Recall

Recalling, also referred to as switching out or withdrawing, is a mechanic introduced in Generation I.

Description[]

Recalling involves a Pokémon Trainer returning their Pokémon back into its Poké Ball and switching out a different Pokémon in their party. In the case of a walking Pokémon, it simply retreats from battle to make way for the next Pokémon. The decision to recall a Pokémon could be either to send in a stronger or more effective Pokémon for the battle, or to use it for later. Recalling is not possible if the player has no other Pokémon available to use in battle.

If an opponent's Pokémon has fainted, the number of experience points is shared amongst each Pokémon that was present in battle, but not for Pokémon that have fainted. However, the formula changes if an Exp. Share is in the Bag from the start of a battle, the current Pokémon is recalled, and the next one that comes out faints the opposing Pokémon; in this case, the Pokémon that have been present in battle each receive 100 percent of the experience points, as usual, while the other Pokémon in the party that did not participate each receive 50 percent instead. Effort values work differently because if recalling has been done several times, only the Pokémon present in battle when the opposing Pokémon faints receives 100 percent of the effort points.

However, in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, regardless of the Pokémon present in any specific the battle, all Pokémon in the trainer's party (excluding those who have fainted) will receive the same experience points as well as effort values.

A few Abilities can benefit a Pokémon that has been swapped out. If the Pokémon has Natural Cure, this cures its status effects, while Regenerator allows it some of its HP to be restored. Palafin's unique Ability Zero to Hero requires the trainer to recall it, then release it back into battle in order for it to change into different and significantly more powerful form with higher stats.

As usual, long-term status conditions such as poisoning or paralysis are retained by the recalled Pokémon, whilst short-term status conditions like Confusion or Infatuation wear out. Any effects to a recalled Pokémon's statistics are also reset.

Types[]

There are a few circumstances in which a Pokémon is recalled.

Regular[]

The standard method of recalling a Pokémon can be done by selecting the option "Pokémon" ("PKMN" in older titles) and choosing a different Pokémon to send into battle. The action has very high priority and is nearly always used first. In Options, if "Switch" (titled "Shift" prior to Pokémon X and Pokémon Y) is chosen as the battle style, which it is by default, a prompt appears each time after defeating an opposing Pokémon has been defeated, asking the player if they want to send out a different Pokémon. If the player tries to recall the Pokémon currently in battle to instantly send it back in, the game informs them that this is not possible, due to the impracticality of the action.

A trainer who recalls their Pokémon uses up a turn, so if the opposing Pokémon has used a move against their target, the Pokémon switched into battle is inevitably affected by the move, unless that move either misses or the target is invulnerable to the move.

Certain moves prevent a Pokémon from being switched out. One such move is Pursuit, but only during the turn in which it is used, and another is Fairy Lock, but only during the following turn. Meanwhile, Mean Look, Block, and Spider Web remain in effect for the entire battle. If the Pokémon is holding a Grip Claw, the duration of its moves that prevent recalling is extended. Ingrain stops the opposing Pokémon from being recalled as a secondary effect, but this effect wears off when the opposing Pokémon is defeated.

Three Abilities can prevent the opponent from recalling: Arena Trap, Magnet Pull, and Shadow Tag. The most effective Ability is Shadow Tag, since it can affect any Pokémon, while Arena Trap affects only Pokémon on the ground and Magnet Pull affects only Steel-type Pokémon.

Most non-playable characters do not recall their Pokémon. The trainers who can recall their Pokémon include the Elite Four, Red, and trainers fought in battle facilities.

The Shed Shell allows a Pokémon to be recalled under any circumstance, even if it is forbidden otherwise. A Pokémon that is holding an Eject Button is recalled if it receives damage from a move.

Fainted[]

Because a fainted Pokémon cannot battle, the player is forced to recall it, but they can choose which Pokémon to send out next. However, if the player has only one usable Pokémon left, they send it into battle automatically. If the player has no other Pokémon to send out, they lose outright.

While battling a wild Pokémon, the player can decide not to switch out their defeated Pokémon, the equivalent of escaping. If the player cannot escape, they have to send a new Pokémon.

Forced[]

In a battle, there are some methods in which a Pokémon can recall the target. In a battle against a Pokémon Trainer, a recall usually forces in a different Pokémon from the opponent's party, but the recall cannot occur if the opponent cannot send in a different Pokémon. Roar and Whirlwind force the opponent out of the battle, which ends the battle if it is a wild Pokémon encounter. In addition to this, Dragon Tail and Circle Throw inflict damage as well.

Recalling can occur on either side if there is a held item involved. If a Pokémon holding a Red Card is hit by a damaging move, the opposing Pokémon who attacked them is recalled forcefully, in addition to the Red Card being used up. If a Pokémon is holding an Eject Pack, it is recalled automatically if its statistics are lowered.

