Substitute
Substitute is a rather common attack that is used in many battling environments. This is due to the fact that once the Substitute move is utilised, the Pokémon essentially temporarily backs out of battle and thus the Substitute takes all the hits for the Pokémon. It is also one of the attacks that every Pokémon capable of learning a TM can learn, as its found through TM90 in Sinnoh.
As such, Substitutes take away 25% of your maximum hit points in order to work as a fully-functional substitute. If your Pokémon is below 25% of it's Maximum HP, or it is Shedinja, then the Substitute move will fail and one will not be created.
On first glance, a Substitute will look to some as nothing but a mere stall tactic. However, Substitues do have a variety of extra hidden effects. Firstly, any move that just lowers stats or causes a status condition will fail when used againt the substitute. Moves which have secondary effects that attempt to lower stats or cause status conditions will only do damage and the secondary effect will fail. However, if the Pokémon that made the substitute uses attacks that boost up its stats or cause status afflictions to itself, the effects will occur on the Pokémon. . The substitute also can prevent the Pokémon from flinching if the substitute is hit by a move that causes it.
As the Substitutes receive damage for the Pokémon based upon the HP and the stats of the Pokémon, it is highly possible that many hits will equate to more than 25% of the Pokémon's Max HP. In this case, the Substitute absorbs all the damage and then breaks. One Hit KO moves also will only break the substitute when they hit as opposed to taking out the Pokémon as well. However, if the Pokémon has any of these abilities; Flash Fire, Motor Drive, Volt Absorb or Water Absorb has a Substitute that is hit by a move of the type that activates their ability, the ability effect will still activate. Re-coil from moves used by the Pokémon that created the substitute will also go directly to the Pokémon. If Sandstorm or Hail are in effect and the Pokémon is not of the types that are protected by those weather effects, the damage will still go directly to the Pokémon. It will also prevent moves that trap the Pokémon and inflict damage from trapping and repeating damage infliction.
You have the ability to Baton Pass the Substitue to the next Pokémon as well. This will make the Substitue take the new Pokémon's typing and defenses while keep the HP that it has. It is unaffected by any Entry Hazards. This is also the only way you can have a Shedinja survive multiple successful hits.
There are however, several attacks that Substitute does not block;
| Name |
Type |
Cat. |
PP |
Att. |
Acc. |
Effect |
| Attract |
 |
 |
15 |
-- |
100 |
Makes the opposite gender less likely to attack. |
| Destiny Bond |
 |
|
5 |
-- |
-- |
If the user faints, the foe is also made to faint. |
| Disable |
|
|
20 |
-- |
80 |
Psychically disables one of the foe's moves. |
| Encore |
|
|
5 |
-- |
100 |
Makes the foe repeat its last move over 2 to 6 turns. |
| Foresight |
|
|
40 |
-- |
-- |
Negates the foe's efforts to heighten evasiveness. |
| Guard Swap |
 |
|
10 |
-- |
-- |
Swaps DEFENSE and SP.DEF changes with target |
| Haze |
 |
|
30 |
-- |
-- |
Creates a black haze that eliminates all stat changes. |
| Heart Swap |
|
|
10 |
-- |
-- |
Swaps altered stats with foe |
| Imprison |
|
|
10 |
-- |
-- |
Prevents foes from using moves known by the user. |
| Miracle Eye |
|
|
40 |
-- |
-- |
Removes dark type's psychic immunity and resets foe's evasiveness |
| Odor Sleuth |
|
|
40 |
-- |
-- |
Negates the foe's efforts to heighten evasiveness. |
| Perish Song |
|
|
5 |
-- |
-- |
Any POKéMON hearing this song faints in 3 turns. |
| Psych Up |
|
|
10 |
-- |
-- |
Copies the foe's effect(s) and gives to the user. |
| Roar |
|
|
20 |
-- |
100 |
Makes the foe flee to end the battle. |
| Role Play |
|
|
10 |
-- |
-- |
Mimics the target and copies its special ability. |
| Skill Swap |
|
|
10 |
-- |
-- |
The user swaps special abilities with the target. |
| Spite |
|
|
10 |
-- |
100 |
Spitefully cuts the PP of the foe's last move. |
| Taunt |
 |
|
20 |
-- |
100 |
Taunts the foe into only using attack moves. |
| Torment |
|
|
15 |
-- |
100 |
Torments the foe and stops successive use of a move. |
| Transform |
|
|
10 |
-- |
-- |
Alters the user's cells to become a copy of the foe. |
| Whirlwind |
|
|
20 |
-- |
100 |
Blows away the foe with wind and ends the battle. |
