Sleep (status condition)

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Goh's giant Magikarp sleeping in the anime

Sleep (Japanese: Sleeping) is a non-volatile status condition that causes a Pokémon to be unable to make a move. In the games, it is often abbreviated as SLP.

In the core series games

Effect

Sleep prevents Pokémon from making a move for a random number of its turns (unless it is put to sleep by Rest, in which case it always lasts 2 turns). The specifics vary between generations.

Sleeping Pokémon are vulnerable to Dream Eater, Nightmare, and Bad Dreams.

Generation I

Sleep lasts 1-7 turns (1-3 in the Stadium series); this counter is not reset upon switching out. A Pokémon cannot move on the turn it wakes up. In link battles, a Pokémon has a 1/4 chance to wake up in 1 turn and a 1/8 chance to wake up immediately or in 2-7 turns.

Generation II

Sleep now lasts 1-6 turns (1-3 in the Battle Tower). Starting this generation, a Pokémon is now capable of attacking after waking up.

A sleeping Pokémon can use Sleep Talk and Snore.

Roaming Pokémon do not flee while asleep.

In link battles, a Pokémon has a 1/4 chance to wake up in 1 turn or in 4 turns, and a 1/8 chance to wake up in each of the following turns: 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6.

Generation III

Sleep now lasts 1-4 turns. Using Snore or Sleep Talk while asleep increments the sleep counter like normal, but due to an oversight, the updates to the sleep counter by these two moves are not saved upon switching out, effectively being reset.

Roaming Pokémon may now flee while asleep.

Generation IV

Snore and Sleep Talk increment and update the sleep counter like normal.

Generation V

Sleep now lasts 1-3 turns. A Pokémon's sleep counter is now reset to its original amount when switched out (even if self-induced by Rest). Starting this generation, the animations of most Pokémon close their eyes and move more slowly while sleeping.

Generation VI onward

A Pokémon's sleep counter no longer resets to its original amount when switched out.

Generation IX

When Pokémon Scarlet and Violet first released, Pokémon did not close their eyes when inflicted with the sleep status condition. This was later fixed in an update.

Appearance

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Icons

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: missing LGPE icon
AsleepIC RSE.png AsleepIC DP.png AsleepIC HGSS.png AsleepIC BW.png AsleepIC XY.png AsleepIC SM.png File:AsleepIC PE.png AsleepIC SwSh.png AsleepIC BDSP.png DrowsyIC LA.png AsleepIC SV.png
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Generation III
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Diamond, Pearl and Platinum
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Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
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Generation V
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Generation VI
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Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon
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Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
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Pokémon Sword and Shield
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Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Drowsy icon from
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Causes

Moves

Move Type Category Probability Power Accuracy Notes
Dark Void Dark Status 100% 50% Targets all adjacent opponents. In Generation VII onwards, fails if the user is not Darkrai
Dire Claw Poison Physical 16.7% 80 100% May also paralyze or poison (16.7% chance of each)
G-Max Befuddle Bug Varies 33.3% —% May also paralyze or poison (33.3% chance of each)
G-Max Snooze Dark Varies 50% —% Takes effect at end of the next turn after use. If the afflicted switches, the move does not take effect
Grass Whistle Grass Status 100% 55% Will not affect Pokémon with Soundproof
Hypnosis Psychic Status 100% 60%
Lovely Kiss Normal Status 100% 75%
Psycho Shift Psychic Status 100% 100% If the user is asleep and uses the move via Sleep Talk
Relic Song Normal Special 10% 75 100% Hits all adjacent opponents. Causes Meloetta to change Forme. Will not affect Pokémon with Soundproof
Rest Psychic Status 100% Puts user to sleep, restoring HP to 100% and removing any other non-volatile status condition. Sleep will only last two turns
Secret Power Normal Physical 30% 70 100% May cause sleep only when used in long grass (Generation III), tall grass (Generation IV onward), or when Grassy Terrain is in effect (Generation VI onward)
Sing Normal Status 100% 55% Will not affect Pokémon with Soundproof
Sleep Powder Grass Status 100% 75% Grass types, as well as Pokémon that have Overcoat or are holding Safety Goggles, are immune to Sleep Powder from Generation VI onward
Spore Grass Status 100% 100% Grass types, as well as Pokémon that have Overcoat or are holding Safety Goggles, are immune to Spore from Generation VI onward
Wicked Torque Dark Physical 10% 80 100% Can only be used by the Revavroom in Segin Squad's Starmobile
Yawn Normal Status 100% Takes effect at end of the next turn after use. If the afflicted switches, the move does not take effect

