Brutal Swing
DarkBrutal Swing is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 60 base power, 100% accuracy, 20 PP and targets all adjacent Pokémon, including allies. As a spread move it can hit multiple Pokémon at once. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.
Technical data
- Type
- Dark
- Category
- physical
- Power
- 60
- Accuracy
- 100
- PP
- 20
- Priority
- 0
- Target
- all-adjacent
- Contact
- Yes
- Spread
- Yes
- Protect blocks
- Yes
- Wide Guard blocks
- Yes
Competitive value
Useful as a spread option in doubles, pressuring both opponents at once; watch for Wide Guard.
How to learn it
Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.
Level-up18 Pokémon
Sandaconda
Hatterene Gmax
Sandaconda Gmax
Runerigus
Tinkaton
Hatterene
TM / HM210 Pokémon
Incineroar
Metagross Mega
Tyranitar Mega
Steelix Mega
Greninja Ash
Greninja Mega
Gyarados Mega
Barbaracle Mega
Ampharos Mega
Heracross Mega
Scizor Mega
Kommo O Totem
Garchomp Mega Z
Garchomp Mega
Sceptile Mega
Aerodactyl Mega
Malamar Mega
Goodra Hisui
Dragonite Mega
Hydreigon
Pinsir Mega
Charizard Mega Y
Kommo O
Charizard Mega X
Excadrill Mega
Goodra
Crabominable Mega
Lopunny Mega
Dragonite
Charizard Gmax
Rhyperior
Garchomp
Aerodactyl
Aggron Mega
Sandaconda
Aegislash Blade
Tyranitar
Greninja Battle Bond
Hatterene Gmax
Charizard
Gyarados
Greninja
Absol Mega
Raichu Mega Y
Aggron
Absol Mega Z
Heracross
Sandaconda Gmax
Raichu Mega X
Barbaracle
Raichu Alola
Sceptile
Scizor
Mawile Mega
Steelix
Heliolisk
Passimian
Conkeldurr
Oranguru
Ampharos
Milotic
Runerigus
Hatterene
Gourgeist Average
Krookodile
Beedrill Mega
Excadrill
Crabominable
Slowbro Galar
Aegislash Shield
Malamar
Metagross
Pinsir
Serperior
Trevenant
Tyrantrum
Gourgeist Super
Gliscor
Gourgeist Large
Raichu
Absol
Lopunny
Gourgeist Small
Arbok
Diggersby
Azumarill
Beedrill
Mawile
Pokémon that use this move
214 Pokémon, sorted by usage
Incineroar
Metagross Mega
Tyranitar Mega
Steelix Mega
Greninja Ash
Greninja Mega
Gyarados Mega
Barbaracle Mega
Ampharos Mega
Heracross Mega
Scizor Mega
Kommo O Totem
Garchomp Mega Z
Garchomp Mega
Sceptile Mega
Aerodactyl Mega
Malamar Mega
Goodra Hisui
Dragonite Mega
Hydreigon
Pinsir Mega
Charizard Mega Y
Kommo O
Charizard Mega X
Excadrill Mega
Goodra
Crabominable Mega
Lopunny Mega
Dragonite
Charizard Gmax
Rhyperior
Garchomp
Aerodactyl
Aggron Mega
Sandaconda
Aegislash Blade
Tyranitar
Greninja Battle Bond
Hatterene Gmax
Charizard
Gyarados
Greninja
Absol Mega
Raichu Mega Y
Aggron
Absol Mega Z
Heracross
Sandaconda Gmax
Raichu Mega X
Barbaracle
Raichu Alola
Sceptile
Scizor
Mawile Mega
Steelix
Heliolisk
Passimian
Conkeldurr
Oranguru
Ampharos
Milotic
Runerigus
Tinkaton
Hatterene
Gourgeist Average
Krookodile
Beedrill Mega
Excadrill
Crabominable
Slowbro Galar
Aegislash Shield
Malamar
Metagross
Pinsir
Serperior
Trevenant
Tyrantrum
Gourgeist Super
Gliscor
Gourgeist Large
Raichu
Absol
Lopunny
Gourgeist Small
Arbok
Diggersby
Azumarill
Beedrill
Mawile
What this move does
Brutal Swing is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 60 base power, 100% accuracy, 20 PP and targets all adjacent Pokémon, including allies. As a spread move it can affect multiple Pokémon at once. It makes contact, which matters for abilities and items that trigger on contact. Brutal Swing is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 60 base power, 100% accuracy, 20 PP and targets all adjacent Pokémon, including allies. As a spread move it can hit multiple Pokémon at once. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.
Useful as a spread option in doubles, pressuring both opponents at once; watch for Wide Guard.
When to consider it
Consider Brutal Swing when you want to pressure both opponents simultaneously. Spread attacks are powerful in doubles, but remember that they can be blocked by Wide Guard and may hit your own partner if they target all adjacent Pokémon. Pair it with Pokémon that are immune or resistant to its type, or protect your partner with Follow Me, Rage Powder or a well-timed Protect.
How to evaluate it in team building
In team building, Brutal Swing helps compress coverage into a single moveslot because it threatens two foes at once. It works best on teams that can control the board with speed, redirection or Protect. Make sure your team does not rely too heavily on the same defensive typing, because a spread weakness can be punished by Wide Guard or an immune switch-in.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes with Brutal Swing include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. Hitting your own partner with friendly fire in spread matchups. Spamming it predictably and letting the opponent switch into a resist. Not considering how redirectors like Follow Me and Rage Powder change targeting.
VGC interactions
Protect and Detect block this move. Wide Guard blocks the spread effect. Spread moves hit both foes but may also damage your ally. These interactions are situational, so test them in the team builder and matchup analyzer before committing to the moveslot.
Related tools and guides
Use the tools below to test Brutal Swing in a full team context and compare it with alternative options.
VGC interactions
- Protect / Detect: blocks this move.
- Wide Guard: blocks this spread move.
- Follow Me / Rage Powder: spread moves are not redirected.
- Quick Guard: no effect (non-priority).
Frequently asked questions
+Is Brutal Swing good in ChampionsVGC?
Useful as a spread option in doubles, pressuring both opponents at once; watch for Wide Guard. It is blocked by Protect and Detect, which can waste a key turn if predicted.
+Is Brutal Swing blocked by Protect?
Yes, Brutal Swing is blocked by Protect and Detect.