Self-Destruct (move)

Self-Destruct
じばく Self-Destruct
Self-Destruct IX.png
Self-Destruct IX 2.png
Type  Normal
Category  Physical
PP  5 (max. 8)
Power  200
Accuracy  100%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
Affects all Pokémon adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Beauty
Appeal  8 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Jam  0  
Makes a great appeal, but allows no more to the end.
Condition  Beauty
Appeal  0  
Earn +15 if all the Pokémon choose the same Judge.
Condition  Beautiful
Appeal  8 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Jamming  0  
A move of huge appeal, but using it prevents the user from taking further contest moves.

Self-Destruct (Japanese: じばく Self-Destruct), formatted as Selfdestruct prior to Generation VI, is a damage-dealing Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM36 in Generation I, TM42 in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, and was TM20 in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Effect

Selfdestruct inflicts damage and causes the user to faint.

Sturdy or a held Focus Band or Focus Sash does not prevent the user from fainting.

This move cannot be used when a Pokémon with the Ability Damp is on the field.

Generation I

Though its power is listed as 130, the target's Defense will be halved during damage calculation (unless it is at a value of 1), effectively doubling the power to 260.

The user of Selfdestruct will faint even if the attack misses or the opponent is immune to it (due to being Ghost type).

If Selfdestruct breaks a target's substitute, the user will not faint, though its image will be replaced by a blank image. Additionally, if the user of Selfdestruct had a substitute at the time of such a situation, uses Substitute later, or switches out, its regular image will once again become visible.

If the user of Selfdestruct attacks first and faints itself, the opponent will not attack or be subjected to recurrent damage during that round.

In Stadium, if Selfdestruct breaks a target's substitute, the user will faint. The base power listed in Stadium is the one after halving Defense, i.e. 260.

Generation II

Selfdestruct's power is increased to 200. The target's Defense is still halved, effectively doubling the power to 400.

The user of Selfdestruct will now faint even if the target is behind a substitute, or is protected against it.

If the user of Selfdestruct attacks first and faints itself, the opponent will not attack this turn, but is subjected to end-of-turn damage such as from sandstorm.

Unlike the previous game, Stadium 2 lists Selfdestruct's power before halving Defense.

If Selfdestruct is selected, but fails due to confusion, then the user takes more confusion damage as well.

Generation III

The user's sprite no longer disappears upon using the move.

If the user of Selfdestruct attacks first and faints itself, all other Pokémon may still attack this turn.

Generation IV

If all targets of Selfdestruct have already fainted this turn such that there is no target when Selfdestruct is being executed, Selfdestruct will fail and the user will not faint.

Selfdestruct's temporary Defense drop no longer boosts confusion damage.

Generation V

Selfdestruct no longer halves the target's Defense. The user faints before dealing damage, unlike in previous generations.

If all targets of Selfdestruct have already fainted this turn such that there is no target when Selfdestruct is being executed, the user of Selfdestruct will now faint regardless.

Generation VI onwards

Self-Destruct returns to damaging the target before the user faints.

Self-Destruct can also be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, with the user gaining an extra three appeal points if any of the moves Block, Mean Look or Spider Web was used in the prior turn.

If used in a Raid Battle (Max and Tera), Self-Destruct fails, and the user does not faint.

Generation VIII

Self-Destruct fails if the move misses, or the target is immune.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the user receives recoil damage instead of fainting, with the exact recoil amount depending on the style used.

Category  Physical
PP  5
Agile Strong
Power  150  120  200
Accuracy  100%  100%  100%
Action speed modifier
Self  0  0  +5
Target  0  +3  0
Additional effect
Recoil  80%  70%  90%
   ?  ?
   ?  ?
Damages the user by a percentage of its total HP

Description

Games Description
Stad The user explodes, inflicting damage on the enemy, then faints. Useless against Ghost-type.
Stad2 The user explodes, damaging the enemy, then faints. Useless against the Ghost-type.
GSC Powerful but makes the user faint.
RSEColo.XD Inflicts severe damage but makes the user faint.
FRLG The user blows up to inflict severe damage, even making itself faint.
DPPtHGSSPBR The user blows up to inflict damage on all Pokémon in battle. The user faints upon using this move.
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
SwShBDSP
SV
The user attacks everything around it by causing an explosion. The user faints upon using this move.
LA The user causes an explosion to inflict damage on the target. This also damages the user.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0074    
 
Mineral Mineral 21 21 21 18 29 29XY
24ORAS
24 19 24 47 24
0074  
Geodude
Alolan Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral 24 19 24
0075    
 
Mineral Mineral 21 21 21 18 31 31XY
24ORAS
24 19 24 47 24
0075  
Graveler
Alolan Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral 24 19 24
0076    
 