Other causes

A Pokémon has a 11% chance of falling asleep after making contact with a Pokémon with the Effect Spore Ability. A disobedient outsider Pokémon may take a nap (putting itself to sleep) instead of obeying a command.

Curing

A sleeping Pokémon will eventually wake up on its own, after the required number of turns has elapsed.

A sleeping Pokémon can be awoken by an Awakening or a Chesto Berry (Mint Berry in Generation II). In addition, like all other major status conditions, it can be cured by the items Full Heal, Rage Candy Bar, Lava Cookie, Old Gateau, Casteliacone, Lumiose Galette, Shalour Sable, Big Malasada, Full Restore, Heal Powder, Lum Berry (MiracleBerry in Generation II), and Sacred Ash. In Generation I core series games and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the Poké Flute can be used in battle to wake up a sleeping Pokémon (without being consumed). In the Generation III and IV core series games and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the Blue Flute can be used to wake up a sleeping Pokémon (without being consumed).

The move Uproar wakes up all sleeping Pokémon on the field when used, and in Generation III and IV, wakes up sleeping Pokémon on the field at the end of each turn or when they would use a move. The moves Heal Bell (unless the Pokémon has Soundproof as their Ability in Generation III and IV) and Aromatherapy remove the sleep condition from all Pokémon in the user's party. If its target is sleeping, Wake-Up Slap will wake it up in addition to becoming more powerful. If a Pokémon has the Ability Insomnia or Vital Spirit, it will wake up if it is ever asleep; the move Worry Seed changes the target's Ability to Insomnia. In Generation I only, using Haze wakes up a sleeping opponent.

Pokémon with Natural Cure are cured of any status conditions when switched out. At the end of the turn, Pokémon with the Ability Hydration will be cured if is raining, Pokémon with Shed Skin have a 1/3 chance of being cured, Pokémon with Healer have a 30% chance of curing their allies, and Pokémon with high Affection have a chance of being cured.

In Pokémon Colosseum and XD, the Call option (which replaces the usual Run option) can be used to awaken sleeping Pokémon.

Prevention

Pokémon with the Insomnia, Vital Spirit, or Purifying Salt Abilities cannot be put to sleep. Pokémon with Leaf Guard will be protected from status conditions in harsh sunlight. Pokémon with Sweet Veil and their allies cannot be put to sleep. Pokémon with the Comatose Ability will act like they are asleep, without actually being asleep, and the Ability prevents them from being put to sleep.

Pokémon with Early Bird will be asleep half the usual amount of turns, possibly causing them to immediately wake up.

While Electric Terrain or Misty Terrain is present, grounded Pokémon cannot fall asleep (including self-inflicted sleep from Rest). Pokémon normally cannot fall asleep while a Pokémon is using the move Uproar.

Advantages

The moves Snore and Sleep Talk can only be used while asleep. Pokémon with Guts and Quick Feet will have their Attack or Speed boosted respectively while they are asleep, but must use the aforementioned moves to completely reap their benefits; Pokémon with the Ability Marvel Scale will have their Defense boosted while asleep.

In the spin-off games

Mystery Dungeon series

Main article: Sleep-related conditions in Mystery Dungeon

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, there are several different varieties on the sleeping condition. The standard, Asleep, functions similarly to how Sleep does in the main games. When a Pokémon is asleep, they cannot act for 3 to 6 turns. The sleeping Pokémon can use Snore and Sleep Talk, and is vulnerable to Dream Eater and Bad Dreams.