There are a few cases where a Pokémon can avoided being recalled forcefully, which include having the Suction Cups Ability or having the Ingrain move currently in effect.

Choice[]

The moves U-turn, Parting Shot, or Volt Switch are all damaging moves that recall the user afterward, but unlike a forced recall, the player can choose which Pokémon to send out instead. The recall cannot occur if the move does not inflict any damage.

The item Eject Button and the Abilities Wimp Out and Emergency Exit are all cases in which the Pokémon is recalled under certain conditions, followed by the player being able to choose which Pokémon to send out instead. A Pokémon with Eject Button is replaced after taking damage from a move, while a Pokémon with either Wimp Out and Emergency Exit returns to its Poké Ball as soon as its HP falls below 50 percent.

Other[]

The move Baton Pass is a unique type of recall in that the Pokémon is not only switched out, but various effects are passed on to the one sent into battle, including negative ones such as Confusion.

Disadvantages[]

The main disadvantage of a Pokémon being recalled is that the player loses a turn under most circumstances. If the recalled Pokémon has had any stat increases for the battle, it loses them as well. Pursuit is twice as powerful when used on a target that is about to be recalled the same round. If there are traps present, these also affect the Pokémon switched into battle.

Appearances[]

Anime[]

Pokémon can be recalled in every anime series in which they are shown to be trained and used in battle. When recalled, a Poké Ball emits a light beam that touches the Pokémon, transforming it into a plasmic state, and returning it safely back into the Poké Ball. A trainer usually recalls a Pokémon just aiming its Poké Ball at it, contrary to them throwing a Poké Ball to send a Pokémon into battle.

Pokémon the Series[]

In Pokémon the Series, a Pokémon is recalled into its Poké Ball via a red beam. Some battles have rules that can either limit the number of recalls or prohibit them entirely. For one gym battles, only allow the participant to recall their Pokémon, not the Gym Leader. If a Pokémon is defeated and the trainer refuses to recall it, even with another Pokémon available for battle, this is considered a surrender, something that cannot be done in the core series, costing the trainer the battle. On the other hand, several battle events forbid participants from recalling their Pokémon, especially if registration is required beforehand, and if a participant does not adhere to this rule, they are disqualified.

A defeated Pokémon is not recalled automatically, but it is seen lying on the battlefield. Some trainers prefer to quickly check on their Pokémon and help them regain consciousness before recalling them. If a Pokémon is not yet defeated, just severely weakened, it can recuperate in its Poké Ball and regain its strength, provided it has enough time to rest.

If an attack is used that forces a Pokémon to switch, the target does not always return to its Poké Ball, even if the trainer has other Pokémon available to use.

Unlike the core series, a Pokémon can willingly emerge from its Poké Ball, refusing to be recalled, and although it may appear as disobedience, it can often express the Pokémon's desire to do something for its trainer or another Pokémon. A Pokémon can avoid being recalled if the Poké Ball's energy beam either does not hit it or another Pokémon blocks it.

Episodes[]

In "Snow Way Out!", Ash's Pokémon refuse to be recalled so that they can keep Ash warm in the cold.

In "Second Time's the Charm!", Ash demonstrates that recalling does not necessarily require two Pokémon, such as when he recalls his Corphish into its Poké Ball before sending it back into battle, which can also cure the Pokémon's confusion.

In "Clemont's Got a Secret!", when Clemont's Heliolisk uses Dragon Tail against a Diggersby, the opponent is not recalled.

Films[]

In Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram / White—Victini and Zekrom, Iris was disqualified from the Eindoak Harvest Festival after her Emolga used Volt Switch to switch out for Excadrill, as this broke a tournament rule.

Manga[]

Pokémon Adventures[]

In Pokémon Adventures, the act of recalling is similar to the core series but more senstational, since the speed in which a trainer switches in a different Pokémon can be crucial for victory, first seen in "Long Live the Nidoqueen?!", in the fight between Red and Giovanni. A Pokémon can be recalled at any point, something that does not happen automatically when Pokémon are unable to fight as well as not even being mandatory in official tournaments such as the Pokémon League. In earlier chapters, if a Pokémon is recalled, it appears surrounded by a cloud close to the ground, while in later chapters, only outlines of the recalled Pokémon are visible.

Like the anime, moves that normally recall a Pokémon in the core series do not always have this side effect. A instance of this occurs in "School of Hard Knocks", when Iris' Fraxus is only thrown away by the Dragon Tail move instead of recalled.

In "Something Suspicious", when Cheren recalls his Snivy, it is seen interacting with its surroundings while being recalled.