Tail Whip (move)

Tail Whip しっぽをふる Tail Wag

Battles Type  Normal Category  Status PP  30 (max. 48) Power  — Accuracy  100% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Affected by Magic Coat and Magic Bounce Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Many Others: Affects all adjacent opponents, but not allies

Availability Introduced  Generation I Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  Cute Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  0   The appeal works great if performed last.

Super Contests Condition  Cute Appeal  2 ♥♥ Prevents the Voltage from going down in the same turn.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Cute Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jamming  0   Works great if the user goes last this turn.

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

Tail Whip (Japanese: しっぽをふる Tail Wag) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Tail Whip decreases the Defense stat of all adjacent opponents by one stage.

Generations I to II

In the Generation I and II core series games, when an in-game opponent outside of the Battle Tower uses Tail Whip, the move has a 25% chance to fail.

Generation III onwards

Tail Whip can be used as the second move of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining 2 bonus appeal points if Charm was used in the previous turn.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Tail Whip, the user's Attack stat rises one stage.

Description

Games Description StadStad2 A move that lower the target's Defense. Useful against tough, armored Pokémon. GSC Lowers the foe's Defense. RSEColoXD Wags the tail to lower the foe's Defense. FRLG The user wags its tail cutely, making the foe lower its Defense stat. DPPtHGSSPBR The user wags its tail cutely, making the foe less wary. The target's Defense stat is lowered. BWB2W2 XYORAS SMUSUMPE The user wags its tail cutely, making opposing Pokémon less wary and lowering their Defense stat. SwShBDSPLA The user wags its tail cutely, making opposing Pokémon less wary and lowering their Defense stats. SV The user wags its tail cutely, making opposing Pokémon less wary. This lowers their Defense stats.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII		VIII		IX
												SMUSUM	PE	SwSh	BDSP	SV
0007		Squirtle		Monster	Water 1	1	4	4	4	4	4	4	5	1	1	1
0008		Wartortle		Monster	Water 1	1	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 5	1	1	1
0009		Blastoise		Monster	Water 1	1	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1, 5	1	1	1
0019		Rattata		Field		Field	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	3		1
0019		Rattata Alolan Form		Field		Field							1	3
0020		Raticate		Field		Field	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1, 3		1
0020		Raticate Alolan Form		Field		Field							1	1, 3
0025		Pikachu		Field	Fairy	6Y	6	6	5	5	1	1	3	1	1	1
0026		Raichu		Field	Fairy	−	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0026		Raichu Alolan Form		Field	Fairy							1	1	1		1
0029		Nidoran♀		Monster	Field	21RGB 23Y	23	8	7	7	7	7	3	10	10
0030		Nidorina		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	23RGB 27Y	27	8	7	7	7	7	1, 3	1	1
0031		Nidoqueen		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0037		Vulpix		Field		Field	1	1	5	4	4	4	4	3	1	1	1
0037		Vulpix Alolan Form		Field		Field							4	3	1		1
0038		Ninetales		Field		Field	1	−	−	−	−	−	−	1	1	1	1
0038		Ninetales Alolan Form		Field		Field							−	1	1		1
0054		Psyduck		Water 1	Field	28	5	5	5	5BW 4B2W2	4	4	5	1	1	1
0055		Golduck		Water 1	Field	1, 28	1, 5	1, 5	1, 5	1, 5BW 1, 4B2W2	1, 4	1, 4	1, 5	1	1	1
0077		Ponyta		Field		Field	30	8	9	10DP 6PtHGSS	4	4	4	1	5	5
0077		Ponyta Galarian Form		Field		Field									5
0078		Rapidash		Field		Field	1, 30	1, 8	1, 9	1, 10DP 1, 6PtHGSS	1, 4	1, 4	1, 4	1	1	1
0078		Rapidash Galarian Form		Field		Field									1
0104		Cubone		Monster		Monster	13Y	5	5	3	3	3	3	2	4	4
0105		Marowak		Monster		Monster	1, 13Y	1, 5	1, 5	1, 3	1, 3	1, 3	1, 3	1, 2	1	1
0105		Marowak Alolan Form		Monster		Monster							1, 3	1, 2	1
0111		Rhyhorn		Monster	Field	35	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0112		Rhydon		Monster	Field	1, 35	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0113		Chansey		Fairy		Fairy	1Y	9	5	5	5	5	5	8	4	4	4
0115		Kangaskhan		Monster		Monster	31	19	13	10	10	10	10	11	1	1
0118		Goldeen		Water 2		Water 2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0119		Seaking		Water 2		Water 2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0128		Tauros		Field		Field	28	4	4RSE 1FRLG	3	3	3	3	6	1	1	1
0128		Tauros Paldean Form (Combat Breed)		Field		Field											1
0128		Tauros Paldean Form (Blaze Breed)		Field		Field											1
0128		Tauros Paldean Form (Aqua Breed)		Field		Field											1
0133		Eevee		Field		Field	31RGB 1Y	1	1	1	1	1	1	3	1	1	1
0134		Vaporeon		Field		Field	37RGB 1Y	1	1	1	1	1	1	1, 3	1	1	1
