Whirlwind (move)

Whirlwind redirects here. For the TFG starter set, see Whirlwind (TFG).
Whirlwind
ふきとばし Blow Away
Whirlwind IX.png
[[File:|300px|center]]
Type  Normal
Category  Status
PP  20 (max. 32)
Power  —
Accuracy  %
Priority  -6*
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
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.

Whirlwind (Japanese: ふきとばし Blow Away) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM04 in Generation I.

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.

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.

 

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.

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:

 

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.

 

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.

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.
Colo.XD 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.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0012    
 
Bug Bug 26RGB
23Y
23 23 22 22 22 29 25 20 20
0016    
 
Flying Flying 19 21 19 17 17 17 17 21 17
0017    
 
Flying Flying 21 23 20 17 17 17 17 25 17
0018    
 
Flying Flying 21 23 20 17 17 17 17 25 17
0042    
 
Flying Flying 1
0049    
 
Bug Bug 1
0249    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0250    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0267    
 
Bug Bug 27 27 27 27XY
30ORAS
30 30
0269    
 
Bug Bug 27 27 27 27XY
30ORAS
30 30
0275    
 
Field Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rem.
0284    
 
Water 1 Bug 53 54 54 1, 54XY
1, 48ORAS
1, 48 1, 48 1
0296     Human-Like Human-Like 22 16 16 16 16 16 16
0297     Human-Like Human-Like 22 16 16 16 16 16 16
0357    
 
Monster Grass 27 27 27 27XY
21ORAS
21 21 21
0396    
 
Flying Flying 21 21 21 21 21 21
0397    
 
Flying Flying 23 23 23 23 23 23
0398    
 
Flying Flying 23 23 23 23 23 23
0561    
 
Flying Flying 14 14 14 25
0627    
 
Flying Flying 55 55 55 42 42
0628    
 
Flying Flying 57 1, 57 1, 57 42 42
0628  
Braviary
Hisuian Form
 
 
Flying Flying 42
0629    
 
Flying Flying 55 55 55 36 36
0630    
 
Flying Flying 57 1, 57 1, 57 36 36
0637    
 
Bug Bug 40 40 40 1 1
0714    
 
Flying Dragon 40 40 28 28
0715    
 
Flying Dragon 40 40 28 28
0787    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1 25
0962    
 
Flying Flying 16
0988    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77
0992    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 14
0994    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1
1003    
 
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    
 
Bug Bug
0016    
 
Flying Flying
0017    
 
Flying Flying
0018    
 
Flying Flying
0021    
 
Flying Flying
0022    
 
Flying Flying
0041    
 
Flying Flying
0042    
 
Flying Flying
0049    
 
Bug Bug
0083    
 
Flying Field
0084    
 
Flying Flying
0085    
 
Flying Flying
0142    
 
Flying Flying
0144    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0145    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0146    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0151     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.


By breeding

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Egg Move
0021    
 
Flying Flying
0041    
 
Flying Flying
0084    
 
Flying Flying
0142    
 
Flying Flying
0143     Monster Monster
0163    
 
Flying Flying
0193    
 
Bug Bug
0198    
 
Flying Flying
0227    
 
Flying Flying
0276    
 
Flying Flying
0293     Monster Field
0325     Field Field
0408     Monster Monster
0446     Monster Monster
0449     Field Field
0451    
 
Bug Water 3
0878     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    
 
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

Category Move Gauge MP Base Power Max Power Accuracy Target Effect Tag Description
Status 3 —% An opponent Forces the target to switch out.
  • Description prior to Version 2.10.0*: 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 the anime

 
Dragonite
 
Pidgeot
 
Beautifly
 
Dustox
The user blows a large gust of wind at the opponent or an attack.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  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 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 flaps its wings and a strong gust of wind is created from them.
Ash's Pidgeotto Clefairy and the Moon Stone None
  Venomoth flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Assunta's Venomoth Friends to the End None
  Pidgeot flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Falkner's Pidgeot Fighting Flyer with Fire None
  Noctowl flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Ash's Noctowl Carrying On! None
  Pidgey flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Malachi's Ken Carrying On! None
  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 and Blue Rescue Team
Zirc's Skarmory The Ancient Poké Ball None
Onia's Skarmory The Ancient Poké Ball None
  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 waves its hand, creating a strong gust of wind.
A wild Shiftry Jump for Joy! Shiftry could not legally learn Whirlwind at the time
  Dustox flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Jessie's Dustox Watt's with Wattson? None
  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 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 flaps its wings, creating a gust of strong wind.
Professor Rowan's Staraptor Following a Maiden's Voyage! None
  Beautifly flaps its wings at a high speed, creating a strong gust of wind.
Aaron's Beautifly A Trainer and Child Reunion! None
  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.

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 (anime)
Furacão (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
  Portugal Remoinho
  Romanian Vârtejul
  Serbian Vihor
Spanish   Latin America Torbellino
  Spain Remolino
  Swedish Virvelvind
  Turkish Hortum
  Vietnamese Thổi Bay


Variations of the move Roar
  RoarWhirlwind



Generation I TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation I HMs
0102030405


  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.