Whirlwind redirects here. For the TFG starter set, see Whirlwind (TFG).

Whirlwind (Japanese: ふきとばし Blow Away) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It is TM04 in Generation I, and TM094 in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Whirlwind
ふきとばし Blow Away
Type  Normal
Category  Status
PP  20 (max. 32)
Power  —
Accuracy  %
Priority  -6
Range
Opponent Opponent Opponent
Self Ally Ally
Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Smart
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jam  0  
Scrambles the order of appeals on the next turn.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  0  
Earn +15 if all the Pokémon choose the same Judge.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jamming  0  
Causes the user to move later on the next turn.

Effect

Generation I

If Whirlwind is successfully used in a wild Pokémon battle by either Pokémon, the battle will automatically end. In a Trainer battle, Whirlwind has no effect. Whirlwind has 85% accuracy and normal priority. Whirlwind can hit Pokémon during the semi-invulnerable turn of Dig.

If the user's level is less than the target's level, there is a chance that Whirlwind will fail, between approximately 10% and 25%, depending on the levels of the two Pokémon. The chance of failure typically increases the higher the target's level is than the user's. Specifically, the chance of failure is the following. FailureChance=Leveltarget4Leveltarget+Leveluser+1

Generation II

When in a Trainer battle, Whirlwind will now force the target to switch with a randomly chosen Pokémon from its Trainer's party. If there is no Pokémon for the target to switch with, Whirlwind will fail. Whirlwind's accuracy is increased to 100% and its priority is decreased to -1. If Whirlwind is used before the opponent can make its move, Whirlwind will fail. Whirlwind can now hit Pokémon during the semi-invulnerable turn of Fly, but can no longer hit Pokémon during the semi-invulnerable turn of Dig.

Whirlwind's chance to fail does not apply to Trainer battles. However, in Trainer battles, Whirlwind will always fail if used before the opponent has made its move. If the player uses Whirlwind against the Red Gyarados or to try escaping from the forced wild Pokémon encounters at Team Rocket HQ, the move will always fail.

Generations III and IV

Whirlwind now has a priority of -6.

Whirlwind will fail when used against Pokémon with the Ability Suction Cups or rooted by Ingrain. It no longer fails if it is not used last. It can no longer hit Pokémon during the semi-invulnerable turn of Fly.

The chance of failure if the user's level is less than the target's is now calculated slightly differently. Specifically, for a random integer X between 0 and 255, Whirlwind fails if the following relation is true: X×(Leveltarget+Leveluser)256+1Leveltarget4

The chance of failure can be approximated by the following formula. However, this approximation may diverge moderately from the true probability for low user and target levels. FailureChanceLeveltarget4Leveltarget+Leveluser

Generation V

In wild Pokémon battles, Whirlwind will now always fail if the user's level is less than the target's. In Trainer battles, Whirlwind will now succeed if it hits, regardless of either Pokémon's level.

Whirlwind is now reflected by Magic Coat and Magic Bounce.

If a battle with wild Pokémon ever involves more than one Pokémon on each side of the battle, Whirlwind will fail if used by the player's Pokémon against a wild Pokémon, but if a wild Pokémon uses it against the player, it will force the target to switch with another Pokémon in the Trainer's party, regardless of the target's level.

Generation VI onwards

Whirlwind now bypasses accuracy checks to always hit, unless the target is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly. Whirlwind can now hit a target even if it has used Protect, Detect, or Spiky Shield, but will fail if the target is protected by Crafty Shield.

Whirlwind can be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, with the user gaining an extra three appeal points if any of the moves Spikes, Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes was used in the prior turn.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Whirlwind, the user's Special Defense stat rises by one stage.

Whirlwind fails when used on a Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon.

Whirlwind is a wind move.