Rest in Mystery Dungeon is turned into a move that causes a variety of Asleep on the user, named Napping. Napping is similar to Asleep, but when the user wakes, all their bad status conditions will be gone.

Nightmare in Mystery Dungeon is turned into a move that causes a variation of Asleep, named after itself, although it can override a Pokémon that's already Asleep or Napping. When a Pokémon is inflicted with Nightmare, they cannot act for 4 to 7 turns, and takes 8 HP of damage when they awaken.

Other sleep aliments include Yawning, which causes Asleep after 3 turns, and Sleepless, which prevent the previous four conditions from occurring for 11 to 12 turns. Like in the main games, Sleeping can be cured early using a Chesto Berry, which also inflicts the sleepless status.

Rumble series

Sleep (Asleep when inflicted in-game) is a negative status in the Rumble series. A Pokémon affected by sleep is unable to move or use any moves for roughly five seconds. However, if the affected Pokémon is controlled by a player, inputting movement or button commands will make the effect wear off faster, with a minimum duration of about two seconds. Sleeping Pokémon rock back and forth slowly while light blue 'Z's periodically rise from its head.

No types are immune to sleep, but Pokémon with the Adept or Steady Special Traits cannot be paralyzed, and those with the Reflector Trait will cause the user of the sleep-inflicting move to fall asleep instead if hit by one.

Rest in the Rumble series causes a different positive status called Mend. It shares similar properties with Asleep, but a Pokémon under this status gradually restores HP while it remains asleep. Additionally, a green healing aura surrounds the Pokémon. Though Pokémon can usually have one positive status and one negative status at the same time, Pokémon under the effects of Mend cannot be inflicted with Asleep.

Pokémon Conquest

In Pokémon Conquest, Sleep prevents a Pokémon from taking any action during their turn, but their Warrior may still use their Warrior Skill or item. Sleep can be cured through certain Warrior Skills, items, or by ending a Pokémon's turn in a hot spring or a water bucket. There is also a chance for sleeping Pokémon to wake up when they are attacked or at the start of their turn.

Sleep can be inflicted by abilities and attacks, but compared to other status conditions, attacks and abilities that inflict sleep are rare: there is only one attack to inflict Sleep, Munna's Hypnosis, and only three abilities to inflict sleep, one of which is exclusive to Musharna. Sleep can be inflicted on the player's team by Yoshimoto's exclusive Warrior Skill Grace, which fully heals the player's army then puts them to sleep.

Pokémon Shuffle

Marshtomp is Asleep.

In Pokémon Shuffle, a sleeping Pokémon cannot use any disruptions, its disruption countdown is paused, and takes 20% more damage.

Sleep can be inflicted by Pokémon with the Nap Time or Sleep Charm Skills. The Sleep Combo Skill also boosts damage against sleeping foes.

Fighting, Rock, Ghost, Steel, Grass, Ice, Dragon, and Dark-type Pokémon are immune to sleep.

Status condition effectiveness
Condition Defender's type
Normal Fighting Flying Poison Ground Rock Bug Ghost Steel Fire Water Grass Electric Psychic Ice Dragon Dark Fairy
Asleep


In the anime

Ambipom is asleep

Sleeping is a status condition that has been present since the early days of the anime. When used in battle, it often forces the afflicted Pokémon to be recalled, and in certain Pokémon League Conferences, the sleeping Pokémon can be designated as unable to battle. Uses of sleep in major episodes and movies include:

Original series

Sleeping was first seen in battle in Pokémon - I Choose You! by a Trainer's Gengar in the Pokémon League. Gengar's Hypnosis put the opponent's Nidorino to sleep, forcing the Nidorino's Trainer to recall it and send Onix out in its place.

In Challenge of the Samurai, after having just evolved from Metapod, Ash's Butterfree used his new move Sleep Powder to put a swarm of angry Beedrill to sleep.

