Unusable Attacks

In Pokémon Sword & Shield, there are some moves that cannot be used, regardless of if they have been transferred in by a Pokémon that learned the move in a previous game. When you get a Pokémon with these moves, the game will tell you it's best to delete it.

List of Unusable Moves

Name	Type	Cat	PP	Base Power	Accuracy	Effect
10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt			1	195	101	The user, Pikachu wearing a cap, powers up a jolt of electricity using its Z-Power and unleashes it. Critical hits land more easily.
Acid Downpour			1	--	101	The user creates a poisonous swamp using its Z-Power and sinks the target into it at full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Acid Downpour			1	--	101	The user creates a poisonous swamp using its Z-Power and sinks the target into it at full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
All-Out Pummeling			1	--	101	The user rams an energy orb created by its Z-Power into the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
All-Out Pummeling			1	--	101	The user rams an energy orb created by its Z-Power into the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Assist			20	--	101	The user hurriedly and randomly uses a move among those known by ally Pokémon.
Baddy Bad			15	80	95	The user acts bad and attacks the target. A wondrous wall of light is put up to weaken the power of the opposing Pokémon’s physical moves.
Barrage			20	15	85	Round objects are hurled at the target to strike two to five times in a row.
Barrier			20	--	101	The user throws up a sturdy wall that sharply raises its Defense stat.
Bestow			15	--	101	The user passes its held item to the target when the target isn't holding an item.
Bide			10	--	101	The user endures attacks for two turns, then strikes back to cause double the damage taken.
Black Hole Eclipse			1	--	101	The user gathers dark energy using its Z-Power and sucks the target into it. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Black Hole Eclipse			1	--	101	The user gathers dark energy using its Z-Power and sucks the target into it. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Bloom Doom			1	--	101	The user collects energy from plants using its Z-Power and attacks the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Bloom Doom			1	--	101	The user collects energy from plants using its Z-Power and attacks the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Bone Club			20	65	85	The user clubs the target with a bone. This may also make the target flinch.
Bouncy Bubble			20	60	100	The user attacks by shooting water bubbles at the target. It then absorbs water and restores its HP by half the damage taken by the target.
Breakneck Blitz			1	--	101	The user builds up its momentum using its Z-Power and crashes into the target at full speed. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Breakneck Blitz			1	--	101	The user builds up its momentum using its Z-Power and crashes into the target at full speed. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Bubble			30	40	100	A spray of countless bubbles is jetted at the opposing Pokémon. This may also lower their Speed stat.
Buzzy Buzz			20	60	100	The user shoots a jolt of electricity to attack the target. This also leaves the target with paralysis.
Camouflage			20	--	101	The user's type is changed depending on its environment, such as at water's edge, in grass, or in a cave.
Captivate			20	--	100	If any opposing Pokémon is the opposite gender of the user, it is charmed, which harshly lowers its Sp. Atk stat.
Catastropika			1	210	101	The user, Pikachu, surrounds itself with the maximum amount of electricity using its Z-Power and pounces on its target with full force.
Chip Away			20	70	100	Looking for an opening, the user strikes consistently. The target's stat changes don't affect this attack's damage.
Clamp			15	35	85	The target is clamped and squeezed by the user's very thick and sturdy shell for four to five turns.
Clangorous Soulblaze			1	185	101	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Kommo-o, attacks the opposing Pokémon with full force. This move boosts the user's stats.
Comet Punch			15	18	85	The target is hit with a flurry of punches that strike two to five times in a row.
Constrict			35	10	100	The target is attacked with long, creeping tentacles, vines, or the like. This may also lower the target's Speed stat.
Continental Crush			1	--	101	The user summons a huge rock mountain using its Z-Power and drops it onto the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Continental Crush			1	--	101	The user summons a huge rock mountain using its Z-Power and drops it onto the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Corkscrew Crash			1	--	101	The user spins very fast and rams into the target with the full force of its Z-Power. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Corkscrew Crash			1	--	101	The user spins very fast and rams into the target with the full force of its Z-Power. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Devastating Drake			1	--	101	The user materializes its aura using its Z-Power and attacks the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Devastating Drake			1	--	101	The user materializes its aura using its Z-Power and attacks the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Dizzy Punch			10	70	100	The target is hit with rhythmically launched punches. This may also leave the target confused.
