Confusion (status condition)
Confusion (Japanese: 混乱 confusion) is a volatile status condition that causes a Pokémon to sometimes damage itself in its confusion instead of executing a move.
Effect
Confusion forces a Pokémon to sometimes attack itself instead of executing the selected move for a random 2-5 turns (this includes a Pokémon attempting to use Snore or Sleep Talk while asleep). Confusion is transferred by Baton Pass. On the final turn of confusion, a Pokémon will snap out of its confusion before it attacks. Turns spent recharging (such as after using Hyper Beam) and turns in which the Pokémon is unable to attack due to sleep, freeze, or flinching will not lower the remaining number of turns of confusion. Pokémon may hurt themselves in confusion during either turn of multi-turn moves such as Fly and Dive. When a Pokémon is unable to attack for other reasons (such as from being asleep or fully paralyzed), it will not hurt itself in confusion. Like all other volatile status conditions, confusion wears off when the confused Pokémon is taken out of battle or a battle is over.
Confusion damage is calculated as if it were a typeless physical move with a power of 40; it cannot score a critical hit, and does not receive STAB. Confusion damage is unaffected by Wonder Guard, Technician, and a held Life Orb. Other things may affect confusion's damage depending on the game, as detailed in the table below.
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In addition, one of the possible outcomes from disobedience is that a Pokémon can appear to hit itself in confusion. This behaves the same way as actually being confused, except that it doesn't linger beyond the turn, and in Generation IV, Technician applies (increasing the power to 60) if the Pokémon has that Ability.
Generation I
During confusion, Pokémon have a 50% chance to damage themselves instead of executing the selected move.
Generation II
The Focus Band cannot prevent a Pokémon from knocking itself out due to confusion.
Generation III
Focus Band can now prevent a Pokémon from knocking itself out due to confusion.
Generation IV
Focus Sash can also prevent a Pokémon from knocking itself out due to confusion.
Generations V and VI
Sturdy now prevents a Pokémon from knocking itself out due to confusion if it had full health beforehand.
Generation VII onward
Pokémon now have a 33% chance to damage themselves during confusion.
Appearance
Core series games
Side series games
Causes
Moves
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Other causes
An activating Aguav Berry, Figy Berry, Iapapa Berry, Mago Berry, and Wiki Berry may confuse the holder if they dislike a specific flavor. After fully executing Outrage, Petal Dance or Thrash, the user becomes confused due to fatigue. The Berserk Gene confuses the holder upon activation for a duration of 256 turns. Instead of obeying a command, a disobedient Pokémon may sometimes hurt itself in confusion, inflicting confusion damage to itself.
Curing
In Generation I only, using Haze cures confusion for both active Pokémon.
Confusion-healing items
These are the items that only heal confusion.
- Exclusive to Generation II: Bitter Berry
- Generation III onwards: Persim Berry and Yellow Flute
- Exclusive to Japanese Ruby and Sapphire via e-Reader: Touga Berry
Status-healing items
Starting from Generation II, confusion is the only volatile status condition that is able to be cured by items that heal all non-volatile status conditions. The Full Heal and Full Restore were introduced in Generation I, but only gained the ability to cure confusion in Generation II.
The Rage Candy Bar was introduced in Generation II, but its effect to cure status conditions was introduced in Generation VII.
These are the items that cure confusion as well as all non-volatile status conditions.
- Exclusive to Generation II: MiracleBerry
- Generation II onwards: Full Heal, Full Restore, and Heal Powder
- Generation III onwards: Lum Berry and Lava Cookie
- Generation IV onwards: Old Gateau
- Generation V onwards: Casteliacone
- Generation VI onwards: Lumiose Galette and Shalour Sable
- Generation VII onwards: Big Malasada, Pewter Crunchies, and Rage Candy Bar
Prevention
Pokémon with the Own Tempo Ability are immune to being confused.
