Substitute (move)

Substitute みがわり Scapegoat

Battles Type  Normal Category  Status PP  10 (max. 16) Power  — Accuracy  —% Priority  0 Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Affected by Snatch Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Self: Affects the user

Availability Introduced  Generation I TM50 in Generation I Move Tutor in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness Move Tutor in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen TM90 in Generation IV TM90 in Generation V TM90 in Generation VI

Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  0   Can avoid being startled by others once.

Super Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  1 ♥ Earn +3 if the Pokémon gets the lowest score.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Smart Appeal  0   Jamming  0

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Substitute (Japanese: みがわり Scapegoat) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM50 in Generation I before losing its TM status in Generation II. It regained its TM status, albeit as TM90, in Generation IV onwards.

Effect

Generation I

Using 25% of its maximum HP, the user creates a substitute with 1 HP more than the amount of HP lost by the user. If the user's maximum HP is 3 or less, it will not lose any HP when the substitute is made. A substitute will have the same current type and current stats as the Pokémon that created it.

Once created, all stat modifying attacks and side effects of attacks used by the opponent against the user will fail, though all current stat modifiers will remain in effect and any stat modifiers used by the user will also be applied to the substitute. The substitute will break when the damage the substitute has taken is equal to or greater than the HP used to make it. Until it breaks, a substitute will absorb all damage done by the opponent (even if the damage done exceeds the remaining HP of the substitute), but will not reduce the actual amount of damage that the opponent's attacks do. A one-hit KO move, if it hits, will always break a substitute.

Substitute will not protect the user from self-inflicted status ailments, but it will protect it from any status ailment generated by an opponent's move and damage due to those status ailments.

Substitute will not alter the execution of Bide, Counter, Disable, Haze, Leech Seed, Super Fang, Transform, or partial trapping moves, nor will it absorb crash, recoil, or recurrent damage. However, a substitute will absorb self-inflicted confusion damage and prevent the user from flinching.

If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Hyper Beam, it will not need to recharge. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Explosion or Selfdestruct, it will not faint, though its picture will no longer be visible until it switches out or uses Substitute. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a recoil move, it will not take any recoil damage. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with a draining move, no HP will be restored to it. Note that in each of these cases, the substitute has to be broken, not merely damaged, by the referenced attack.

If the user's current HP is less than 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to make a substitute. If the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will faint upon creating the Substitute.

In Stadium, if the user's current HP is exactly equal to 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP, it will be too weak to create a substitute. If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with Explosion or Selfdestruct, it will faint.

Generations II-IV

If the user has a status ailment, they will still take any damage from that status ailment after they have used Substitute.

If the substitute is broken by a target's Selfdestruct or Explosion, the user of that move will faint.

If the user of Substitute has 25% or less of its max HP (rounded down), or it only has a maximum of 1 HP, such as Shedinja, it will be unable to make a substitute.

A substitute can be Baton Passed, and can absorb damage from partial-trapping moves. A substitute will not block Defog's evasion decrease. Intimidate is blocked by the substitute, and is the only Ability affected by it.

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:

Move Type Cat. Attract  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Curse  ???  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Defog  Flying  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Destiny Bond  Ghost  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Disable  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Encore  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Foresight  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Grudge  Ghost  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Guard Swap  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Haze  Ice  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Heart Swap  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Imprison  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Miracle Eye  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Odor Sleuth  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Perish Song  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Psych Up  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Roar  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Role Play  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Skill Swap  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Spite  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Taunt  Dark  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Torment  Dark  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Transform  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Whirlwind  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}

Generation V

Substitute now blocks Transform and the stat-lowering effect of Defog, and Sky Drop will fail if used against a Pokémon behind a substitute.

The following moves are not blocked by the substitute:

Move Type Cat. Attract  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Curse  Ghost  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Destiny Bond  Ghost  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Disable  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Encore  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Foresight  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Grudge  Ghost  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Guard Swap  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Haze  Ice  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Heart Swap  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Imprison  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Miracle Eye  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Odor Sleuth  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Perish Song  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Psych Up  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Roar  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Role Play  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Skill Swap  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Spite  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Taunt  Dark  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Torment  Dark  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Whirlwind  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}

Generation VI

Substitute no longer blocks sound-based moves, such as Metal Sound.

