Payback

Dark

Payback is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 50 base power, 100% accuracy, 10 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
50
Accuracy
100
PP
10
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-up73 Pokémon

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • PelipperPelipper
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Skarmory MegaSkarmory Mega
  • Tauros Paldea Aqua BreedTauros Paldea Aqua Breed
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • Tauros Paldea Combat BreedTauros Paldea Combat Breed
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • TaurosTauros
  • ForretressForretress
  • SkarmorySkarmory

TM / HM372 Pokémon

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Hawlucha MegaHawlucha Mega
  • Steelix MegaSteelix Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Gyarados MegaGyarados Mega
  • Barbaracle MegaBarbaracle Mega
  • Chesnaught MegaChesnaught Mega
  • Falinks MegaFalinks Mega
  • Kommo O TotemKommo O Totem
  • Glalie MegaGlalie Mega
  • Aerodactyl MegaAerodactyl Mega
  • Chandelure MegaChandelure Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • HydreigonHydreigon
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Sharpedo MegaSharpedo Mega
  • Lucario Mega ZLucario Mega Z
  • Lucario MegaLucario Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • Crabominable MegaCrabominable Mega
  • Scolipede MegaScolipede Mega
  • Lopunny MegaLopunny Mega
  • RhyperiorRhyperior
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • AerodactylAerodactyl
  • Froslass MegaFroslass Mega
  • Aggron MegaAggron Mega
  • Mr RimeMr Rime
  • PelipperPelipper
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • Pyroar MalePyroar Male
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Skarmory MegaSkarmory Mega
  • GyaradosGyarados
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • Tauros Paldea Aqua BreedTauros Paldea Aqua Breed
  • AggronAggron
  • TsareenaTsareena
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • SimipourSimipour
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • ChandelureChandelure
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • Tauros Paldea Combat BreedTauros Paldea Combat Breed
  • WeavileWeavile
  • ScolipedeScolipede
  • BarbaracleBarbaracle
  • SimisearSimisear
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Mawile MegaMawile Mega
  • PolitoedPolitoed
  • SteelixSteelix
  • PassimianPassimian
  • SimisageSimisage
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • ConkeldurrConkeldurr
  • OranguruOranguru
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • AppletunAppletun
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • ChesnaughtChesnaught
  • GarbodorGarbodor
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • RampardosRampardos
  • Beedrill MegaBeedrill Mega
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • FalinksFalinks
  • CrabominableCrabominable
  • PolteageistPolteageist
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • StunfiskStunfisk
  • Appletun GmaxAppletun Gmax
  • GlalieGlalie
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • Meowstic FemaleMeowstic Female
  • Mimikyu Totem BustedMimikyu Totem Busted
  • Corviknight GmaxCorviknight Gmax
  • Mimikyu Totem DisguisedMimikyu Totem Disguised
  • LucarioLucario
  • Mimikyu BustedMimikyu Busted
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • SharpedoSharpedo
  • TaurosTauros
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • SalazzleSalazzle
  • HawluchaHawlucha
  • MudsdaleMudsdale
  • GliscorGliscor
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • AbsolAbsol
  • LopunnyLopunny
  • PangoroPangoro
  • FroslassFroslass
  • Mimikyu DisguisedMimikyu Disguised
  • ToxapexToxapex
  • CorviknightCorviknight
  • ForretressForretress
  • Garbodor GmaxGarbodor Gmax
  • Meowstic MaleMeowstic Male
  • SkarmorySkarmory
  • Salazzle TotemSalazzle Totem
  • LiepardLiepard
  • Stunfisk GalarStunfisk Galar
  • BanetteBanette
  • QwilfishQwilfish
  • ArbokArbok
  • Morpeko HangryMorpeko Hangry
  • Qwilfish HisuiQwilfish Hisui
  • Morpeko Full BellyMorpeko Full Belly
  • DiggersbyDiggersby
  • BeedrillBeedrill
  • MawileMawile
  • SableyeSableye

Egg move (breeding)1 Pokémon

No Pokémon listed in the current dataset.

