Substitute (move)

Substitute
みがわり Scapegoat
Substitute IX.png
[[File:|center]]
Type  Normal
Category  Status
PP  10 (max. 16)
Power  —
Accuracy  —%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
  • Does not make contact
  • Not affected by Protect
  • Not affected by Magic Coat
  • Affected by Snatch
  • Not affected by Mirror Move
  • Not affected by King's Rock
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
Affects the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  0  
Can avoid being startled by others once.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  1
Earn +3 if the Pokémon gets the lowest score.
Condition  Cute
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jamming  0  
Prevents the user from being startled one time this turn.

Substitute (Japanese: みがわり Scapegoat) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I.

It is:

It was Mr. Mime's signature move in Generation II.

Effect

By decreasing its HP by 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, the user creates a substitute with the same amount of HP as it lost. This move fails if the user already has a substitute or if losing the required HP would cause the user to faint. Substitute will fail if used by Shedinja (who only has 1 HP).

If a Pokémon has a substitute and is attacked by another Pokémon, the substitute takes any damage instead. (This includes the damaging turns of Future Sight and Doom Desire.) All damage factors use the owner's current stats (including maximum HP) and other traits. Any damage not directly from another Pokémon's attack (such as recoil damage or ongoing status conditions) will ignore the substitute.

The substitute will break when it loses all of its HP. It will also disappear if its owner leaves the field. A substitute can be passed by Baton Pass with the HP it has remaining.

Tidy Up will remove all substitutes from both sides of the field. Snatch will steal the effect of Substitute when it is used.

Interactions

A substitute also protects its owner from certain effects caused by other Pokémon. (Most effects are not affected by their user's substitute.) A substitute protects from:

This protection covers moves as well as some Abilities like Intimidate and Poison Touch and items like King's Rock and Sticky Barb; but not Synchronize, Pickpocket, or the Wonder Launcher's Item Drop. Certain moves ignore substitutes; most notably, this includes all sound-based moves (such as Growl). A Pokémon with Infiltrator can also successfully use any move except Transform or Sky Drop on a Pokémon behind a substitute (since Generation VI).

These status moves will also fail if the target has a substitute:

Sky Drop will also fail if the target has a substitute. These damaging moves will not have any effect besides damage if the target has a substitute:

(Some moves have changed regarding whether they fail or bypass a substitute; for those moves, refer to the list of unaffected moves below.)

Creating a substitute will free its owner from all effects of binding moves, but it does not change any other conditions, so a Pokémon that was drowsy can still fall asleep behind a substitute.

A substitute does not protect the owner from effects originating from itself. Berserk Gene and confusion-inducing Berries (such as Figy Berry) will confuse the owner of a substitute (except in Generation IV), and Effect Spore and other status condition-inducing Abilities will function normally.

Rage, Bide, Counter, Metal Burst, and Mirror Coat will not count damage done to a substitute (except in Generations I and II, see below). Enigma Berry and damage-reducing Berries (such as Occa Berry) will not trigger if a move hits a substitute.

HP-draining moves have had a complicated evolution across the generations:

Gen I Gen II Gen III Gen IV Gen V+
HP-draining moves Can affect a substitute (all but Dream Eater) ✔*
Can affect a substitute (Dream Eater) ✔*
Miss if target has a substitute

*: These cannot hit a substitute in Pokémon Stadium

If a substitute breaks in the middle of a multi-strike move, the move will continue hitting the Pokémon that was behind the substitute. If a substitute is broken by U-turn (or any damaging move that switches the user) and the attacker is replaced by a Pokémon with Intimidate, the substitute will block Intimidate's effect before disappearing. If a Pokémon with a substitute switches out while targeted with Pursuit, the substitute will take the damage before it disappears. If a Pokémon with a substitute uses Baton Pass while surrounded by Toxic Spikes, the Pokémon switched in will not be poisoned, but if it is a grounded Poison-type Pokémon, the Toxic Spikes will be removed.

Generation I

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Check behavior in the Japanese Pokémon Stadium

In Generations I and II, the substitute retains its user's color palette. (For instance, a blue Pokémon would create a blue substitute.)