The move Safeguard will protect the party from status conditions for five turns. Starting in Generation VII, while Misty Terrain is present, grounded Pokémon cannot become confused. A Pokémon behind a substitute cannot usually become confused; however, it can become confused by damaging moves' side effects in Generation I, by Berserk Gene in Generation II, or by confusion-inducing Berries in Generation III.
Advantages
Moves used against confused Pokémon with the Ability Tangled Feet will have their accuracy halved.
In the spin-off games
Mystery Dungeon series
The Pokémon will move in a random direction, and turn in a random direction before attacking. However, thrown items will still travel in the desired direction. Allies are treated as foes (except in Gates to Infinity), unless the Pokémon has the Nontraitor IQ skillRBTDS or is holding a looplet with the Self Control emeraSMD. For example, if the Pokémon uses moves such as Sweet Scent or Earth Power, teammates will be affected, and moves like Agility will also benefit the opposing side. The Pokémon may not switch places with the team leader*.
Confusion lasts 7-12 turnsRBTDS or 8 turnsGtISMD. Other than as an effect of moves, it can be caused by a Totter Orb, Totter Seed, Dizzying Payback and Dizzying Stare emera, Spin Trap, or stepping on a disguised DittoSMD
Confusion can be protected against by wearing a Persim Band.
Pokémon Conquest
In Pokémon Conquest, confusion is a non-volatile status. At the beginning of a turn, A confused Pokémon has a 50% chance to randomly move on its own and attack other Pokémon, including allies. If a Pokémon moves in its confusion, the Warrior is prevented from using an item or activating a Warrior Skill that turn. Confusion may wear off in the first turn.
In the anime
In the anime, confusion is depicted in a manner similar to the games; once a Pokémon gets confused, they will occasionally hurt themselves or their allies. In addition, confusion can also make the afflicted Pokémon dizzy and unable to hear commands, rendering itself vulnerable to enemy attacks.
Confusion is one of the most common volatile status conditions in the anime, mainly occurring when a Pokémon uses Confuse Ray or Supersonic.
Original series
Confusion was first seen in Clefairy and the Moon Stone, where Brock had his newly-caught Zubat use Supersonic on Jessie's Ekans and James's Koffing, confusing the both of them and causing them to attack each other.
In Tentacool & Tentacruel, Brock's Zubat used Supersonic to confuse multiple Tentacool that were attacking Porta Vista.
In A Shipful of Shivers, the Captain's Haunter used Confuse Ray on Jessie's Arbok, confusing the Cobra Pokémon and causing it to attack Team Rocket.
In Hello, Pummelo!, Ash's Tauros got confused after Drake had his Gengar use Confuse Ray on him. This caused him to hurt himself in confusion and forced Ash to recall him and send Lapras out in his place. Tauros, having shaken off his confusion after entering his Poké Ball, was later sent back onto the field to battle Drake's fourth Pokémon, Venusaur.
In The Whistle Stop, Jessie's Lickitung confused Arielle's Ledyba with Supersonic.
In Spell of the Unown: Entei, Brock's Zubat confused Molly Hale's illusory Flaaffy with Supersonic, but it quickly snapped out of it just on time to dodge a Wing Attack from the Bat Pokémon.
In Hassle in the Castle, Brock had his Zubat use Supersonic on Jessie's Arbok, confusing it and causing it to attack Team Rocket before snapping out of it. Moments later, Zubat evolved into Golbat and used Supersonic to confuse Jessie's Arbok and James's Weezing, causing them to fall on Team Rocket and inadvertently free Ash's Pikachu.
In Ariados, Amigos, Aya had her Venonat use Supersonic to confuse Ash's Bulbasaur. However, Bulbasaur quickly snapped out of it just in time to dodge a Tackle from the Insect Pokémon.
In From Ghost to Ghost, multiple Gastly were confused after Morty had his Gengar use Confuse Ray on them during a demonstration on how to battle without brute force. Later on in the episode, during Ash's Gym battle with Morty, Morty's Haunter confused Ash's Noctowl with Confuse Ray. However, Noctowl manages to snap out of its confusion by proceeding to Tackle Haunter as the latter used Night Shade.