In Hypno's Naptime, the abuse of Hypno's Hypnosis had been causing the Pokémon of HopHopHop Town to fall asleep without warning. It put the town's children, as well as Misty, under a trance, in which they would run away to a pond and start acting like Pokémon.

In The Ninja Poké-Showdown, during Ash's Gym battle against Koga, Koga's Venomoth put Ash's Pidgeotto to sleep with Sleep Powder after paralyzing it with Stun Spore*, forcing Ash to recall the Bird Pokémon and send Charmander out in its place.

A Jigglypuff that has followed Ash and his friends almost always uses Sing whenever it appears. Whenever it discovers that its "audience" slept through its song, the Balloon Pokémon would doodle on the sleeping Pokémon and people before leaving in a huff. However, its songs have still helped out Ash and the people he has met from time to time. In its debut episode, its song helped the cranky people of Neon Town finally fall asleep, after which, they woke up much more agreeable and friendly. In the following episode, Jigglypuff's song was able to put the angry ancient Pokémon that slept there back to sleep.

In The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis, a giant Jigglypuff put a giant battling Alakazam and a giant battling Gengar to sleep with Sing. However, this also puts Ash, his friends, and their Pokémon to sleep, as well.

In Friend and Foe Alike, during the fifth round of the Indigo Plateau Conference, Ritchie's Butterfree, Happy, put Ash's Squirtle to sleep with Sleep Powder, causing Squirtle to be declared unable to battle.

In Snack Attack, Ash, his friends, and a wild Snorlax were all put to sleep by Jigglypuff's Singing, but not before Ash had Pikachu weaken Snorlax with Thunder so that he could catch it.

In Tracey Gets Bugged, Tracey's Venonat used Sleep Powder to put a wild Scyther to sleep so it could be caught and taken to a Pokémon Center.

In A Way Off Day Off, James's Victreebel used Sleep Powder to make sure that everyone at the campsite aside from Ash's Charizard and Tracey's Scyther was asleep.

In Misty Meets Her Match, during Ash's Trovita Gym battle against Rudy, Ash's Bulbasaur put Rudy's Exeggutor to sleep with Sleep Powder, winning the second round in the process.

In Charizard Chills, Tad's Poliwrath put Ash's Pikachu to sleep with Hypnosis, allowing it to defeat him with Water Gun.

In A Tent Situation, Ash's Muk was put to sleep by a cloud of Sleep Powder from James's Victreebel.

In Ignorance is Blissey, it was revealed in a flashback that many of Nurse Joy's Chansey put various Pokémon (plus Jessie) to sleep with Sing at the Pokémon Nurse School.

In Two Hits and a Miss, Ash's Bulbasaur used Sleep Powder to put a Trainer's rampaging Tauros to sleep.

In Ariados, Amigos, Aya's Venonat put itself to sleep with Rest during a battle with Jessie's Arbok.

In As Cold as Pryce, Pryce had his Piloswine use Rest to put itself to sleep.

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire

In Jirachi: Wish Maker, Butler had his Kirlia use Hypnosis to put an Absol to sleep.

In Jump for Joy!, multiple wild Oddish put Nurse Joy to sleep with Sleep Powder so that Shiftry could bring her to treat a sick Nuzleaf. The remnants of the Sleep Powder that were left in Nurse Joy's office later caused Ash, his friends, and Pikachu to fall asleep. The dub incorrectly refers to the attack as Stun Spore.

In Going, Going, Yawn, during Ash's Gym battle with Flannery, Flannery's Slugma, Meg, put Ash's Corphish to sleep with Yawn, forcing Ash to recall it and send Pikachu out in its place. It was later sent back out as Ash's last Pokémon and woke up after taking multiple attacks from Flannery's final Pokémon, Torkoal.

In Going for a Spinda, Claire's Spinda put Team Rocket to sleep with Hypnosis.