Also in Generations I and II, Rage counts damage to a substitute toward its effect.

All effects below apply only to this generation.

The substitute's HP is 1 greater than the amount of HP lost by the user. If the user has exactly 25% of its maximum HP, it will create a substitute and immediately faint; this was fixed in Pokémon Stadium so that the user cannot create a substitute. If the substitute takes 255 damage, it will disappear.

A substitute does not protect against any sleep effect; against direct paralysis effects (Stun Spore, Thunder Wave, and Glare); or against indirect confusion effects (Psybeam and Confusion). It fully protects against poison, burn, and freeze (as well as indirect paralysis and direct confusion).

Bide and Counter count damage to a substitute toward their effect. HP-draining moves and binding moves can hit a Pokémon's substitute and fully execute.

If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with any of the following moves, their additional effects will be skipped for that turn:

Due to a glitch, if a Pokémon behind a substitute takes self-inflicted confusion damage, the damage is applied to the opponent's substitute instead. (If the opponent does not have a substitute, no Pokémon or substitute takes damage.)

Some mechanics above are different in Pokémon Stadium:

  • A substitute protects from any paralysis, sleep, or confusion effect (direct or indirect).
  • HP-draining moves always miss if used on a Pokémon behind a substitute.
  • If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Explosion or Selfdestruct, it will faint as usual.

Generation II

In Generations I and II, the substitute retains its user's color palette. (For instance, a blue Pokémon would create a blue substitute.)

Also in Generations I and II, Rage counts damage to a substitute toward its effect.

All effects below apply only to this generation.

Protect, Detect, and Endure will fail if used by a Pokémon with a substitute.

The trapping moves Mean Look and Spider Web can affect a Pokémon with a substitute. The flinch effect of King's Rock can activate if an attack breaks a substitute (it will be blocked otherwise).

If a recoil move hits a substitute, the recoil damage will only be 1 HP. This is because the recoil damage is calculated from the damage the target took (not its substitute).

From Generation II onwards, multi-strike moves may now continue even after breaking a substitute.

Generation IV

In this generation only, Shell Bell does not restore HP when a move hits a substitute, and confusion-inducing Berries (such as Figy Berry) will not confuse their holder if it has a substitute when triggered.

Generation V

In this generation only, Infiltrator cannot bypass a target's substitute.

In Black 2 and White 2 only, due to a glitch, if a Pokémon behind a substitute faints due to Rough Skin or a held Rocky Helmet, the sprite of the Pokémon that was attacked will be replaced by a substitute.

Generation VI onwards

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Substitute, all of the user's lowered stats are reset.

Dynamax Pokémon cannot have a substitute. If a Pokémon Dynamaxes while it has a substitute, the substitute will disappear.

Unaffected moves

  This move effect may be in need of research.
Reason:
  • Confirm Supersonic in Gen V
  • Confirm if Mimic is blocked from Gen III onwards
  • Which moves are unaffected in Generation VIII and IX?
    You can discuss this on the talk page.

Since Generation VI, a Pokémon with Infiltrator can ignore a substitute with any move except Transform or Sky Drop.

Different moves are able to ignore Substitute in each generation. Moves marked with a in the following table can affect a Pokémon regardless of its substitute. (This applies to moves used by one Pokémon against another with a substitute; if a Pokémon with a substitute uses a move that affects itself, it receives the move's effect normally.)

*:Acupressure will fail even if used by the user.
**: Swagger only raises the target's Attack; they are not confused.

