Explosion (move)

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Explosion だいばくはつ Giant Explosion

Battles Type  Normal Category  Physical PP  5 (max. 8) Power  250 Accuracy  100% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally All Others: Affects all Pokémon adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation I TM47 in Generation I Move Tutor in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Move Tutor in Pokémon Emerald TM64 in Generation IV TM64 in Generation V TM64 in Generation VI

Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  8 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Jam  0   Makes a great appeal, but allows no more to the end.

Super Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  0   Earn +15 if all the Pokémon choose the same Judge.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Beauty 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

Explosion (Japanese だいばくはつ Giant Explosion) is a damage-dealing Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It is currently the most powerful move in terms of its base power. It was TM47 in Generation I before losing its TM status in Generation II. It regained its TM status, albeit as TM64, in Generation IV onwards.

Effect

Generation I

Explosion has a power of 170 in Generation I.

Explosion does damage, and causes the user to faint. Though its power is listed as 170, the target's Defense will be halved when damage from this attack is calculated, giving it an effective power of 340. The game rounds up to avoid infinite damage, so Explosion will then effectively have a power of 170 if used against a target with a Defense value of 1.

If Explosion breaks a target's substitute, the user will not faint, though its image will be replaced by a blank image. Additionally, if the user of Explosion had a substitute at the time of such a situation, uses Substitute later, or switches out, its regular image will once again become visible.

If the user of Explosion attacks first and faints itself, the target will not attack or be subjected to recurrent damage during that round.

In Stadium, if Explosion breaks a target's substitute, the user will faint. The base power listed in Stadium is the one after halving Defense, ie. 340.

Generation II

Explosion's base power was changed to the current 250. The Defense-halving step still applies, giving it an effective power of 500.

If Explosion is used against a substitute, a Ghost type, or a Pokémon that has used Protect or Detect, the user will still faint.

Unlike in the previous game, Stadium 2 lists Explosion's base power before halving Defense.

The Focus Band won't prevent the user of Explosion from fainting.

Generations III and IV

Explosion cannot be used when a Pokémon with the Ability Damp is on the field. User's sprite no longer disappears upon the use of move.

Explosion will also affect all other Pokémon on the field in Double Battles.

The Focus Sash won't prevent the user of Explosion from fainting.

Generation V

Explosion no longer halves the target's Defense. Also, the user now faints before dealing damage as opposed to fainting after dealing damage in previous generations.

Sturdy won't prevent the user of Explosion from fainting.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

Explosion does not cause the user to faint, but instead cuts its HP in half, and affects all Pokémon, items, and walls within 2 tiles of the user, reducing HP by half on teammates, by 80 on hostile Pokémon, and destroying all walls, items, and special tiles. Explosion cannot be used in rain or on any floor with a Pokémon with the Ability Damp. Additionally, Fire-type Pokémon take only 50% of usual damage.