Double Slap			10	15	85	The target is slapped repeatedly, back and forth, two to five times in a row.
Dragon Rage			10	--	100	This attack hits the target with a shock wave of pure rage. This attack always inflicts 40 HP damage.
Egg Bomb			10	100	75	A large egg is hurled at the target with maximum force to inflict damage.
Embargo			15	--	100	This move prevents the target from using its held item for five turns. Its Trainer is also prevented from using items on it.
Extreme Evoboost			1	--	101	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Eevee, gets energy from its evolved friends and boosts its stats sharply.
Feint Attack			20	60	101	The user approaches the target disarmingly, then throws a sucker punch. This attack never misses.
Flame Burst			15	70	100	The user attacks the target with a bursting flame. The bursting flame damages Pokémon next to the target as well.
Flash			20	--	100	The user flashes a bright light that cuts the target's accuracy.
Floaty Fall			15	90	95	The user floats in the air, and then dives at a steep angle to attack the target. This may also make the target flinch.
Foresight			40	--	101	Enables a Ghost-type target to be hit by Normal- and Fighting-type attacks. This also enables an evasive target to be hit.
Freezy Frost			10	100	90	The user attacks with a crystal made of cold frozen haze. It eliminates every stat change among all the Pokémon engaged in battle.
Frustration			20	--	100	This full-power attack grows more powerful the less the user likes its Trainer.
Genesis Supernova			1	185	101	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Mew, attacks the target with full force. The terrain will be charged with psychic energy.
Gigavolt Havoc			1	--	101	The user hits the target with a powerful electric current collected by its Z-Power. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Gigavolt Havoc			1	--	101	The user hits the target with a powerful electric current collected by its Z-Power. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Glitzy Glow			15	80	95	The user bombards the target with telekinetic force. A wondrous wall of light is put up to weaken the power of the opposing Pokémon’s special moves.
Grass Whistle			15	--	55	The user plays a pleasant melody that lulls the target into a deep sleep.
Guardian of Alola			1	--	101	The user, the Land Spirit Pokémon, obtains Alola's energy using its Z-Power and attacks the target with full force. This reduces the target's HP greatly.
Heal Block			15	--	100	For five turns, the user prevents the opposing team from using any moves, Abilities, or held items that recover HP.
Heal Order			10	--	101	The user calls out its underlings to heal it. The user regains up to half of its max HP.
Heart Stamp			25	60	100	The user unleashes a vicious blow after its cute act makes the target less wary. This may also make the target flinch.
Heart Swap			10	--	101	The user employs its psychic power to switch stat changes with the target.
Hidden Power			15	60	100	A unique attack that varies in type depending on the Pokémon using it.
Hydro Vortex			1	--	101	The user creates a huge whirling current using its Z-Power to swallow the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Hydro Vortex			1	--	101	The user creates a huge whirling current using its Z-Power to swallow the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Ice Ball			20	30	90	The user attacks the target for five turns. The move's power increases each time it hits.
Inferno Overdrive			1	--	101	The user breathes a stream of intense fire toward the target with the full force of its Z-Power. The power varies depending on the original move.
Inferno Overdrive			1	--	101	The user breathes a stream of intense fire toward the target with the full force of its Z-Power. The power varies depending on the original move.
Ion Deluge			25	--	101	The user disperses electrically charged particles, which changes Normal-type moves to Electric-type moves.
Jump Kick			10	100	95	The user jumps up high, then strikes with a kick. If the kick misses, the user hurts itself.
Karate Chop			25	50	100	The target is attacked with a sharp chop. Critical hits land more easily.
Let's Snuggle Forever			1	190	101	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Mimikyu, punches the target with full force.
Light That Burns the Sky			1	200	101	This attack inflicts Attack or Sp. Atk damage— whichever stat is higher for the user, Necrozma. This move ignores the target's Ability.
Lucky Chant			30	--	101	The user chants an incantation toward the sky, preventing opposing Pokémon from landing critical hits for five turns.
Magnet Bomb			20	60	101	The user launches steel bombs that stick to the target. This attack never misses.
