Brutal Swing

Dark

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.

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

  • SandacondaSandaconda
  • Hatterene GmaxHatterene Gmax
  • Sandaconda GmaxSandaconda Gmax
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • TinkatonTinkaton
  • HattereneHatterene

TM / HM210 Pokémon

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Metagross MegaMetagross Mega
  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Steelix MegaSteelix Mega
  • Greninja AshGreninja Ash
  • Greninja MegaGreninja Mega
  • Gyarados MegaGyarados Mega
  • Barbaracle MegaBarbaracle Mega
  • Ampharos MegaAmpharos Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • Scizor MegaScizor Mega
  • Kommo O TotemKommo O Totem
  • Garchomp Mega ZGarchomp Mega Z
  • Garchomp MegaGarchomp Mega
  • Sceptile MegaSceptile Mega
  • Aerodactyl MegaAerodactyl Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Goodra HisuiGoodra Hisui
  • Dragonite MegaDragonite Mega
  • HydreigonHydreigon
  • Pinsir MegaPinsir Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Excadrill MegaExcadrill Mega
  • GoodraGoodra
  • Crabominable MegaCrabominable Mega
  • Lopunny MegaLopunny Mega
  • DragoniteDragonite
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • RhyperiorRhyperior
  • GarchompGarchomp
  • AerodactylAerodactyl
  • Aggron MegaAggron Mega
  • SandacondaSandaconda
  • Aegislash BladeAegislash Blade
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Greninja Battle BondGreninja Battle Bond
  • Hatterene GmaxHatterene Gmax
  • CharizardCharizard
  • GyaradosGyarados
  • GreninjaGreninja
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • Raichu Mega YRaichu Mega Y
  • AggronAggron
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • Sandaconda GmaxSandaconda Gmax
  • Raichu Mega XRaichu Mega X
  • BarbaracleBarbaracle
  • Raichu AlolaRaichu Alola
  • SceptileSceptile
  • ScizorScizor
  • Mawile MegaMawile Mega
  • SteelixSteelix
  • HelioliskHeliolisk
  • PassimianPassimian
  • ConkeldurrConkeldurr
  • OranguruOranguru
  • AmpharosAmpharos
  • MiloticMilotic
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • HattereneHatterene
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • Beedrill MegaBeedrill Mega
  • ExcadrillExcadrill
  • CrabominableCrabominable
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • Aegislash ShieldAegislash Shield
  • MalamarMalamar
  • MetagrossMetagross
  • PinsirPinsir
  • SerperiorSerperior
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • TyrantrumTyrantrum
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • GliscorGliscor
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • RaichuRaichu
  • AbsolAbsol
  • LopunnyLopunny
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • ArbokArbok
  • DiggersbyDiggersby
  • AzumarillAzumarill
  • BeedrillBeedrill
  • MawileMawile

Pokémon that use this move

214 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Metagross MegaMetagross Mega
  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Steelix MegaSteelix Mega
  • Greninja AshGreninja Ash
  • Greninja MegaGreninja Mega
  • Gyarados MegaGyarados Mega
  • Barbaracle MegaBarbaracle Mega
  • Ampharos MegaAmpharos Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • Scizor MegaScizor Mega
  • Kommo O TotemKommo O Totem
  • Garchomp Mega ZGarchomp Mega Z
  • Garchomp MegaGarchomp Mega
  • Sceptile MegaSceptile Mega
  • Aerodactyl MegaAerodactyl Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Goodra HisuiGoodra Hisui
  • Dragonite MegaDragonite Mega
  • HydreigonHydreigon
  • Pinsir MegaPinsir Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Excadrill MegaExcadrill Mega
  • GoodraGoodra
  • Crabominable MegaCrabominable Mega
  • Lopunny MegaLopunny Mega
  • DragoniteDragonite
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • RhyperiorRhyperior
  • GarchompGarchomp
  • AerodactylAerodactyl
  • Aggron MegaAggron Mega
  • SandacondaSandaconda
  • Aegislash BladeAegislash Blade
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Greninja Battle BondGreninja Battle Bond
  • Hatterene GmaxHatterene Gmax
  • CharizardCharizard
  • GyaradosGyarados
  • GreninjaGreninja
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • Raichu Mega YRaichu Mega Y
  • AggronAggron
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • Sandaconda GmaxSandaconda Gmax
  • Raichu Mega XRaichu Mega X
  • BarbaracleBarbaracle
  • Raichu AlolaRaichu Alola
  • SceptileSceptile
  • ScizorScizor
  • Mawile MegaMawile Mega
  • SteelixSteelix
  • HelioliskHeliolisk
  • PassimianPassimian
  • ConkeldurrConkeldurr
  • OranguruOranguru
  • AmpharosAmpharos
  • MiloticMilotic
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • TinkatonTinkaton
  • HattereneHatterene
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • Beedrill MegaBeedrill Mega
  • ExcadrillExcadrill
  • CrabominableCrabominable
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • Aegislash ShieldAegislash Shield
  • MalamarMalamar
  • MetagrossMetagross
  • PinsirPinsir
  • SerperiorSerperior
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • TyrantrumTyrantrum
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • GliscorGliscor
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • RaichuRaichu
  • AbsolAbsol
  • LopunnyLopunny
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • ArbokArbok
  • DiggersbyDiggersby
  • AzumarillAzumarill
  • BeedrillBeedrill
  • MawileMawile

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.

Last updated: July 2026 · This entry is kept navigable while additional editorial context is being added.
All figures are estimated trends based on available data and do not guarantee competitive results. Matchups are situational. See our methodology for how these figures are calculated.