Absorb (move)

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If you were looking for the skill in Pokémon Shuffle, see Skill (Shuffle) → Absorb.
Absorb
すいとる Absorb
Type  Grass
Category  Special
PP  25 (max. 40)
Power  20
Accuracy  100%
Priority  0
Range
Opponent Opponent Opponent
Self Ally Ally
Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Smart
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  3 ♥♥♥
Startles the Pokémon that appealed before the user.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  1
Earn +3 if two Pokémon raise the Voltage in a row.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  4 ♥♥♥♥
Jamming  0  
Quite an appealing move.

Absorb (Japanese: すいとる Absorb) is a damage-dealing Grass-type move introduced in Generation I.

It is the first in a line of three Grass-type HP-draining attacks, the other two being Mega Drain and Giga Drain.

Effect

Generations I and II

Absorb inflicts damage, and up to 50% of the damage dealt to the target is restored to the user as HP (but not less than 1 HP), restoring up to the Pokémon's maximum HP. Absorb has 20 PP.

In the localized versions of the Generation I games, if Absorb breaks a substitute, no HP will be restored to the user. In the Japanese version of Generation I games, and all versions of the Pokémon Stadium series and Generation II games, Absorb will always miss if the target has a substitute.

Generation III

Absorb will now properly heal the user when damaging a substitute, even if it was broken. When used on a Pokémon with the Liquid Ooze Ability, the user will lose the amount of HP it would have gained instead.

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

Absorb is no longer affected by King's Rock.

Generation IV

Absorb's PP is increased to 25. If the user is holding a Big Root, the HP restored is increased by 30% (making the restored HP 65% of the damage dealt). Big Root does not increase the damage dealt.

Generation V

Absorb is now affected by King's Rock.

Generation VI

Absorb cannot be used if the user is under the effects of Heal Block.

Generation VII

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Absorb's power was changed from 20 to 40, while its PP was reduced to 15.

Generation VIII onwards

Absorb's power was changed back to 20, and its PP back to 25.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Category  Special
PP  20
Agile Strong
Power  30  20  40
Accuracy  100%  100%  100%
Action speed modifier
Self  0  0  +5
Target  0  +3  0
Additional effect
Heal  50%  50%  75%
   ?  ?
   ?  ?
Restores the user's HP by a percentage of damage dealt

Description

Games Description
StadStad2 A Grass-type attack. It adds half the HP it drained from the target to the attacker's HP.
GSC Steals 1/2 of the damage inflicted.
RSEColoXD An attack that absorbs half the damage inflicted.
FRLG An attack that absorbs half the damage it inflicted to restore HP.
DPPtHGSSPBR
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
SwShBDSP
A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by half the damage taken by the target.
LA The user attacks by draining the target’s nutrients. Some of the damage dealt to the target is absorbed by the user to restore their own HP.
SV A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by up to half the damage taken by the target.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0041 Zubat
Flying Flying 1 1 1 1 1
0042 Golbat
Flying Flying 1 1 1 1 1
0043 Oddish
Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0044 Gloom
Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0045 Vileplume
Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1
0046 Paras
Bug Grass 11 9 11 1
0047 Parasect
Bug Grass 1, 11 9 1, 11 1
0102 Exeggcute
Grass Grass 1 1 1
0103 Exeggutor
Grass Grass 1 1 1
0103 Exeggutor
Exeggutor
Alolan Form