Description

Games Description Uses 1/4 of the user's maximum HP to create a substitute that takes the opponent's attacks. Makes a decoy with 1/4 user's max HP. RSE 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. The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP. The copy serves as the user’s decoy.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
122		Mr. Mime	Psychic	Fairy	47			11			9	8	29				29			29
352		Kecleon	Normal		Normal							40			37		39	37			37
439		Mime Jr.	Psychic	Fairy										29				29			29
479		Rotom	Electric	Ghost										36				36			36
656		Froakie	Water		Water																	35
657		Frogadier	Water		Water																	38
658		Greninja	Water	Dark																	43
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Type		Father
					II		III		IV		V		VI
108		Lickitung*	Normal		Normal
113		Chansey*	Normal		Normal
115		Kangaskhan*	Normal		Normal
131		Lapras*	Water	Ice
143		Snorlax*	Normal		Normal
161		Sentret	Normal		Normal
173		Cleffa*	Fairy		Fairy
175		Togepi*	Fairy		Fairy
183		Marill*	Water	Fairy
263		Zigzagoon	Normal		Normal
300		Skitty	Normal		Normal
311		Plusle*	Electric		Electric
312		Minun*	Electric		Electric
325		Spoink	Psychic		Psychic
359		Absol	Dark		Dark
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By TM

#	Pokémon		Type		Machine
					I TM50		II --		III --		IV TM90		V TM90		VI TM90
All Pokémon who can learn TMs can learn Substitute.
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By Move Tutor

