Payback
DarkPayback 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 Mega
Houndoom Mega
Malamar Mega
Gengar Mega
Scrafty Mega
Pelipper
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Tyranitar
Skarmory Mega
Tauros Paldea Aqua Breed
Tauros Paldea Blaze Breed
Tauros Paldea Combat Breed
Spiritomb
Scrafty
Malamar
Houndoom
Tauros
Forretress
Skarmory
TM / HM372 Pokémon
Tyranitar Mega
Hawlucha Mega
Steelix Mega
Houndoom Mega
Gyarados Mega
Barbaracle Mega
Chesnaught Mega
Falinks Mega
Kommo O Totem
Glalie Mega
Aerodactyl Mega
Chandelure Mega
Malamar Mega
Hydreigon
Kommo O
Gengar Mega
Sharpedo Mega
Lucario Mega Z
Lucario Mega
Scrafty Mega
Crabominable Mega
Scolipede Mega
Lopunny Mega
Rhyperior
Zoroark
Aerodactyl
Froslass Mega
Aggron Mega
Mr Rime
Pelipper
Machamp Gmax
Machamp
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Pyroar Male
Tyranitar
Skarmory Mega
Gyarados
Absol Mega
Ninetales
Tauros Paldea Aqua Breed
Aggron
Tsareena
Absol Mega Z
Simipour
Tauros Paldea Blaze Breed
Chandelure
Lycanroc Midnight
Tauros Paldea Combat Breed
Weavile
Scolipede
Barbaracle
Simisear
Banette Mega
Mawile Mega
Politoed
Steelix
Passimian
Simisage
Spiritomb
Conkeldurr
Oranguru
Zoroark Hisui
Appletun
Runerigus
Chesnaught
Garbodor
Krookodile
Rampardos
Beedrill Mega
Cofagrigus
Falinks
Crabominable
Polteageist
Scrafty
Stunfisk
Appletun Gmax
Glalie
Malamar
Houndoom
Meowstic Female
Mimikyu Totem Busted
Corviknight Gmax
Mimikyu Totem Disguised
Lucario
Mimikyu Busted
Sableye Mega
Umbreon
Sharpedo
Tauros
Toxicroak
Salazzle
Hawlucha
Mudsdale
Gliscor
Ninetales Alola
Absol
Lopunny
Pangoro
Froslass
Mimikyu Disguised
Toxapex
Corviknight
Forretress
Garbodor Gmax
Meowstic Male
Skarmory
Salazzle Totem
Liepard
Stunfisk Galar
Banette
Qwilfish
Arbok
Morpeko Hangry
Qwilfish Hisui
Morpeko Full Belly
Diggersby
Beedrill
Mawile
Sableye
Egg move (breeding)1 Pokémon
No Pokémon listed in the current dataset.
Pokémon that use this move
383 Pokémon, sorted by usage
Tyranitar Mega
Hawlucha Mega
Steelix Mega
Houndoom Mega
Gyarados Mega
Barbaracle Mega
Chesnaught Mega
Falinks Mega
Kommo O Totem
Glalie Mega
Aerodactyl Mega
Chandelure Mega
Malamar Mega
Hydreigon
Kommo O
Gengar Mega
Sharpedo Mega
Lucario Mega Z
Lucario Mega
Scrafty Mega
Crabominable Mega
Scolipede Mega
Lopunny Mega
Rhyperior
Zoroark
Aerodactyl
Froslass Mega
Aggron Mega
Mr Rime
Pelipper
Machamp Gmax
Machamp
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Pyroar Male
Tyranitar
Skarmory Mega
Gyarados
Absol Mega
Ninetales
Tauros Paldea Aqua Breed
Aggron
Tsareena
Absol Mega Z
Simipour
Tauros Paldea Blaze Breed
Chandelure
Lycanroc Midnight
Tauros Paldea Combat Breed
Weavile
Scolipede
Barbaracle
Simisear
Banette Mega
Mawile Mega
Politoed
Steelix
Passimian
Simisage
Spiritomb
Conkeldurr
Oranguru
Zoroark Hisui
Appletun
Runerigus
Chesnaught
Garbodor
Krookodile
Rampardos
Beedrill Mega
Cofagrigus
Falinks
Crabominable
Polteageist
Scrafty
Stunfisk
Appletun Gmax
Glalie
Malamar
Houndoom
Meowstic Female
Mimikyu Totem Busted
Corviknight Gmax
Mimikyu Totem Disguised
Lucario
Mimikyu Busted
Sableye Mega
Umbreon
Sharpedo
Tauros
Toxicroak
Salazzle
Hawlucha
Mudsdale
Gliscor
Ninetales Alola
Absol
Lopunny
Pangoro
Froslass
Mimikyu Disguised
Toxapex
Corviknight
Forretress
Garbodor Gmax
Meowstic Male
Skarmory
Salazzle Totem
Liepard
Stunfisk Galar
Banette
Qwilfish
Arbok
Morpeko Hangry
Qwilfish Hisui
Morpeko Full Belly
Diggersby
Beedrill
Mawile
Sableye
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.