Description

Games Description The most powerful attack of all. However, the attacker faints after using this move. Very powerful but makes user faint. RSE Inflicts severe damage but makes the user faint. FRLG The user explodes to inflict terrible damage even while fainting itself. The user explodes to inflict damage on all Pokémon in battle. The user faints upon using this move. The user explodes to inflict damage on those around it. The user faints upon using this move. The user attacks everything around it by causing a tremendous explosion. The user faints upon using this move.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
074		Geodude	Rock	Ground	36			41			41			32				43			43 36
075		Graveler	Rock	Ground	43			48			53			38				53			53 44
076		Golem	Rock	Ground	43			48			53			38				53			53 44
100		Voltorb	Electric		Electric	43			39			46			43				47			47
101		Electrode	Electric		Electric	50			44			54			51				57			57
109		Koffing	Poison		Poison	48			41			41			37				42	37	37
110		Weezing	Poison		Poison	53			44			44			40				46	40	40
204		Pineco	Bug		Bug				36			36			31		34	34			34
205		Forretress	Bug	Steel				39			39			33		38	42			42
273		Seedot	Grass		Grass							43			43				43			43
337		Lunatone	Rock	Psychic							49			56				56	49	49
338		Solrock	Rock	Psychic							49			56				56	49	49
343		Baltoy	Ground	Psychic							45			71				60	49	49
344		Claydol	Ground	Psychic							55			86				72	61	61
377		Regirock	Rock		Rock							--			--				--			--
378		Regice	Ice		Ice							--			--				--			--
379		Registeel	Steel		Steel							--			--				--			--
425		Drifloon	Ghost	Flying										43				46	50	50
426		Drifblim	Ghost	Flying										51				56	60	60
434		Stunky	Poison	Dark										44				49			49
435		Skuntank	Poison	Dark										52				61			61
482		Azelf	Psychic		Psychic										76				76			76
524		Roggenrola	Rock		Rock														40			40
525		Boldore	Rock		Rock														55			55
526		Gigalith	Rock		Rock														55			55
568		Trubbish	Poison		Poison														47			47
569		Garbodor	Poison		Poison														59			59
597		Ferroseed	Grass	Steel														55			55
598		Ferrothorn	Grass	Steel														67			67
711		Gourgeist	Ghost	Grass																	--, 75
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
088		Grimer	Poison		Poison
092		Gastly	Ghost	Poison
095		Onix	Rock	Ground
299		Nosepass	Rock		Rock
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 TM47		II --		III --		IV TM64		V TM64		VI TM64
074		Geodude	Rock	Ground	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
075		Graveler	Rock	Ground	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
076		Golem	Rock	Ground	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
081		Magnemite	Electric	Steel										✔				✔		✔	✔
082		Magneton	Electric	Steel										✔				✔		✔	✔
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	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
100		Voltorb	Electric		Electric	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
101		Electrode	Electric		Electric	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
102		Exeggcute	Grass	Psychic	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
103		Exeggutor	Grass	Psychic	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
109		Koffing	Poison		Poison	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
110		Weezing	Poison		Poison	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
151		Mew	Psychic		Psychic	✔									✔				✔		✔	✔
185		Sudowoodo	Rock		Rock										✔				✔		✔	✔
204		Pineco	Bug		Bug										✔				✔		✔	✔
205		Forretress	Bug	Steel										✔				✔		✔	✔
208		Steelix	Steel	Ground										✔				✔		✔	✔
211		Qwilfish	Water	Poison										✔				✔		✔	✔
219		Magcargo	Fire	Rock										✔				✔		✔	✔
222		Corsola	Water	Rock										✔				✔		✔	✔
273		Seedot	Grass		Grass										✔				✔		✔	✔
274		Nuzleaf	Grass	Dark										✔				✔		✔	✔
275		Shiftry	Grass	Dark										✔				✔		✔	✔
299		Nosepass	Rock		Rock										✔				✔		✔	✔
316		Gulpin	Poison		Poison										✔				✔		✔	✔
317		Swalot	Poison		Poison										✔				✔		✔	✔
323		Camerupt	Fire	Ground										✔				✔		✔	✔
324		Torkoal	Fire		Fire										✔				✔		✔	✔
337		Lunatone	Rock	Psychic										✔				✔		✔	✔
338		Solrock	Rock	Psychic										✔				✔		✔	✔
343		Baltoy	Ground	Psychic										✔				✔		✔	✔
344		Claydol	Ground	Psychic										✔				✔		✔	✔
362		Glalie	Ice		Ice										✔				✔		✔	✔
375		Metang	Steel	Psychic										✔				✔		✔	✔
376		Metagross	Steel	Psychic										✔				✔		✔	✔
377		Regirock	Rock		Rock										✔				✔		✔	✔
378		Regice	Ice		Ice										✔				✔		✔	✔
379		Registeel	Steel		Steel										✔				✔		✔	✔
425		Drifloon	Ghost	Flying										✔				✔		✔	✔
426		Drifblim	Ghost	Flying										✔				✔		✔	✔
434		Stunky	Poison	Dark										✔				✔		✔	✔
435		Skuntank	Poison	Dark										✔				✔		✔	✔
437		Bronzong	Steel	Psychic										✔				✔		✔	✔
438		Bonsly	Rock		Rock										✔				✔		✔	✔
462		Magnezone	Electric	Steel										✔				✔		✔	✔
463		Lickilicky	Normal		Normal										✔				✔		✔	✔
476		Probopass	Rock	Steel										✔				✔		✔	✔
482		Azelf	Psychic		Psychic										✔				✔		✔	✔
485		Heatran	Fire	Steel										✔				✔		✔	✔
524		Roggenrola	Rock		Rock														✔		✔	✔
525		Boldore	Rock		Rock														✔		✔	✔
526		Gigalith	Rock		Rock														✔		✔	✔
568		Trubbish	Poison		Poison														✔		✔	✔
569		Garbodor	Poison		Poison														✔		✔	✔
577		Solosis	Psychic		Psychic														✔		✔	✔
578		Duosion	Psychic		Psychic														✔		✔	✔
579		Reuniclus	Psychic		Psychic														✔		✔	✔
582		Vanillite	Ice		Ice														✔		✔	✔
583		Vanillish	Ice		Ice														✔		✔	✔
584		Vanilluxe	Ice		Ice														✔		✔	✔
597		Ferroseed	Grass	Steel														✔		✔	✔
598		Ferrothorn	Grass	Steel														✔		✔	✔
615		Cryogonal	Ice		Ice														✔		✔	✔
645		Landorus	Ground	Flying														✔		✔	✔
649		Genesect	Bug	Steel														✔		✔	✔
703		Carbink	Rock	Fairy																✔	✔
710		Pumpkaboo	Ghost	Grass																✔	✔
711		Gourgeist	Ghost	Grass																✔	✔
719		Diancie	Rock	Fairy																✔	✔
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
074		Geodude	Rock	Ground				✔	✔
075		Graveler	Rock	Ground				✔	✔
076		Golem	Rock	Ground				✔	✔
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				✔	✔
100		Voltorb	Electric		Electric				✔	✔
101		Electrode	Electric		Electric				✔	✔
102		Exeggcute	Grass	Psychic				✔	✔
103		Exeggutor	Grass	Psychic				✔	✔
109		Koffing	Poison		Poison				✔	✔
110		Weezing	Poison		Poison				✔	✔
151		Mew	Psychic		Psychic				✔	✔
185		Sudowoodo	Rock		Rock				✔	✔
204		Pineco	Bug		Bug				✔	✔
205		Forretress	Bug	Steel				✔	✔
208		Steelix	Steel	Ground				✔	✔
222		Corsola	Water	Rock				✔	✔
273		Seedot	Grass		Grass				✔	✔
274		Nuzleaf	Grass	Dark				✔	✔
275		Shiftry	Grass	Dark				✔	✔
299		Nosepass	Rock		Rock				✔	✔
316		Gulpin	Poison		Poison				✔	✔
317		Swalot	Poison		Poison				✔	✔
323		Camerupt	Fire	Ground				✔	✔
324		Torkoal	Fire		Fire				✔	✔
337		Lunatone	Rock	Psychic				✔	✔
338		Solrock	Rock	Psychic				✔	✔
343		Baltoy	Ground	Psychic				✔	✔
344		Claydol	Ground	Psychic				✔	✔
362		Glalie	Ice		Ice				✔	✔
375		Metang	Steel	Psychic				✔	✔
376		Metagross	Steel	Psychic				✔	✔
377		Regirock	Rock		Rock				✔	✔
378		Regice	Ice		Ice				✔	✔
379		Registeel	Steel		Steel				✔	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