Magnitude			30	--	100	The user attacks everything around it with a ground-shaking quake. Its power varies.
Malicious Moonsault			1	180	101	The user, Incineroar, strengthens its body using its Z-Power and crashes into the target with full force.
Me First			20	--	101	The user cuts ahead of the target to copy and use the target's intended move with greater power. This move fails if it isn't used first.
Meditate			40	--	101	The user meditates to awaken the power deep within its body and raise its Attack stat.
Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom			1	200	101	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Lunala, attacks the target with full force. This move can ignore the effect of the target's Ability.
Miracle Eye			40	--	101	Enables a Dark-type target to be hit by Psychic-type attacks. This also enables an evasive target to be hit.
Mirror Move			20	--	101	The user counters the target by mimicking the target's last move.
Mirror Shot			10	65	85	The user lets loose a flash of energy at the target from its polished body. This may also lower the target's accuracy.
Mud Bomb			10	65	85	The user launches a hard-packed mud ball to attack. This may also lower the target's accuracy.
Mud Sport			15	--	101	The user kicks up mud on the battlefield. This weakens Electric-type moves for five turns.
Natural Gift			15	--	100	The user draws power to attack by using its held Berry. The Berry determines the move's type and power.
Needle Arm			15	60	100	The user attacks by wildly swinging its thorny arms. This may also make the target flinch.
Never-Ending Nightmare			1	--	101	Deep-seated grudges summoned by the user's Z-Power trap the target. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Never-Ending Nightmare			1	--	101	Deep-seated grudges summoned by the user's Z-Power trap the target. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Nightmare			15	--	100	A sleeping target sees a nightmare that inflicts some damage every turn.
Oceanic Operetta			1	195	101	The user, Primarina, summons a massive amount of water using its Z-Power and attacks the target with full force.
Odor Sleuth			40	--	101	Enables a Ghost-type target to be hit by Normal- and Fighting-type attacks. This also enables an evasive target to be hit.
Ominous Wind			5	60	100	The user blasts the target with a gust of repulsive wind. This may also raise all the user's stats at once.
Pika Papow			20	--	101	The more Pikachu loves its Trainer, the greater the move’s power. It never misses.
Psycho Boost			5	140	90	The user attacks the target at full power. The attack's recoil harshly lowers the user's Sp. Atk stat.
Psywave			15	--	100	The target is attacked with an odd psychic wave. The attack varies in intensity.
Pulverizing Pancake			1	210	101	Z-Power brings out the true capabilities of the user, Snorlax. The Pokémon moves its enormous body energetically and attacks the target with full force.
Punishment			5	--	100	The more the target has powered up with stat changes, the greater the move's power.
Pursuit			20	40	100	The power of this attack move is doubled if it's used on a target that's switching out of battle.
Rage			20	20	100	As long as this move is in use, the power of rage raises the Attack stat each time the user is hit in battle.
Razor Wind			10	80	100	In this two-turn attack, blades of wind hit opposing Pokémon on the second turn. Critical hits land more easily.
Refresh			20	--	101	The user rests to cure itself of poisoning, a burn, or paralysis.
Return			20	--	100	This full-power attack grows more powerful the more the user likes its Trainer.
Rock Climb			20	90	85	The user attacks the target by smashing into it with incredible force. This may also confuse the target.
Rolling Kick			15	60	85	The user lashes out with a quick, spinning kick. This may also make the target flinch.
Rototiller			10	--	101	Tilling the soil, the user makes it easier for plants to grow. This raises the Attack and Sp. Atk stats of Grass-type Pokémon.
Sappy Seed			10	100	90	The user grows a gigantic stalk that scatters seeds to attack the target. The seeds drain the target’s HP every turn.
Savage Spin-Out			1	--	101	The user binds the target with full force with threads of silk that the user spits using its Z-Power. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Savage Spin-Out			1	--	101	The user binds the target with full force with threads of silk that the user spits using its Z-Power. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Searing Sunraze Smash			1	200	101	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Solgaleo, attacks the target with full force. This move can ignore the effect of the target's Ability.
Secret Power			20	70	100	The additional effects of this attack depend upon where it was used.
Sharpen			30	--	101	The user makes its edges more jagged, which raises its Attack stat.