0135		Jolteon		Field		Field	37RGB 1Y	1	1	1	1	1	1	1, 3	1	1	1
0136		Flareon		Field		Field	37RGB 1Y	1	1	1	1	1	1	1, 3	1	1	1
0172		Pichu		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered		6	6	5	5	5	5		1	1	1
0183		Marill		Water 1	Fairy		6	6	7	7BW 2B2W2	2	2		1	1	1
0184		Azumarill		Water 1	Fairy		1, 6	1, 6	1, 7	1, 7BW 1, 2B2W2	1, 2	1, 2		1	1	1
0187		Hoppip		Fairy	Grass		5	5	7	7	6	6			6	4
0188		Skiploom		Fairy	Grass		1, 5	1, 5	1, 7	1, 7	1, 6	1, 6			1, 6	1
0189		Jumpluff		Fairy	Grass		1, 5	1, 5	1, 7	1, 7	1, 6	1, 6			1, 6	1
0190		Aipom		Field		Field		1	1	1	1	1	1			1	1
0194		Wooper		Water 1	Field		1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1	1
0194		Wooper Paldean Form		Water 1	Field											1
0195		Quagsire		Water 1	Field		1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1	1
0196		Espeon		Field		Field		1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1	1
0197		Umbreon		Field		Field		1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1	1
0209		Snubbull		Field	Fairy		4	4	1	1	1	1			1	1
0210		Granbull		Field	Fairy		4	4	1	1	1	1			1	1
0242		Blissey		Fairy		Fairy		7	4	5	5	5	5		4	4	4
0263		Zigzagoon		Field		Field			5	5	5	5	5		6	6
0264		Linoone		Field		Field			1, 5	1, 5	1, 5	1, 5	1, 5		1	1
0298		Azurill		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered			6	7	7BW 2B2W2	2	2		1	1	1
0300		Skitty		Field	Fairy			3	1	1	1	1			1
0301		Delcatty		Field	Fairy			−	−	−	−	−			1
0352		Kecleon		Field		Field			1	1	1	1	1			1
0418		Buizel		Water 1	Field				−	−	−	−			7	−
0419		Floatzel		Water 1	Field				−	−	−	−			7	−
0424		Ambipom		Field		Field				1	1	1	1			1	1
0464		Rhyperior		Monster	Field				1	1	1	1		1	1	1
0470		Leafeon		Field		Field				1	1	1	1		1	1	1
0471		Glaceon		Field		Field				1	1	1	1		1	1	1
0498		Tepig		Field		Field					3	3	3				3
0499		Pignite		Field		Field					1, 3	1, 3	1, 3				1
0500		Emboar		Field		Field					1, 3	1, 3	1, 3				1
0501		Oshawott		Field		Field					5	5	5				5
0502		Dewott		Field		Field					1, 5	1, 5	1, 5				1
0503		Samurott		Field		Field					1, 5	1, 5	1, 5				1
0503		Samurott Hisuian Form		Field		Field											1
0522		Blitzle		Field		Field					4	4	4				4
0523		Zebstrika		Field		Field					1, 4	1, 4	1, 4				1
0550		Basculin Red- and Blue-Striped Forms		Water 2		Water 2					−	1	1		1		1
0550		Basculin White-Striped Form		Water 2		Water 2											1
0587		Emolga		Field		Field					7	7	7		1
0653		Fennekin		Field		Field						1	1				1
0654		Braixen		Field		Field						1	1				1
0655		Delphox		Field		Field						1	1				1
0672		Skiddo		Field		Field						9	9				9
0673		Gogoat		Field		Field						9	1, 9				1
0676		Furfrou All forms		Field		Field						15	15
0690		Skrelp		Water 1	Dragon						9	9		15		15
0691		Dragalge		Water 1	Dragon						9	9		15		15
0694		Helioptile		Monster	Dragon						1	1		1
0695		Heliolisk		Monster	Dragon						−	−		1
0696		Tyrunt		Monster	Dragon						1	1		1
0697		Tyrantrum		Monster	Dragon						1	1		1
0700		Sylveon		Field		Field						1	1		1		1
0702		Dedenne		Field	Fairy						1	1		1		1
0808		Meltan		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								9	8
0809		Melmetal		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered								1, 9	1
0819		Skwovet		Field		Field									1		1
0820		Greedent		Field		Field									1		1
0827		Nickit		Field		Field									1
0828		Thievul		Field		Field									1
0835		Yamper		Field		Field									1
0836		Boltund		Field		Field									1
0877		Morpeko		Field	Fairy									1		1
0896		Glastrier		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered									1		1
0897		Spectrier		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered									1		1
0898		Calyrex Ice Rider		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered									1		1
0898		Calyrex Shadow Rider		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered									1		1
0902		Basculegion All forms		Water 2		Water 2											1
0906		Sprigatito		Field	Grass											1
0907		Floragato		Field	Grass											1
0908		Meowscarada		Field	Grass											1
0915		Lechonk		Field		Field											1
0916		Oinkologne All forms		Field		Field											1
0926		Fidough		Field	Mineral											6
0927		Dachsbun		Field	Mineral											6
0971		Greavard		Field		Field											6
0972		Houndstone		Field		Field											6
0980		Clodsire		Water 1	Field											1
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		Types	Egg Groups		Egg Move
						IV	V	VI	VII	VIII		IX
									SMUSUM	SwSh	BDSP	SV
0052		Meowth		Field		Field	✔HGSS	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0417		Pachirisu		Field	Fairy	−	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔
0431		Glameow		Field		Field	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔
0572		Minccino		Field		Field		✔	✔	✔	✔		✔
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.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Tail Whip lowers the enemy's Defense by one stage. This move is affected by Magic Coat.