In The Garden of Eatin', a wild Snorlax used Yawn to put various people and Pokémon to sleep, including Ash and his friends, while using Rest to heal itself. This move was finally countered when Marcel used a Vigoroth against Snorlax. With its Vital Spirit Ability protecting it from sleep, Vigoroth was able to defeat Snorlax, allowing Marcel to catch it.

In Pacifidlog Jam, Erica's Jynx used Lovely Kiss on May's Skitty to put it to sleep.

In Rough, Tough Jigglypuff, a wild Jigglypuff put Ash, his friends, Team Rocket, Mitch Mitchum, and several Pokémon, including Ash's Pikachu, to sleep with Sing.

In Wheel of Frontier, Ash's Snorlax used Rest to go to sleep and restore its stamina while being frozen by an Ice Punch from Greta's Medicham.

In Harley Rides Again, during the Appeals Round of the Wisteria Contest, May's Munchlax went to sleep after using Rest via Metronome. She was able to wake Munchlax up by throwing it a Pokéblock. Later in the same episode, Harley's Octillery also used Rest to put itself to sleep.

In Channeling the Battle Zone!, Solidad had her Slowbro use Yawn to put May's Combusken to sleep during their match in the Kanto Grand Festival.

In Pace - The Final Frontier!, Brandon's Regice went to sleep twice by using Rest in order to recover from the damage and paralysis that it sustained while battling with Ash's Pikachu.

Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl

In Gettin' Twiggy With It!, a wild Oddish used Sleep Powder on Ash and Pikachu, putting them to sleep.

A wild Hippopotas, which appeared in Mass Hip-Po-Sis! and Sleight of Sand!, used Yawn several times, putting several characters, including Ash and Jessie, asleep a couple of times.

In The Rise of Darkrai, Darkrai used its Dark Void in order to warn the people of Alamos Town about the coming attack of Dialga and Palkia. Unfortunately, the Bad Dreams that it caused led Baron Alberto to see Darkrai as a threat.

In Tanks for the Memories!, Brock's Happiny put Team Rocket asleep with Secret Power.

In Lost Leader Strategy!, Reggie's Bibarel put Ash's Turtwig to sleep using Secret Power.

In Playing the Leveling Field!, Fantina's Drifloon, later Drifblim, used Hypnosis to put Ash's Buizel, Chimchar, and Pikachu asleep during Ash's unofficial battle with her. Pikachu and Buizel got affected by Drifblim's Hypnosis again during Ash's Gym battle with Fantina in Shield with a Twist!.

In Battling The Generation Gap!, Lila's Delcatty put Dawn's Ambipom to sleep using Sing during the Battle Stage of the Celestic Contest.

In The Lonely Snover!, a wild Snover put Ash, Dawn, Brock, and their Pokémon to sleep with Grass Whistle.

In League Unleashed!, Nando's Kricketune used Sing to put Ash's Heracross to sleep during their match in the Lily of the Valley Conference. However, Heracross was able to counter it with Sleep Talk.

In Zoroark: Master of Illusions, Tammy's Tangrowth used Sleep Powder to put Zorua to sleep.

In The Semi-Final Frontier!, Tobias's Darkrai used a combination of Dark Void and Dream Eater against Ash's Heracross, quickly knocking him out. Darkrai also put Sceptile to sleep, but it managed to wake up after getting hit with Dream Eater, allowing it to knock out Darkrai with Leaf Blade.

Pokémon the Series: Black & White

In Explorers of the Hero's Ruin! a Sigilyph used Hypnosis to put Ash's Pikachu to sleep.

In Cilan and the Case of the Purrloin Witness!, Mr. Shaw's Roselia put Mrs. Ripple's Watchog to sleep with Sleep Powder as part of his plan to sneak into Mrs. Ripple's room and have a second look at the "Eye of Liepard".

In The Island of Illusions!, a wild Foongus put Iris's Axew to sleep with Spore.

In BWS01, Cilan's Pansage put a wild Gyarados to sleep with Grass Whistle so that Brock could heal its painful wound.