#	Pokémon		Type		Game
					FRLG	E	XD
001		Bulbasaur	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
002		Ivysaur	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
003		Venusaur	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
004		Charmander	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
005		Charmeleon	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
006		Charizard	Fire	Flying				✔	✔	✔
007		Squirtle	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
008		Wartortle	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
009		Blastoise	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
012		Butterfree	Bug	Flying				✔	✔	✔
015		Beedrill	Bug	Poison				✔	✔	✔
016		Pidgey	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
017		Pidgeotto	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
018		Pidgeot	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
019		Rattata	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
020		Raticate	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
021		Spearow	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
022		Fearow	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
023		Ekans	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
024		Arbok	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
025		Pikachu	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
026		Raichu	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
027		Sandshrew	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
028		Sandslash	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
029		Nidoran♀	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
030		Nidorina	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
031		Nidoqueen	Poison	Ground				✔	✔	✔
032		Nidoran♂	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
033		Nidorino	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
034		Nidoking	Poison	Ground				✔	✔	✔
035		Clefairy	Fairy		Fairy				✔	✔	✔
036		Clefable	Fairy		Fairy				✔	✔	✔
037		Vulpix	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
038		Ninetales	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
039		Jigglypuff	Normal	Fairy				✔	✔	✔
040		Wigglytuff	Normal	Fairy				✔	✔	✔
041		Zubat	Poison	Flying				✔	✔	✔
042		Golbat	Poison	Flying				✔	✔	✔
043		Oddish	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
044		Gloom	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
045		Vileplume	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
046		Paras	Bug	Grass				✔	✔	✔
047		Parasect	Bug	Grass				✔	✔	✔
048		Venonat	Bug	Poison				✔	✔	✔
049		Venomoth	Bug	Poison				✔	✔	✔
050		Diglett	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
051		Dugtrio	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
052		Meowth	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
053		Persian	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
054		Psyduck	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
055		Golduck	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
056		Mankey	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
057		Primeape	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
058		Growlithe	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
059		Arcanine	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
060		Poliwag	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
061		Poliwhirl	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
062		Poliwrath	Water	Fighting				✔	✔	✔
063		Abra	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
064		Kadabra	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
065		Alakazam	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
066		Machop	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
067		Machoke	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
068		Machamp	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
069		Bellsprout	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
070		Weepinbell	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
071		Victreebel	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
072		Tentacool	Water	Poison				✔	✔	✔
073		Tentacruel	Water	Poison				✔	✔	✔
074		Geodude	Rock	Ground				✔	✔	✔
075		Graveler	Rock	Ground				✔	✔	✔
076		Golem	Rock	Ground				✔	✔	✔
077		Ponyta	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
078		Rapidash	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
079		Slowpoke	Water	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
080		Slowbro	Water	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
081		Magnemite	Electric	Steel				✔	✔	✔
082		Magneton	Electric	Steel				✔	✔	✔
083		Farfetch'd	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
084		Doduo	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
085		Dodrio	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
086		Seel	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
087		Dewgong	Water	Ice				✔	✔	✔
088		Grimer	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
089		Muk	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
090		Shellder	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
091		Cloyster	Water	Ice				✔	✔	✔
092		Gastly	Ghost	Poison				✔	✔	✔
093		Haunter	Ghost	Poison				✔	✔	✔
094		Gengar	Ghost	Poison				✔	✔	✔
095		Onix	Rock	Ground				✔	✔	✔
096		Drowzee	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
097		Hypno	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
098		Krabby	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
099		Kingler	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
100		Voltorb	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
101		Electrode	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
102		Exeggcute	Grass	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
103		Exeggutor	Grass	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
104		Cubone	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
105		Marowak	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
106		Hitmonlee	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
107		Hitmonchan	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
108		Lickitung	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
111		Rhyhorn	Ground	Rock				✔	✔	✔
112		Rhydon	Ground	Rock				✔	✔	✔
113		Chansey	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
114		Tangela	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
115		Kangaskhan	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
116		Horsea	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
117		Seadra	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
