Icicle Spear (move)

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Icicle Spear つららばり Icicle Needle

Battles Type  Ice Category  Physical PP  30 (max. 48) Power  25 Accuracy  100% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by King's Rock

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

Availability Introduced  Generation III Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  1 ♥ Startles Pokémon that made a same-type appeal.

Super Contests Condition  Beauty Appeal  2 ♥♥ Allows performance of the same move twice in a row.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Beautiful Appeal  1 ♥ Jamming  0   Effectiveness varies depending on when it is used.

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

Icicle Spear (Japanese: つららばり Icicle Needle) is a damage-dealing Ice-type multi-strike move introduced in Generation III. Prior to Generation V, it was the signature move of Shellder.

Effect

Generation III

Icicle Spear inflicts damage, hitting the target 2-5 times per use. There is a 37.5% chance that it will hit 2 times, a 37.5% chance that it will hit 3 times, a 12.5% chance that it will hit 4 times, and a 12.5% chance that it will hit 5 times. Provided that the move does not miss, it will hit 3 times on average, giving it an average power of 30. Each strike made has an equal chance to be a critical hit.

Icicle Spear may continue attacking after breaking a substitute. Bide and Mirror Coat will only acknowledge the last strike of this move.

If the user is holding a King's Rock, each consecutive hit has an equal chance to cause the opponent to flinch.

Icicle Spear can also be used as part of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining extra two appeal points if move Hail was used in the prior turn.

Generation IV

Pokémon with the Ability Skill Link will always hit five times when using Icicle Spear unless it misses. Due to being now classified as a physical move, Icicle Spear is affected by Counter instead of Mirror Coat.

Generation V

Icicle Spear's base power increased from 10 to 25. There is now a ~33.3% chance that it will hit 2 times, a ~33.3% chance it will hit 3 times, a ~16.7% chance it will hit 4 times, and a ~16.7% chance it will hit 5 times. Provided that the move does not miss, it will hit ~3.167 times on average, giving it an average power of ~79.2.

If a Focus Sash, Focus Band, or Sturdy activates before the last strike is dealt, the following strike will cause the defending Pokémon to faint. A Focus Band can still activate repeatedly to prevent fainting, but each chance is independent of the previous one.

If the target has Weak Armor, each strike will activate it.

Description

Games Description RSE Attacks the foe by firing 2 to 5 icicles in a row. FRLG Sharp icicles are fired at the foe. It strikes two to five times. ColoXD Attacks target by firing 2 to 5 icicles in a row. DPPtHGSSPBR The user launches sharp icicles at the foe. It strikes two to five times in a row. BWB2W2 The user launches sharp icicles at the target. It strikes two to five times in a row. XYORAS SM The user launches sharp icicles at the target two to five times in a row.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
028A		Sandslash Alola Form		Field		Field					1, Evo.
0090		Shellder		Water 3		Water 3	8FRLG	13	13	13	13
0582		Vanillite		Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1
0583		Vanillish		Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1
0584		Vanilluxe		Mineral		Mineral			1	1	1
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	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
027A		Sandshrew Alola Form		Field		Field					✔
0086		Seel		Water 1	Field	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0090		Shellder		Water 3		Water 3	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0220		Swinub		Field		Field	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0222		Corsola		Water 1	Water 3	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
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.

Special move

Generation V

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0086		Seel		Water 1	Field	Dream World - Sparkling Sea
0220		Swinub		Field		Field	Dream World - Icy Cave
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 V

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0091		Cloyster		Water 3		Water 3	Winter Regional Championships 2013 Cloyster
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.

Generation VI

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0473		Mamoswine		Field		Field	Arash Ommati's Mamoswine
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

Description

Games Description MDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It hits two to five times in succession.

In the anime

Vanillish Shellder Vanillite
The user fires ice shaped like icicles at the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Shellder fires sharp, thin spear-shaped ice shards from its mouth at the opponent.
A Coordinator's Shellder	Old Rivals, New Tricks!		Debut
	Vanillite opens its mouth and the inside of it starts to glow light blue. It then releases multiple sharp, thin spear-shaped ice shards from its mouth at the opponent. As it does, a stream of cold air with white sparkles inside it is released as well.
Trip's Vanillite	Ash and Trip's Third Battle!		None
	Vanillish points the lower half of its body at the opponent and it starts to glow light blue. Vanillish then spins around and fires multiple icicles from the bottom of its body at the opponent.
Cryogonal Man's Vanillish	The Mighty Accelguard to the Rescue!		None
Brycen's Vanillish	Caution: Icy Battle Conditions!		None

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Shellder
The user releases four icicles from its body at the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Shellder releases four icicles from the black parts on its face above its mouth at the opponent. The icicles travel so fast that they leave behind a white trail where they shot.
Lorelei's Shellder	Bested by Banette		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

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

Spin-off series games

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

• This move is completely unavailable in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald and Pokémon Colosseum and XD without trading, as no Pokémon can learn it without breeding outside of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 冰錐 Bīngjēui * 冰針 Bīngjām * Mandarin 冰錐 / 冰锥 Bīngzhuī * 冰針 Bīngzhēn * Dutch IJsspeer French Stalagtite German Eisspeer Greek Παγολόγχη Indonesian Jarum Es Italian Gelolancia Korean 고드름침 Godoreum Chim Polish Strzała Lodu Portuguese Brazil Lança de Gelo Portugal Arpão de Gelo Lança de Gelo Serbian Ledenice Spanish Latin America Carámbano (BW031) Lanza de Hielo (BW067-present) Spain Carámbano Vietnamese Kim Băng (Anime) Băng Châm(Pokémon Special)

Variations of the move Bullet Seed
Bullet Seed • Icicle Spear

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.