Pokémon the Series: XY

In Battling on Thin Ice!, Viola's Vivillon was revealed to know Sleep Powder and Fletchling was hit by this move, resulting in its defeat. Vivillon also used Sleep Powder on Pikachu, but he was able to stay awake by using an Electro Ball on himself.

In Foggy Pokémon Orienteering!, Pikachu, Bonnie, and Dedenne were put to sleep by a wild Amoonguss's Spore.

In So You're Having a Bad Day!, Bonnie was put to sleep with Spore by a group of wild Foongus. She was awakened by the Chesto Berry brought to her by Dedenne.

In Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, Alva's Shiny Gengar put Raleigh to sleep with Hypnosis.

In Battling with a Clean Slate!, Alvin's Vivillon used Sleep Powder to put Clemont's Magnemite to sleep, allowing it to defeat the Magnet Pokémon with a powerful Energy Ball.

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

In Lulled to La-La Land!, a wild Morelull used Sleep Powder on two occasions to make Ash and his friends fall asleep in order to absorb their energy (excluding Lillie due to the Max Repel she placed on herself). Later, after Morelull evolved into a Shiinotic, it used Sleep Powder again to make Ash and his friends fall asleep but gave them energy in return for Ash and his friends willingly giving their energy to it.

In Alola, Kanto! Jigglypuff used Sing to make everyone fall asleep.

In Let Sleeping Pokémon Lie!, Samson Oak's Komala used Sing on Jigglypuff, causing the latter to fall asleep.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

In A Little Rocket R & R!, Goh had his Oddish use Sleep Powder on a giant Magikarp after it resisted his first capture attempt. Goh was able to successfully capture the Magikarp afterwards.

In A Midsummer Night's Light!, a Darkrai used Dark Void to put Matori, a group of Team Rocket Grunts, their Pokémon, and the Team Rocket trio to sleep with Dark Void.

In All Out, All of the Time!, James had the Vileplume he pulled from the Rocket Prize Master put Ash's Pikachu and a pair of wild Passimian asleep with Sleep Powder. Goh's Grookey was also hit by the Sleep Powder, but was unaffected by it due to being a Grass type.

In Bewitch, Battle, and Bewilder!, during Ash and Cynthia's battle in the Masters Eight Tournament semifinals, Ash's Dragonite was put to sleep when Cynthia's Spiritomb used Hypnosis on it, allowing the Forbidden Pokémon to defeat it with multiple uses of Dream Eater.

In Heroes Unite!, Chloe's Eevee used Copycat to mimic a wild Slowpoke's Yawn, putting a flock of Spearow to sleep.

Gallery

In the manga

Ash & Pikachu

In An Awesome Showdown!!, Ash's Snorlax put itself to sleep with Rest in order to heal itself during Ash's battle with Greta.

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In Play Misty for Me, Ash's newly evolved Butterfree put Misty's Gyarados to sleep with Sleep Powder.

In The Indigo Finals, Ritchie's Happy put Ash's Squirtle to sleep with Sleep Powder just as it got knocked out by Squirtle's Skull Bash, resulting in a double knockout.

In Attack of the Demon Stomach, Ash had Jigglypuff put a wild Snorlax to sleep with Sing, allowing him to catch it.

In You Bet Your Wife, Ash's Bulbasaur put Rudy's Exeggutor to sleep with Sleep Powder.

Phantom Thief Pokémon 7

In Breaking Into The Enemy's Lair!, Hiori had his Tangrowth put several Team Galactic Grunts to sleep with Sleep Powder in order to sneak into Team Galactic's hideout.

In Stopping Darkrai!!, a Darkrai put multiple people and Pokémon to sleep with Dark Void, until it itself was put to sleep by Hiori's Mime Jr.'s mimicked Dark Void.

Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!!

In Walkthrough! Battle Tower!!, 's Rotom was put to sleep by a Noctowl using Hypnosis while he was challenging the Battle Tower. However, Rotom was able to immediately wake up thanks to its held Chesto Berry.

