SOS Battle

A Totem Pokémon calling for an ally in an SOS Battle

An ally appearing in an SOS Battle

An SOS Battle (Japanese: 乱入バトル Intruder Battle) is a type of Pokémon battle in the Generation VII games, introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon. An SOS Battle is a battle in which a wild Pokémon calls out to allies for help, turning a normal one-on-one wild battle into a two-on-one battle.

In Pokémon Sun and Moon, once the player clears the first trial with Ilima at Verdant Cavern, battles with wild Pokémon can turn into SOS Battles. Trial Pokémon (except Totem Pokémon), Island Scan Pokémon, Legendary Pokémon, Ultra Beasts, and the guardian deities do not call for help. Totem Pokémon always call for help, but use different mechanics to other wild Pokémon.

Mechanics

Totem Pokémon

In battles with a Totem Pokémon, at the end of the first turn, it will always call for help. A Totem Pokémon's calls are always answered. Totem Pokémon only have a preset set of allies they can call during battle (usually two); once those allies have fainted, they cannot be called again.

If a Totem Pokémon has multiple possible allies it can call, the ally it calls depends on the Totem Pokémon's current HP.

Non-Totem Pokémon

In battles with non-Totem Pokémon, at the end of the turn, a wild Pokémon that can call for help may call for an ally; however, its call is not always answered. The likelihood of a wild Pokémon calling for help depends on its species.

Most Pokémon can summon allies of the same species, but some can summon other Pokémon in their family, and some can summon other unrelated Pokémon. For some species, the Pokémon that a wild Pokémon can call varies with location.

Non-Totem Pokémon are more likely to call for help after the player sends out a Pokémon with Intimidate, Pressure or Unnerve as its Ability or uses an Adrenaline Orb. This can only be applied once per battle.

Non-Totem Pokémon that have a non-volatile status condition or are about to execute a move with a charging turn will not attempt to call for allies.

After either ally has fainted, if the remaining Pokémon's species matches that of the original encounter or of its evolution family, non-Totem Pokémon may call for help again. Within an SOS Battle, the chance for the called Pokémon to be Shiny or have perfect IVs increases with the number of answered calls.

SOS Battle allies

Most non-Totem Pokémon only call for allies of the same species as themselves. The list below describes all Pokémon that can summon allies that are not of the same species as the original encounter.

#	Pokémon		Possible allies			Notes
010		Caterpie	Caterpie	Butterfree		Anywhere but Route 1
011		Metapod	Caterpie			Only on Route 1
011		Metapod	Caterpie	Butterfree		Anywhere but Route 1
042		Golbat	Golbat	Crobat		Only in Resolution Cave
073		Tentacruel	Tentacruel	Lumineon		Some encounters at Poni Wilds
079		Slowpoke	Slowpoke	Slowbro		Only at Kala'e Bay
093		Haunter	Haunter	Gengar
104		Cubone	Cubone	Kangaskhan
118		Goldeen	Goldeen	Seaking
120		Staryu	Staryu	Starmie		Only on Route 7
128		Tauros	Tauros	Miltank
129		Magikarp	Magikarp	Gyarados
133		Eevee	Eevee	Espeon		Only during the day
133		Eevee	Eevee	Umbreon		Only during the night
147		Dratini	Dratini	Dragonair		Anywhere but Poni Gauntlet
147		Dratini	Dratini	Dragonair	Dragonite	Only at Poni Gauntlet
172		Pichu	Pichu	Pikachu	Happiny
173		Cleffa	Cleffa	Clefairy	Chansey
174		Igglybuff	Igglybuff	Jigglypuff	Happiny
222		Corsola	Corsola	Mareanie		Mareanie will attack Corsola before targeting the player's Pokémon.
239		Elekid	Elekid	Electabuzz	Chansey
240		Magby	Magby	Magmar
241		Miltank	Miltank	Tauros
320		Wailmer	Wailmer	Wailord		Only in fishing spots that also have Magikarp
339		Barboach	Barboach	Whiscash
361		Snorunt	Snorunt	Glalie		Only at Mount Lanakila
371		Bagon	Bagon	Shelgon		Only at Kala'e Bay
371		Bagon	Bagon	Salamence		Only on Route 3
438		Bonsly	Bonsly	Sudowoodo	Happiny
446		Munchlax	Munchlax	Snorlax	Happiny
447		Riolu	Riolu	Lucario	Chansey
568		Trubbish	Trubbish	Garbodor
674		Pancham	Pancham	Pangoro
703		Carbink	Carbink	Sableye		Only in the same places Diglett or Dugtrio can be encountered Sableye will attack Carbink before targeting the player's Pokémon.
732		Trumbeak	Pikipek			Only on Route 8
765		Oranguru	Trumbeak
766		Passimian	Trumbeak
782		Jangmo-o	Hakamo-o	Kommo-o

Weather-dependent allies

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Castform weathers

In certain locations, when Pokémon call for allies, a special ally may appear if there is a weather condition in effect in the battle.

Location	Weather	Special ally
Lush Jungle	Rain	Goomy
	Unknown	Castform
Malie Garden	Rain	Poliwhirl
		PoliwrathDay
		PolitoedNight
	Hail	Castform
Tapu Village	Hail	Vanillite
	Unknown	Castform
Route 17	Rain	Goomy
	Unknown	Castform
Haina Desert	Sandstorm	Gabite
	Rain, Hail	Castform
Exeggutor Island	Rain	Sliggoo
	Rain	Castform
Mount Lanakila	Hail	Vanillish
	Unknown	Castform

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 闖入對戰 Chóngyahp Deuijin Mandarin 闖入對戰 / 闯入对战 Chuǎngrù Duìzhàn Czech SOS zápas Dutch SOS-gevechten German Quereinsteiger-Kampf Korean 난입배틀 Nan-ip Baeteul Portuguese Batalha SOS Russian Сражение SOS Srazheniye SOS

This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.