Generation IX

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Category  Status
Accuracy  100%
Standard Plus Move
Power
Cooldown  7s
Move wind-up time  25 frames
Effect duration  —s
Additional effect
 —
 —
 —
None

Description

Games Description
Stad Generates a powerful wind that blows away wild Pokémon. Useful in the wild only.
Stad2 A powerful wind that blows the target away. The opposing trainer must use a new Pokémon.
GSC Blows away the foe & ends battle.
RSE Blows away the foe with wind and ends the battle.
FRLG The foe is made to switch out with an ally. In the wild, the battle ends.
ColoXD Blows away the target, switching it out of battle.
DPPtHGSS The foe is blown away, to be replaced by another Pokémon in its party. In the wild, the battle ends.
PBR The foe is blown away and replaced by another Pokémon in its party.
BW The target is blown away, to be replaced by another Pokémon in its party. In the wild, the battle ends.
B2W2 The target is blown away and switched. In the wild, a battle against a single Pokémon ends.
XYORAS
SMUSUM
SwShBDSPLA
SV
The target is blown away, and a different Pokémon is dragged out. In the wild, this ends a battle against a single Pokémon.
PE The target is blown away, and a different Pokémon is dragged out.
ZA The user creates a strong wind to drive targets back a good distance.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0012 Butterfree
Bug Bug 26RGB
23Y
23 23 22 22 22 29 25 20 20
0016 Pidgey
Flying Flying 19 21 19 17 17 17 17 21 17 25
0017 Pidgeotto
Flying Flying 21 23 20 17 17 17 17 25 17 25
0018 Pidgeot
Flying Flying 21 23 20 17 17 17 17 25 17 25
0041 Zubat
Flying Flying 18
0042 Golbat
Flying Flying 1 18
0049 Venomoth
Bug Bug 1
0169 Crobat
Flying Flying 18
0249 Lugia
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0250 Ho-Oh
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0267 Beautifly
Bug Bug 27 27 27 27XY
30ORAS
30 30
0269 Dustox
Bug Bug 27 27 27 27XY
30ORAS
30 30
0275 Shiftry
Field Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rem.
0284 Masquerain
Water 1 Bug 53 54 54 1, 54XY
1, 48ORAS
1, 48 1, 48 1
0296 Makuhita Human-Like Human-Like 22 16 16 16 16 16 16
0297 Hariyama Human-Like Human-Like 22 16 16 16 16 16 16
0325 Spoink Field Field 25
0326 Grumpig Field Field 25
0357 Tropius
Monster Grass 27 27 27 27XY
21ORAS
21 21 21
0396 Starly
Flying Flying 21 21 21 21 21 21 23
0397 Staravia
Flying Flying 23 23 23 23 23 23 23
0398 Staraptor
Flying Flying 23 23 23 23 23 23 23
0561 Sigilyph
Flying Flying 14 14 14 25
0627 Rufflet
Flying Flying 55 55 55 42 42
0628 Braviary
Flying Flying 57 1, 57 1, 57 42 42
0628 Braviary
Braviary
Hisuian Form

Flying Flying 42
0629 Vullaby
Flying Flying 55 55 55 36 36
0630 Mandibuzz
Flying Flying 57 1, 57 1, 57 36 36
0637 Volcarona
Bug Bug 40 40 40 1 1
0661 Fletchling
Flying Flying 20
0662 Fletchinder
Flying Flying 20
0663 Talonflame
Flying Flying 45
0666 Vivillon
Vivillon
All forms

Bug Bug 20
0714 Noibat
Flying Dragon 40 40 28 28 28
0715 Noivern
Flying Dragon 40 40 28 28 28
0787 Tapu Bulu
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1 25
0962 Bombirdier
Flying Flying 16
0988 Slither Wing
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77
0992 Iron Hands
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 14
0994 Iron Moth
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1
1003 Ting-Lu
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 25
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

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Compatibility
0012 Butterfree
Bug Bug
0016 Pidgey
Flying Flying
0017 Pidgeotto
Flying Flying
0018 Pidgeot
Flying Flying
0021 Spearow
Flying Flying
0022 Fearow
Flying Flying
0041 Zubat
Flying Flying
0042 Golbat
Flying Flying
0049 Venomoth
Bug Bug
0083 Farfetch'd
Flying Field
0084 Doduo
Flying Flying
0085 Dodrio
Flying Flying
0142 Aerodactyl
Flying Flying
0144 Articuno
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0145 Zapdos
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0146 Moltres
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0149 Dragonite
Water 1 Dragon
0151 Mew No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0169 Crobat
Flying Flying
0227 Skarmory
Flying Flying
0325 Spoink Field Field
0326 Grumpig Field Field
0384 Rayquaza
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0396 Starly
Flying Flying
0397 Staravia
Flying Flying
0398 Staraptor
Flying Flying
0449 Hippopotas Field Field
0450 Hippowdon Field Field
0661 Fletchling
Flying Flying
0662 Fletchinder
Flying Flying
0663 Talonflame
Flying Flying
0666 Vivillon
Vivillon
All forms

