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Transform (move)

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If you were looking for the skill in Pokémon Shuffle, see Skill (Shuffle) → Transform.
Transform
へんしん Transform
Transform IX.png
Transform IX 2.png
Type  Normal
Category  Status
PP  10 (max. 16)
Power  —
Accuracy  —%
Priority  0
  • Does not make contact
  • Not affected by Protect
  • Not affected by Magic Coat
  • Not affected by Snatch
  • Not affected by Mirror Move
  • Not affected by King's Rock
Range
Opponent Opponent Opponent
Self Ally Ally
Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Smart
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jam  0  
Can be repeatedly used without boring the Judge.
Condition  Smart
Appeal  1 ♥
Earn +3 if the Pokémon gets the lowest score.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jamming  0  
An appealing move that can be used repeatedly without boring the audience.

Transform (Japanese: へんしん Transform) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I.

The Ability Imposter has the same effect as Transform.

Effect

151Mew.png This move effect may be in need of research.
Reason: Does it copy Protosynthesis/Quark Drive boosts?
In Gen 9, transforming into a target that has lost its primary type from Roost, Burn Up, or Double Shock will copy the original typing instead of being a Normal type like in previous generations. If this isn't unique to Gen 9, when did it change to work like this?
You can discuss this on the talk page.

Transform causes the user to become a copy of the target.

Transform bypasses accuracy checks to always hit, unless the target is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly. It is not affected by type immunity. Transform fails if used on a Pokémon that is protected by Crafty Shield, but works on a target protected by other moves such as Protect or Detect. It also fails against Shadow Pokémon, if the user or the target are transformed or disguised by an Illusion, if the target is behind a substitute, or if the target's Ability is Good as Gold. Some of these conditions were different in older generations; see the table below for details on when conditions would not prevent Transform from executing.

Gen I Gen II Gen III Gen IV Gen V Gen VI Gen VII Gen VIII Gen IX
Can execute? Target is semi-invulnerable ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Target is transformed ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
User is transformed ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Target is behind a substitute ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

A transformation cannot be transferred via Baton Pass.

A transformed Pokémon returns to its original state once it is switched out, faints, or the battle ends.

Copied traits

Broadly, Transform copies the target's appearance, types, Ability, stats, and moves; the user retains its HP and level. More precise details are below.

Gen I Gen II Gen III Gen IV Gen V Gen VI Gen VII Gen VIII Gen IX
Name ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Level ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
HP (current and maximum) ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Status condition ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Friendship ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Held item ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Species ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Appearance ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Types ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Attack, Defense, Special Attack,
Special Defense, Speed 		✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Stat stages ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Moves ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Height and weight ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Catch rate ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
EV yield and base Exp. ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Ability ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Cry ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Gender ✘* ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

*: In Generation II, the Love Ball uses copied IVs for transformed wild Pokémon. See below

Transform copies any changes to the target's type (such as from Conversion or Color Change), Ability (such as from Skill Swap), or moves (via Mimic). It also copies types added by Forest's Curse or Trick-or-Treat. If the target has no primary types (not counting added types, that is) due to Roost, Burn Up, or Double Shock, the transformation will copy the target's original typing.

The user's level has no effect, except in Generations I-III if the Pokémon levels up and its stats are recalculated. Appearance refers to the sprite or model of the Pokémon shown on the field and covers the Pokémon's species, gender, form, and whether it is Shiny. (Prior to Generation IV, there was some complicated nuance regarding the transformation's coloration.) The copied stats (Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed) include the final values (as seen on the summary screen) as well as the target's base stats, individual values, and effort values. Outside of the transformation's appearance, gender (for the purpose of battle mechanics as well as the gender symbol after the name) was only copied starting in Generation V, with a small exception in Generation II.

Transform does not affect the user's Hidden Power (whose type, as well as the power up to Generation V, are based on the user's original IVs). It also will not alter status conditions or volatile statuses (such as Telekinesis or Leech Seed) based on the transformation's immunities.

