Foul Play

Dark

Foul Play is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 95 base power, 100% accuracy, 15 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.

Technical data

Type
Dark
Category
physical
Power
95
Accuracy
100
PP
15
Priority
0
Target
adjacent
Contact
Yes
Spread
No
Protect blocks
Yes
Wide Guard blocks
No

Competitive value

A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder.

How to learn it

Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.

Level-up31 Pokémon

  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Grimmsnarl GmaxGrimmsnarl Gmax
  • SinistchaSinistcha
  • GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarl
  • OranguruOranguru
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • KlefkiKlefki
  • SableyeSableye

TM / HM206 Pokémon

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Delphox MegaDelphox Mega
  • KingambitKingambit
  • Glalie MegaGlalie Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • ArchaludonArchaludon
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Mr RimeMr Rime
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Grimmsnarl GmaxGrimmsnarl Gmax
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • MeowscaradaMeowscarada
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • FarigirafFarigiraf
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • WeavileWeavile
  • SinistchaSinistcha
  • DelphoxDelphox
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Mawile MegaMawile Mega
  • Rotom MowRotom Mow
  • GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarl
  • Slowking GalarSlowking Galar
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • OranguruOranguru
  • Rotom FanRotom Fan
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • BastiodonBastiodon
  • Rotom FrostRotom Frost
  • TinkatonTinkaton
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • Rotom WashRotom Wash
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • Rotom HeatRotom Heat
  • PolteageistPolteageist
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • StunfiskStunfisk
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • GlalieGlalie
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • SalazzleSalazzle
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • EspathraEspathra
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • AbsolAbsol
  • PangoroPangoro
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • KlefkiKlefki
  • SlowkingSlowking
  • Salazzle TotemSalazzle Totem
  • LiepardLiepard
  • Stunfisk GalarStunfisk Galar
  • BanetteBanette
  • RotomRotom
  • Morpeko HangryMorpeko Hangry
  • Morpeko Full BellyMorpeko Full Belly
  • DiggersbyDiggersby
  • AriadosAriados
  • MawileMawile
  • SableyeSableye

Move Tutor152 Pokémon

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Delphox MegaDelphox Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • WeavileWeavile
  • DelphoxDelphox
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Mawile MegaMawile Mega
  • Rotom MowRotom Mow
  • Slowking GalarSlowking Galar
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • OranguruOranguru
  • Rotom FanRotom Fan
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • Rotom FrostRotom Frost
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • Rotom WashRotom Wash
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • Rotom HeatRotom Heat
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • StunfiskStunfisk
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • SalazzleSalazzle
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • AbsolAbsol
  • PangoroPangoro
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • KlefkiKlefki
  • SlowkingSlowking
  • Salazzle TotemSalazzle Totem
  • LiepardLiepard
  • Stunfisk GalarStunfisk Galar
  • BanetteBanette
  • RotomRotom
  • DiggersbyDiggersby
  • AriadosAriados
  • MawileMawile
  • SableyeSableye

Egg move (breeding)11 Pokémon

  • SpiritombSpiritomb

Pokémon that use this move

209 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Delphox MegaDelphox Mega
  • KingambitKingambit
  • Glalie MegaGlalie Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • ArchaludonArchaludon
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Mr RimeMr Rime
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Grimmsnarl GmaxGrimmsnarl Gmax
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • MeowscaradaMeowscarada
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • FarigirafFarigiraf
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • WeavileWeavile
  • SinistchaSinistcha
  • DelphoxDelphox
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Mawile MegaMawile Mega
  • Rotom MowRotom Mow
  • GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarl
  • Slowking GalarSlowking Galar
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • OranguruOranguru
  • Rotom FanRotom Fan
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • BastiodonBastiodon
  • Rotom FrostRotom Frost
  • TinkatonTinkaton
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • Rotom WashRotom Wash
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • Rotom HeatRotom Heat
  • PolteageistPolteageist
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • StunfiskStunfisk
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • GlalieGlalie
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • SalazzleSalazzle
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • EspathraEspathra
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • AbsolAbsol
  • PangoroPangoro
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • KlefkiKlefki
  • SlowkingSlowking
  • Salazzle TotemSalazzle Totem
  • LiepardLiepard
  • Stunfisk GalarStunfisk Galar
  • BanetteBanette
  • RotomRotom
  • Morpeko HangryMorpeko Hangry
  • Morpeko Full BellyMorpeko Full Belly
  • DiggersbyDiggersby
  • AriadosAriados
  • MawileMawile
  • SableyeSableye

What this move does

Foul Play is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 95 base power, 100% accuracy, 15 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for abilities and items that trigger on contact. Foul Play is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 95 base power, 100% accuracy, 15 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.

A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder.

When to consider it

Consider Foul Play when its type and power cover targets your team otherwise struggles with. Single-target attacks are reliable and do not risk your own partner, but they can be redirected by Follow Me or Rage Powder. Evaluate the move alongside your team's speed tiers and overall coverage.

How to evaluate it in team building

In team building, Foul Play is usually a coverage or primary STAB option. It shines when your team already has speed control or when it patches a matchup hole. Compare it with alternative moves of the same type and category to decide whether the extra power, accuracy or side effect justifies the slot over a more defensive option.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes with Foul Play include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. 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. 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 Foul Play in a full team context and compare it with alternative options.

VGC interactions

  • Protect / Detect: blocks this move.
  • Wide Guard: does not block this move.
  • Follow Me / Rage Powder: spread moves are not redirected.
  • Quick Guard: no effect (non-priority).

Frequently asked questions

Is Foul Play good in ChampionsVGC?

A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder. It is blocked by Protect and Detect, which can waste a key turn if predicted.

Is Foul Play blocked by Protect?

Yes, Foul Play 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.