Play Rough
FairyPlay Rough is a Fairy-type physical attack. It has 90 base power, 90% accuracy, 10 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.
Technical data
- Type
- Fairy
- Category
- physical
- Power
- 90
- Accuracy
- 90
- 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-up80 Pokémon
Lopunny Mega
Arcanine
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Houndstone
Meowscarada
Mawile Mega
Grimmsnarl
Arcanine Hisui
Tinkaton
Mimikyu Totem Busted
Sylveon
Mimikyu Totem Disguised
Mimikyu Busted
Slurpuff
Lopunny
Klefki
Mimikyu Disguised
Maushold Family Of Three
Liepard
Maushold Family Of Four
Dedenne
Azumarill
Mawile
TM / HM224 Pokémon
Drampa Mega
Dragalge Mega
Altaria Mega
Whimsicott
Lopunny Mega
Arcanine
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Typhlosion
Hatterene Gmax
Absol Mega
Alcremie
Raichu Mega Y
Beartic
Houndstone
Meowscarada
Tsareena
Absol Mega Z
Lycanroc Dusk
Alcremie Gmax
Lycanroc Midnight
Lycanroc Midday
Raichu Mega X
Dragalge
Raichu Alola
Mawile Mega
Clefable Mega
Primarina
Grimmsnarl
Luxray
Arcanine Hisui
Tinkaton
Typhlosion Hisui
Hatterene
Altaria
Clefable
Meowstic Female
Sylveon
Mimikyu Busted
Slurpuff
Tyrantrum
Drampa
Ninetales Alola
Raichu
Absol
Lopunny
Klefki
Mimikyu Disguised
Meowstic Male
Maushold Family Of Three
Liepard
Maushold Family Of Four
Dedenne
Pikachu Starter
Azumarill
Mawile
Pikachu
Pikachu Alola Cap
Pikachu Belle
Pikachu Cosplay
Pikachu Gmax
Pikachu Hoenn Cap
Pikachu Kalos Cap
Pikachu Libre
Pikachu Original Cap
Pikachu Partner Cap
Pikachu Phd
Pikachu Pop Star
Pikachu Rock Star
Pikachu Sinnoh Cap
Pikachu Unova Cap
Pikachu World Cap
Move Tutor4 Pokémon
Arcanine Hisui
Egg move (breeding)15 Pokémon
Drampa Mega
Absol Mega
Absol Mega Z
Drampa
Absol
Pokémon that use this move
231 Pokémon, sorted by usage
Drampa Mega
Dragalge Mega
Altaria Mega
Whimsicott
Lopunny Mega
Arcanine
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Typhlosion
Hatterene Gmax
Absol Mega
Alcremie
Raichu Mega Y
Beartic
Houndstone
Meowscarada
Tsareena
Absol Mega Z
Lycanroc Dusk
Alcremie Gmax
Lycanroc Midnight
Lycanroc Midday
Raichu Mega X
Dragalge
Raichu Alola
Mawile Mega
Clefable Mega
Primarina
Grimmsnarl
Luxray
Arcanine Hisui
Tinkaton
Typhlosion Hisui
Hatterene
Altaria
Clefable
Meowstic Female
Mimikyu Totem Busted
Sylveon
Mimikyu Totem Disguised
Mimikyu Busted
Slurpuff
Tyrantrum
Drampa
Ninetales Alola
Raichu
Absol
Lopunny
Klefki
Mimikyu Disguised
Meowstic Male
Maushold Family Of Three
Liepard
Maushold Family Of Four
Dedenne
Pikachu Starter
Azumarill
Mawile
Pikachu
Pikachu Alola Cap
Pikachu Belle
Pikachu Cosplay
Pikachu Gmax
Pikachu Hoenn Cap
Pikachu Kalos Cap
Pikachu Libre
Pikachu Original Cap
Pikachu Partner Cap
Pikachu Phd
Pikachu Pop Star
Pikachu Rock Star
Pikachu Sinnoh Cap
Pikachu Unova Cap
Pikachu World Cap
What this move does
Play Rough is a Fairy-type physical attack. It has 90 base power, 90% accuracy, 10 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for abilities and items that trigger on contact. Play Rough is a Fairy-type physical attack. It has 90 base power, 90% 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 Play Rough 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, Play Rough 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 Play Rough 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 Play Rough 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 Play Rough 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 Play Rough blocked by Protect?
Yes, Play Rough is blocked by Protect and Detect.