Grass Grass 1 1
0114 Tangela Grass Grass 29RGB
27Y
10 10 8 8BW
10B2W2
10 10 1 1 1 1
0140 Kabuto
Water 1 Water 3 34 10 13 6 6 6 6 18 1 1
0141 Kabutops
Water 1 Water 3 1, 34 1, 10 1, 13 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6 1, 18 1 1
0167 Spinarak
Bug Bug 5 5 5
0168 Ariados
Bug Bug 1, 5 1, 5 1
0169 Crobat
Flying Flying 1 1 1
0182 Bellossom Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1
0187 Hoppip
Fairy Grass 1USUM 1 6
0188 Skiploom
Fairy Grass 1USUM 1 1
0189 Jumpluff
Fairy Grass 1USUM 1 1
0191 Sunkern Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 7
0192 Sunflora Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 7
0252 Treecko Monster Dragon 6 6 6 6XY
5ORAS
5
0253 Grovyle Monster Dragon 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6XY
1, 5ORAS
1, 5
0254 Sceptile Monster Dragon 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6XY
1, 5ORAS
1, 5
0267 Beautifly
Bug Bug 1, 10 1, 10 1, 10 1, 10XY
12ORAS
12 12
0270 Lotad
Water 1 Grass 7 5 5 5XY
6ORAS
6 3 3 3
0271 Lombre
Water 1 Grass 7 5 5 5XY
6ORAS
6 1 1 1
0272 Ludicolo
Water 1 Grass 1 1 1 Rem.
0273 Seedot Field Grass 3 3 3
0274 Nuzleaf
Field Grass 1 1 1
0275 Shiftry
Field Grass 1 1 Rem.
0285 Shroomish Fairy Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0286 Breloom
Fairy Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0290 Nincada
Bug Bug 5 21 21
0291 Ninjask
Bug Bug 1, 5 23 23
0292 Shedinja
Mineral Mineral 1, 5 23 23
0315 Roselia
Fairy Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6
0331 Cacnea Grass Human-Like 5 5 5 5XY
4ORAS
4 4 4
0332 Cacturne
Grass Human-Like 1, 5 1, 5 1, 5 1, 5XY
1, 4ORAS
1, 4 1, 4 1
0355 Duskull Amorphous Amorphous 1
0356 Dusclops Amorphous Amorphous 1
0387 Turtwig Monster Grass 9 9 9 9 9
0388 Grotle Monster Grass 9 9 9 1, 9 1 1
0389 Torterra
Monster Grass 1, 9 1, 9 1, 9 1, 9 1 1
0401 Kricketot Bug Bug 1
0402 Kricketune Bug Bug 14 14 1 14
0406 Budew
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1 1 1 1 1 1 6
0407 Roserade
Fairy Grass 1 1 6
0420 Cherubi Fairy Grass 1
0421 Cherrim Fairy Grass 1
0455 Carnivine Grass Grass 1
0465 Tangrowth Grass Grass 8 8BW
10B2W2
10 10 1 1 1
0477 Dusknoir Amorphous Amorphous 1
0546 Cottonee
Grass Fairy 1 1 1 1 1
0547 Whimsicott
Grass Fairy 1 1
0548 Petilil Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1 1
0549 Lilligant Grass Grass 1 1
0549 Lilligant
Lilligant
Hisuian Form

Grass Grass 1 1
0556 Maractus Grass Grass 1 1 1 1
0590 Foongus
Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1
0591 Amoonguss
Grass Grass 1 1 1 1 1
0592 Frillish
Frillish
All forms

Amorphous Amorphous 5 5 5 1
0593 Jellicent
Jellicent
All forms

Amorphous Amorphous 1, 5 1, 5 1, 5 1
0595 Joltik
Bug Bug 1 1 1
0596 Galvantula
Bug Bug 1 1 1
0616 Shelmet Bug Bug 1 1
0617 Accelgor Bug Bug 1 1
0636 Larvesta
Bug Bug 10
0637 Volcarona
Bug Bug 1, 10
0704 Goomy Dragon Dragon 5 5 1 1
0705 Sliggoo Dragon Dragon 5 1, 5 1 1
0705 Sliggoo
Sliggoo
Hisuian Form

Dragon Dragon 1
0706 Goodra Dragon Dragon 5 1, 5 1 1
0706 Goodra
Goodra
Hisuian Form

Dragon Dragon 1
0714 Noibat
Flying Dragon 5 1 1
0715 Noivern
Flying Dragon 1, 5 1 1
0742 Cutiefly
Bug Fairy 1 1 1
0743 Ribombee
Bug Fairy 1 1 1
0755 Morelull
Grass Grass 1 1
0756 Shiinotic
Grass Grass 1 1
0769 Sandygast
Amorphous Amorphous 1 1 1
0770 Palossand
Amorphous Amorphous 1 1 1
0781 Dhelmise
Mineral Mineral 1 1
0797 Celesteela
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1 1
0928 Smoliv
Grass Grass 5
0929 Dolliv
Grass Grass 5
0930 Arboliva
Grass Grass 5
0946 Bramblin
Grass Grass 5
0947 Brambleghast
Grass Grass 5
0948 Toedscool
Grass Grass 4
0949 Toedscruel
Grass Grass 4
0986 Brute Bonnet
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1
1001 Wo-Chien
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1
1012 Poltchageist
Poltchageist
All forms