Pokémon that use this move

383 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Hawlucha MegaHawlucha Mega
  • Steelix MegaSteelix Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Gyarados MegaGyarados Mega
  • Barbaracle MegaBarbaracle Mega
  • Chesnaught MegaChesnaught Mega
  • Falinks MegaFalinks Mega
  • Kommo O TotemKommo O Totem
  • Glalie MegaGlalie Mega
  • Aerodactyl MegaAerodactyl Mega
  • Chandelure MegaChandelure Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • HydreigonHydreigon
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Sharpedo MegaSharpedo Mega
  • Lucario Mega ZLucario Mega Z
  • Lucario MegaLucario Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • Crabominable MegaCrabominable Mega
  • Scolipede MegaScolipede Mega
  • Lopunny MegaLopunny Mega
  • RhyperiorRhyperior
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • AerodactylAerodactyl
  • Froslass MegaFroslass Mega
  • Aggron MegaAggron Mega
  • Mr RimeMr Rime
  • PelipperPelipper
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • Pyroar MalePyroar Male
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Skarmory MegaSkarmory Mega
  • GyaradosGyarados
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • Tauros Paldea Aqua BreedTauros Paldea Aqua Breed
  • AggronAggron
  • TsareenaTsareena
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • SimipourSimipour
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • ChandelureChandelure
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • Tauros Paldea Combat BreedTauros Paldea Combat Breed
  • WeavileWeavile
  • ScolipedeScolipede
  • BarbaracleBarbaracle
  • SimisearSimisear
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Mawile MegaMawile Mega
  • PolitoedPolitoed
  • SteelixSteelix
  • PassimianPassimian
  • SimisageSimisage
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • ConkeldurrConkeldurr
  • OranguruOranguru
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • AppletunAppletun
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • ChesnaughtChesnaught
  • GarbodorGarbodor
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • RampardosRampardos
  • Beedrill MegaBeedrill Mega
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • FalinksFalinks
  • CrabominableCrabominable
  • PolteageistPolteageist
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • StunfiskStunfisk
  • Appletun GmaxAppletun Gmax
  • GlalieGlalie
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • Meowstic FemaleMeowstic Female
  • Mimikyu Totem BustedMimikyu Totem Busted
  • Corviknight GmaxCorviknight Gmax
  • Mimikyu Totem DisguisedMimikyu Totem Disguised
  • LucarioLucario
  • Mimikyu BustedMimikyu Busted
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • SharpedoSharpedo
  • TaurosTauros
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • SalazzleSalazzle
  • HawluchaHawlucha
  • MudsdaleMudsdale
  • GliscorGliscor
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • AbsolAbsol
  • LopunnyLopunny
  • PangoroPangoro
  • FroslassFroslass
  • Mimikyu DisguisedMimikyu Disguised
  • ToxapexToxapex
  • CorviknightCorviknight
  • ForretressForretress
  • Garbodor GmaxGarbodor Gmax
  • Meowstic MaleMeowstic Male
  • SkarmorySkarmory
  • Salazzle TotemSalazzle Totem
  • LiepardLiepard
  • Stunfisk GalarStunfisk Galar
  • BanetteBanette
  • QwilfishQwilfish
  • ArbokArbok
  • Morpeko HangryMorpeko Hangry
  • Qwilfish HisuiQwilfish Hisui
  • Morpeko Full BellyMorpeko Full Belly
  • DiggersbyDiggersby
  • BeedrillBeedrill
  • MawileMawile
  • SableyeSableye

What this move does

Payback is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 50 base power, 100% accuracy, 10 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for abilities and items that trigger on contact. Payback is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 50 base power, 100% accuracy, 10 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 Payback 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, Payback 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 Payback 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 Payback 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 Payback 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 Payback blocked by Protect?

Yes, Payback 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.