View source for Escape prevention

There are multiple forms of '''[[escape]] prevention''' in a [[Pokémon battle]].

==Effect==
If a Pokémon is prevented from escaping, it must remain in battle, as there is no option to [[recall|switch out]] or [[escape|flee]].

The trapped Pokémon can still switch out if it is holding a [[Shed Shell]]; uses {{m|U-turn}}, {{m|Volt Switch}}, {{m|Flip Turn}}, or {{m|Baton Pass}}; or is hit by {{m|Whirlwind}}, {{m|Roar}}, {{m|Dragon Tail}}, or {{m|Circle Throw}}. Prior to [[Generation V]], if a Pokémon that can't escape or the Pokémon that trapped it uses Baton Pass, the Pokémon (or its replacement) still can't escape; from Generation V onward, the effect can be passed only by the Pokémon that can't escape.

From Generation III onward, a Pokémon that can't escape can still flee or {{m|Teleport}} from a wild battle if it is holding a [[Smoke Ball]] or has the Ability {{a|Run Away}}.

Starting in Generation VI, {{type|Ghost}} Pokémon can switch out and flee regardless of the can't escape status.

===Moves===
A Pokémon can be trapped when struck by any of the following moves. A {{m|Substitute}} will block their effect from [[Generation III]] on.
{| class="roundy" width="100%" style="background: #{{normal color}}; border: 5px solid #{{normal color light}};"
|-
| 
{| border=1 width="100%" class="sortable roundy" style="text-align:center; background: #FFFFFF; border:1px solid #{{normal color}}; border-collapse:collapse;"
|- 
! Move
! width="15%" | [[Type]]
! width="15%" | [[Damage category|Category]]
! [[Power]]
! [[Accuracy]]
! Gen. introduced
! width="40%" | Notes
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Anchor Shot}}
{{typetable|Steel}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 80
| 100%
| VII
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Block}}
{{typetable|Normal}}
{{statustable|Status}}
| —
| —%
| III
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Fairy Lock}}
{{typetable|Fairy}}
{{statustable|Status}}
| —
| —%
| VI
| class="l" | Prevents all Pokémon on the field from [[switching out]] or [[escape|fleeing]] during their next turn
|-
| class="l" | {{m|G-Max Terror}}
{{typetable|Ghost}}
{{statustable|???|''Varies''}}
| —
| —%
| VIII
| class="l" | 
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Jaw Lock}}
{{typetable|Dark}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 80
| 100%
| VIII
| class="l" | Prevents the user and the target from [[switching out]] or [[escape|fleeing]]
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Mean Look}}
{{typetable|Normal}}
{{statustable|Status}}
| —
| —%
| II
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|No Retreat}}
{{typetable|Fighting}}
{{statustable|Status}}
| —
| —%
| VIII
| class="l" | Prevents the user from [[switching out]] or [[escape|fleeing]]; ''has other effects''
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Octolock}}
{{typetable|Fighting}}
{{statustable|Status}}
| —
| 100%
| VIII
| class="l" | ''Has other effects''
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Shadow Hold}}
{{typetable|Shadow}}
{{statustable|Status}}
| —
| 80%
| III
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Spider Web}}
{{typetable|Bug}}
{{statustable|Status}}
| —
| —%
| II
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Spirit Shackle}}
{{typetable|Ghost}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 80
| 100%
| VII
|
|-
| class="l" | {{m|Thousand Waves}}
{{typetable|Ground}}
{{statustable|Physical}}
| 90
| 100%
| VI
| 
|}
|}

===Abilities===
A Pokémon can become trapped by any of the following Abilities.

{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center; background: #{{normal color}}; {{roundy|10px}}; border: 3px solid #{{normal color dark}}"
|-
|- style="background:#{{normal color light}}"
! Name
! Foes unaffected
! Generation
|- style="background:#fff"
| {{a|Arena Trap}}
| {{t|Flying}}- and {{type|Ghost}}* {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}, {{a|Levitate|levitating Pokémon}}, Pokémon affected by {{m|Magnet Rise}}, {{m|Telekinesis}}, or holding an [[Air Balloon]]
| III
|- style="background:#fff"
| {{a|Magnet Pull}}
| Non-{{type|Steel}} Pokémon, {{type|Ghost}}* Pokémon
| III
|- style="background:#fff"
| {{a|Shadow Tag}}
| Other Pokémon with Shadow Tag<sup>†</sup>, {{type|Ghost}}* Pokémon
| III
|}
<small><nowiki>*</nowiki>: Ghost-type Pokémon are only immune from [[Generation VI]] on<br>
<sup>†</sup>: Shadow Tag immunity only applies from [[Generation IV]] on</small>

==In the animated series==
[[File:Lenora Watchog Mean Look effect.png|thumb|250px|{{AP|Oshawott}} failing to return to his Poké Ball after being hit by Mean Look]]
===[[Original series]]===
The first instance of trapping appeared in ''[[EP005|Showdown in Pewter City]]'', where [[Brock's Onix]] prevented {{Ash}} from recalling {{AP|Pikachu}} through its use of {{m|Bind}}.

Although introduced prior to {{m|Whirlpool}}'s debut, [[Mandi]]'s {{p|Exeggutor}} used {{m|Psychic}} to create a whirlpool that trapped [[Ash's Krabby]] and prevented it from switching out in ''[[EP075|Round One - Begin!]]''.