In Doin' What Comes Natu-rally, McKenzie had his Natu named Naughty use Confuse Ray on Jessie's Arbok, confusing it and causing it head towards Team Rocket.
In The Screen Actor's Guilt, Team Rocket was confused by a Sweet Kiss from Brad Van Darn's Smoochum, allowing Pikachu to send them blasting off with a Thunderbolt.
In The Perfect Match!, during a battle in the Whirl Cup, Trinity had her Chinchou use Confuse Ray on Misty's Corsola, but it dodged before the Confuse Ray could connect. However, Trinity's Chinchou fired a second Confuse Ray that did connect, confusing Corsola and giving Chinchou the chance to defeat it with Water Gun.
In Outrageous Fortunes, Misty had her newly-evolved Politoed use its newly-learned move, Swagger, on Arbok and Victreebel, confusing the two of them, raising their attack power, and causing them to attack each other.
In Great Bowls of Fire!, a wild Dragonite got confused due to fatigue from using Outrage, causing her to attack everything in sight. However, she snapped out of her confusion with the combined efforts of Ash and his friends.
In Just Add Water, multiple Pokémon got confused by Supersonic on three separate occasions: the first instance occurred when Dorian's Lanturn used the attack to confuse Ash's Totodile, allowing it to hit him with Take Down. The second case happened when Misty had her Goldeen briefly confuse Dorian's Qwilfish in the same manner. The third and final instance occurred when Dorian's Mantine used the move to briefly confuse Misty's Corsola.
In Entei at Your Own Risk, Ash's Phanpy got confused by a Psybeam from Nelson's Misdreavus.
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
In Going for a Spinda, Claire and Kain's Spinda confused Team Rocket with a Dizzy Punch, though they quickly managed to snap out of it.
In Pearls are a Spoink's Best Friend, a wild Spoink confused James's Cacnea and Jessie's Dustox with a Confuse Ray, allowing it to send them and Team Rocket blasting off with Psychic.
In Luvdisc is a Many Splendored Thing!, Daisy had her Luvdisc named Luverin use Sweet Kiss on Butch's Mightyena, confusing it and causing it to launch a Hyper Beam meant for Luverin at Cassidy and Butch.
In The Great Eight Fate!, Juan had his Luvdisc hit Ash's Grovyle with a Sweet Kiss, which was revealed to have connected and confused it in the next episode. This caused the Wood Gecko Pokémon to hurt itself in confusion and allowed Luvdisc to defeat it with a powerful Water Gun.
In A Judgment Brawl, Ash's Corphish got confused after Katie had her Golduck use Confusion on it. After defeating Golduck with a powerful Bubble Beam, it was switched out in favor of Swellow. Corphish was later sent back onto the field to battle Katie's final Pokémon, Walrein, and although exhausted, the Ruffian Pokémon was no longer confused.
In Cateprie's Big Dilemma, Zander's Butterfree used Supersonic to confuse Jessie's Dustox, who had been gigantified. The attack also confused everyone aboard Dustox's back, including Team Rocket and Dr. Gordon, the latter of whom had been captured by the trio.
In May's Egg-Cellent Adventure, Nicolette's Vileplume confused May's Munchlax with Petal Dance*. However, Munchlax managed to snap out of it after getting paralyzed by Stun Spore and getting hit with Bullet Seed. Later on in the episode, after paralyzing Team Rocket with Stun Spore, Vileplume confused them in the same manner.
In King and Queen for a Day!, James's Mime Jr. confused everyone present at the director's set with Teeter Dance.
In Talking a Good Game!, Anabel's Alakazam used Psybeam on Jessie's Seviper and James's Cacnea, confusing the both of them and causing them to attack each other. This allowed Pikachu to send them and Team Rocket blasting off with a Thunderbolt. Later on in the episode, Ash's Pikachu was confused in the same manner, causing him to charge at a wall with Volt Tackle. However, he snapped out of it after Ash jumped in the way of the attack to protect him.