Mineral Amorphous 6
1013 Sinistcha
Sinistcha
All forms

Mineral Amorphous 6
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
0252 Treecko Monster Dragon
0636 Larvesta
Bug Bug
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 event

Generation II

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0231 Phanpy Field Field New York City Pokémon Center
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

Absorb deals damage and 50% of the damage dealt is restored to the user as HP. In Adventure Squad only, the move heals by 20% of dealt damage instead. In Gates to Infinity only, the user will heal based on how much HP the target lost, and excess damage is not accounted for. The move is affected by the Muzzle status condition in the Rescue Team, Explorers, and Adventure Squad series.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB 1 - 18 - 88% - Front Enemy No
MDTDS 1 - 15 - 88% - Front Enemy No
BSL 1 - 15 - 88% - Front Enemy No
MDGtI 2 19 18 50 95% 98% Front Enemy No
SMD 2 99 18 40 95% 98% Front Enemy No
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Pokémon Conquest

 
>
 
Stars: ★
Power: 20
Accuracy: 100%
Effect: It heals the attacking Pokémon of 50% of the damage inflicted.
If the Pokémon has a 100% link with their Warrior, it heals 66% of the damage inflicted.
Users: Treecko   Cottonee
Grid assumes the user is in the square marked by > facing to the right.
Orange squares indicate spaces that are hit.
Red squares indicate the knockback on hit Pokémon.
A blue square indicates the user's position after performing the move.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

Absorb
★★
Attack power 32.41483
Charge time 0.62 seconds
Range type Arc (melee)
Number of hits 1
Number of projectiles 1
Critical hit rate 1.5%
Additional effect Drains HP

Pokémon Masters EX

•Description of addition effect(s) prior to Version 2.10.0: Restores the user's HP based on the amount of damage dealt to the target.

Description

Games Description
MDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It also restores the user's HP based on the damage it inflicted.
MDTDS Inflicts damage on the target, then restores the user's HP based on the damage inflicted.
BSL てきポケモンに ダメージをあたえる あたえたダメージに おうじて じぶんの HPが かいふくする
Conq. A nutrient-draining attack. The user's HP is restored by half the damage taken by the target.
MDGtI
SMD
MDRTDX
It damages an enemy. It also restores your HP. The greater the damage it causes, the more HP it restores.


In the anime

Pokémon the Series


Tangrowth

Shroomish

Bellsprout
A nutrient-draining attack that absorbs the opponent's energy and adds it to the user.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Tangrowth Tangrowth holds out its arms and fires two red beams from them at the opponent. When the opponent is hit, its body glows red and it drains its energy. Sometimes, the red parts of its hands glow red before it fires the beams.
A wild Tangrowth Promoting Healthy Tangrowth! Debut
Shroomish Shroomish releases a red beam from the hole on its head at the opponent. When hit, the opponent's body glows red and it absorbs its energy.
A wild Shroomish Promoting Healthy Tangrowth! None
Bellsprout Bellsprout releases two red beams from the leaves on the side of its body at the opponent. When it hits it, the opponent's body glows red and it absorbs its energy.
A wild Bellsprout Promoting Healthy Tangrowth! Bellsprout cannot legally learn Absorb


Pokémon: Path to the Peak



The user drains energy from the target.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Gloom Gloom sends a green orb from the target to itself, restoring some of its health.
Ava's Gloom Regionals Debut


In the manga

Pokémon Adventures


  • Diamond's Turtwig, Tru, was revealed to know Absorb on the official web site, but he was never shown using the move.

Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master!


Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!!


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 吸取 Kāpchéui *
吸收 Kāpsāu *
Mandarin 吸取 Xīqǔ *
吸收 Xīshōu *
Czech Vstřebání
Danish Opsuge
Dutch Absorbeer
French Vole-VieVIII+
Vol-VieIVII
German Absorber
Greek Απορρόφηση Aporrófisi
Italian Assorbimento
Korean 흡수 Heupsu
Polish Absorpcja
Portuguese Brazil Absorção (GO, TCG, manga)
Absorver (anime, The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Portugal Absorção
Romanian Absorbirea
Serbian Apsorpcija
Spanish Latin America Absorción
Spain Absorber
Thai ดูดซับ
Turkish Emiş
Vietnamese Hấp Thụ


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.