔	✔	✔	✔BDSP
359		Absol		Field		Field			✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
495		Snivy		Field	Grass				✔	✔	✔
551		Sandile		Field		Field				✔	✔	✔
574		Gothita		Human-Like		Human-Like				✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
624		Pawniard		Human-Like		Human-Like				✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
629		Vullaby		Flying		Flying				✔	✔	✔	✔
701		Hawlucha		Flying	Human-Like							✔	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Special move

Generation V

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
553		Krookodile		Field		Field	Dream World - Rugged Mountain
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By event

Generation V

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
235		Smeargle		Field		Field	2013 World Championships Smeargle
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, Blue Rescue Team, Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, Mean Look is a move with 12PP and 100% accuracy. The user targets enemy in front of them and inflicts Leg/Shadow Hold status condition. This move is affected by Magic Coat and Taunt.

Description

Games Description MDRB Inflicts the Leg Hold status on the target, making it incapable of movement. MDTDS Afflicts the targeted enemy with a Shadow Hold status condition. A Pokémon with the Shadow Hold status is incapable of movement. BSL てきポケモンを かげふみじょうたいにかえる かげふみじょうたいの ポケモンは いどうできない MDGtI It causes the Stuck status condition to an enemy. With the Stuck status, the enemy can't move. SMD It causes an enemy to get stuck.

In the anime

Absol	Dusknoir	Watchog	Haunter
The user affixes the foe with a dark, arresting look, causing the target to become trapped in the battle.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
Haunter	Haunter's eyes glow light-purple, preventing the opponent from escaping.
Morty's Haunter	From Ghost to Ghost		Debut
Misdreavus	Misdreavus opens its eyes wide and its body flashes black. The opponent can no longer run away from the battle.
Nelson's Misdreavus	Entei at Your Own Risk		None
Dusclops	Dusclops's iris glows purple and it releases a black ring of energy from its eye at the opponent. When the ring hits the opponent, the opponent becomes surrounded by a purple aura, causing the opponent to no longer be able to be recalled into its Poké Ball.
Brandon's Dusclops	Gathering the Gang of Four!		None
Dusknoir	Dusknoir's iris glows purple and it releases a black ring of energy from its eye at the opponent. When the ring hits the opponent, it flips around so it is above the opponent, and it falls down onto it. The ring then disappears and the opponent's body flashes black, preventing it from escaping.
Conway's Dusknoir	Working on a Right Move!		None
Watchog	Watchog closes its eyes and its body becomes surrounded in a dark purple aura. It then opens its eyes and they glow bright red. The purple aura then rises into the air and forms an eye with a black pupil. The eye then becomes surrounded in a magenta aura, and multiple smaller eyes with a magenta outline appear around it and spread throughout the battlefield. The opponent's body then becomes surrounded in a magenta aura. Once it does, the eyes disappear and the opponent can no longer be recalled. If the Trainer tries, a purple force field appears around the opponent.
Lenora's Watchog	The Battle According to Lenora!		None
Gengar	Gengar's irises and pupils turn purple, with a light-purple glow around them. The opponent then glows purple, with its eyes glowing bright red, and a dark-purple, shadowy mist appears around the opponent's body as the opponent turns towards Gengar.
Alva's Gengar	Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel		None
Absol	Absol's eyes glow red and a dark, ghostly aura surrounds it. The aura then extends and surrounds the opponent, making them freeze in fear.
Lusamine's Absol	Rescuing the Unwilling!‎		None
Sableye	Sableye's eyes flash red and then a dark purple and shadowy aura shaped like its face is fired at the opponent. After the attack hits, the opponent's body becomes outlined in a dark purple aura and struggles to be able to move.
Nanu's Sableye	Guiding an Awakening!		None

In the manga

Be the Best! Pokémon B+W

	Watchog
The user projects an evil eye at the opponent, scaring it and preventing it from running.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Watchog	Watchog projects an evil eye at the opponent, scaring it and preventing it from running.
Monta's Watchog	Let's Master Pokémon Capturing!		Debut

Pokémon Adventures

	Smoochum
The user fires black eye beams at the opponent, preventing them from escaping.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Smoochum	Smoochum fires black eye beams at the opponent from her eyes, stunning it and preventing it from escaping.
Crystal's Chumee	Slugging It Out with Slugma		Debut

Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

Gastly	Gengar	The effect
The user looks at the opponent and eyes are targeted at it.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Gastly	Gastly makes a scary face at the opponent and at least five eyes are targeting it.
Black's Gastly	Extreme Power!! The Friday Pokémon		Debut
Gengar	Gengar makes a scary face at the opponent and a few eyes are targeting it, causing the opponent to shudder in fear.
Morty's Gengar	A Promise Given to Miltank		None

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

	Umbreon
Multiple eyes appear which prevents the foe from doing anything.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Umbreon	Umbreon looks at the foe and multiple eyes appear.
Karen's Umbreon	A Challenge to the Elite Four!		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

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	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

• In Generation III, the status screen erroneously states that the move has 100% accuracy, even though it ignores accuracy and evasion checks.
• The stock image used in the battle animation of Mean Look from Generation VII onwards appears to be based on Espurr's eyes, which can't itself learn the move. This trait is shared with Tearful Look and Baby-Doll Eyes^VII+.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 黑色目光 Hāaksīk Muhkgwōng * 黑色眼光 Hāaksīk Ngáahngwōng * 黑暗眼光 Hākam Ngáahngwōng * 黑暗視線 Hākam Sihsin * Mandarin 黑色目光 Hēisè Mùguāng * 黑色眼光 Hēisè Yǎnguāng * 黑暗的視線 Hēi'àn-de Shìxiàn * Czech Zlý pohled Danish Ondt Blik Dutch Valse blik Finnish Inhonaama French Regard Noir German Horrorblick Greek Άγρια Ματιά Indonesian Tatapan Gelap Mata Hitam Italian Malosguardo Korean 검은눈빛 Geom-eun Nunbit Polish Ciemne Spojrzenie* Zły Wygląd* Portuguese Brazil Olhar Malvado Portugal Olhar Paralisante Serbian Zao pogled Spanish Latin America Mirada Maligna (EP182) Cara Mala (EP259) Mirada Mala (AG189, BW015-BW016) Mal de Ojo (DP185) Spain Mal de Ojo Vietnamese Cái Nhìn Ác Ý

Variations of the move Mean Look
Block • Mean Look • Spider Web

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.