Spikes (move)

Spikes
まきびし Caltrop
Spikes IX.png
Spikes IX 2.png
Type  Ground
Category  Status
PP  20 (max. 32)
Power  —
Accuracy  —%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
  • Does not make contact
  • Not affected by Protect
  • Affected by Magic Coat and Magic Bounce
  • Not affected by Snatch
  • Not affected by Mirror Move
  • Not affected by King's Rock
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
Affects all foes
Availability
Introduced  Generation II
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  0  
Makes all Pokémon after the user nervous.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Prevents the Voltage from going up in the same turn.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jamming  0  
Makes the remaining Pokémon nervous.

Spikes (Japanese: まきびし Caltrop) is a non-damaging Ground-type move introduced in Generation II. It was TR23 in Pokémon Sword and Shield, and is TM090 in Generation IX.

Effect

Generation II

Spikes sets an entry hazard around the enemy team's field. Pokémon who switch into the spike-ridden field take 12.5% of their maximum HP in damage. Flying-type Pokémon are immune to this damage. The move Rapid Spin removes Spikes around the user.

Spikes glitch

In this generation only, Pokémon fainting from Spikes will not run the regular faint checks until later, meaning that player can potentially end up with a Pokémon with 0HP on the field which hasn't fainted if the game loop doesn't do any further unrelated faint checks later. The easiest way to reproduce this is to have a Pokémon faint to Perish Song, then switch into a Pokémon who immediately faints from Spikes.

Generations III and IV

Spikes can now be set up to three times, each increasing the damage done to the opponent upon switching in. One layer of Spikes will damage the opponent Pokémon by 1/8 (12.5%) of its maximum HP, two layers will deal 1/6 (16.67%), and three layers will deal 1/4 (25%). Any Pokémon with Levitate will also be immune to the damage.

The move Defog will remove Spikes around its target. Any Pokémon under the effect of Magnet Rise or Magic Guard Ability are unaffected by the damage. However, Flying and Levitating Pokémon are affected under Gravity, while holding Iron Ball, or if Baton Passed an Ingrain.

Generation V

Spikes can now be reflected with Magic Coat and the Ability Magic Bounce. Any Pokémon holding an Air Balloon will be immune to the damage.

Generation VI onwards

Defog now removes all Spikes from play regardless of which side of the field they were placed on.

Spikes can be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, causing Circle Throw, Dragon Tail, Roar, and Whirlwind to give an extra three appeal points if used in the next turn.

If powered up by a Groundium Z into Z-Spikes, the user's Defense stat rises by one stage.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Spikes is a physical move that deals direct damage with a base power of 40. It also leaves the target with splinters for 4 turns (Strong Style), 2 turns (Agile Style), or 3 turns (otherwise).

Category  Physical
PP  20
Agile Strong
Power  40  30  50
Accuracy  100%  100%  100%
Action speed modifier
Self  0  0  +5
Target  0  +3  0
Additional effect
Turns  3  2  4
   ?  ?
   ?  ?
Leaves the target with splinters

Generation IX

Using Ceaseless Edge will set up one layer of spikes on the target's side of the field.

Description

Games Description
Stad2 An attack that scatters Spikes and injures opponent Pokémon when they switch.
GSC Hurts foes when they switch out.
RSColo.XD Sets spikes that hurt a foe switching out.
E Sets spikes that hurt a foe switching in.
FRLG A trap of spikes is laid around the foe's party to hurt foes switching in.
DPPtHGSSPBR The user lays a trap of spikes at the foe's feet. The trap hurts foes that switch into battle.
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUM
SwSh
The user lays a trap of spikes at the opposing team's feet. The trap hurts Pokémon that switch into battle.
LA The user lays a trap of spikes at the target's feet. The spikes left behind by this attack continue to damage the target for several turns.
SV The user lays a trap of spikes at the feet of the opposing team. The spikes will damage opposing Pokémon that switch into battle.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
091   Cloyster
 
 
Water 3 Water 3 33C 33RSE
36FRLG
28 28 28 28 1SwShBDSP 1
204   Pineco
  Bug Bug 43 43 23DP
28PtHGSS
28 28 28 28BDSP 28
205   Forretress
 
 
Bug Bug 49 49 23DP
28PtHGSS
28 28 28 28BDSP 28
211   Qwilfish
 
 
Water 2 Water 2 1C 1 1 1 1 1 20SwShBDSP 20
211   Qwilfish
Hisuian Form
 
 
Water 2 Water 2 5LA 20
227   Skarmory
 
 
Flying Flying 42 27DP
28PtHGSS
28 28 28 44SwShBDSP
331   Cacnea
  Grass Human-Like 33 33 33 33XY
30ORAS
30 30BDSP 30
332   Cacturne
 