Appearance nuances

In all generations, in the summary and party screens, a transformed Pokémon is shown in its untransformed state. (This applies to its moves, Ability, and stats as well.) In Nintendo DS and 3DS games, the list of moves seen on the bottom screen during battle will also show the untransformed sprite of the Pokémon.

In Generation I, if either the user or the target's sprite has changed because of Acid Armor or Minimize, after using Transform, the transformation's normal sprite will be shown.

In the Generation I and II core series games, a transformed Pokémon retains its original color palette.

In Pokémon Stadium 2 and Generation III games (including Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness), whether a transformed Pokémon appears Shiny depends on whether the user was originally Shiny; since Generation IV, it depends on whether the target was Shiny.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, if the Partner PikachuP/EeveeE is the target of Transform, Transform will copy any clothes they are wearing.

Forms

151Mew.png This move effect may be in need of research.
Reason: Gen III: Interaction with Deoxys's forms in link battles between games in which Deoxys has different forms
You can discuss this on the talk page.

Transform copies the target's current form. In Generations III and IV, a transformed Pokémon can change form if it fulfills the conditions for a form change (such as by holding a Plate as Arceus). Since Generation V, a transformed Pokémon cannot change forms.

Dynamax transformations are not treated like a form, meaning Transform will copy the base form of a Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon or Eternamax Eternatus, and a transformed Pokémon is able to Dynamax. If Transform copies a Gigantamax Pokémon, it does not copy the Gigantamax Factor, so Dynamaxing will not result in a Gigantamax Pokémon. If Transform is used by a Dynamaxed Pokémon, it will fail if the target is Zacian, Zamazenta, or Eternatus.

Transform will fail if the target is a Starmobile. If the target is a Titan Pokémon, the user transforms into a regular version of that species.

PP

151Mew.png This move effect may be in need of research.
Reason: Are PP Ups taken into account for maximum PP displayed for a transformed Pokémon in Generation I and II?
You can discuss this on the talk page.

When a move is copied, it will have 5 PP, unless its maximum PP is less (such as Sketch). In Generations I and II, the maximum PP is the same as the move's natural maximum PP; in Generations III and IV, each copied move receives the effect of PP Ups applied to the same move slot of the user's original moves; since Generation V, the maximum PP for copied moves is 5.

In Generations I-III, PP-restoring items such as Ether can only restore PP to a move if the Pokémon knew the move before transforming. For a held Leppa Berry, if a move the Pokémon did not know reaches 0 PP, the Berry will not trigger.

Species-exclusive conditions

151Mew.png This move effect may be in need of research.
Reason: For Gen VI: Interaction with choice items on targets who also know Transform aside from Generation V
You can discuss this on the talk page.

A transformed Pokémon retains its original species for determining if it is boosted by most Pokémon-specific stat-enhancing items. Only Metal Powder and Quick Powder use the transformation's species.

A transformed Pokémon can use moves exclusive to a species it has transformed into, such as Hyperspace Fury if transformed into Hoopa Unbound or exclusive Z-Moves (if it holds the correct Z-Crystal, and is not Mega-Evolved).

If a Pokémon transforms into Meteor Form Minior, Shields Down will not prevent it from being afflicted with status conditions.

Generation I

In this generation only, if the player's Pokémon is transformed and deals or receives a critical hit, its untransformed stats are used in the damage calculation. (The calculation correctly uses transformed stats for wild and NPC Pokémon.)

In Pokémon Stadium only, Transform fails if the target's current species is Ditto. Transforms works normally against Ditto in the earlier Japan-only game Pokémon Stadium.

Glitches

Main article: List of Transform glitches

Generation I has several glitches relating to Transform. Any transformed wild Pokémon will become Ditto if it is caught, due to the Transform assumption oversight. If a transformed Pokémon uses Transform again, its previous stats (stored as a backup) are overwritten by its current stats (as they are backed up so that Transform can change the working stats); this is the Transform DV manipulation glitch. If a Pokémon that is not Ditto uses Transform, the color loss glitch will cause it to change to Ditto's palette. The level up moveset glitch causes a transformed Pokémon to regain its original moveset if it levels up and learns a new move.