118		Goldeen	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
119		Seaking	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
120		Staryu	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
121		Starmie	Water	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
122		Mr. Mime	Psychic	Fairy				✔	✔	✔
123		Scyther	Bug	Flying				✔	✔	✔
124		Jynx	Ice	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
125		Electabuzz	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
126		Magmar	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
127		Pinsir	Bug		Bug				✔	✔	✔
128		Tauros	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
130		Gyarados	Water	Flying				✔	✔	✔
131		Lapras	Water	Ice				✔	✔	✔
133		Eevee	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
134		Vaporeon	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
135		Jolteon	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
136		Flareon	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
137		Porygon	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
138		Omanyte	Rock	Water				✔	✔	✔
139		Omastar	Rock	Water				✔	✔	✔
140		Kabuto	Rock	Water				✔	✔	✔
141		Kabutops	Rock	Water				✔	✔	✔
142		Aerodactyl	Rock	Flying				✔	✔	✔
143		Snorlax	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
144		Articuno	Ice	Flying				✔	✔	✔
145		Zapdos	Electric	Flying				✔	✔	✔
146		Moltres	Fire	Flying				✔	✔	✔
147		Dratini	Dragon		Dragon				✔	✔	✔
148		Dragonair	Dragon		Dragon				✔	✔	✔
149		Dragonite	Dragon	Flying				✔	✔	✔
150		Mewtwo	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
151		Mew	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
152		Chikorita	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
153		Bayleef	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
154		Meganium	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
155		Cyndaquil	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
156		Quilava	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
157		Typhlosion	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
158		Totodile	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
159		Croconaw	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
160		Feraligatr	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
161		Sentret	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
162		Furret	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
163		Hoothoot	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
164		Noctowl	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
165		Ledyba	Bug	Flying				✔	✔	✔
166		Ledian	Bug	Flying				✔	✔	✔
167		Spinarak	Bug	Poison				✔	✔	✔
168		Ariados	Bug	Poison				✔	✔	✔
169		Crobat	Poison	Flying				✔	✔	✔
170		Chinchou	Water	Electric				✔	✔	✔
171		Lanturn	Water	Electric				✔	✔	✔
172		Pichu	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
173		Cleffa	Fairy		Fairy				✔	✔	✔
174		Igglybuff	Normal	Fairy				✔	✔	✔
175		Togepi	Fairy		Fairy				✔	✔	✔
176		Togetic	Fairy	Flying				✔	✔	✔
177		Natu	Psychic	Flying				✔	✔	✔
178		Xatu	Psychic	Flying				✔	✔	✔
179		Mareep	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
180		Flaaffy	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
181		Ampharos	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
182		Bellossom	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
183		Marill	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
184		Azumarill	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
185		Sudowoodo	Rock		Rock				✔	✔	✔
186		Politoed	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
187		Hoppip	Grass	Flying				✔	✔	✔
188		Skiploom	Grass	Flying				✔	✔	✔
189		Jumpluff	Grass	Flying				✔	✔	✔
190		Aipom	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
191		Sunkern	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
192		Sunflora	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
193		Yanma	Bug	Flying				✔	✔	✔
194		Wooper	Water	Ground				✔	✔	✔
195		Quagsire	Water	Ground				✔	✔	✔
196		Espeon	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
197		Umbreon	Dark		Dark				✔	✔	✔
198		Murkrow	Dark	Flying				✔	✔	✔
199		Slowking	Water	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
200		Misdreavus	Ghost		Ghost				✔	✔	✔
203		Girafarig	Normal	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
204		Pineco	Bug		Bug				✔	✔	✔
205		Forretress	Bug	Steel				✔	✔	✔
206		Dunsparce	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
207		Gligar	Ground	Flying				✔	✔	✔
208		Steelix	Steel	Ground				✔	✔	✔
209		Snubbull	Fairy		Fairy				✔	✔	✔
210		Granbull	Fairy		Fairy				✔	✔	✔
211		Qwilfish	Water	Poison				✔	✔	✔
212		Scizor	Bug	Steel				✔	✔	✔
213		Shuckle	Bug	Rock				✔	✔	✔
214		Heracross	Bug	Fighting				✔	✔	✔
215		Sneasel	Dark	Ice				✔	✔	✔
216		Teddiursa	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
217		Ursaring	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
218		Slugma	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
219		Magcargo	Fire	Rock				✔	✔	✔
220		Swinub	Ice	Ground				✔	✔	✔
221		Piloswine	Ice	Ground				✔	✔	✔
222		Corsola	Water	Rock				✔	✔	✔
223		Remoraid	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
224		Octillery	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
225		Delibird	Ice	Flying				✔	✔	✔
226		Mantine	Water	Flying				✔	✔	✔
227		Skarmory	Steel	Flying				✔	✔	✔
228		Houndour	Dark	Fire				✔	✔	✔
229		Houndoom	Dark	Fire				✔	✔	✔
230		Kingdra	Water	Dragon				✔	✔	✔
231		Phanpy	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
232		Donphan	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
233		Porygon2	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
234		Stantler	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
236		Tyrogue	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
237		Hitmontop	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
238		Smoochum	Ice	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
239		Elekid	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
240		Magby	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
241		Miltank	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
242		Blissey	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
243		Raikou	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
244		Entei	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
245		Suicune	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
246		Larvitar	Rock	Ground				✔	✔	✔
247		Pupitar	Rock	Ground				✔	✔	✔
248		Tyranitar	Rock	Dark				✔	✔	✔
249		Lugia	Psychic	Flying				✔	✔	✔
250		Ho-Oh	Fire	Flying				✔	✔	✔
251		Celebi	Psychic	Grass				✔	✔	✔
252		Treecko	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