Description

Games Description
StadStad2 Uses 1/4 of the user's maximum HP to create a substitute that takes the opponent's attacks.
GSC Makes a decoy with 1/4 user's max HP.
RSEColo.XD Creates a decoy using 1/4 of the user's maximum HP.
FRLG The user creates a decoy using one-quarter of its full HP.
DPPtHGSSPBR
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP. The copy serves as the user's decoy.
SwShBDSPLA The user creates a substitute for itself using some of its HP. The substitute serves as the user's decoy.
SV The user creates a substitute for itself using some of its own HP. The substitute serves as the user's decoy.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
064   Kadabra
  Human-Like Human-Like 26PE
065   Alakazam
  Human-Like Human-Like 26PE
122   Mr. Mime
 
 
Human-Like Human-Like 47 11 9RSE
8FRLG
29 29 29 29SMUSUM
40PE
352   Kecleon
  Field Field 40 39DP
37PtHGSS
37 37XY
42ORAS
42 42BDSP
439   Mime Jr.
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 29 29 29 29
479   Rotom
 
 
Amorphous Amorphous 36 36 36 36 40 40
656   Froakie
  Water 1 Water 1 35 35 35
657   Frogadier
  Water 1 Water 1 38 40 40
658   Greninja
 
 
Water 1 Water 1 43 42 42
944   Shroodle
 
 
Field Field 36
945   Grafaiai
 
 
Field Field 40
100   Gholdengo
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 21
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
TM50
II
--
III
--
IV
TM90
V
TM90
VI
TM90
VII
TM90
TM08
VIII
TR20
IX
TM103
All Pokémon can learn this move by TM or TR except the ones listed below only if marked with ✘.
010   Caterpie
  Bug Bug
011   Metapod
  Bug Bug
013   Weedle
 
 
Bug Bug
014   Kakuna
 
 
Bug Bug
129   Magikarp
  Water 2 Dragon
132   Ditto
  Ditto Ditto
201   Unown
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
202   Wobbuffet
  Amorphous Amorphous
235   Smeargle
  Field Field
265   Wurmple
  Bug Bug
266   Silcoon
  Bug Bug
268   Cascoon
  Bug Bug
360   Wynaut
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
374   Beldum
 
 
Mineral Mineral
401   Kricketot
  Bug Bug
412   Burmy
  Bug Bug
415   Combee
 
 
Bug Bug
602   Tynamo
  Amorphous Amorphous
664   Scatterbug
  Bug Bug
665   Spewpa
  Bug Bug
789   Cosmog
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
790   Cosmoem
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
824   Blipbug
  Bug Bug
840   Applin
 
 
Grass Dragon
912   Quaxly
  Flying Water 1
913   Quaxwell
  Flying Water 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
108   Lickitung
  Monster Monster
113   Chansey
  Fairy Fairy
115   Kangaskhan
  Monster Monster
131   Lapras
 
 
Monster Water 1
143   Snorlax
  Monster Monster
161   Sentret
  Field Field
173   Cleffa
  Fairy Fairy
175   Togepi
  Flying Fairy
183   Marill
 
 
Water 1 Fairy
263   Zigzagoon
  Field Field
300   Skitty
  Field Fairy
311   Plusle
  Fairy Fairy
312   Minun
  Fairy Fairy
325   Spoink
  Field Field
359   Absol
  Field Field
440   Happiny
  Fairy Fairy
446   Munchlax
  Monster Monster
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
FRLG E XD
All Pokémon can learn this move by Move Tutor except the ones listed below only if marked with ✘.
010   Caterpie
  Bug Bug
011   Metapod
  Bug Bug
013   Weedle
 
 
Bug Bug
014   Kakuna
 
 
Bug Bug
129   Magikarp
  Water 2 Dragon
132   Ditto
  Ditto Ditto
201   Unown
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
202   Wobbuffet
  Amorphous Amorphous
235   Smeargle
  Field Field
265   Wurmple
  Bug Bug
266   Silcoon
  Bug Bug
268   Cascoon
  Bug Bug
360   Wynaut
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
374   Beldum
 
 
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.


By event

Generation II

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
185   Sudowoodo
  Mineral Mineral New York City Pokémon Center
204   Pineco
  Bug Bug 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

 
Greninja using Substitute

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team, Blue Rescue Team, Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness and Explorers of Sky, Substitute is a move with 7PP. The user targets Pokémon in front of them, ally or enemy, and inflicts Decoy status condition on them for 21-50 turns, making them more likely to be targeted by the AI. This move is affected by Snatch and Taunt.