In Second Time's the Charm!, during Ash's Battle Tower rematch against Anabel, Ash's Corphish got confused after getting hit with a Psybeam from Anabel's Alakazam. Despite this, Corphish was still able to land a hit with Crabhammer before Ash remedied the confusion by returning it to its Poké Ball and immediately sending it back out to defeat Alakazam with a Bubble Beam.
In Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, Jack Walker had a Mantine that he captured use Confuse Ray on the Phantom's Pinsir and Parasect, allowing Jack to keep the Manaphy Egg away from him.
In Gathering the Gang of Four!, during Ash's second Battle Pyramid rematch against Brandon, Ash's Charizard got confused by a Confuse Ray from Brandon's Dusclops. However, he eventually snapped out of it after hearing Ash call out to him. Later on in the match, Ash's Bulbasaur was confused in the same manner before getting cured in the same way as Ash did with Charizard.
Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
In Setting the World On its Buneary!, Dawn's Piplup got confused after a then-wild Buneary used Dizzy Punch on him, giving it the chance to defeat him with a single Bounce.
In Twice Smitten, Once Shy!, Dawn's Piplup was confused after a then-wild Pachirisu had used Sweet Kiss on him, forcing Dawn to recall him and send Buneary out in his place. Piplup was then sent back out to fight it, having gotten over his confusion while in his Poké Ball.
In An Angry Combeenation!, Cheryl had her Mothim use Supersonic* to confuse Jessie's Seviper, James's Cacnea, and a swarm of angry Combee in an attempt to get them all to stop attacking.
In A Triple Fighting Chance!, during Ash's Gym battle against Maylene, Maylene's Meditite used Confusion to confuse Ash's Staravia and Chimchar.
In A Crasher Course in Power!, during Ash's Gym battle against Crasher Wake, Ash's Buizel got confused after being hit with his own Water Pulse after Crasher Wake's Floatzel deflected it with his flotation sac. This forced Ash to recall him and send Pikachu out in his place.
In Hold the Phione!, a Phione that Team Rocket had captured confused Meowth with Supersonic before Jessie snapped him out of it. Later on in the episode, the same Phione briefly confused Dawn's Buneary in the same manner.
In Noodles! Roamin' Off!, James's Mime Jr. confused a wild, Shiny Metagross with Teeter Dance.
In Old Rivals, New Tricks!, during the Performance Stage of the Sandalstraw Contest, James's Mime Jr., while being used by Jessilina, confused everyone in the Contest Hall with a charged-up Teeter Dance. This impressed the judges enough to allow Jessilina to advance to the second round.
In The Treasure Is All Mine!, James's Mime Jr. confused Sebastian and his Spinarak with Teeter Dance, allowing James to send them down a hidden chute.
Pokémon the Series: Black & White
In A Rival Battle for Club Champ!, Ash's Snivy got confused after Trip had his Frillish use Water Pulse on her, giving Frillish the chance to defeat Snivy with a double-powerful Hex*.
In Rematch at the Nacrene Gym!, during a Gym battle, Lenora had her Watchog use Confuse Ray on Ash's Oshawott, confusing him and causing him to hurt himself in confusion. This contributed to his tie against Lenora's Watchog.
In Facing Fear with Eyes Wide Open!, Ash's Oshawott was confused by Supersonic twice: the first time from a group of wild Tympole and the second time from their boss, a then-wild Palpitoad. Oshawott quickly overcame his confusion on both occasions.
In Where Did You Go, Audino?, Jessie's Woobat got confused by a Confuse Ray from Doyle's Solosis, leaving him open to get defeated with a Psyshock from Christie's Gothita.
In Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!, during a Gym battle, Ash's Palpitoad confused Elesa's Zebstrika with Supersonic, allowing Palpitoad to defeat it with a combination of Mud Shot and Hydro Pump.
In Climbing the Tower of Success!, a wild Chandelure confused Iris with Confuse Ray, causing Iris to lose the Wishing Bell Festival contest.
