Substitute forces the user to sacrifice one-quarter of maximum HP to generate a barrier. This protective decoy absorbs incoming attacks until its own health pool reaches zero, effectively shielding the primary combatant from various incoming damage types during intense competitive battles.
Substitute functions as a specialized status maneuver requiring precise HP management to deploy effectively. By sacrificing one quarter of its maximum health, the user generates a decoy that absorbs damage, shielding the primary combatant from direct effects until the barrier breaks. Evaluate this move by prioritizing defensive survivability and optimal timing to protect your key team members from damage.
Power
0
Accuracy
101%
Priority
0
Effect rate
—
The user loses 1/4 of its max HP to create a substitute. The substitute will be hit by moves instead of the user and it will vanish when it takes damage equal to 1/4 of the user's max HP.
Substitute operates through specific mechanical markers that define its defensive footprint during combat. By reviewing these classification flags, players gain insight into how the move interacts with targeted offense and various field conditions. Evaluating these traits allows trainers to anticipate defensive windows and manage resource costs effectively within high-stakes team rotations.
This move does not pick up any of the tracked Pokemon Champions interaction traits above.
Understanding which Pokemon utilize Substitute provides immediate insight into diverse battle strategies and defensive meta-game roles. By bridging move data with the full learner pool, players gain the ability to visualize tactical distribution across the roster. This connection transforms isolated stats into actionable team-building research for every training scenario.
Evaluating Substitute alongside other status-based defensive tools helps identify the trade-offs between static health reduction and alternative damage mitigation strategies. By comparing these specific move behaviors, trainers gain insight into which defensive profiles suit their current team composition without relying on subjective rankings or simplified effectiveness claims for any single utility option.
Primary effect
During the turn this move is used if the user takes damage from a move that would knock it out it will endure the hit with 1 HP. With each consecutive use this move's chance of success becomes 1/3 of what it was before.
Primary effect
The user protects itself from incoming moves for the turn. With each consecutive use this move's chance of success becomes 1/3 of what it was before.
Primary effect
Can be used only if the user is asleep. The user uses one of the other moves it knows at random.
Primary effect
Boosts the power of an ally's move by 50% during the turn this move is used.
Broaden battle knowledge by comparing Substitute against other status-altering options. Understanding move categories and specific health-cost mechanics remains vital for building effective defensive strategies and optimizing team performance during challenging encounters.