Whirlpool (move)

Whirlpool うずしお Whirl Tide

Battles Type  Water Category  Special PP  15 (max. 24) Power  35 Accuracy  85% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by King's Rock Usable outside of battle

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation II HM06 in Generation II HM05 in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ Jam  0   Temporarily stops the crowd from growing excited.

Super Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  0   Earn a higher score the later the Pokémon performs.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Beauty Appeal  0   Jamming  0

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

Whirlpool (Japanese: うずしお Whirl Tide) is a damage-dealing Water-type move introduced in Generation II. It was the first HM move to lose its HM status. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, it regained its HM status (though as HM05 rather than HM06), only to lose it once again with the introduction of Generation V.

Effect

Generation II

In battle

Whirlpool inflicts 1/16 of the target's maximum HP as damage for two to five turns upon use, in addition to the damage dealt when it is used. The quote "<Pokémon> was trapped!" will appear. It also traps the target, preventing switching and escape. If a trapped Pokémon uses Rapid Spin, it will be freed.

Whirlpool has a power of 15 and an accuracy of 70.

Outside of battle

Whirlpool clears whirlpools in the field while surfing.

Generation III

The effects of Whirlpool are the same as in Generation II, but if a wild Pokémon uses Whirlpool on the player's Pokémon, the player may escape if the affected Pokémon has Run Away or is holding a Smoke Ball. However, these do not allow the player to switch the Pokémon out. The text also changes to "<Pokémon> was trapped in the vortex!".

Generation IV

In Generation IV, if the user of Whirlpool is holding a Grip Claw, the duration will always be 5 turns. Also, if an affected Pokémon is holding a Shed Shell, it can switch out.

Outside of battle

Returned to HM status in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Whirlpool allows the user to cross whirlpools on the field, instead of clearing them away as it did in Generation II. The reason for this is unknown, but presumably, it could be to differentiate it from Rock Smash in terms of field effects.

Generation V

Whirlpool's power and accuracy were increased to 35 and 85 respectively, and now lasts for four to five turns. In addition, if the user of Whirlpool is holding a Binding Band, it inflicts 1/8 of the target's maximum HP instead of 1/16 when the target is trapped.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

Whirlpool has a 10% chance of inflicting the Constriction status condition on an opponent. The damage done by Whirlpool is doubled if the target is under the Diving status condition.

Description

Games Description Lasts two to five turns. Foe becomes trapped in a vortex, making it impossible to switch. Traps the foe for 2-5 turns. RSE Traps and hurts the foe in a whirlpool for 2 to 5 turns. Traps and hurts target in a whirlpool for 2 to 5 turns. FRLG The foe is trapped in a fast, vicious whirlpool for two to five turns. The user traps the foe inside a fast, vicious whirlpool that lasts for two to five turns. Traps the foe inside a whirlpool that lasts for two to five turns. The user can pass through whirlpools.* Traps foes in a violent swirling whirlpool. It can also be used to traverse whirlpools.* Traps foes in a violent swirling whirlpool for four to five turns. The user traps the target in a violent swirling whirlpool for four to five turns.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
090		Shellder	Water		Water							37				40			'
258		Mudkip	Water		Water				33			33				33			'
320		Wailmer	Water		Water				19			14				14			'
321		Wailord	Water		Water				19			14				14			'
366		Clamperl	Water		Water				--			--				--			'
367		Huntail	Water		Water				--			--				--			'
368		Gorebyss	Water		Water				--			--				--			'
393		Piplup	Water		Water							32				32			'
394		Prinplup	Water		Water							37				37			'
395		Empoleon	Water	Steel							39				39			'
418		Buizel	Water		Water							36				36	31	'
419		Floatzel	Water		Water							39				39	35	'
456		Finneon	Water		Water							38				38			'
457		Lumineon	Water		Water							42				42			'
489		Phione	Water		Water							39				39			'
490		Manaphy	Water		Water							39				39			'
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 HM

