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Substitute
Substitute PE
みがわり
Scapegoat
Generation: I
Battle Data
Type: Type Normal
Category Status
Power: N/A
Accuracy: N/A
PP: 10, max: 16
Affects: User
Secondary Effect: None
Priority: 0
Contact: No
Contest Data
Contests (RSE)
Type: Smart
Appeal: 2 ♥♥
Jam: 0
Super Contests (DPPt)
Type: Smart
Appeal: 1
Contest Spectaculars (ORAS)
Type: Smart
Appeal:
Jam:
{

Substitute (Japanese: みがわり, HepburnScapegoat) is a Normal-type move introduced in Generation I that, when used, will make a decoy of/for the user. It was TM50 in Generation I until it lost its TM status in Generation II. It is TM90 since Generation IV. In Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, it is available as TM08. In Generation VIII, it is TR20 for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. In Generation IX, it is TM103 for Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.

Description[]

Games Description
RBY Uses 1/4 of the user's maximum HP to create a substitute that takes the opponent's attacks.
GSC Makes a decoy with 1/4 user's max HP.
RSEXD Creates a decoy using 1/4 of the user's maximum HP.
FRLG The user creates a decoy using one-quarter of its full HP.
DPPtHGSS
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP. The copy serves as the user's decoy.
SwShBDSPLA
SV
The user creates a copy of itself using some of its HP. The copy serves as the user's decoy.

Effect[]

The substitute is created at the cost of 25% of the user's HP and will take all or most of the incoming damage from the opposing Pokémon until it breaks. A substitute cannot be created if your Pokémon's health is less than 25% of its maximum HP. A one-hit KO attack will always break a substitute if it hits.

Limitations[]

With the release of Generation VI, sound-based moves such as Hyper Voice and Growl can bypass a Substitute and affect the user directly. As well, Generation VI made it so that a Pokémon with the Ability Infiltrator can hit a target using Substitute.

Moves that can bypass a substitute and damage the user:

Further, there are moves that do not damage the user but bypass their substitute and affect them in other ways:

Plus, any move used by a Pokémon with the ability infiltrator will bypass the substitute and affect the target directly, opening the door for a wider range of attacks not listed here.

Appearance[]

In Generations I and II, the Substitute takes the appearance of a Rhydon. In all subsequent games it is a plush toy that is said to resemble a Larvitar. However, some contend that it resembles the being inside Kangaskhan's pouch. When the move is used, the user appears to jump back to the sidelines leaving a puff of smoke in its wake. From this the Substitute appears. When a user attacks while it is active, the substitute will move out of the way while the user comes back onto the battlefield. Once the user's move is complete, they return to their location off-screen and the substitute takes its place once more.

Learnset[]

By leveling up[]

Pokémon Type Egg groups Level
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
064 Kadabra psychic Human-Like 26PE
065 Alakazam psychic Human-Like 26PE
122 Mr. Mime psychic/fairy Human-Like 47 11 9RSE
8FRLG
29 29 29 29SMUSUM
40PE
352 Kecleon normal Field 40 39DP
37PtHGSS
37 37XY
42ORAS
42 42BDSP
439 Mime Jr. psychic/fairy Undiscovered 29 29 29 29
479 Rotom electric/ghost Amorphous 36 36 36 36 40 40
656 Froakie water Water 1 35 35 35
657 Frogadier water Water 1 38 40 40
658 Greninja water/dark Water 1 43 42 42
944 Shroodle poison/normal Field 36
945 Grafaiai poison/normal Field 40
1000 Gholdengo steel/ghost Undiscovered 21
1011 Dipplin grass/dragon Grass/Dragon 44
1019 Hydrapple grass/dragon Grass/Dragon 44
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

By TM/TR[]

Every Pokémon can learn this move, even the ones that don't learn TMs and TRs normally. The following Pokémon that cannot learn this move are listed here:

By breeding[]

By Move Tutor[]

Every Pokémon can learn this move, even the ones aren't tutored normally. The following Pokémon that cannot learn this move are listed here:

By event[]

Generation II[]

Gallery[]

Main games
Side games

Main series

Pokémon Adventures

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