253		Grovyle	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
254		Sceptile	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
255		Torchic	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
256		Combusken	Fire	Fighting				✔	✔	✔
257		Blaziken	Fire	Fighting				✔	✔	✔
258		Mudkip	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
259		Marshtomp	Water	Ground				✔	✔	✔
260		Swampert	Water	Ground				✔	✔	✔
261		Poochyena	Dark		Dark				✔	✔	✔
262		Mightyena	Dark		Dark				✔	✔	✔
263		Zigzagoon	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
264		Linoone	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
267		Beautifly	Bug	Flying				✔	✔	✔
269		Dustox	Bug	Poison				✔	✔	✔
270		Lotad	Water	Grass				✔	✔	✔
271		Lombre	Water	Grass				✔	✔	✔
272		Ludicolo	Water	Grass				✔	✔	✔
273		Seedot	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
274		Nuzleaf	Grass	Dark				✔	✔	✔
275		Shiftry	Grass	Dark				✔	✔	✔
276		Taillow	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
277		Swellow	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
278		Wingull	Water	Flying				✔	✔	✔
279		Pelipper	Water	Flying				✔	✔	✔
280		Ralts	Psychic	Fairy				✔	✔	✔
281		Kirlia	Psychic	Fairy				✔	✔	✔
282		Gardevoir	Psychic	Fairy				✔	✔	✔
283		Surskit	Bug	Water				✔	✔	✔
284		Masquerain	Bug	Flying				✔	✔	✔
285		Shroomish	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
286		Breloom	Grass	Fighting				✔	✔	✔
287		Slakoth	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
288		Vigoroth	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
289		Slaking	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
290		Nincada	Bug	Ground				✔	✔	✔
291		Ninjask	Bug	Flying				✔	✔	✔
292		Shedinja	Bug	Ghost				✔	✔	✔
293		Whismur	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
294		Loudred	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
295		Exploud	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
296		Makuhita	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
297		Hariyama	Fighting		Fighting				✔	✔	✔
298		Azurill	Normal	Fairy				✔	✔	✔
299		Nosepass	Rock		Rock				✔	✔	✔
300		Skitty	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
301		Delcatty	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
302		Sableye	Dark	Ghost				✔	✔	✔
303		Mawile	Steel	Fairy				✔	✔	✔
304		Aron	Steel	Rock				✔	✔	✔
305		Lairon	Steel	Rock				✔	✔	✔
306		Aggron	Steel	Rock				✔	✔	✔
307		Meditite	Fighting	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
308		Medicham	Fighting	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
309		Electrike	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
310		Manectric	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
311		Plusle	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
312		Minun	Electric		Electric				✔	✔	✔
313		Volbeat	Bug		Bug				✔	✔	✔
314		Illumise	Bug		Bug				✔	✔	✔
315		Roselia	Grass	Poison				✔	✔	✔
316		Gulpin	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
317		Swalot	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
318		Carvanha	Water	Dark				✔	✔	✔
319		Sharpedo	Water	Dark				✔	✔	✔
320		Wailmer	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
321		Wailord	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
322		Numel	Fire	Ground				✔	✔	✔
323		Camerupt	Fire	Ground				✔	✔	✔
324		Torkoal	Fire		Fire				✔	✔	✔
325		Spoink	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
326		Grumpig	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
327		Spinda	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
328		Trapinch	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
329		Vibrava	Ground	Dragon				✔	✔	✔
330		Flygon	Ground	Dragon				✔	✔	✔
331		Cacnea	Grass		Grass				✔	✔	✔
332		Cacturne	Grass	Dark				✔	✔	✔
333		Swablu	Normal	Flying				✔	✔	✔
334		Altaria	Dragon	Flying				✔	✔	✔
335		Zangoose	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
336		Seviper	Poison		Poison				✔	✔	✔
337		Lunatone	Rock	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
338		Solrock	Rock	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
339		Barboach	Water	Ground				✔	✔	✔
340		Whiscash	Water	Ground				✔	✔	✔
341		Corphish	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
342		Crawdaunt	Water	Dark				✔	✔	✔
343		Baltoy	Ground	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
344		Claydol	Ground	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
345		Lileep	Rock	Grass				✔	✔	✔
346		Cradily	Rock	Grass				✔	✔	✔
347		Anorith	Rock	Bug				✔	✔	✔
348		Armaldo	Rock	Bug				✔	✔	✔
349		Feebas	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
350		Milotic	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
351		Castform	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
352		Kecleon	Normal		Normal				✔	✔	✔
353		Shuppet	Ghost		Ghost				✔	✔	✔
354		Banette	Ghost		Ghost				✔	✔	✔
355		Duskull	Ghost		Ghost				✔	✔	✔
356		Dusclops	Ghost		Ghost				✔	✔	✔
357		Tropius	Grass	Flying				✔	✔	✔
358		Chimecho	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔	✔
359		Absol	Dark		Dark				✔	✔	✔
361		Snorunt	Ice		Ice				✔	✔	✔
362		Glalie	Ice		Ice				✔	✔	✔
363		Spheal	Ice	Water				✔	✔	✔
364		Sealeo	Ice	Water				✔	✔	✔
365		Walrein	Ice	Water				✔	✔	✔
366		Clamperl	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
367		Huntail	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
368		Gorebyss	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
369		Relicanth	Water	Rock				✔	✔	✔
370		Luvdisc	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
371		Bagon	Dragon		Dragon				✔	✔	✔
372		Shelgon	Dragon		Dragon				✔	✔	✔
373		Salamence	Dragon	Flying				✔	✔	✔
375		Metang	Steel	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
376		Metagross	Steel	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
377		Regirock	Rock		Rock				✔	✔	✔
378		Regice	Ice		Ice				✔	✔	✔
379		Registeel	Steel		Steel				✔	✔	✔
380		Latias	Dragon	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
381		Latios	Dragon	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
382		Kyogre	Water		Water				✔	✔	✔
383		Groudon	Ground		Ground				✔	✔	✔
384		Rayquaza	Dragon	Flying				✔	✔	✔
385		Jirachi	Steel	Psychic				✔	✔	✔
386		Deoxys Normal Forme	Psychic		Psychic						✔
386		Deoxys Attack Forme	Psychic		Psychic				✔
386		Deoxys Defense Forme	Psychic		Psychic				✔
386		Deoxys Speed Forme	Psychic		Psychic					✔
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 Type Obtained with 0185 Sudowoodo Rock New York City Pokémon Center 0204 Pineco Bug New York City Pokémon Center Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Sprites

