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 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  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

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 target's Defense stat by one stage.

Tail Whip hits both opponents in a Double Battle. In a Triple Battle, Tail Whip will only hit opposing adjacent Pokémon.

Description

Games Description A move that lower the target's Defense. Useful against tough, armored Pokémon. Lowers the foe's Defense. RSE Wags the tail to lower the foe's Defense. FRLG The user wags its tail cutely, making the foe lower its Defense stat. PMDRB Lowers the target's Defense by one level. The user wags its tail cutely, making the foe less wary. The target's Defense stat is lowered. PMDTDS Reduces the target's Defense by 1 level. The user wags its tail cutely, making opposing Pokémon less wary and lowering their Defense stat.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
007		Squirtle	Water		Water	--			4			4			4				4			'
008		Wartortle	Water		Water	--			--, 4			--, 4			--, 4				--, 4			'
009		Blastoise	Water		Water	--			--, 4			--, 4			--, 4				--, 4			'
019		Rattata	Normal		Normal	--			--			--			--				--			'
020		Raticate	Normal		Normal	--			--			--			--				--			'
025		Pikachu	Electric		Electric		6	6			6			5				5			'
029		Nidoran♀	Poison		Poison	21	23	23			8			8				7			'
030		Nidorina	Poison		Poison	23	27	27			8			8				7			'
031		Nidoqueen	Poison	Ground	--			--			--			--				--			'
037		Vulpix	Fire		Fire	--			--			5			4				4			'
038		Ninetales	Fire		Fire	--																'
054		Psyduck	Water		Water	28			5			5			5				5	4	'
055		Golduck	Water		Water	28			--, 5			--, 5			--, 5				--, 5	--, 4	'
077		Ponyta	Fire		Fire	30			8			9			10		6	4			'
078		Rapidash	Fire		Fire	--, 30			--, 8			--, 9			--, 10		--, 6	--, 4			'
104		Cubone	Ground		Ground		13	5			5			3				3			'
105		Marowak	Ground		Ground		13	--, 5			--, 5			--, 3				--, 3			'
111		Rhyhorn	Ground	Rock	35			--			--			--				--			'
112		Rhydon	Ground	Rock	--			--			--			--				--			'
113		Chansey	Normal		Normal		--	9			5			5				5			'
115		Kangaskhan	Normal		Normal	31			19			13			10				10			'
118		Goldeen	Water		Water	--			--			--			--				--			'
119		Seaking	Water		Water	--			--			--			--				--			'
128		Tauros	Normal		Normal	28			4			4	--	3				3			'
133		Eevee	Normal		Normal	31	--	--			--			--				--			'
134		Vaporeon	Water		Water	37	--	--			--			--				--			'
135		Jolteon	Electric		Electric	37	--	--			--			--				--			'
136		Flareon	Fire		Fire	37	--	--			--			--				--			'
172		Pichu	Electric		Electric				6			6			5				5			'
183		Marill	Water		Water				6			6			7				7	2	'
184		Azumarill	Water		Water				--, 6			--, 6			--, 7				--, 7	--, 2	'
187		Hoppip	Grass	Flying				5			5			7				7			6
188		Skiploom	Grass	Flying				--, 5			--, 5			--, 7				--, 7			'
189		Jumpluff	Grass	Flying				--, 5			--, 5			--, 7				--, 7			'
190		Aipom	Normal		Normal				--			--			--				--			'
194		Wooper	Water	Ground				--			--			--				--			'
195		Quagsire	Water	Ground				--			--			--				--			'
196		Espeon	Psychic		Psychic				--			--			--				--			'
197		Umbreon	Dark		Dark				--			--			--				--			'
209		Snubbull	Normal		Normal				4			4			--				--			'
210		Granbull	Normal		Normal				4			4			--				--			'
242		Blissey	Normal		Normal				7			4			5				5			'
263		Zigzagoon	Normal		Normal							5			5				5			5
264		Linoone	Normal		Normal							--, 5			--, 5				--, 5			'
298		Azurill	Normal		Normal							6			7				7	2	'
300		Skitty	Normal		Normal							3			3				3			'
352		Kecleon	Normal		Normal							--			--				--			'
424		Ambipom	Normal		Normal										--				--			'
464		Rhyperior	Ground	Rock										--				--			'
470		Leafeon	Grass		Grass										--				--			'
471		Glaceon	Ice		Ice										--				--			'
498		Tepig	Fire		Fire														3			'
499		Pignite	Fire	Fighting														--, 3			'
500		Emboar	Fire	Fighting														--, 3			'
501		Oshawott	Water		Water														5			'
502		Dewott	Water		Water														--, 5			'
503		Samurott	Water		Water														--, 5			'
522		Blitzle	Electric		Electric														4			'
523		Zebstrika	Electric		Electric														--, 4			'
587		Emolga	Electric	Flying														7			'
653		Fennekin	Fire		Fire																	--
654		Braixen	Fire		Fire																	--
655		Delphox	Fire		Fire																	--
672		Skiddo	Grass		Grass																	--
673		Gogoat	Grass		Grass																	--
676		Furfrou	Normal		Normal																	15
690		Skrelp	Poison	Water																	9
691		Dragalge	Poison	Dragon																	9
694		Helioptile	Electric	Normal																	--
696		Tyrunt	Rock	Dragon																	--
697		Tyrantrum	Rock	Dragon																	--
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
052		Meowth*	Normal		Normal
417		Pachirisu	Electric		Electric	no
431		Glameow	Normal		Normal
572		Minccino	Normal		Normal	no
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

Psyduck Marill
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
	Azumarill hits opponent with its tail.
Officer Jenny's Azumarill	The Pirates of Decolore!		None

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Vulpix Golduck Rhyhorn
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	The Final Showdown II		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 the Pokémon Zensho manga

The user wags its tail.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Nidoqueen turns around and waves its tail back and forth in the air.
Giovanni's Nidoqueen	Saffron City		Debut

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, 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

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 搖尾巴 Yáo Wěiba Danish Halepisk Dutch Kwispel Finnish Pyrstölyönti French Mimi-Queue German Rutenschlag Greek Λίκνισμα Ουράς Italian Colpocoda Korean 꼬리흔들기 Kkori Heundeulgi Brazilian Portuguese Chicote de Cauda Serbian Bičevanje Repom Spanish Látigo

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.