In the anime

Electrode Forretress Explodes Clefairy
The user glows brightly and then suddenly explodes, or causes everything around it to explode.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Clefairy causes everything around it to explode violently.
Multiple wild Clefairy	Clefairy and the Moon Stone		Debut Used via Metronome
Multiple wild Clefairy	Pikachu's Rescue Adventure		Used via Metronome
	Electrode's body glows red, yellow, or white, becomes surrounded in yellow sparks and explodes violently.
Unknown Trainer's Electrode	The Flame Pokémon-athon!		None
A wild Electrode	Pikachu's Vacation		None
Multiple wild Electrode	Showdown at the Po-ké Corral		None
Danny's Electrode	Navel Maneuvers		None
Multiple wild Electrode	The Underground Round-Up		None
Multiple Electrode guarding the Electric Company	Current Events		None
A wild Electrode	Pearls are a Spoink's Best Friend		None
	Weezing's body glows white, then explodes violently.
Pokémon League entrance exam instructor's Weezing	The Ultimate Test		None
	Forretress's body glows white, then explodes violently.
Brock's Forretress	You Never Can Taillow!		None

In the manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Haunter
The user makes its body explode violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Haunter's body explodes violently. After the huge explosion, Haunter's body turns white for a few moments. The attack does not make Haunter faint, but it brings its HP close to zero.
Black Fog	Haunting my Dreams		Debut

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Forretress Golem Regirock
The user explodes violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	All the rocks on Golem's body explode violently.
Giovanni's Golem	Golly, Golem!		Debut
	Forretress's body glows white and it explodes violently.
Carr's Forretress	A Beastly Cold Reception		None
	Regirock's body starts to crack and it suddenly explodes violently.
Brandon's Regirock	VS. Regirock		None

In the Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl manga

Koffing Koffing
The user explodes violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Koffing glows up and then explodes violently.
A wild Koffing	PDP13		Debut

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

Koffing
The user explodes violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Koffing glows and then explodes violently.
Asuka's Koffing	GDZ60		Debut

In the Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King manga

Bronzong
The user makes its body blow up.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Bronzong explodes violently.
Yū's Bronzong	PBK4		Debut

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Pineco
The user explodes violently.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Pineco explodes violently.
A wild Pineco	Return light to Bellossom!!		None

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

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

• In Generation I, if Self-Destruct or Explosion causes the player to win and lose at the same time, the player blacks out as normal, but the victory music plays.
• All Pokémon that can have the Ability Aftermath can learn Explosion.
• Self-Destruct and Explosion are the only two damaging moves whose battle animations play out in the main series even if they would miss or have no effect.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 大爆炸 Dà Bàozhà Danish Eksplosion Dutch Explosie Finnish Räjähdys French Explosion German Explosion Greek Έκρηξη Italian Esplosione Korean 대폭발 Dae Pokbal Norwegian Eksplosjon Polish Eksplozja Brazilian Portuguese Explosão Serbian Eksplozija Spanish Explosión

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.