In Guarding the Guardian of the Mountain!, a wild Volcarona got confused by a Confuse Ray from Rizzo's male Jellicent, allowing Rizzo to capture it. Later on in the episode, his female Jellicent confused Ash's Krokorok in the same manner, allowing her and Rizzo's male Jellicent to knock him into a cage with a combined Hydro Pump.
In Jostling for the Junior Cup!, Caitlin had her Gothitelle use Flatter on Cynthia's Garchomp, confusing her and allowing Gothitelle to use Psychic on her. However, Garchomp managed to snap out of it after hearing Cynthia call for a Dragon Rush.
In Strong Strategy Steals the Show!, Ash's Palpitoad used Supersonic to confuse Stephan's Zebstrika. However, it snapped out of it after taking a Hydro Pump from the Vibration Pokémon.
Pokémon the Series: XY
In The Cave of Mirrors!, Ash's Hawlucha was confused after James had his Inkay use Psybeam on him, forcing Ash to recall him before he could attack Mirror Ash's Hawlucha.
In Bonnie for the Defense!, James had his Inkay use Psybeam on a wild Lapras that Bonnie had befriended, confusing it. However, it snapped out of its confusion after Heidi gave it a piece of candy that she got from Jay.
In A Slippery Encounter!, James's Inkay uses Psybeam on Ash's Fletchinder and Pikachu, confusing the both of them and causing them to attack each other.
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
In Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!, Ash, Pikachu, Rowlet, and Rotom all got confused by a Teeter Dance from Hobbes's Oricorio, which left Rowlet open to getting Double Slapped by the Dancing Pokémon. Later on in the episode, Oricorio confused a wild Salandit that was after Lillie's Egg in the same manner, allowing Rowlet to Tackle the Salandit away.
In Mallow and the Forest Teacher!, a wild Oranguru used Confusion on James's Mareanie, confusing her and causing her to attack Jessie.
In Rescuing the Unwilling!, Mallow, Lana, Sophocles, and their Pokémon, including Rotom, were all confused by a Teeter Dance from Lusamine's Nihilego-controlled Lilligant. However, they snapped out of it once Ash's Litten and Rowlet arrived to help them.
In Showdown on Poni Island!, Gladion's Lycanroc got confused after using Outrage during a battle with Ash's Lycanroc, giving the latter the chance to perform its exclusive Z-Move, Splintered Stormshards. However, it managed to snap out of it after withstanding the attack.
In Enter the Champion!, during Ash's Manalo Conference finals match against Gladion, Gladion's Lycanroc got confused after using Outrage and bit its left paw, giving Ash's own Lycanroc the chance to Bite it. However, Gladion's Lycanroc, who had bit itself to overcome its confusion, Countered the attack.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
In Making Battles in the Sand!, Ash's Riolu got confused after a Trainer's Octillery used Psybeam on it during a World Coronation Series battle, giving Octillery the chance to Wrap around Riolu and defeat it with a single Octazooka.
In Healing the Healer!, a Pokémon hunter's Garbodor got confused after Goh had his newly-caught Drowzee use Psybeam on it. However, it seemed to have gotten over its confusion when it launched a Sludge Bomb at Goh's Cinderace.
In Thrash of the Titans!, Iris's Haxorus became confused after using Outrage and smacked his head into the ground. However, it was revealed that he did this to snap out of his confusion. The same thing happened again in The Fiery Road to Mastership!.
In Battling in the Freezing Raid!, an Articuno became confused after Gary's Umbreon used Confuse Ray on it during a Raid Battle, but not before the Freezing Pokémon knocked it out with Sheer Cold. However, it snapped out of it after getting hit by attacks from Goh's Cinderace and Ash's Lucario.
In Narrowing the Chaser Chase!, Sterling's Vikavolt and Lyla's Liepard were confused by a Confuse Ray from Horace's Gardevoir, leaving them open to be defeated by Goh's Inteleon soon after.
Gallery
Confusion in the original series
Confusion in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
Confusion in Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
Confusion in Pokémon the Series: Black & White
Confusion in Pokémon the Series: XY
Confusion in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
Confusion in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Yellow arc
In Punching Poliwrath, Misty had her Goldeen use Supersonic to confuse all of Agatha's Ghost-type Pokémon.