Game Base Power Max Power Base PP Max PP Base Accuracy Max Accuracy Range Target Cuts corners MDRB - - 22 - 100% - Front Enemy No MDTDS - - 22 - 100% - Front Enemy No BSL - - 22 - 100% - Front Enemy No MDGtI - - 20 99 100% - Front Enemy No SMD - - 20 99 100% - Front Enemy No With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games: MD Rescue Team = Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald. MD Time and Darkness = Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. MD Sky = Pokémon Platinum. MD Adventure Squad = ??. MD Gates to Infinity = Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Super Mystery Dungeon = Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. MD Rescue Team DX = Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including Tail Whip could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Tail Whip could be seen as a move used by Boss Pikachu, Vulpix and Ponyta.

Tail Whip

Charge time	1.96 seconds
Range type	Circular (self)
Target	Enemy
Additional effect	Lowers the foe's Defense

Description

Games Description MDRB Lowers the target's Defense by one level. MDTDS Reduces the target's Defense by 1 level. BSL てきポケモンの ぼうぎょを １だんかいさげる MDGtI SMD MDRTDX It lowers the enemy's Defense.

In the anime

Psyduck Marill Alolan Raticate
The user wags its tail cutely.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Psyduck wags its tail back and forth at the opponent.
Misty's Psyduck	The Ninja Poké-Showdown		Debut
	Marill jumps into the air above the opponent and hits its face lightly with the orb on the end of its tail once or repeatedly.
Marill (Pikachu shorts)	Pikachu's Exploration Club		None
	Alolan Raticate hits the opponent with its tail.
Totem Raticate	A Team-on-Team Tussle!		None

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Vulpix Golduck Rhyhorn Blitzle
The user wags its tail.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Rhyhorn whips its backside around and hits the opponent with its small tail.
Giovanni's Rhyhorn	Long Live the Nidoqueen!?		Debut
	Golducks wags its tail back and forth and repeatedly hits the opponent with it.
Blue's Golduck	Lapras Lazily		None
	Vulpix turns around and waves its six tails back and forth in the air.
Courtney's Vulpix	It All Ends Now III		None
	Blitzle turns its back to the opponent and waves its tail back and forth.
Andy's Blitzle	Black's First Trainer Battle		None

• In Wartortle Wars, Green's Blastoise, Blasty, was revealed to know Tail Whip as a Wartortle by Red's Pokédex.
• Joey's Rattata was revealed to know Tail Whip on the official website, but he was never shown using the move.
• A conman's Wooper were revealed to know Tail Whip on the official website, but they were never shown using the move.

Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master!

Wooper
The user wags its tail.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Wooper wags its tail.
Kakuzō's Wooper	ABM06		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

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, and Sky	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, and Sky	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, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

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, and Sky	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, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

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, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

• Multiple Pokémon (e.g., Flareon, Marowak and Tauros) have been capable of learning both this move and Leer at the same time in the past, despite them being functionally the same move. With the exception of Morpeko, all of these Pokémon could eventually only learn Tail Whip, even if they only had a very short tail (such as Rhyhorn) or no tail at all (such as Snubbull).

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 搖尾巴 Yìuh Méihbā * 揮舞尾巴 Fāimóuh Méihbā * Mandarin 搖尾巴 / 摇尾巴 Yáo Wěiba Czech Šlehnutí ocasem Danish Halepisk Dutch Staart Zweep (EP032) Kwispel Finnish Pyrstölyönti French Mimi-Queue German Rutenschlag Greek Λίκνισμα Ουράς Líkvisma Ourás Italian ColpocodaIII+ Colpo-CodaI–II Korean 꼬리흔들기 Kkoriheundeulgi Norwegian Halepisk Brazilian Portuguese Chicote de Cauda (anime, The Official Pokémon Handbook) Cauda Chicote (TCG, manga, The Official Pokémon Handbook) Serbian Bičevanje repom Spanish Latin America Golpe de Cola Spain Látigo Swedish Svanspiska Turkish Kuyruk Sallama Vietnamese Vẫy Đuôi

Variations of the move Leer
Leer • Tail Whip

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.