Mineral Mineral 21 21 21 18 31 31XY
24ORAS
24 19 24 47 24
0076  
Golem
Alolan Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral 24 19 24
0100     Mineral Mineral 22 23 27 29 33 33XY
26ORAS
26 19 26 26
0100  
Voltorb
Hisuian Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral 47 26
0101     Mineral Mineral 22 1, 23 27 29 35 35XY
26ORAS
26 19 26 26
0101  
Electrode
Hisuian Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral 47 26
0109     Amorphous Amorphous 40 17 17 19 24BW
23B2W2
23 23 24 28 28 28
0110     Amorphous Amorphous 43 1, 17 1, 17 19 24BW
23B2W2
23 23 24 28 28 28
0110  
Weezing
Galarian Form
 
 
Amorphous Amorphous 28 28
0204     Bug Bug 8 8 6 6 6 6 6 6
0205    
 
Bug Bug 1, 8 1, 8 1, 6 1, 6 1 1, 6 1, 6 1
0211  
Qwilfish
Hisuian Form
 
 
Water 2 Water 2 57
0343    
 
Mineral Mineral 19 19 21BW
25B2W2
25XY
28ORAS
28 33 33
0344    
 
Mineral Mineral 19 19 21BW
25B2W2
25XY
28ORAS
28 33 33
0425    
 
Amorphous Amorphous 29 29 47 29
0426    
 
Amorphous Amorphous 31 31 47 31
0482     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 57 Rem.*
0597    
 
Grass Mineral 38 38 38 30
0598    
 
Grass Mineral 38 38 38 30
0649  
Genesect
All forms
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77 77 77 91
0774  
Minior
All forms
 
 
Mineral Mineral 22 22
0904    
 
Water 2 Water 2 57
0969    
 
Mineral Mineral 29
0970    
 
Mineral Mineral 29
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 breeding

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Egg Move
0211    
 
Water 2 Water 2
0211  
Qwilfish
Hisuian Form
 
 
Water 2 Water 2
0185     Mineral Mineral
0438     Mineral Mineral
0446     Monster Monster
0568     Mineral Mineral
0965    
 
Mineral Mineral
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 TM/Move Tutor

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Compatibility
0039    
 
Fairy Fairy
0040    
 
Fairy Fairy
0074    
 
Mineral Mineral
0074  
Geodude
Alolan Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral
0075    
 
Mineral Mineral
0075  
Graveler
Alolan Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral
0076    
 
Mineral Mineral
0076  
Golem
Alolan Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral
0088     Amorphous Amorphous
0088  
Grimer
Alolan Form
 
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0089     Amorphous Amorphous
0089  
Muk
Alolan Form
 
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0090     Water 3 Water 3
0091    
 
Water 3 Water 3
0092    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0093    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0094    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0095    
 
Mineral Mineral
0100     Mineral Mineral
0101     Mineral Mineral
0102    
 
Grass Grass
0103    
 
Grass Grass
0103  
Exeggutor
Alolan Form
 
 
Grass Grass
0109     Amorphous Amorphous
0110     Amorphous Amorphous
0110  
Weezing
Galarian Form
 
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0143     Monster Monster
0150     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0151     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0185     Mineral Mineral
0204     Bug Bug
0205    
 
Bug Bug
0208    
 
Mineral Mineral
0211    
 
Water 2 Water 2
0218     Amorphous Amorphous
0219    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0222    
 
Water 1 Water 3
0222  
Corsola
Galarian Form
  Water 1 Water 3
0273     Field Grass
0274    
 
Field Grass
0275    
 
Field Grass
0299     Mineral Mineral
0316     Amorphous Amorphous
0317     Amorphous Amorphous
0320     Field Water 2
0321     Field Water 2
0323    
 
Field Field
0324     Field Field
0337    
 
Mineral Mineral
0338    
 
Mineral Mineral
0343    
 
Mineral Mineral
0344    
 
Mineral Mineral
0362     Fairy Mineral
0375    
 
Mineral Mineral
0376    
 
Mineral Mineral
0377     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0378     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0379     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0425    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0426    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0438     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0446     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0462    
 
Mineral Mineral
0463     Monster Monster
0482     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0485    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0526     Mineral Mineral
0568     Mineral Mineral
0569     Mineral Mineral
0582     Mineral Mineral
0583     Mineral Mineral
0584     Mineral Mineral
0597    
 
Grass Mineral
0598    
 
Grass Mineral
0615     Mineral Mineral
0622    
 
Mineral Mineral
0623    
 
Mineral Mineral
0645  
Landorus
All forms
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0649  
Genesect
All forms
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0721    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0773  
Silvally
All forms
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0797    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0801  
Magearna
All forms
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0806    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0809     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0837     Mineral Mineral
0838    
 
Mineral Mineral
0839    
 
Mineral Mineral
0855  
Polteageist
All forms
  Mineral Amorphous
0864     Water 1 Water 3
0871     Water 1 Amorphous
0874     Mineral Mineral
0894     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0895     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.
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.