In Take a Chance on Chansey, Agatha's Gengar got confused after a younger Professor Oak had his Kangaskhan named Kanga use Dizzy Punch on it*.
Gold, Silver & Crystal arc
In Who Gives a Hoothoot?, Gold has his Aipom, nicknamed Aibo, use Swagger on a Bird Keeper's Hoothoot, confusing the latter.
In Stantler by Me, Aibo got confused after Professor Oak had his Stantler, Antch, use Confuse Ray on him.
In Gligar Glide, Gold's newly-hatched Togepi, Togebo, used Supersonic via Metronome to confuse and incapacitate a wild Gligar that was trying to eat him as an Egg.
In Irked Igglybuff and Curmudgeonly Cleffa, Suicune got confused after Whitney had her Cleffa, Fafa, and her Igglybuff, Buff Buff, use Sweet Kiss on it. This allowed Whitney's Miltank, Mil Mil, to hit the Aurora Pokémon with Rollout.
Emerald arc
In Interesting Interactions Involving Illumise, Emerald's rental Skarmory got confused after the Battle Factory's Illumise used Flatter on him, forcing Emerald to recall Skarmory and send his rental Rhyhorn out in its place.
In Sneaky Like Shedinja, Greta's Umbreon confused Emerald's Dusclops with Confuse Ray, causing Emerald to lose the round five to one.
Diamond & Pearl arc
In A Conk on Cranidos's Cranium, during Platinum's Gym battle with Roark, Platinum's Piplup confused Roark's Cranidos with a Water Pulse, causing him to hurt himself in confusion and knock himself out, winning Platinum the battle.
In Well Met, Weepinbell, Diamond's Lickilicky, Kit, was confused by a Water Pulse from each of Sebastian's two Chinchou after his Weepinbell had used Gastro Acid to negate Kit's Own Tempo Ability.
Platinum arc
In Getting the Drop on Gallade II, during her Trainer's Battle Castle challenge, Platinum's Lopunny managed to not only confuse Darach's Gallade with a Dizzy Punch, but also managed to infatuate him with her Cute Charm Ability before fainting. This allowed Empoleon to finish him off with a Drill Peck and give Platinum her first victory in the Battle Frontier.
Sword & Shield arc
In PASS18, during Casey's Gym battle with Opal, the latter's Gigantamax Alcremie confused Tera, Casey's Gigantamax Toxtricity, with a G-Max Finale*. This caused Tera to hurt itself in confusion and knock itself out, thus losing Casey the match and eliminating her from the Gym Challenge.
In the TCG
In the Trading Card Game, Confusion, called Confused, is one of the five Special Conditions along with Poisoned, Burned, Asleep, and Paralyzed. If a Pokémon is Confused, its card must be turned upside-down. If it tries to attack, the player must flip a coin. If the coin is heads, the attack proceeds as planned. However, if the coin lands on tails, three damage counters are placed on the Pokémon and the turn ends. Unless replaced by Asleep or Paralyzed, the Pokémon remains Confused unless retreat or other action is taken (such as the use of a Trainer card).
The current description of Confused was introduced in 2003 with the release of EX Ruby & Sapphire. Originally, the Confused Pokémon would attack itself for 20 damage on a tails. As well as that, if a Pokémon tried to retreat, the required Energy had to be discarded first, before flipping a coin to see if the retreat was successful. If it was not, the Pokémon could not retrieve the Energy cards. As of the current revision of the condition, any Confused Pokémon can retreat without having to take any additional action.
Trivia
- In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, a Ninja Boy on Route 211 erroneously states that confusion only wears off if the Pokémon is switched out.
- All moves that leave the user confused due to fatigue—Thrash, Petal Dance, Outrage, and Raging Fury—have had a base power of 90 at some point in time before being boosted to 120.
In other languages
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| Status conditions | |||
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| BURN | FREEZE | PARALYSIS | POISON |
| SLEEP | CONFUSION | FLINCH | FAINTING |
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