Shattered Psyche			1	--	101	The user controls the target with its Z-Power and hurts the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Shattered Psyche			1	--	101	The user controls the target with its Z-Power and hurts the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Signal Beam			15	75	100	The user attacks with a sinister beam of light. This may also confuse the target.
Silver Wind			5	60	100	The target is attacked with powdery scales blown by the wind. This may also raise all the user's stats.
Sinister Arrow Raid			1	180	101	The user, Decidueye, creates countless arrows using its Z-Power and shoots the target with full force.
Sizzly Slide			20	60	100	The user cloaks itself in fire and charges at the target. This also leaves the target with a burn.
Sky Drop			10	60	100	The user takes the target into the sky, then drops it during the next turn. The target cannot attack while in the sky.
Sky Uppercut			15	85	90	The user attacks the target with an uppercut thrown skyward with force.
Smelling Salts			10	70	100	This attack's power is doubled when used on a target with paralysis. This also cures the target's paralysis, however.
Snatch			10	--	101	The user steals the effects of any attempts to use a healing or stat-changing move.
Sonic Boom			20	--	90	The target is hit with a destructive shock wave that always inflicts 20 HP damage.
Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike			1	195	101	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Marshadow, punches and kicks the target consecutively with full force.
Sparkly Swirl			5	120	85	The user attacks the target by wrapping it with a whirlwind of an overpowering scent. This also heals all status conditions of the user’s party.
Spider Web			10	--	101	The user ensnares the target with thin, gooey silk so it can't flee from battle.
Spike Cannon			15	20	100	Sharp spikes are shot at the target in rapid succession. They hit two to five times in a row.
Splintered Stormshards			1	190	101	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Lycanroc, attacks the target with full force. This move negates the effect on the battlefield.
Splishy Splash			15	90	100	The user charges a huge wave with electricity and hits the opposing Pokémon with the wave. This may also leave the opposing Pokémon with paralysis.
Spotlight			15	--	101	The user shines a spotlight on the target so that only the target will be attacked during the turn.
Steamroller			20	65	100	The user crushes its target by rolling over the target with its rolled-up body. This may also make the target flinch.
Stoked Sparksurfer			1	175	101	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Alolan Raichu, attacks the target with full force. This move leaves the target with paralysis.
Subzero Slammer			1	--	101	The user dramatically drops the temperature using its Z-Power and freezes the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Subzero Slammer			1	--	101	The user dramatically drops the temperature using its Z-Power and freezes the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Supersonic Skystrike			1	--	101	The user soars up with its Z-Power and plummets toward the target at full speed. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Supersonic Skystrike			1	--	101	The user soars up with its Z-Power and plummets toward the target at full speed. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Synchronoise			10	120	100	Using an odd shock wave, the user inflicts damage on any Pokémon of the same type in the area around it.
Tail Glow			20	--	101	The user stares at flashing lights to focus its mind, drastically raising its Sp. Atk stat.
Tectonic Rage			1	--	101	The user burrows deep into the ground and slams into the target with the full force of its Z-Power. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Tectonic Rage			1	--	101	The user burrows deep into the ground and slams into the target with the full force of its Z-Power. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Telekinesis			15	--	101	The user makes the target float with its psychic power. The target is easier to hit for three turns.
Trump Card			5	--	101	The fewer PP this move has, the greater its power.
Twineedle			20	25	100	The user damages the target twice in succession by jabbing it with two spikes. This may also poison the target.
Twinkle Tackle			1	--	101	The user creates a very charming space using its Z-Power and totally toys with the target. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Twinkle Tackle			1	--	101	The user creates a very charming space using its Z-Power and totally toys with the target. The power varies, depending on the original move.
Veevee Volley			20	--	101	The more Eevee loves its Trainer, the greater the move’s power. It never misses.
Wake-Up Slap			10	70	100	This attack inflicts big damage on a sleeping target. This also wakes the target up, however.
Water Sport			15	--	101	The user soaks the battlefield with water. This weakens Fire-type moves for five turns.
Wring Out			5	--	100	The user powerfully wrings the target. The more HP the target has, the greater the move's power.
Zippy Zap			10	80	100	The user attacks the target with bursts of electricity at high speed. This move always goes first and results in a critical hit.