Pokémon Adventures

Red, Green & Blue arc

In Wanted: Pikachu!, Red used Saur's Sleep Powder in order to put a wild Pikachu to sleep, making it an easy catch for him.

Yellow arc

In Ponyta Tale, Red had Saur use Sleep Powder to stop a mailman's Ponyta, who had become overly excited by Pallet Town's fresh air.

In Valiant Venomoth!, Sabrina tried to put Lorelei's Cloyster to sleep with her Venomoth's Sleep Powder attack. However, the attack was blown back by a Blizzard from the Bivalve Pokémon, causing Green's Nidorina, Nido, to fall asleep instead.

In Bang the Drum, Slowbro, Sabrina's Alakazam and Venomoth were put to sleep by a Lovely Kiss from Lorelei's Jynx.

Gold, Silver & Crystal arc

In Forretress of Solitude, Red's Snor put himself to sleep with Rest while battling the Pokémon Association's Azumarill.

In Slugging It Out with Slugma, Crystal's Parasect, Parasee, put a group of wild Slugma to sleep with Spore, allowing her to easily catch them.

In Indubitably Ditto, Crystal's Parasect, Parasee, used Spore to put a group of Team Rocket members chasing Suicune to sleep.

In Oh, It's Ho-Oh!, Evan's Haunter put Miles's Persian to sleep with Hypnosis, after which he had Haunter use Nightmare on the sleeping Classy Cat Pokémon.

In Slick Slowking, Gold's Politoed, Polibo, used Hypnosis to put Sham and Carl's Pokémon to sleep. However, they were able to counter this by having their Slowking and Magcargo use Snore and Sleep Talk, respectively.

Ruby & Sapphire arc

In Talk About Timing, Treecko, Wally's Roselia put Treecko to sleep with Grass Whistle.

In Very Vexing Volbeat, Tabitha used his Torkoal's Yawn to put one of Amber's Volbeat to sleep.

FireRed & LeafGreen arc

In Surprised by Sneasel, Silver's Gyarados put himself to sleep with Rest in order to heal himself while battling against Sird's Banette. However, Banette used Snatch to steal the effects of the move and prevent Gyarados from healing himself.

Emerald arc

In Swanky Showdown with Swalot, Lucy's Seviper was put to sleep by a Swalot's Yawn during an exhibition battle at the Battle Frontier opening ceremony. Seviper was, however, quickly woken up thanks to its Shed Skin Ability.

In Moving Past Milotic, Emerald's borrowed Starmie was put to sleep by a Kirlia using Hypnosis during his Battle Pike challenge. Despite this, Starmie was able to use its held Lum Berry to wake up immediately and then counterattack.

Diamond & Pearl arc

In Dramatic Drapion & Crafty Kricketune II, a Scientist's Kricketune put Diamond's Torterra, Tru, to sleep with Sing.

In To and Fro with Froslass, Platinum's Rapidash put himself to sleep with Rest while battling against Candice's Froslass. This, however, worked against Platinum when Candice had Froslass use Wake-Up Slap, which was powered up due to it waking up Rapidash.

Platinum arc

In The Final Dimensional Duel VII, Cheryl had her Blissey Sing to put Mars's Yanmega to sleep during her battle against the Team Galactic Commander.

In The Final Dimensional Duel VIII, Darkrai put Palmer's Cresselia to sleep with Hypnosis. Palmer countered by having Cresselia use Psycho Shift, causing Cresselia to wake up and Darkrai to fall asleep instead. Later during the same chapter, Charon had Darkrai use Dark Void to put his opponents' Legendary Pokémon to sleep. This was soon countered by Shaymin using Worry Seed on the sleeping Pokémon, changing their Abilities to Insomnia and thus causing them to immediately wake up.