#	Pokémon		Type		Machine
					I --		II HM06		III --		IV HM05		V --		VI --
007		Squirtle	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
008		Wartortle	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
009		Blastoise	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
031		Nidoqueen	Poison	Ground								✔				✔
034		Nidoking	Poison	Ground								✔				✔
054		Psyduck	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
055		Golduck	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
060		Poliwag	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
061		Poliwhirl	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
062		Poliwrath	Water	Fighting	✔							✔				✔
072		Tentacool	Water	Poison	✔							✔				✔
073		Tentacruel	Water	Poison	✔							✔				✔
079		Slowpoke	Water	Psychic								✔				✔
080		Slowbro	Water	Psychic								✔				✔
086		Seel	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
087		Dewgong	Water	Ice	✔							✔				✔
090		Shellder	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
091		Cloyster	Water	Ice	✔							✔				✔
098		Krabby	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
099		Kingler	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
108		Lickitung	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
112		Rhydon	Ground	Rock								✔				✔
115		Kangaskhan	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
116		Horsea	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
117		Seadra	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
118		Goldeen	Water		Water								✔				✔
119		Seaking	Water		Water								✔				✔
120		Staryu	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
121		Starmie	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
128		Tauros	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
130		Gyarados	Water	Flying	✔							✔				✔
131		Lapras	Water	Ice	✔							✔				✔
134		Vaporeon	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
138		Omanyte	Rock	Water	✔							✔				✔
139		Omastar	Rock	Water	✔							✔				✔
140		Kabuto	Rock	Water								✔				✔
141		Kabutops	Rock	Water	✔							✔				✔
143		Snorlax	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
147		Dratini	Dragon		Dragon								✔				✔
148		Dragonair	Dragon		Dragon								✔				✔
149		Dragonite	Dragon	Flying	✔							✔				✔
151		Mew	Psychic		Psychic	✔							✔				✔
158		Totodile	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
159		Croconaw	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
160		Feraligatr	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
161		Sentret	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
162		Furret	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
170		Chinchou	Water	Electric	✔							✔				✔
171		Lanturn	Water	Electric	✔							✔				✔
183		Marill	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
184		Azumarill	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
186		Politoed	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
194		Wooper	Water	Ground	✔							✔				✔
195		Quagsire	Water	Ground	✔							✔				✔
199		Slowking	Water	Psychic	✔							✔				✔
211		Qwilfish	Water	Poison	✔							✔				✔
215		Sneasel	Dark	Ice								✔				✔
222		Corsola	Water	Rock	✔							✔				✔
223		Remoraid	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
224		Octillery	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
226		Mantine	Water	Flying	✔							✔				✔
230		Kingdra	Water	Dragon	✔							✔				✔
241		Miltank	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
245		Suicune	Water		Water	✔							✔				✔
248		Tyranitar	Rock	Dark								✔				✔
249		Lugia	Psychic	Flying	✔							✔				✔
258		Mudkip	Water		Water								✔				✔
259		Marshtomp	Water	Ground								✔				✔
260		Swampert	Water	Ground								✔				✔
263		Zigzagoon	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
264		Linoone	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
270		Lotad	Water	Grass								✔				✔
271		Lombre	Water	Grass								✔				✔
272		Ludicolo	Water	Grass								✔				✔
279		Pelipper	Water	Flying								✔				✔
295		Exploud	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
296		Makuhita	Fighting		Fighting								✔				✔
297		Hariyama	Fighting		Fighting								✔				✔
298		Azurill	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
306		Aggron	Steel	Rock								✔				✔
318		Carvanha	Water	Dark								✔				✔
319		Sharpedo	Water	Dark								✔				✔
320		Wailmer	Water		Water								✔				✔
321		Wailord	Water		Water								✔				✔
339		Barboach	Water	Ground								✔				✔
340		Whiscash	Water	Ground								✔				✔
341		Corphish	Water		Water								✔				✔
342		Crawdaunt	Water	Dark								✔				✔
349		Feebas	Water		Water								✔				✔
350		Milotic	Water		Water								✔				✔
363		Spheal	Ice	Water								✔				✔
364		Sealeo	Ice	Water								✔				✔
365		Walrein	Ice	Water								✔				✔
366		Clamperl	Water		Water								✔				✔
367		Huntail	Water		Water								✔				✔
368		Gorebyss	Water		Water								✔				✔
369		Relicanth	Water	Rock								✔				✔
370		Luvdisc	Water		Water								✔				✔
380		Latias	Dragon	Psychic								✔				✔
381		Latios	Dragon	Psychic								✔				✔
382		Kyogre	Water		Water								✔				✔
384		Rayquaza	Dragon	Flying								✔				✔
393		Piplup	Water		Water								✔				✔
394		Prinplup	Water		Water								✔				✔
395		Empoleon	Water	Steel								✔				✔
400		Bibarel	Normal	Water								✔				✔
409		Rampardos	Rock		Rock								✔				✔
418		Buizel	Water		Water								✔				✔
419		Floatzel	Water		Water								✔				✔
422		Shellos	Water		Water								✔				✔
423		Gastrodon	Water	Ground								✔				✔
445		Garchomp	Dragon	Ground								✔				✔
446		Munchlax	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
456		Finneon	Water		Water								✔				✔
457		Lumineon	Water		Water								✔				✔
458		Mantyke	Water	Flying								✔				✔
461		Weavile	Dark	Ice								✔				✔
463		Lickilicky	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
464		Rhyperior	Ground	Rock								✔				✔
484		Palkia	Water	Dragon								✔				✔
489		Phione	Water		Water								✔				✔
490		Manaphy	Water		Water								✔				✔
493		Arceus	Normal		Normal								✔				✔
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
131		Lapras	Water	Ice
138		Omanyte	Rock	Water
170		Chinchou	Water	Electric
258		Mudkip	Water		Water
339		Barboach	Water	Ground
550		Basculin	Water		Water
564		Tirtouga	Water	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.