 
Grass Human-Like 35 35 35 35XY
30ORAS
30 30BDSP 30
386   Deoxys
Defense Forme
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 20 33 33 33XY
25ORAS
25 25BDSP
658   Greninja
 
 
Water 1 Water 1 28 28 28
707   Klefki
 
 
Mineral Mineral 15 15
904   Overqwil
 
 
Water 2 Water 2 5LA 20
100   Ting-Lu
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 5
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
--
VIII
TR23
IX
TM090
028   Sandslash
  Field Field SwSh
028   Sandslash
Alolan Form
 
 
Field Field SwSh
090   Shellder
  Water 3 Water 3
091   Cloyster
 
 
Water 3 Water 3 SwSh
138   Omanyte
 
 
Water 1 Water 3 SwSh
139   Omastar
 
 
Water 1 Water 3 SwSh
151   Mew
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered SwSh
185   Sudowoodo
  Mineral Mineral
194   Wooper
 
 
Water 1 Field
194   Wooper
Paldean Form
 
 
Water 1 Field
195   Quagsire
 
 
Water 1 Field
204   Pineco
  Bug Bug
205   Forretress
 
 
Bug Bug
211   Qwilfish
 
 
Water 2 Water 2 SwSh
211   Qwilfish
Hisuian Form
 
 
Water 2 Water 2
214   Heracross
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
225   Delibird
 
 
Water 1 Field SwSh
227   Skarmory
 
 
Flying Flying SwSh
315   Roselia
 
 
Fairy Grass SwSh
331   Cacnea
  Grass Human-Like
332   Cacturne
 
 
Grass Human-Like
340   Whiscash
 
 
Water 2 Water 2
361   Snorunt
  Fairy Mineral SwSh
362   Glalie
  Fairy Mineral SwSh
383   Groudon
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
406   Budew
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered SwSh
407   Roserade
 
 
Fairy Grass SwSh
416   Vespiquen
 
 
Bug Bug
423   Gastrodon
 
 
Water 1 Amorphous
438   Bonsly
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
445   Garchomp
 
 
Monster Dragon
478   Froslass
 
 
Fairy Mineral SwSh
543   Venipede
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
544   Whirlipede
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
545   Scolipede
 
 
Bug Bug SwSh
556   Maractus
  Grass Grass SwSh
557   Dwebble
 
 
Bug Mineral SwSh
558   Crustle
 
 
Bug Mineral SwSh
568   Trubbish
  Mineral Mineral SwSh
569   Garbodor
  Mineral Mineral SwSh
597   Ferroseed
 
 
Grass Mineral SwSh
598   Ferrothorn
 
 
Grass Mineral SwSh
616   Shelmet
  Bug Bug SwSh
617   Accelgor
  Bug Bug SwSh
650   Chespin
  Field Field
651   Quilladin
  Field Field
652   Chesnaught
 
 
Field Field
656   Froakie
  Water 1 Water 1
657   Frogadier
  Water 1 Water 1
658   Greninja
 
 
Water 1 Water 1
659   Bunnelby
  Field Field SwSh
660   Diggersby
 
 
Field Field SwSh
703   Carbink
 
 
Fairy Mineral
707   Klefki
 
 
Mineral Mineral SwSh
719   Diancie
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
767   Wimpod
 
 
Bug Water 3 SwSh
768   Golisopod
 
 
Bug Water 3 SwSh
801   Magearna
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
804   Naganadel
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered SwSh
837   Rolycoly
  Mineral Mineral SwSh
838   Carkol
 
 
Mineral Mineral SwSh
839   Coalossal
 
 
Mineral Mineral SwSh
871   Pincurchin
  Water 1 Amorphous SwSh
904   Overqwil
 
 
Water 2 Water 2
908   Meowscarada
 
 
Field Grass
917   Tarountula
  Bug Bug
918   Spidops
  Bug Bug
946   Bramblin
 
 
Grass Grass
947   Brambleghast
 
 
Grass Grass
948   Toedscool
 
 
Grass Grass
949   Toedscruel
 
 
Grass Grass
968   Orthworm
  Field Field
969   Glimmet
 
 
Mineral Mineral
970   Glimmora
 
 
Mineral Mineral
980   Clodsire
 
 
Water 1 Field
989   Sandy Shocks
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
995   Iron Thorns
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
100   Ting-Lu
 