Generation II

In this generation only, for a wild transformed Pokémon, the Love Ball uses the stats copied by Transform and the Pokémon's original species to determine the Pokémon's gender[1]. Both Attract and the gender symbol shown in battle obey the Pokémon's original gender (for any transformed Pokémon).

In this generation only, Mirror Move always fails when used by a transformed Pokémon.

Glitches

Main article: List of Transform glitches

Generation II has several glitches relating to Transform. The Transform assumption glitch and Transform DV manipulation glitch from Generation I still exist. The latter now has an additional effect, the Roar/Whirlwind shared DV glitch: in a battle with an NPC, if the NPC's Pokémon has used Transform twice and is forced to switch out, the next Pokémon will have its predecessor's DVs. If a transformed Pokémon is caught, it will have 10/10 PP for Transform despite having used the move.

Generation III

During a Pokémon Contest, the Pokémon will transform into one of the other contestants.

Generation IV

During a Pokémon Super Contest, the Pokémon will transform into one of the other contestants.

Generation V

Pokémon that know Transform are banned from participating in Pokéstar Studios films. For the purposes of the Eviolite, the original form of the user is considered, rather than the Pokémon it Transformed into.

Generation VI

In a Pokémon Contest Spectacular, when Transform is used, a substitute doll is thrown on the stage and the user transforms into the doll. The effect of Transform will last for the round it is used in.

Generation VII

If a Pokémon transforms into a Mega Evolved Pokémon, it cannot use any Z-Moves, even if it holds an appropriate Z-Crystal.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Transform, the user's HP is fully restored.

Generation IX

Transform does not copy Tera Types, meaning that a transformed Pokémon that Terastallizes will use its own Tera Type. If a Terastallized Pokémon uses Transform, the move will not change its type.

Transform fails against a Terastallized Ogerpon or Terapagos. If a Pokémon Transforms into Ogerpon or Terapagos, it will be unable to Terastallize.

Starting with Version 3.0.1 of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Transform cannot be used by wild Smeargle, this was done to address a cloning glitches.

If a Pokémon Terastallizes into the Stellar type and uses Transform, it will fail.

Description

Games Description
StadStad2 Transforms the user into a copy of the target, including the type. All moves have only five PP each.
GSC The user assumes the foe's guise.
RSE Alters the user's cells to become a copy of the foe.
FRLG The user transforms into a copy of the foe with even the same move set.
ColoXD Alters the user's cells to copy the target.
DPPtHGSSPBR The user transforms into a copy of the foe right down to having the same move set.
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
SwShBDSPLA 		The user transforms into a copy of the target right down to having the same move set.
SV The user transforms into a copy of the target, right down to having the same move set.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
0132 Ditto NormalIC Big.png Ditto Ditto 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0151 Mew PsychicIC Big.png No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 10 10 10 1 1 1 1 99 80 80 80
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

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, and the Adventure Squad series, Transform causes the user to take the form of a random hostile Pokémon on the dungeon's floor. It does not copy anything else; if the Pokémon had nothing but Transform, they are left only with the regular attack and Struggle.

From Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon onward, Transform copies the appearance, type, Ability, moves, and stat modifications of the target for the current floor, but the transforming Pokémon retains its stats. Moves learned through Sketch while transformed will be forgotten after moving to the next floor. If used by an enemy to transform into the leader, the leader's teammates become confused.

Transformed Pokémon are still prone to status conditions and dungeon tile restrictions from its original form; for example, a Ditto transformed into a Fire-type can still be burned, and a Pokémon that cannot walk through water still cannot when transforming into a Pokémon that is able to.

Transform cannot be used in a Pokémon Tower in the Adventure Squad series.

