Switcheroo (move)

Switcheroo redirects here. For the facility involving the Battle Agency, see Festival Plaza.

Switcheroo
すりかえ Secret Switch

Battles

Type	Dark
Category	Status
PP	10 (max. 16)
Power	—
Accuracy	100%
Priority	{{{priority}}}
Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat 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 IV
Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Super Contests

Condition	Cool
Appeal	0
Steals the Voltage of the Pokémon that just went.

Contest Spectaculars

Condition	Clever
Appeal	2 ♥♥
Jamming	1 ♥
Badly startles Pokémon that used a move of the same type.

On Smogon's Movedex:

Switcheroo (Japanese: すりかえ Secret Switch) is a non-damaging Dark-type move introduced in Generation IV.

Effect

Generation IV

The user switches held items with the target. If only one of them is holding an item, the item is moved to the other.

Switcheroo fails if neither Pokémon has a held item, the user is a wild Pokémon, if either Pokémon is holding Griseous Orb or Mail, if the target is behind a substitute, or if the target has Sticky Hold (even if it has no held item). It also fails if either Pokémon has Multitype.

In Link Battles, battle facilities, Secret Bases, and the Trainer House, items stolen will be returned at the end of the battle.

Generation V onwards

Switcheroo no longer switches a Trainer's Pokémon's items permanently; however, items switched in wild battles are permanently switched.

Switcheroo fails if either the user or target holds:

Any type of Mail
Any Z-Crystal
A Griseous Orb, if either Pokémon is Giratina
A Plate, if either Pokémon is Arceus
A Drive, if either Pokémon is Genesect
A Mega Stone, if either Pokémon could use it to Mega Evolve
A colored orb, if either Pokémon could use it to undergo Primal Reversion
A Memory, if either Pokémon is Silvally
A Rusted Sword, if either Pokémon is Zacian
A Rusted Shield, if either Pokémon is Zamazenta
A Booster Energy, if either Pokémon is one of the Paradox Pokémon (excluding Koraidon and Miraidon)

Switcheroo can now exchange a Griseous Orb as long as neither the user nor the target is Giratina. Switcheroo can now exchange items with a Pokémon that has Multitype (but still cannot exchange Plates with Arceus).

If powered up by a Darkinium Z into Z-Switcheroo, the user's Speed is raised two stages, then the move itself will fail after obtaining the Z-Power since it won't be possible to exchange its own Z-Crystal.

Switcheroo will always fail when used in a Max Raid Battle, regardless of the items or target. (It works as normal against Dynamax Pokémon in other battles.)

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, due to a presumed glitch in accounting for the removal of colored orbs, Switcheroo would fail in versions 1.2.0 through 1.3.1 if it was used by or against Groudon or Kyogre and either the user or the target was not holding an item. This behavior was corrected in version 1.3.2.

Description

Games	Description
DP Pt HGSSPBR	The user trades held items with the foe faster than the eye can follow.
BW B2W2 XY ORAS SM USUM SwSh BDSP LA SV	The user trades held items with the target faster than the eye can follow.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
053		Persian		Field		Field	1	1	1	1	1^BDSP	1
053		Persian Alolan Form		Field		Field				1	1	1
097		Hypno		Human-Like		Human-Like	1	1	1	1	1^BDSP	1
264		Linoone		Field		Field	1	1	1	1	1
264		Linoone Galarian Form		Field		Field					1
312		Minun		Fairy		Fairy			13^ORAS	13	13^BDSP
335		Zangoose		Field		Field						33
386		Deoxys Normal Forme		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered					37^BDSP
386		Deoxys Defense Forme		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered					37^BDSP
655		Delphox		Field		Field			1	1		1
686		Inkay		Water 1	Water 2			23	23	31
687		Malamar		Water 1	Water 2			23	23	33
742		Cutiefly		Bug	Fairy					36
743		Ribombee		Bug	Fairy					40
781		Dhelmise		Mineral		Mineral				1	24
862		Obstagoon		Field		Field					1
944		Shroodle		Field		Field						11
945		Grafaiai		Field		Field						11
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
#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
019		Rattata Alolan Form		Field		Field				✔
023		Ekans		Field	Dragon	✔^HGSS	✔	✔	✔	✔^BDSP
187		Hoppip		Fairy	Grass						✔
190		Aipom		Field		Field		✔	✔	✔	✔^BDSP
215		Sneasel Hisuian Form		Field		Field						✔
309		Electrike		Field		Field	✔^HGSS	✔	✔	✔	✔
331		Cacnea		Grass	Human-Like		✔	✔	✔	✔^BDSP
336		Seviper		Field	Dragon	✔^HGSS	✔	✔	✔	✔^BDSP	✔
341		Corphish		Water 1	Water 3			✔	✔	✔
361		Snorunt		Fairy	Mineral			✔	✔	✔	✔
418		Buizel		Water 1	Field		✔	✔	✔	✔^BDSP
427		Buneary		Field	Human-Like	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
546		Cottonee		Grass	Fairy		✔	✔	✔	✔
566		Archen		Flying	Water 3			✔	✔	✔
656		Froakie		Water 1		Water 1						✔
688		Binacle		Water 3		Water 3			✔	✔	✔
707		Klefki		Mineral		Mineral			✔	✔	✔	✔
714		Noibat		Flying	Dragon			✔	✔
924		Tandemaus		Field	Fairy						✔
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 Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, Switcheroo is a move with 16 PP that ignores accuracy and evasion checks. The user targets enemy in the front, cutting corners, swapping user's and enemy's held items. This move fails if at least one of the Pokémon is not holding an item. This move is affected by Taunt.

Description

Games	Description
MDTD	Switches the user's hold item with the target's hold item. It works only if both Pokémon are holding items.
MDS	Switches the user's held item with the target's held item. It works only if both Pokémon are holding items.
BSL	てきポケモンのどうぐとじぶんのどうぐをいれかえるじぶんとてきポケモンのりょうほうがどうぐをもっていないとせいこうしない
MDGtI	UNUSED
SMD MDRTDX	It swaps your held item with a target's held item. The move succeeds even if either you or the target doesn't have an item.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

	Hypno

The user trades held items with its opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
Hypno	Hypno switches the places of an item it is holding with one that its opponent is holding.
Al's Hypno	All About Arceus IX	Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	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	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	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	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	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	RB Y	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	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	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 IX, Switcheroo has the same animation as Trick.

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	掉包 Diuhbāau
Chinese	Mandarin	掉包 Diàobāo
French		Passe-Passe
German		Wechseldich
Greek		Υποχθόνια Αλλαγή
Italian		Rapidscambio
Korean		바꿔치기 Bakkweochigi
Spanish		Trapicheo
Vietnamese		Đánh Tráo

Variations of the move Trick

Trick • Switcheroo

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.