Pikapedia
0
Moves
normalstatus

Substitute

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Power
—
Accuracy
—
PP
10
Target
User

Effect

Transfers 1/4 of the user’s max HP into a doll, protecting the user from further damage or status changes until it breaks.

Transfers 1/4 the user’s max HP into a doll that absorbs damage and causes most negative move effects to fail. If the user leaves the field, the doll will vanish. If the user cannot pay the HP cost, this move will fail. The doll takes damage as normal, using the user’s stats and types, and will break when its HP reaches zero. Self-inflicted damage from confusion or recoil is not absorbed. Healing effects from opponents ignore the doll and heal the user as normal. Moves that work based on the user’s HP still do so; the doll’s HP does not influence any move. The doll will block major status effects, confusion, and flinching. The effects of Smelling Salts and Wake-Up Slap do not trigger against a doll, even if the Pokémon behind the doll has the appropriate major status effect. Multi-turn trapping moves like Wrap will hit the doll for their regular damage, but the multi-turn trapping and damage effects will not activate. Moves blocked or damage absorbed by the doll do not count as hitting the user or inflicting damage for any effects that respond to such, e.g., Avalanche, Counter, or a Rowap Berry. Magic Coat still works as normal, even against moves the doll would block. Opposing Pokémon that damage the doll with a leech move like Absorb are healed as normal. It will also block Acupressure, Block, the curse effect of Curse, Dream Eater, Embargo, Flatter, Gastro Acid, Grudge, Heal Block, Leech Seed, Lock-On, Mean Look, Mimic, Mind Reader, Nightmare, Pain Split, Psycho Shift, Spider Web, Sketch, Swagger, Switcheroo, Trick, Worry Seed, and Yawn. A Pokémon affected by Yawn before summoning the doll will still fall to sleep. The doll blocks Intimidate, but all other abilities act as though the doll did not exist. If the user has an ability that absorbs moves of a certain type for HP (such as Volt Absorb absorbing Thunder Wave), such moves will not be blocked. Life Orb and berries that cause confusion still work as normal, but their respective HP loss and confusion are absorbed/blocked by the doll. The user is still vulnerable to damage inflicted when entering or leaving the field, such as by Pursuit or Spikes; however, the doll will block the poison effect of Toxic Spikes. The doll is passed on by Baton Pass. It keeps its existing HP, but uses the replacement Pokémon’s stats and types for damage calculation. All other effects work as normal.

"The user creates a substitute for itself using some of its own HP. The substitute serves as the user's decoy."

Where to find it

Game-by-game pickup locations, plus wild Pokémon that may be holding the TM.