Bug Bug
0714 Noibat
Flying Dragon
0715 Noivern
Flying Dragon
0780 Drampa
Monster Dragon
0973 Flamigo
Flying Flying
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
0021 Spearow
Flying Flying
0041 Zubat
Flying Flying
0084 Doduo
Flying Flying
0142 Aerodactyl
Flying Flying
0143 Snorlax Monster Monster
0163 Hoothoot
Flying Flying
0193 Yanma
Bug Bug
0198 Murkrow
Flying Flying
0227 Skarmory
Flying Flying
0276 Taillow
Flying Flying
0293 Whismur Monster Field
0325 Spoink Field Field
0408 Cranidos Monster Monster
0446 Munchlax Monster Monster
0449 Hippopotas Field Field
0451 Skorupi
Bug Water 3
0878 Cufant Field 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 event

Generation II

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0220 Swinub
Field 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.
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

Whirlwind targets the enemy in the front and blows them away by 10 tiles. If the enemy hits a wall, they will take 5 HP of damage; if they hit another Pokémon, they will both take 5 HP damage. A Pokémon that enters a tile they cannot walk on will be warped away.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB - - 27 - 100% - Front Enemy No
MDTDS - - 27 - 100% - Front Enemy No
BSL - - 27 - 100% - Front Enemy No
MDGtI - - 17 50 95% 98% Front Enemy No
SMD - - 17 40 95% 98% Front Enemy No
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including Whirlwind could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Whirlwind could be seen as a move used by Boss Pidgeotto and Pidgeot.

Whirlwind
Charge time 0.78 seconds
Range type Arc (wide)
Target Enemy
Additional effect None

Pokémon Masters EX

Name Category Move gauge cost MP
(uses)
Base power Max power Accuracy Target Effect tag Description Playable sync pair(s)
Whirlwind Status 3 —% An opponent Forces the target to switch out. None
  • Description prior to Version 2.10.0 (from June 28, 2021): Forces the opponent's sync pair to switch out.

Description

Games Description
MDRB Knocks the target flying. If the target hits a wall or another Pokémon, it sustains damage.
MDTDS Sends the target flying. If the target hits a wall or another Pokémon, it sustains damage.
BSL てきポケモンを とおくに ふきとばす ふきとんださきで かべや ポケモンに あたると ダメージをうける
MDGtI It blows away an enemy straight back. The enemy takes damage if it crashes into a wall or a Pokémon.
SMD
MDRTDX
It blows an enemy away in a straight line. If the enemy crashes into a Pokémon or a wall, the enemy takes damage.


