A priority is the value of a move that decides when it is used in a turn.
Only when two moves have the same priority value will the speed of the users be used to decide the order. Even Trick Room cannot affect the order of the moves if it has been decided by their priority.
Priority ranges from +5 to -7. Usually, positive priority allows a move to be used first, and negative priority forces a move to be used last.
The abilities Prankster (+1 for status moves), Gale Wings (+1 for -type moves when at full health) and Triage (+3 for healing moves) modify priorities for certain moves.
| Priority | Moves |
|---|---|
| +5 | Helping Hand, Shell Trap(setting up), Beak Blast (heating up), Focus Punch (tightening focus) |
| +4 | Magic Coat, Snatch, Protect, Detect, Endure, King's Shield, Spiky Shield, Baneful Bunker, Obstruct, Max Guard |
| +3 | Fake Out, Quick Guard, Wide Guard, Crafty Shield, Spotlight |
| +2 | Feint, Extreme Speed, Follow Me, Rage Powder, First Impression, Ally Switch, Zippy Zap |
| +1 | Aqua Jet, Bide, Bullet Punch, Ice Shard, Mach Punch, Quick Attack,
Shadow Sneak, Sucker Punch, Vacuum Wave, Water Shuriken, Baby-Doll Eyes, Ion Deluge, Powder, Accelerock |
| 0 | Any move not mentioned |
| -1 | Vital Throw |
| -2 | (None) |
| -3 | Shell Trap(attack), Beak Blast (attack), Focus Punch (attack) |
| -4 | Avalanche, Revenge |
| -5 | Counter, Mirror Coat |
| -6 | Roar, Whirlwind, Dragon Tail, Circle Throw, Teleport |
| -7 | Trick Room, escaping |
Trivia[]
- The items Quick Claw, Custap Berry, Lagging Tail, Full Incense and the ability Stall can change the order of moves, but they are unable to affect an order determined by priority.
- Moves with positive priority (after ability influence) will fail if the user is affected by Psychic Terrain (when used against opponents), the opposing Pokémon have the ability Dazzling or Queenly Majesty, or the opponent have used Quick Guard this turn.
- If the move Pursuit targets a Pokémon switching out, its priority changes from 0 to even surpasses +5, for switching Pokémon usually goes before any move executing.