Game Base
Power 		Max
Power 		Base
PP 		Max
PP 		Base
Accuracy 		Max
Accuracy 		Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB - - 1 - —% - User User -
MDTDS - - 1 - —% - User User -
BSL - - 1 - —% - User User -
SMD - - 5 30 — - 2 tiles away All No
MDRTDX - - 5 ? — - 2 tiles away All No
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Pokémon GO

In a Gym or Raid Battle, Transform is automatically cast at the beginning of the battle. It turns the user into a copy of the opponent and copies the opponent's moves, species, base Attack, and base Defense; HP, IVs, and power up level are not copied. Unlike other attacks, Transform does not require the user to wait out the duration before casting an attack or dodging, and its animation is purely visual. However, it may cause lag for the rest of the battle if the player attempts to attack during the animation. The effects of Transform expire at the end of the battle.

Transform will not be cast if the opponent is a Ditto.

If Ditto is used against a Team GO Rocket Grunt or another player, Transform will behave like regular attacks and not transform Ditto into opposing Pokémon.

GO Normal.png Transform
Fast Attack
Gyms & Raids
Power 0
Energy boost 0
Duration 2.23 seconds
Damage window 0.3 – 0.7 seconds
Transform GO.png
Trainer Battles
Power 0
Energy boost 0
Turns 5
Eligible Pokémon:
Standard eligibility
Ditto
By Elite Fast TM
By GO Snapshot
As Shadow Pokémon
As Purified Pokémon
Formerly eligible
None

Updates

Gyms & Raids
  • February 16, 2017
    • Duration: 1.73 → 2.23 seconds

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including Transform could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Transform could be seen as a move used by opposing Ditto.

NormalIC RR.png Transform
Charge time 1.3 seconds
Range type Melee (straight)
Target Enemy
Additional effect Transforms the user to become a copy of the foe
Transform Rumble Rush.png

Description

Games Description
MDRB The user gains the Transformed status. The user transforms into a hostile Pokémon that appears on the floor.
MDTDS Gives the user a Transformed status, which transforms the user into one of the enemy Pokémon that can appear on the floor.
BSL じぶんを へんしんじょうたいにかえる フロアに しゅつげんする てきポケモンの どれかに へんしんする このわざは ポケモンタワーでは くりだせない
MDGtI IconKanji2MD.pngUNUSED
SMD You transform into another Pokémon. If an enemy uses this move, your party will find it confusing.*
It makes your appearance the same as a target Pokémon's. Your moves and types will also change to those of the target Pokémon. If an enemy uses this move, your teammates may mistake it for someone else, so be careful!*


In the anime

Drake Ditto Transform.png
Drake's Ditto
Narissa Ditto Transform.png
Ditto 1 and 2
Mew Transform.png
Mew
Kublock Ditto Transform.png
Ditto
The user transforms into a copy of the foe right down to having the same move set.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Ditto Ditto's body glows white, multicolored, yellow, or light blue, then transforms into the opponent.
Duplica's Ditto Ditto's Mysterious Mansion Debut
Drake's Ditto Hello, Pummelo! None
Duplica's Mini-Dit Imitation Confrontation None
Brodie's Ditto Unfair Weather Friends None
A wild Ditto Pikachu's Ghost Carnival None
Narissa's Ditto 1 Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama! None
Narissa's Ditto 2 Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama! None
A wild Ditto Deceiving Appearances! None
A Ditto hired by Kublock A Talent for Imitation! None
Mew Mew's body glows white or multicolored, then it transforms into any Pokémon. It is possible for Mew to transform into multiple Pokémon at once.
A wild Mew The Journey to be a Pokémon Master Begins!! None
Mew (M08) Lucario and the Mystery of Mew None
Mew (anime) Enter Pikachu! None


In the manga

Aim to Be a Card Master!!


The Electric Tale of Pikachu


Pokémon Adventures


Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys


Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!