 
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
211   Qwilfish
Hisuian Form
 
 
Water 2 Water 2
214   Heracross
 
 
Bug Bug
315   Roselia
 
 
Fairy Grass
361   Snorunt
  Fairy Mineral
362   Glalie
  Fairy Mineral
406   Budew
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
407   Roserade
 
 
Fairy Grass
472   Gliscor
 
 
Bug Bug
478   Froslass
 
 
Fairy Mineral
724   Decidueye
Hisuian Form
 
 
Flying Flying
904   Overqwil
 
 
Water 2 Water 2
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
138   Omanyte
 
 
Water 1 Water 3 BDSP
225   Delibird
 
 
Water 1 Field BDSP
315   Roselia
 
 
Fairy Grass BDSP
361   Snorunt
  Fairy Mineral BDSP
406   Budew
 
 
Fairy Grass BDSP
543   Venipede
 
 
Bug Bug
556   Maractus
  Grass Grass
557   Dwebble
 
 
Bug Mineral
568   Trubbish
  Mineral Mineral
597   Ferroseed
 
 
Grass Mineral
616   Shelmet
  Bug Bug
650   Chespin
  Field Field
656   Froakie
  Water 1 Water 1
659   Bunnelby
  Field Field
767   Wimpod
 
 
Bug Water 3
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
556   Maractus
  Grass Grass 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.


Generation VII

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
652   Chesnaught
 
 
Field Field Island Scan - Exeggutor IslandUSUM
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 II

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
225   Delibird
 
 
Water 1 Field New York City Pokémon Center
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, Spikes has 22PP. The user creates a Spiked Tile underneath them, as long as it's a land tile that is neither stairs nor Kecleon Shop carpet. Any Pokémon that triggers a Spiked Tile will lose 20 HP. The trap cannot be laid in hallways and the entrance of a room. This move is affected by Taunt.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

  Spikes
★★★
Attack power 47.82716
Charge time 0.82 seconds
Range type Circular (ranged)
Number of hits 1
Number of projectiles 1
Critical hit rate 1.5%
Additional effect None

Description

Games Description
MDRB The user places spikes underfoot. The Spiked Tile inflicts damage on foes that step on it.
MDTDS Turns the user's tile into a Spiked Tile trap. A Spiked Tile trap inflicts damage on enemies that step on it.
BSL あしもとに わな『まきびし』を つくる わな『まきびし』を ふんだ てきポケモンは ダメージをうける
MDGtI  UNUSED
SMD It turns your tile into a Spikes trap. A Spikes trap damages Pokémon that step on it.


In the anime

       
Skarmory Pineco Effect Forretress
The user lays a trap of spikes at the opposing team's feet. The trap hurts Pokémon that switch into battle.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Pineco Pineco spins around and purple spikes come out of its body and hit the opponent.
Brock's Pineco Ariados, Amigos Debut
  Forretress Forretress spins around and glowing white spikes comes out of its body and hit the opponent; or, Forretress fires black spikes at the opponent that surround it. When the opponent gets pricked by them, it hurts them.
Brock's Forretress A Tail with a Twist None
  Skarmory Skarmory spins its body rapidly and multiple glowing, metallic red spikes come out of its body and fall onto the battlefield. The spikes sink into the ground when they land. When the opponent switches to another Pokémon, small explosions go off under their feet, hurting them.
Barry's Skarmory Casting a Paul on Barry! None


In the manga

Pokémon Adventures


Pokémon Try Adventure


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 撒菱 Saatlìhng *
Mandarin 撒菱 Sālíng *
滿地星 Mǎndìxīng *
捲捲菱 Juǎnjuǎnlíng *
  Czech Ostny
  Dutch Spikes
  Finnish Naulaisku (OS)
Piikki-isku (AG)
  French Picots
  German Stachler
  Greek Καρφιά
  Indonesian Duri
Spike
  Italian Punte
  Korean 압정뿌리기 Apjeong Ppurigi
  Polish Kolce*
Atak Ukłucia*
Portuguese   Brazil Tachinhas (PS136-present)
Espinhos (early anime, PS115)
  Portugal Farpas
  Serbian Šiljci
Spanish   Latin America Púas (DP184-present)
Picos (EP176)
Espinas (AG008)
Agujas (AG156)
  Spain Púas
  Vietnamese Rải Đinh




Variations of the move Spikes
  SpikesStealth RockToxic SpikesSticky Web


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.