In animation

Pokémon animated series


Pidgeot

Dustox

Beautifly

Shiftry
The user blows a large gust of wind at the opponent or an attack.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Butterfree Butterfree flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Ash's Butterfree Clefairy and the Moon Stone Debut
Ritchie's Happy A Friend in Deed None
Lisa's Butterfree Spell of the Unown: Entei None
Zander's Butterfree Caterpie's Big Dilemma None
Zubat Zubat flaps its wings at a high speed, creating a gust of strong wind.
Brock's Zubat Clefairy and the Moon Stone Japanese version only
Pidgeotto Pidgeotto flaps its wings and a strong gust of wind is created from them.
Ash's Pidgeotto Clefairy and the Moon Stone None
Venomoth Venomoth flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Assunta's Venomoth Friends to the End None
Pidgeot Pidgeot flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Falkner's Pidgeot Fighting Flyer with Fire None
Noctowl Noctowl flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Ash's Noctowl Carrying On! None
Pidgey Pidgey flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Malachi's Ken Carrying On! None
Skarmory Skarmory flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind that blows the opponent away.
A wild Skarmory Delibird's Dilemma None
A wild Skarmory Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate Skarmory cannot legally know Whirlwind in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
Zirc's Skarmory The Ancient Poké Ball None
Onia's Skarmory The Ancient Poké Ball None
Dragonite Dragonite flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Lance's Dragonite Talkin' 'Bout an Evolution Dragonite cannot legally learn Whirlwind
Clair's Dragonite Great Bowls of Fire! Dragonite cannot legally learn Whirlwind
Shiftry Shiftry waves one or both of its hands, creating a strong gust of wind.
A wild Shiftry Jump for Joy! Shiftry could not legally learn Whirlwind at the time
A wild Shiftry The Search for Kleavor! None
Dustox Dustox flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Jessie's Dustox Watt's with Wattson? None
Aerodactyl Aerodactyl flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind that blows the opponent away.
A wild Aerodactyl Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl! None
Hariyama Hariyama waves one or both of its hands, creating a strong gust of wind that blows the opponent away.
A wild Hariyama Pikachu's Island Adventure None
Staraptor Staraptor flaps its wings, creating a gust of strong wind.
Professor Rowan's Staraptor Following a Maiden's Voyage! None
Beautifly Beautifly flaps its wings at a high speed, creating a strong gust of wind.
Aaron's Beautifly A Trainer and Child Reunion! None
Snorlax Snorlax takes a deep breath and blows out a strong gust of wind from its mouth.
A Trainer's Snorlax Four Roads Diverged in a Pokémon Port! None

In the manga

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

  • In the Japanese versions of Pokémon Red, Green, and Pokémon Blue, if the player's Pokémon uses Whirlwind on a wild Pokémon with 5 characters in its name, the exclamation mark will overwrite part of the text box. This was fixed in Yellow by adding a line break.
  • Due to a glitch in FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, if a roaming Pokemon ends the battle by using Whirlwind, the game considers it to have been defeated and it will permanently stop appearing. However, as Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Latias and Latios cannot learn Whirlwind, this cannot occur in normal gameplay.
  • The Latin Spanish name of Whirlwind (Torbellino) is the European Spanish name for Whirlpool, and vice versa (Remolino is Whirlwind in European Spanish and Whirlpool in Latin Spanish).

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 吹飛 Chēuifēi *
旋風 Syùhnfūng *
Mandarin 吹飛 / 吹飞 Chuīfēi *
旋風 Xuànfēng *
Czech Vzdušný vír (EP007, EP015, EP032-present, manga)
Vzdušný vítr (EP006, EP009)
Větrný útok (EP021)
Tornádo (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Danish Hvirvelvind
Dutch Wervelwind
Finnish Tuulenpyörre
French Cyclone
German Wirbelwind
Greek Στρόβιλος Stróbilos
Hindi अंधी तूफ़ान Andhi Toofan
Italian Turbine
Korean 날려버리기 Nallyeobeorigi
Norwegian Virvelvind
Polish Cyklon*
Wichura*
Portuguese Brazil Ataque de Vento (TCG, manga)
Rajada de Vento (animated series)
Furacão (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Portugal Remoinho
Romanian Vârtejul
Serbian Vihor
Spanish Latin America Torbellino (games, AG013AG062, HZ006–present)
Remolino* (EP006EP131, AG072DP099)
Spain Remolino
Swedish Virvelvind
Turkish Hortum
Vietnamese Thổi Bay
Variations of the move Roar
RoarWhirlwind
Generation I TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation I HMs
0102030405
Generation IX TMs
SV
001002003004005006007008009010011012013014015016017018019
020021022023024025026027028029030031032033034035036037038
039040041042043044045046047048049050051052053054055056057
058059060061062063064065066067068069070071072073074075076
077078079080081082083084085086087088089090091092093094095
096097098099100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114
115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133
134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152
153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171
Added in SV 2.0.1
172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186
187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201
Added in SV 3.0.0
202203204205206207208209210211212213214215
216217218219220221222223224225226227228229
ZA
001002003004005006007008009010011012013014015016017018019
020021022023024025026027028029030031032033034035036037038
039040041042043044045046047048049050051052053054055056057
058059060061062063064065066067068069070071072073074075076
077078079080081082083084085086087088089090091092093094095
096097098099100101102103104105106107
Added in ZA 2.0.0
108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126
127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145
146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160
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.