From Gates to Infinity, Substitute instead causes the Substitute status by cutting the user's HP in half. The user will not be targeted by enemies, but the user cannot use moves or items, and cannot restore its HP naturally. If the user is attacked by a move (such as Earthquake which affects the whole room), Substitute will not protect the user from damage. The status lasts 11 turns.

Super Smash Bros. series

Substitute is Greninja's down special. The substitute doll it summons resembles those from the core series games, though it can also summon a log. The move functions as a counter, attacking opponents who hit Greninja while it is posing.

There is a trophy of the substitute doll in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Trophy information

If it looks like a Pokémon and it gets attacked like a Pokémon, it's probably a- Oh, no, it could also be a Substitute Doll. This cute plush figure appears out of nowhere when a Pokémon uses the move Substitute. Is that a smile on its face or a grimace of determination? Only the doll knows, and it's not telling.

Pokkén Tournament

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: More thorough description of what sort of attacks are or are not blocked by Substitute.

Substitute is the move used by Whimsicott when called as a Support Pokémon. It conjures up a set of three dolls that rotate around the Battle Pokémon, blocking incoming ranged attacks. It also restores a little of the Battle Pokémon's HP.

Pokémon UNITE

In Pokémon UNITE, Substitute is Greninja's second move as Froakie. The user dashes while leaving behind a targetable decoy. The user is unstoppable while dashing. After evolving into Frogadier at level 5, this move is replaced by either Double Team or Smokescreen.

Description

Games Description
MDRB The target gains the Decoy status, making it the target of its fellow Pokémon.
MDTD* Afflicts the targeted enemy with a Decoy status condition. A Pokémon with the Decoy status becomes a decoy that is seen as an enemy by its allies and can draw their attacks.
MDTD*
MDS
Afflicts the targeted Pokémon with a Decoy status condition. A Pokémon with the Decoy status is viewed as a foe by its allies. It also becomes likely to draw the attention of foes.
BSL ポケモンを みがわりじょうたいにかえる みがわりじょうたいになると ねらわれやすくなったり なかまから こうげきされたりする
MDGtI You will get the Substitute status, but every time you use this move, your HP decreases. With the Substitute status, you won't be targeted by enemies, but you can't use moves or items, nor restore your HP naturally.
SMD You create a decoy using your HP. You won't be targeted, but you can't use moves or items.*
You'll create a substitute, but every time you use this move, your HP decreases. When you create a substitute, you won't be targeted by enemies, but you can't use moves or items, nor can you restore your HP naturally.*
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U Deceive with a substitute, and then counter an attack.*
Pokkén Tournament Temporarily protects against some long-range attacks.
Also recovers a small amount of HP.


Sprites

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Missing the substitute images from Generations VI, VII and VIII
              
A substitute from
Generations I and II
A substitute from
Generation III
A substitute from
Generation IV
A substitute from
Generation V
A substitute from
Let's Go, Pikachu! and
Let's Go, Eevee!
           
Artwork from
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
A substitute from
Stadium and Stadium 2
A substitute from
Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team
A substitute from
Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky
A substitute from
GO

In the anime

       
Shaymin Substitute fades away Togepi Accelgor
The user creates a substitute for itself using some of its stamina. The substitute serves as the user's decoy.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Shaymin Shaymin creates a clone that looks exactly like itself. It then fades soon after.
Shaymin (M11) Giratina and the Sky Warrior Debut
  Delcatty Delcatty creates an exact copy of itself. When it gets hit, it disappears in a puff of smoke.
Lila's Delcatty Battling the Generation Gap! None
  Togepi Togepi moves quickly when the opponent is about to attack and creates an afterimage of itself. When the afterimage gets hit, it disappears.
A wild Togepi Where No Togepi Has Gone Before! None
  Accelgor Accelgor's body flashes white, and a double that looks exactly like Accelgor dashes out of its body and at the opponent. When the copy is hit by an attack, it disappears in a puff of smoke. This also causes Accelgor to lose stamina upon using the move.
Professor Juniper's Accelgor Evolution Exchange Excitement! None