Special move

Generation IV

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0109  
KoffingLv. 13
  Amorphous Amorphous Pokéwalker - Town Outskirts
0446     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered Pokéwalker - Winner's Path
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 games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Self-Destruct causes a 3×3 explosion centered on the user, that targets all Pokémon in the range; ally or enemy. From Super Mystery Dungeon, the move is instead classified as a status move and the user will first give itself the Self-Destruct status condition. With this, the user will only explode if attacked on the next turn.

In the Rescue Team, Explorers and Adventure Squad series, the explosion deals 40 HP damage to enemy Pokémon and halves the current HP of the user and teammates (dealing at least 1 HP of damage). Fire-type take half the usual damage from Self-Destruct. In Super Mystery Dungeon, the explosion will immediately defeat enemies in range, though Fire-type enemy Pokémon will only lose 50% of their HP. The damage to the user and teammates is the same as in previous games.

Self-Destruct also destroys all items and wall tiles (other than those on the edge of the floor and in locked chambers) in range. This move cannot be used if the current weather on the floor is rain, or if there is a Pokémon with Damp somewhere on the floor.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB - - 12 - —% - 1 tile around user All Yes
MDTDS - - 12 - —% - 1 tile around user All Yes
BSL - - 12 - —% - 1 tile around user All Yes
SMD - - 15 30 —% - 1 tile around user All Yes
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Description

Games Description
MDRB Makes the user explode, inflicting damage on all surrounding Pokémon. It also destroys surrounding items.
MDTDS Makes the user blow up in an explosion, inflicting damage on all Pokémon within a 1-tile range. It also destroys walls and items.
BSL じぶんが 『ばくはつ』する まわりの ポケモンに ダメージをあたえ かべや ゆかのどうぐも きえてしまう
MDGtI  UNUSED
SMD You'll get the self-destruct status. When you take damage, it causes an explosion that damages Pokémon around you and causes items on the floor to disappear. You won't get Exp. Points even if an enemy faints due to the damage caused by the explosion.


In the anime

 
Ditto as a Voltorb
 
Voltorb
 
Pineco
 
Glalie
The user self-destructs violently, damaging everything around it. The user faints upon using this move.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Voltorb's body glows white or yellow. It then explodes violently. Sometimes, yellow sparks appear around its body before the explosion.
Koga's multiple Voltorb The Ninja Poké-Showdown Debut
Duplica's Ditto in the form of Voltorb Ditto's Mysterious Mansion Used via Transform
A wild Voltorb A Chansey Operation None
Keith's multiple Voltorb So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd None
Multiple wild Voltorb Showdown at the Po-ké Corral None
A Trainer's Voltorb Pikachu Re-Volts None
A Trainer's Voltorb Arceus and the Jewel of Life None
Multiple wild Voltorb Bucking the Treasure Trend! None
Goh's Voltorb Mad About Blue! None
  Pineco's body glows blue or white before it suddenly explodes.
Multiple wild Pineco Going Apricorn! None
Brock's Pineco Going Apricorn! None
Multiple wild Pineco Bucking the Treasure Trend! None
  Glalie's body flashes yellow before it suddenly explodes. Glalie faints upon using the move.
Coral's Glalie HZ025 None


In the manga

The Electric Tale of Pikachu


How I Became a Pokémon Card


Pokémon Adventures


Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure


Pokémon Zensho


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

  • In Generation I, if Selfdestruct or Explosion knocks out the last remaining Pokémon on both sides of the field simultaneously, the player will black out as normal, but the victory music still plays.
  • In Generations II and III, if a Pokémon attempts to use Selfdestruct or Explosion but hurts itself in confusion instead, the confusion damage is boosted by the move's Defense-halving effect.
  • Self-Destruct, Explosion, and Misty Explosion are the only three damaging moves whose battle animations play out even if they would miss or have no effect.
  • If Self-Destruct is upgraded into the Z-Move Breakneck Blitz, that Breakneck Blitz will have the same power as Self-Destruct (200).

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 自爆 Jihbaau
Mandarin 自爆 Zìbào *
玉石俱碎 Yùshí Jù Suì *
  Czech Sebezničení
  Danish Selvdestruktion
  Dutch Zelfvernietiging
  Finnish Itsetuho
  French Destruction
  German Finale
  Greek Αυτοκαταστροφή Aytokatastrofí
  Italian AutodistruzioneIV+
Autodistruz.IIII
  Korean 자폭 Japok
  Brazilian Portuguese Autodestruição
  Serbian Samouništenje
  Spanish Autodestrucción*
Autodestruc*
  Swedish Självförstörelse
  Vietnamese Tự Hủy


Generation I TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation I HMs
0102030405
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


  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.