Machine by version

  • TM08taught in
    Lets Go Pikachu Lets Go Eevee
    Generation I
    • R B YS.S. Anne
    Generation II
    • G S CRoute 36 · Goldenrod Department Store *($ 1000)
    Generation III
    • R S EPrize for defeating Brawly
    • FR LGSilph Co.
    • ColoNot available
    • XDArea 8 of Mt. Battle
    Generation IV
    • D P PtBattle Tower D P / Frontier Pt(48 BP)
    • HG SSBattle Frontier(48 BP)
    Generation V
    • B WRoute 14
    • B2 W2Striaton City Poké Mart($ 80000)
    Generation VI
    • X YSnowbelle City
    • OR ASPrize for defeating Brawly
    Generation VII
    • S MKonikoni City($ 10,000)
    • US UMRoyal Avenue
    • P ESaffron City
    Generation VIII
    • Sw ShWyndon($ 50,000)
    • BD SPBattle Tower · Grand Underground merchant(48 BP ×20 or 22 ×20 or 22 ×20 or 22 ×13 or 15 BD /10 or 13 SP ×10 or 13 BD /13 or 15 SP)
    Generation IX
    • S VSchedar Squad's Base · West Province (Area One) · TM Machine Only in The Teal Mask : Oni Mountain(800 LP Houndour Fang ×3)
  • TM50taught in
    Red BlueYellowRed Green JapanBlue Japan
    Generation I
    • R B YRocket Game Corner(7700 C)
    Generation II
    • G S CRoute 31
    Generation III
    • R S EPrize for defeating Flannery
    • FR LGVictory Road
    • XDArea 6 of Mt. Battle
    Generation IV
    • D P PtStark Mountain
    • HG SSPrize for defeating Blaine
    • PBRAfter beating 1st set of Masters Battle(12,000 PC)
    Generation V
    • B WRoute 11
    • B2 W2N's Castle
    Generation VI
    • X YKiloude City($ 80,000)
    • OR ASPrize for defeating Flannery
    Generation VII
    • S MPoni Meadow
    • US UMPoni Meadow
    • P ERoute 12
    Generation VIII
    • Sw ShHammerlocke (West Pokémon Center )($ 10,000)
    • BD SPStark Mountain · Grand Underground Typhlo Cavern · Grand Underground merchant(×8 or 10 ×8 or 10 ×8 or 10 ×5 or 8 BD /3 or 5 SP ×3 or 5 BD /5 or 8 SP)
    Generation IX
    • S VAsado Desert · East Province (Area One) · South Province (Area Five) · TM Machine Only in The Teal Mask : Fellhorn Gorge Only in The Indigo Disk : Coastal Biome(3,000 LP Shellos Mucus ×3 Azurill Fur ×3 Wattrel Feather ×3)
    • ZAReward for attaining research level 45
  • TM90taught in
    Diamond PearlPlatinumHeartgold SoulsilverBlack WhiteBlack 2 White 2X YOmega Ruby Alpha SapphireSun MoonUltra Sun Ultra Moon
    Generation IV
    • D P PtVeilstone Game Corner · Old Chateau(2000 C)
    • HG SSGoldenrod Game Corner(2000 C)
    Generation V
    • B WTwist Mountain Winter
    • B2 W2Twist Mountain
    Generation VI
    • X YAnistar City (8:00 PM-3:59 AM)
    • OR ASMirage Island (South of Pacifidlog Town )
    Generation VII
    • S MRoute 1
    • US UMRoute 1
    Generation VIII
    • Sw ShHammerlocke (East Pokémon Center )($ 20,000)
    • BD SPOld Chateau · Veilstone Department Store($ 2,000)
    Generation IX
    • S VAsado Desert · East Province (Area Three) · West Province (Area One) · TM Machine Only in The Teal Mask : Fellhorn Gorge(3,000 LP Pincurchin Spines ×3 Qwilfish Spines ×3)
  • TR20taught in
    Sword Shield
    Generation VIII
    • Sw ShWild Area Watt Traders 4★ · 5★ Max Raid Battles ( East Lake Axewell , Rolling Fields ) Only in The Isle of Armor : 4★ · 5★ Max Raid Battles ( Fields of Honor , Soothing Wetlands , Stepping-Stone Sea , Insular Sea ) Cram-o-matic ( Normal : 112-120 points) Only in The Crown Tundra : Ballimere Lake Snowslide Slope Watt Trader 4★ · 5★ Max Raid Battles ( Slippery Slope , Giant's Bed , Giant's Foot , Ballimere Lake )(3,000 W)
    • TR21→
  • TM103taught in
    Scarlet VioletThe Indigo Disk
    Generation IX
    • S VMesagoza · Alfornada · Poco Path · South Province (Area Three) · East Province (Area One) · TM Machine Only in The Teal Mask : Timeless Woods Only in The Indigo Disk : Blueberry Academy Store(TM Machine: 5,000 LP Mimikyu Scrap ×3 Azurill Fur ×3 Falinks Sweat ×3 Blueberry Academy Store: 25 BP)
  • TM85taught in
    Legends Za
    Generation IV
    • D P PtValor Lakefront
    • HG SSViridian City
    Generation V
    • B WDreamyard
    • B2 W2Dreamyard
    Generation VI
    • X YBattle Maison(48 BP)
    • OR ASSafari Zone
    Generation VII
    • S MHaina Desert
    • US UMHaina Desert
    Generation VIII
    • Sw ShPrize for defeating Piers
    • BD SPValor Lakefront · Grand Underground merchant(×20 or 22 ×20 or 22 ×20 or 22 ×13 or 15 BD /10 or 13 SP ×10 or 13 BD /13 or 15 SP)
    Generation IX
    • S VLos Platos · East Province (Area One) · South Province (Area Five) · West Province (Area Two) · TM Machine Only in The Teal Mask : Apple Hills(400 LP Drowzee Fur ×3)
    • ZARestaurant Le Nah (reward for completing Side Mission 029: "Full Course of Battles: One Star")
Introduced in Generation I· Learned by 1266 Pokémon