In the manga

Phantom Thief Pokémon 7


Pokémon Adventures


Pokémon Battle Frontier


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

 
A substitute "levitating"
 
A substitute in place of Masahiro Sakurai
 
A Substitute doll in the anime
  • In most games, the decoy and the Pokémon will switch places when the Pokémon executes a move. The only exception is in Pokémon Battle Revolution, where the battle animations play out as if the substitute was the one performing the move. It generally remains stationary, except when using moves like Fly or Bounce.
  • In the Generation I and II games, the substitute resembles Rhydon.
  • Shedinja can learn Substitute despite being incapable of using it, as its HP is too low to create a substitute.
    • However, in the Mystery Dungeon series, it is able to use the move, due to being able to possess more than 1 HP.
  • Substitutes are interpreted differently throughout all forms of Pokémon canon. In the games, a substitute is seen as an inanimate decoy which simply stands in for the Pokémon. In the anime, substitutes are seen to be clones of the user. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, substitutes are like the anime representation, but more spectral and transparent, as shown by Red's Pikachu in Peace of Mime.
  • In the Mystery Dungeon series, if the player eats an Allure Seed or X-Eye Seed, all other Pokémon appear as substitutes.
  • The Plush Toy enemy in the Mystery Doors of the Magical Land Series in Pokéstar Studios in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 is similar to a substitute.
  • In Pokémon Stadium, glitch Pokémon will appear as the substitutes. The color will vary, however, due to the player's ID and the glitch Pokémon's name. This is because the game treats the glitch Pokémon's name as a nickname, which cause Pokémon to change colors in the Stadium series.
  • In Generation VI, the size of the substitute depends on the size of the Pokémon using it. For example, a substitute made by a Kyurem will be bigger than that of a Flabébé.
  • During Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Direct on April 8, 2014, a substitute plushie is seen in place of Masahiro Sakurai as he goes to showcase some of the Pokémon available from the Poké Ball and Master Ball items.
  • This move plays its animation even if the battle animations are turned off.
  • In Generation I games, if the player used Substitute, then looked at the stats of a Pokémon in their party and then exited the menu, the opponent's Pokémon sprite would change to a glitchy version of the Pokémon that was just viewed.
  • The substitute doll appears in the Japanese merchandise line, the FuniFuni Mascot Collection Part 2 (a gacha set). Because it is a secret rare, it is labelled as "???" in promotional material.
  • In Generation VII, Substitute is the only TM that can be learned by all Pokémon that can learn TMs, except Pokémon that can only learn moves via TM that they can also learn by other means.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 替身 Taisān
Mandarin 替身 Tìshēn
  Czech Vějička (manga)
Náhrada (DP142, BW063)
Dvojnický útok (DP095)
Náhražka (M11)
Nahrazení (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
  Danish Reserve
  Dutch Kloon
  French Clonage
  German Delegator
  Greek Υποκατάσταση
  Indonesian Menyamar
Perasuk
  Italian Sostituto
  Korean 대타출동 Daetachuldong
  Polish Zastępca
  Brazilian Portuguese Substituição (games, anime, manga)
Clonagem (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
  Romanian Substituirea
  Serbian Izmena
Spanish   Latin America Sustitución (DP095)
Sustituto (M11, BW063)
Señuelo* (DP142)
  Spain Sustituto
  Vietnamese Hoán Đổi


References


Generation I TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation I HMs
0102030405
Generation IV TMs
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223
2425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
4748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869
7071727374757677787980818283848586878889909192
Generation IV HMs
01020304 • 05 (DPPtHGSS) • 060708
Generation V TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819
20212223242526272829303132333435363738
39404142434445464748495051525354555657
58596061626364656667686970717273747576
77787980818283848586878889909192939495
Generation V HMs
010203040506
Generation VI TMs
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242526
2728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152
5354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778
798081828384858687888990919293 • 94 (XYORAS) • 9596979899100
Generation VI HMs
010203040506ORAS07ORAS
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.