X & Y arc

In Malamar Traps, Xerosic's Malamar used Hypnosis to put X's group and their Pokémon to sleep. However, X and Croaky were able to avoid the initial Hypnosis by covering their ears. Croaky was later put to sleep by another Hypnosis attack from Malamar, needing to be cured by an Awakening from Y.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

In The Mystery Boy, Jun!!, Hareta's Piplup was put to sleep when Mars's Purugly used Hypnosis on it. Jun was able to heal it right afterwards with an Awakening.

In Challenge! The Fortress Of Steel!!, Hareta's Piplup was put to sleep by Byron's Bronzor's Hypnosis.

In Clash! Hareta vs. Koya, Hareta and his Misdreavus were put to sleep by Hypnosis from a Battle Girl's Kirlia.

In The Birth of the Greatest Tag Team?!, Hareta's Minun put Charon's Stunky to sleep with Sing.

Pokémon Zensho

In Cinnabar Island, Satoshi used his Jigglypuff's Sing to put Articuno to sleep, allowing Blaine to catch it.

In the TCG

In the Trading Card Game, Sleep, called Asleep, is one of the five Special Conditions along with Poisoned, Burned, Confused, and Paralyzed. Asleep is indicated by turning the Pokémon counterclockwise. If a Pokémon is Asleep, it cannot attack or retreat. Between turns, during the Pokémon Checkup step, if a player's Pokémon is Asleep, the player must flip a coin: if heads, the Asleep Pokémon "wakes up" in that it recovered from the Special Condition. However, if the coin lands on tails, the Pokémon is still Asleep.

Asleep is resolved after Poisoned and Burned, which happen in that exact order. Paralyzed occurs after Asleep. (Confused does not do anything during Pokémon Checkup.)

Unlike the Pokémon games, a Pokémon can be afflicted with Poisoned and Burned while already Asleep; however, Confused and Paralyzed will override Asleep because they are also indicated by turning the card a specific way. Aside from a successful "sleep flip", Asleep can be cured if a Pokémon moves to the Bench, evolves or devolves, or if an effect specifically causes a Pokémon to recover from Asleep.

Asleep's properties can be modified by certain effects. Most commonly, a modified Asleep requires the player to flip two coins during Pokémon Checkup. If either coin has a "Tails" result, the Pokémon will stay Asleep. This can be caused by the Ability of the Pokémon that is Asleep, such as by Snorlax's Stir and Snooze, or inflicted on an opponent by attacks such as Altaria's Soothing Lullaby. The Stadium card Slumbering Forest causes all Asleep to work in this manner.

The Pokémon Snorlax and Komala are strongly associated with Asleep, and each has multiple cards that work with the Asleep mechanic.

Trivia

  • In the Stadium games, Pokémon make either a snoring or sighing sound when put to sleep; "cuter" Pokémon generally use the latter.
  • Prior to Generation III, sleep could not be inflicted as a side-effect of a move that inflicts damage, the only status condition that could not be.
  • Prior to Generation IV, sleep was the only non-volatile status condition a Pokémon could inflict on itself (through Rest or disobedience). From Generation IV onward, a Pokémon can burn or poison itself by holding a Flame Orb or Toxic Orb, respectively.
  • Not counting fainted, sleep is the only status condition not technically associated with a certain type. Even so, Grass and Normal are the two most common types it is affiliated with.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 睡眠 Seuihmìhn
Mandarin 睡眠 Shuìmián
France Flag.png French Sommeil
Germany Flag.png German Schläft
Italy Flag.png Italian Addormentato
South Korea Flag.png Korean 잠듦 Jamdeum
Portuguese Brazil Flag.png Brazil Dormindo (anime, manga)
Adormecido (TCG)
Portugal Flag.png Portugal Adormecido
Russia Flag.png Russian Спящий Spyashchiy
Spain Flag.png Spanish Dormido
Thailand Flag.png Thai หลับ Sleeping
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Ngủ


Status conditions
BURN FREEZE PARALYSIS POISON
SLEEP CONFUSION FLINCH FAINTING
Project Games logo.png This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.