In the anime

Lugia Floatzel Piplup Gyarados
The user traps the foe inside a fast, vicious whirlpool. It appears much stronger than in the games.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Lugia dives in the water and its eyes glow white. Then, it spins around and raises up to the surface. As it goes above the water, the whirlpool turns into a cyclone.
Lugia (M02)	The Power of One		Debut
	Mantine spins around the opponent quickly while underwater, creating a whirlpool.
Molly Hale's Mantine	Spell of the Unown		None
	Rhydon dives underwater, faces the opponent, and spins its horn like a drill, creating a whirlpool that sucks up the opponent.
Pietra's Rhydon	Right On, Rhydon!		None
	Gyarados swims around the opponent quickly and creates a whirlpool, or Gyarados points its tail at the opponent and waves it around in circles, creating a whirlpool.
Misty's Gyarados	Cerulean Blues		None
A wild Gyarados	Sandshrew's Locker!		None
	Piplup's body glows a blueish-white color and it raises its arms and beak to the air. It then opens its beak and a huge whirlpool comes out of it and forms above Piplup. Piplup then throws the whirlpool at the opponent. While in the water, Piplup's body glows multicolored, and a whirlpool forms around it, or Piplup spins its body and glowing white water appears and forms around Piplup's body. The water's glow fades and spins with Piplup, turning into a whirlpool. Piplup then spins into the opponent. Piplup can also change the size of the whirlpool by choice. When Piplup is near the water, after it forms the whirlpool, it throws it at the water in front of the opponent, creating a large water vortex that sucks the opponent up.
Dawn's Piplup	Getting the Pre-Contest Titters!		None
Piplup of Team Poképals	Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness		None
	Floatzel raises its arms and a large whirlpool appears above its head. Floatzel then throws the whirlpool at the opponent.
Crasher Wake's Floatzel	A Crasher Course in Power!		None
Kenny's Floatzel	Last Call - First Round!		None

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Gyarados Azumarill Politoed Lugia
The user waves their arms and a giant wave of water appears out of nowhere and swallows up the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Politoed waves its arms and a giant wave of water appears out of nowhere on both sides of the opponent and swallows it up.
Gold's Polibo	Ampharos Amore		Debut
	Azumarill jumps into the air and a stream of water comes out from the side of its body and swirls around the opponent.
The Pokémon Association's Azumarill	Forretress of Solitude		None
	While underwater, Lugia swims underneath the opponent and a large whirlpool appears above it, sucking in the opponent.
The Masked Man's Lugia	Really Remoraid		None
	Gyarados spins its body around while facing its head up. A stream of water then spirals around its body, calming all waves in the water around it.
Silver's Gyarados	Curious Kingdra		None

In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga

Empoleon
The user forms a swirling giant wave which swallows up the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Empoleon attacks the foe with a swirling giant wave.
Hareta's Empoleon	Look for Giratina!		Debut

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team manga

Mudkip
The user forms a whirlpool.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Mudkip shoots a spray of water and forms a swirl that traps the foe.
A wild Mudkip	Why I Became a Pokémon. The Answer Finally Revealed!!		Debut

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Mudkip
The user spins around and forms a spinning whirlpool.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Mudkip spins around and forms a spinning whirlpool.
Professor Birch's Mudkip	I Won't Let You Lead!!		Debut

In other generations

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Outside of battle

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	BW	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

• Although it is the first of three moves to lose HM status, it is also the first former HM to regain that status.
  • This makes it the first HM move teachable by two separate HMs: HM06 in Generation II, and HM05 in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
• If a player teaches a Pokémon Whirlpool by HM in HeartGold and SoulSilver and trades it to Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum, the Pokémon can be freely imported to Black and White via the Poké Transfer, due to Whirlpool not being needed outside of battle in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. The same can be done with Defog by transferring a Pokémon that learned it by HM in Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum to HeartGold or SoulSilver.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 潮旋 Cháoxuán Dutch Draaikolk Finnish Poreallas* French Siphon German Whirlpool Greek Δίνη Hindi पानी का भवर Paani Ki Bhanwar भवंडर Bawandar Indonesian Pusaran Air Italian Mulinello Korean 바다회오리 Bada Hoe'ori Polish Wir wodny Portuguese Brazil Redemoinho Portugal Redemoinho d'água Romanian Vâltoarea Serbian Vodeni Vrtlog Spanish Latin America Remolino Spain Torbellino

Variations of the move Fire Spin
Clamp • Sand Tomb Fire Spin • Whirlpool

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.