Foul Play
DarkFoul 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 Mega
Malamar Mega
Zoroark
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Sinistcha
Grimmsnarl
Oranguru
Zoroark Hisui
Krookodile
Malamar
Houndoom
Sableye Mega
Umbreon
Klefki
Sableye
TM / HM206 Pokémon
Tyranitar Mega
Houndoom Mega
Delphox Mega
Kingambit
Glalie Mega
Slowbro Mega
Malamar Mega
Gengar Mega
Archaludon
Alakazam Mega
Scrafty Mega
Zoroark
Mr Rime
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Tyranitar
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Alakazam
Absol Mega
Ninetales
Meowscarada
Absol Mega Z
Farigiraf
Lycanroc Midnight
Weavile
Sinistcha
Delphox
Banette Mega
Mawile Mega
Rotom Mow
Grimmsnarl
Slowking Galar
Spiritomb
Oranguru
Rotom Fan
Zoroark Hisui
Bastiodon
Rotom Frost
Tinkaton
Gourgeist Average
Rotom Wash
Krookodile
Rotom Heat
Polteageist
Scrafty
Stunfisk
Slowbro Galar
Glalie
Malamar
Houndoom
Sableye Mega
Slowbro
Umbreon
Toxicroak
Salazzle
Trevenant
Gourgeist Super
Espathra
Gourgeist Large
Ninetales Alola
Absol
Pangoro
Gourgeist Small
Klefki
Slowking
Salazzle Totem
Liepard
Stunfisk Galar
Banette
Rotom
Morpeko Hangry
Morpeko Full Belly
Diggersby
Ariados
Mawile
Sableye
Move Tutor152 Pokémon
Tyranitar Mega
Houndoom Mega
Delphox Mega
Slowbro Mega
Malamar Mega
Gengar Mega
Alakazam Mega
Scrafty Mega
Zoroark
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Tyranitar
Alakazam
Absol Mega
Ninetales
Absol Mega Z
Lycanroc Midnight
Weavile
Delphox
Banette Mega
Mawile Mega
Rotom Mow
Slowking Galar
Spiritomb
Oranguru
Rotom Fan
Zoroark Hisui
Rotom Frost
Gourgeist Average
Rotom Wash
Krookodile
Rotom Heat
Scrafty
Stunfisk
Slowbro Galar
Malamar
Houndoom
Sableye Mega
Slowbro
Umbreon
Toxicroak
Salazzle
Trevenant
Gourgeist Super
Gourgeist Large
Ninetales Alola
Absol
Pangoro
Gourgeist Small
Klefki
Slowking
Salazzle Totem
Liepard
Stunfisk Galar
Banette
Rotom
Diggersby
Ariados
Mawile
Sableye
Egg move (breeding)11 Pokémon
Spiritomb
Pokémon that use this move
209 Pokémon, sorted by usage
Tyranitar Mega
Houndoom Mega
Delphox Mega
Kingambit
Glalie Mega
Slowbro Mega
Malamar Mega
Gengar Mega
Archaludon
Alakazam Mega
Scrafty Mega
Zoroark
Mr Rime
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Tyranitar
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Alakazam
Absol Mega
Ninetales
Meowscarada
Absol Mega Z
Farigiraf
Lycanroc Midnight
Weavile
Sinistcha
Delphox
Banette Mega
Mawile Mega
Rotom Mow
Grimmsnarl
Slowking Galar
Spiritomb
Oranguru
Rotom Fan
Zoroark Hisui
Bastiodon
Rotom Frost
Tinkaton
Gourgeist Average
Rotom Wash
Krookodile
Rotom Heat
Polteageist
Scrafty
Stunfisk
Slowbro Galar
Glalie
Malamar
Houndoom
Sableye Mega
Slowbro
Umbreon
Toxicroak
Salazzle
Trevenant
Gourgeist Super
Espathra
Gourgeist Large
Ninetales Alola
Absol
Pangoro
Gourgeist Small
Klefki
Slowking
Salazzle Totem
Liepard
Stunfisk Galar
Banette
Rotom
Morpeko Hangry
Morpeko Full Belly
Diggersby
Ariados
Mawile
Sableye
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.