Pokémon Pocket Monsters


Pokémon Zensho


In other generations

Core series games

Transform I.png Transform II.png Transform III.png Transform IV.png
Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV
Transform V.png Transform VI.png
Transform VI 2.png 		Transform VII.png
Transform VII 2.png 		Transform PE.png
Transform PE 2.png
Generation V Generation VI SMUSUM LGPE
Transform VIII.png
Transform VIII 2.png
Generation VIII

Side series games

Transform Stad.png Transform Stad2.png Transform Colo.png Transform XD.png
Stadium Stadium 2 Colosseum XD
Transform PBR.png
Battle Revolution

Spin-off series games

Transform PMD RB.png Transform PSMD.png
MD: Red and Blue SMD

Trivia

  • In Generation I core series games and Japanese Pokémon Stadium, if two Pokémon battle using only Transform (such as a battle between two Ditto or two Mew with Transform), both Pokémon are able to continually Transform into each other, replenishing the 5 PP constantly and so that the battle never has to end.
  • Since the Transform user retains its own gender, it is possible to transform into a Pokémon species which would be normally unavailable with that gender. For instance, a male Smeargle retains his gender (including the symbol ♂ displayed in battle), even when transformed into female-only Pokémon such as Miltank, Chansey, or Tsareena, or into gender-unknown Pokémon such as Mewtwo, Beldum, or Cryogonal.
    • The Transform user copies the appearance and visual gender differences of the target, even if those are not compatible with the Transform user's gender. For instance, if a male Smeargle copies a female Pikachu, then he will have the appearance of a female Pikachu as well (with the heart-shaped tail) even though he remains male like before (with the ♂ symbol in battle).
  • Transform is the only legitimate way to see the battle animation of Cherrim's Sunshine Form in Generation IV, as Cherrim sent from a Poké Ball will always be sent out in Overcast Form, and Cherrim is not available in the wild in Generation IV. A Ditto that transforms into Cherrim, however, will play the animation of the alternate form if it escapes from a thrown Poké Ball.
  • In Generations I and II, since most Pokémon can use Transform via Mimic and keep their original color palette while transformed, it is possible to see several color palettes applied to any Pokémon. For example, if a Pikachu, Bulbasaur, or Charmeleon uses Transform (via Mimic), it becomes a yellow, green, or red version of the target, respectively.
    • In these generations, the Pokémon images and their color palettes are stored separately in the game data, so the palettes are able to be arbitrarily applied to each Pokémon. There is no need to store repeated Pokémon images with different colors in the internal data.
  • From Generation III to V, a transformed Pokémon may legitimately have up to 765 EVs (if it has 255 HP EVs, and the target Pokémon has 510 EVs other than HP). Similarly, from Generation VI onwards, a transformed Pokémon may legitimately have up to 762 EVs (if it has 252 HP EVs, and the target Pokémon has 510 EVs other than HP).
  • In the German version of the Generation II games, this move was renamed from Wandler into Verwandler. The reason for this is unknown. Even though the difference in meaning is minimal, this change was retracted in the following generations.
  • In some Pokémon media, Ditto is known to transform into humans. This happened in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, as well as in volume 2 of The Electric Tale of Pikachu, in the Pokémon Newspaper Strip, and in POKÉMON Detective Pikachu.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 變身 Binsān
Mandarin 變身 / 变身 Biànshēn
The Czech Republic Flag.png Czech Přeměna
Denmark Flag.png Danish Forvandling
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Transformeer
Finland Flag.png Finnish Muuntautuminen
France Flag.png French Morphing
Germany Flag.png German WandlerI, III+
VerwandlerII
Greece Flag.png Greek Μεταμόρφωση
Indonesia Flag.png Indonesian Transformasi
Berubah
Italy Flag.png Italian TrasformazioneIV+
Trasformaz.I–III
South Korea Flag.png Korean 변신 Byeonsin
Norway Flag.png Norwegian Forvandle[2]
Poland Flag.png Polish Transformacja
Brazil Flag.png Brazilian Portuguese Transformação
Serbia Flag.png Serbian Transformacija
Spanish CELAC Flag.png Latin America Transformación*
Mutación (EP111)
Spain Flag.png Spain TransformaciónVI+
TransformI–V
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Transformering
Thailand Flag.png Thai แปลงร่าง
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Biến Hình

References

  1. ↑ GS Love Ball mismatched species for transformed Pokémon bug in pret decompilation on GitHub
  2. ↑ Glossary on Pokemon.no (archived)


Project Moves and Abilities logo.png 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.
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