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 is 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
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
012   Butterfree
 
 
Bug Bug 26RGB
23Y
23 23 22 22 22 29SMUSUM
25PE
20
016   Pidgey
 
 
Flying Flying 19 21 19 17 17 17 17SMUSUM
21PE
17BDSP
017   Pidgeotto
 
 
Flying Flying 21 23 20 17 17 17 17SMUSUM
25PE
17BDSP
018   Pidgeot
 
 
Flying Flying 21 23 20 17 17 17 17SMUSUM
25PE
17BDSP
042   Golbat
 
 
Flying Flying 1PE
049   Venomoth
 
 
Bug Bug 1BDSP
249   Lugia
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77 1 1 1 1 1 1
250   Ho-Oh
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77 1 1 1 1 1 1
267   Beautifly
 
 
Bug Bug 27 27 27 27XY
30ORAS
30 30BDSP
269   Dustox
 
 
Bug Bug 27 27 27 27XY
30ORAS
30 30BDSP
275   Shiftry
 
 
Field Grass 1 1 1 1 1
284   Masquerain
 
 
Water 1 Bug 53 54 54 1, 54XY
1, 48ORAS
1, 48 1, 48BDSP 1
296   Makuhita
  Human-Like Human-Like 22 16 16 16 16 16BDSP 16
297   Hariyama
  Human-Like Human-Like 22 16 16 16 16 16BDSP 16
357   Tropius
 
 
Monster Grass 27 27 27 27XY
21ORAS
21 21BDSP 21
396   Starly
 
 
Flying Flying 21 21 21 21 21BDSP 21
397   Staravia
 
 
Flying Flying 23 23 23 23 23BDSP 23
398   Staraptor
 
 
Flying Flying 23 23 23 23 23BDSP 23
561   Sigilyph
 
 
Flying Flying 14 14 14 25SwSh
627   Rufflet
 
 
Flying Flying 55 55 55 42SwSh 42
628   Braviary
 
 
Flying Flying 57 1, 57 1, 57 42SwSh 42
628   Braviary
Hisuian Form
 
 
Flying Flying 42
629   Vullaby
 
 
Flying Flying 55 55 55 36SwSh
630   Mandibuzz
 
 
Flying Flying 57 1, 57 1, 57 36SwSh
637   Volcarona
 
 
Bug Bug 40 40 40 1SwSh 1
714   Noibat
 
 
Flying Dragon 40 40 28SwSh 28
715   Noivern
 
 
Flying Dragon 40 40 28SwSh 28
787   Tapu Bulu
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1 25SwSh
962   Bombirdier
 
 
Flying Flying 16
988   Slither Wing
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 77
992   Iron Hands
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 14
994   Iron Moth
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1
100   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.


By TM

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Machine
I
TM04
II
--
III
--
IV
--
V
--
VI
--
VII
--
VIII
--
IX
--
012   Butterfree
 
 
Bug Bug
016   Pidgey
 
 
Flying Flying
017   Pidgeotto
 
 
Flying Flying
018   Pidgeot
 
 
Flying Flying
021   Spearow
 
 
Flying Flying
022   Fearow
 
 
Flying Flying
041   Zubat
 
 
Flying Flying
042   Golbat
 
 
Flying Flying
049   Venomoth
 
 
Bug Bug
083   Farfetch'd
 
 
Flying Field
084   Doduo
 
 
Flying Flying
085   Dodrio
 
 
Flying Flying
142   Aerodactyl
 
 
Flying Flying
144   Articuno
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
145   Zapdos
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
146   Moltres
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
151   Mew
  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 breeding

# Pokémon Types Parent
Egg Groups
Egg Move
II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
021   Spearow
 
 
Flying Flying BDSP
041   Zubat
 
 
Flying Flying
142   Aerodactyl
 
 
Flying Flying
143   Snorlax
  Monster Monster BDSP
163   Hoothoot
 
 
Flying Flying
193   Yanma
 
 
Bug Bug BDSP
198   Murkrow
 
 
Flying Flying BDSP
227   Skarmory
 
 
Flying Flying
276   Taillow
 
 
Flying Flying BDSP
293   Whismur
  Monster Field
325   Spoink
  Field Field BDSP
408   Cranidos
  Monster Monster BDSP
446   Munchlax
  Monster Monster BDSP
449   Hippopotas
  Field Field
451   Skorupi
 
 
Bug Water 3
878   Cufant
  Field Mineral SwSh
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
220   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.


In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, and Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, Whirlwind is a move with 27 PP and 100% accuracy. It targets enemy in the front, blowing them away 10 tiles away. If the enemy hits a wall, they take 5 HP of damage; if they hit another Pokémon, they both take that damage. A Pokémon that enters a tile they cannot walk on will be warped away. This move is affected by Taunt.

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 Butterfree flaps its wings and a strong gust is created from them.
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 and a strong gust of wind is created from them.
Brock's Zubat Clefairy and the Moon Stone Japanese version only
  Pidgeotto Pidgeotto flaps its wings and a strong gust is created from them.
Ash's Pidgeotto Clefairy and the Moon Stone None
  Venomoth Venomoth flaps its wings and a strong gust is released from them.
Assunta's Venomoth Friends to the End None
  Pidgeot Pidgeot flaps its wings and a strong gust of wind is created from them.
Falkner's Pidgeot Fighting Flyer with Fire None
  Noctowl Noctowl flaps its wings and a strong gust of wind is created from them.
Ash's Noctowl Carrying On! None
  Pidgey Pidgey flaps its wings and a strong gust of wind is created from them.
Malachi's Ken Carrying On! None
  Skarmory Skarmory flaps its wings and a gust of wind strong enough to stop attacks comes out of them.
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
  Dragonite Dragonite flaps its wings and a strong gust is created from them.
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 its hand and a huge gust of wind is released from it and blows the opponent away.
A wild Shiftry Jump for Joy! Shiftry could not legally learn Whirlwind at the time
  Dustox Dustox flaps its wings and a strong gust is created from them.
Jessie's Dustox Watt's with Wattson? None
  Aerodactyl Aerodactyl flaps its wings and a huge gust of wind is released to blow the opponent away.
A wild Aerodactyl Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl! None
  Hariyama Hariyama waves both of its arms into the air and a powerful wind blows the opponent into the air; or, Hariyama swings one of its hands to the side and creates a wind that blows the opponent away.
A wild Hariyama Pikachu's Island Adventure None
  Staraptor Staraptor flaps its wings and a strong gust is created from them.
Professor Rowan's Staraptor Following a Maiden's Voyage! None
  Beautifly Beautifly flaps its wings at a high speed and creates a gust of wind from them.
Aaron's Beautifly A Trainer and Child Reunion! None
  Snorlax Snorlax takes a deep breath and blows out a 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*
Trąba Powietrzna*
Podmuch Wiatru/Atak Wiatru*
Moc Huraganu*
Atak Powietrzny*
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.