A substitute from Generations I and II	A substitute from Stadium 2	A substitute from Generation III
A substitute from Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team	A substitute from Generation IV	A substitute from Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky
	A substitute from Generation V

In the anime

Shaymin Substitute fades away Togepi Accelgor
The user creates a substitute that resembles it. The substitute fades away soon after.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Shaymin creates a clone that looks exactly like itself. It then fades soon after.
Shaymin (M11)	Giratina and the Sky Warrior		Debut
	Delcatty creates an exact copy of itself. When it gets hit, it disappears in a puff of smoke.
Lila's Delcatty	Battling the Generation Gap!		None
	Togepi moves quickly when the opponent is about to attack and creates an afterimage of itself. When the afterimage gets hit, it disappears.
A wild Togepi	Where No Togepi Has Gone Before!		None
	Accelgor's body flashes white, and a double that looks exactly like Accelgor dashes out of its body and at the opponent. When the afterimage is hit by an attack, it disappears in a puff of smoke.
Professor Juniper's Accelgor	Evolution Exchange Excitement!		None

In the manga

In the Phantom Thief Pokémon 7 manga

Leafeon
The user creates a copy of itself.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Leafeon creates a copy of itself that disappears after taking a certain amount of damage.
Lily's Leafeon	Into The Hands Of Evil?!		Debut

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Pikachu
The user creates a substitute that resembles it. The substitute fades away soon after.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Pikachu creates a see-through after image of itself by cutting a quarter of its health. Pikachu can form the substitute to any form it wants. Once the after image gets hit, however, it disappears.
Red's Pika	Meanwhile... Vileplume!		Debut

In the Pokémon Battle Frontier manga

Ninetales
The user transforms into a doll, similar to the one in the games.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Ninetales transforms into a doll which prevents itself from being hurt from attacks until the doll fades away.
Enta's Ninetales	Final Battle: Versus The Salon Maiden		Debut

In other generations

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

A substitute "levitating"

• In most games, the decoy and the Pokémon will switch places when the Pokémon executes a move. The only exception is in Pokémon Battle Revolution, where the battle animations play out as if the substitute was the one performing the move. It generally remains stationary, except when using moves like Fly or Bounce.
• In the Generation I and II games, the substitute resembles the Pokémon Rhydon.
• Shedinja can learn Substitute despite being incapable of using it, as its HP is too low to create a substitute.
• Substitutes are interpreted differently throughout all forms of Pokémon canon. In the games, a substitute is seen as an inanimate decoy which simply stands in for the Pokémon. In the anime, substitutes are seen to be clones of the user. In the manga, substitutes are like the anime representation, but more spectral and transparent, as shown by Red's Pikachu in Peace of Mime.
• In the Mystery Dungeon series, if the player eats an X-Eye Seed, all other Pokémon appear as substitutes.
• The Plush Toy enemy in the Mystery Doors of the Magical Land Series movie in Pokéstar Studios is similar to a substitute.
• In Pokémon Stadium, glitch Pokémon will appear as the substitutes. The color will vary, however, due to the player's ID and the glitch Pokémon's name. This is because the game treats the glitch Pokémon's name as a nickname, which cause Pokémon to change colors in the Stadium series.
• In Generation VI, the size of the substitute depends on the size of the Pokémon using it. For example, a substitute made by a Kyurem will be bigger than that of a Flabébé.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 替身 Tìshēn Danish Reserve Dutch Kloon Aanval French Clonage German Delegator Greek Υποκατάσταση Indonesian Menyamar Perasuk Italian Sostituto Korean 대타출동' Daetachuldong Polish Zastępca Brazilian Portuguese Substituição Romanian Substituirea Serbian Izmena Spanish Latin America Sustituto Spain Sustituto

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.