In ''[[EP182|From Ghost to Ghost]]'', [[Morty]]'s {{p|Haunter}} used {{m|Mean Look}} to prevent [[Ash's Cyndaquil]] from escaping the battle.

[[Nelson]] had his {{p|Misdreavus}} use Mean Look on an {{p|Entei}} to keep it from [[Escape|running away]] in ''[[EP259|Entei at Your Own Risk]]''. Entei countered with {{m|Roar}} in order to flee.

===''[[Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire]]''===
In ''[[AG189|Gathering the Gang of Four!]]'', {{an|Brandon}} had his {{p|Dusclops}} use Mean Look to prevent Ash from switching out his {{TP|Ash|Charizard}}. He repeated this strategy in the [[AG190|next episode]] against [[Ash's Bulbasaur]].

===''[[Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl]]''===
In ''[[DP185|Working on a Right Move!]]'', [[Conway]]'s {{p|Dusknoir}} used Mean Look to prevent Ash from switching out his {{AP|Donphan}}.

===''[[Pokémon the Series: Black & White]]''===
Preventing the opponent from using the Pokémon they wanted was [[Lenora]]'s main strategy in her battles against Ash in ''[[BW015|The Battle According to Lenora!]]'' and ''[[BW016|Rematch at the Nacrene Gym!]]''. She would first have {{p|Lillipup}} or {{p|Herdier}} use Roar before switching in {{p|Watchog}} and trapping Ash's newly-brought out Pokémon with Mean Look.

===''[[Pokémon Journeys: The Series]]''===
In ''[[JN118|Battling as Hard as Stone!]]'', {{an|Steven Stone|Steven}}'s {{p|Cradily}} used {{m|Ingrain}}, preventing itself from leaving the battle until it was knocked out.

In ''[[JN129|A Flood of Torrential Gains!]]'', [[Ash's Gengar]] trapped {{an|Leon}}'s {{p|Inteleon}} in battle by hitting it with {{m|G-Max Terror}}.

==In the manga==
===Pokémon Adventures===
[[File:Roxanne Nosepass Magnet Pull Adventures.png|thumb|230px|[[Rono]] unable to move after being trapped with Magnet Pull]]
===={{MangaArc|Gold, Silver & Crystal}}====
In ''[[PS100|Into the Unown]]'', [[Team Rocket Elite Trio|Al]]'s {{p|Spinarak}} used {{m|Spider Web}} to trap opponents in the silk.

In ''[[PS103|The Ariados up There]]'', the [[Masked Man]]'s {{p|Ariados}} used Spider Web to create a web around the field to prevent opponents from escaping. [[Janine]]'s Ariados was [[PS156|later]] shown capable of the same technique.

As first revealed in ''[[PS117|Slugging It Out with Slugma]]'', {{adv|Crystal}} will often have her {{p|Smoochum}}, Chumee, use Mean Look to keep wild Pokémon in place while she attempts to catch them.

===={{MangaArc|Ruby & Sapphire}}====
In ''[[PS190|Blowing Past Nosepass I]]'', [[Roxanne's Nosepass]] prevented {{adv|Sapphire}} from recalling her {{p|Aron}}, [[Rono]], with its {{a|Magnet Pull}} Ability.

In ''[[PS221|Going to Eleven with Loudred and Exploud II]]'', [[Courtney]]'s {{p|Ninetales}} used {{m|Fire Spin}} to keep {{adv|Ruby}} from escaping.

In ''[[PS244|The Beginning of the End with Kyogre & Groudon VIII]]'', [[Roxanne]]'s Nosepass used {{m|Block}} to hold {{DL|Super-ancient Pokémon (Adventures)|Groudon}} in place.

===={{MangaArc|Platinum}}====
[[Charon]]'s {{p|Heatran}} could use {{m|Magma Storm}} to trap opponents inside of the flame. It was first seen in ''[[PS425|Cooling Off Heatran]]''.

===={{MangaArc|Black & White}}====
{{adv|Black}}'s {{p|Galvantula}}, [[Tula]], can make a Spider Web that can hold opponents in place while also electrocuting them. It was first seen in ''[[PS472|Wheeling and Dealing]]''.

===={{MangaArc|X & Y}}====
In ''[[PS575|Changing Gengar]]'', {{adv|X}}'s Mega {{p|Gengar}}, Garma, used his {{a|Shadow Tag}} Ability to trap [[Essentia]]'s {{p|Trevenant}} and keep it from fleeing.

===={{MangaArc|Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon}}====
In ''[[PASM35|Transcend!! Ultra Necrozma!]]'', {{adv|Zygarde}} used {{m|Thousand Waves}} to destroy the ground and trap everyone caught in it.

In ''[[PASM37|Finale!! The Battle Against the Other Dimension!]]'', [[Moon's Decidueye]] pinned {{adv|Necrozma}} down by its shadow through the use of {{m|Spirit Shackle}}

===={{MangaArc|Sword & Shield}}====
In ''[[PASS13|Glittering!! The Tapestry in the Vault]]'', [[Allister]]'s [[Gigantamax]]ed {{p|Gengar}} and used {{m|G-Max Terror}} to trap {{Henry}}'s {{p|Oranguru}}, Fanguru.

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{{Project Games notice|game mechanic}}

[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Game mechanics]]
[[Category:Trapping moves|*]]