Retaliate

Normal

Retaliate is a Normal-type physical attack. It has 70 base power, 100% accuracy, 5 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.

Technical data

Type
Normal
Category
physical
Power
70
Accuracy
100
PP
5
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-up34 Pokémon

  • KingambitKingambit
  • ArcanineArcanine
  • Aegislash BladeAegislash Blade
  • Samurott HisuiSamurott Hisui
  • SamurottSamurott
  • Arcanine HisuiArcanine Hisui
  • Aegislash ShieldAegislash Shield
  • FurfrouFurfrou

TM / HM261 Pokémon

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Hawlucha MegaHawlucha Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • Chesnaught MegaChesnaught Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Falinks MegaFalinks Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • Sharpedo MegaSharpedo Mega
  • SnorlaxSnorlax
  • Lucario Mega ZLucario Mega Z
  • Lucario MegaLucario Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • GlaceonGlaceon
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • LeafeonLeafeon
  • Lopunny MegaLopunny Mega
  • Audino MegaAudino Mega
  • ArcanineArcanine
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • Staraptor MegaStaraptor Mega
  • FlareonFlareon
  • Aegislash BladeAegislash Blade
  • Pyroar MalePyroar Male
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • JolteonJolteon
  • Grimmsnarl GmaxGrimmsnarl Gmax
  • VaporeonVaporeon
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • Tauros Paldea Aqua BreedTauros Paldea Aqua Breed
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • Tauros Paldea Combat BreedTauros Paldea Combat Breed
  • WeavileWeavile
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • Clefable MegaClefable Mega
  • Samurott HisuiSamurott Hisui
  • GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarl
  • PassimianPassimian
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • ConkeldurrConkeldurr
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • SamurottSamurott
  • Arcanine HisuiArcanine Hisui
  • ChesnaughtChesnaught
  • Snorlax GmaxSnorlax Gmax
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • ClefableClefable
  • FalinksFalinks
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • Aegislash ShieldAegislash Shield
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • SylveonSylveon
  • Corviknight GmaxCorviknight Gmax
  • GalladeGallade
  • LucarioLucario
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • SharpedoSharpedo
  • EspeonEspeon
  • TaurosTauros
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • HawluchaHawlucha
  • Medicham MegaMedicham Mega
  • AbsolAbsol
  • LopunnyLopunny
  • PangoroPangoro
  • CorviknightCorviknight
  • StaraptorStaraptor
  • FurfrouFurfrou
  • AudinoAudino
  • DedenneDedenne
  • Castform SnowyCastform Snowy
  • Castform RainyCastform Rainy
  • Castform SunnyCastform Sunny
  • WatchogWatchog
  • CastformCastform
  • MedichamMedicham
  • SableyeSableye

Egg move (breeding)13 Pokémon

  • Greninja AshGreninja Ash
  • Greninja MegaGreninja Mega
  • Greninja Battle BondGreninja Battle Bond
  • GreninjaGreninja

Pokémon that use this move

274 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Hawlucha MegaHawlucha Mega
  • Greninja AshGreninja Ash
  • Greninja MegaGreninja Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • KingambitKingambit
  • Chesnaught MegaChesnaught Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Falinks MegaFalinks Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • Sharpedo MegaSharpedo Mega
  • SnorlaxSnorlax
  • Lucario Mega ZLucario Mega Z
  • Lucario MegaLucario Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • GlaceonGlaceon
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • LeafeonLeafeon
  • Lopunny MegaLopunny Mega
  • Audino MegaAudino Mega
  • ArcanineArcanine
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • Staraptor MegaStaraptor Mega
  • FlareonFlareon
  • Aegislash BladeAegislash Blade
  • Pyroar MalePyroar Male
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Greninja Battle BondGreninja Battle Bond
  • JolteonJolteon
  • Grimmsnarl GmaxGrimmsnarl Gmax
  • VaporeonVaporeon
  • GreninjaGreninja
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • Tauros Paldea Aqua BreedTauros Paldea Aqua Breed
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • Tauros Paldea Combat BreedTauros Paldea Combat Breed
  • WeavileWeavile
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • Clefable MegaClefable Mega
  • Samurott HisuiSamurott Hisui
  • GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarl
  • PassimianPassimian
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • ConkeldurrConkeldurr
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • SamurottSamurott
  • Arcanine HisuiArcanine Hisui
  • ChesnaughtChesnaught
  • Snorlax GmaxSnorlax Gmax
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • ClefableClefable
  • FalinksFalinks
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • Aegislash ShieldAegislash Shield
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • SylveonSylveon
  • Corviknight GmaxCorviknight Gmax
  • GalladeGallade
  • LucarioLucario
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • SharpedoSharpedo
  • EspeonEspeon
  • TaurosTauros
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • HawluchaHawlucha
  • Medicham MegaMedicham Mega
  • AbsolAbsol
  • LopunnyLopunny
  • PangoroPangoro
  • CorviknightCorviknight
  • StaraptorStaraptor
  • FurfrouFurfrou
  • AudinoAudino
  • DedenneDedenne
  • Castform SnowyCastform Snowy
  • Castform RainyCastform Rainy
  • Castform SunnyCastform Sunny
  • WatchogWatchog
  • CastformCastform
  • MedichamMedicham
  • SableyeSableye

What this move does

Retaliate is a Normal-type physical attack. It has 70 base power, 100% accuracy, 5 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for abilities and items that trigger on contact. Retaliate is a Normal-type physical attack. It has 70 base power, 100% accuracy, 5 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 Retaliate 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, Retaliate 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 Retaliate 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 Retaliate 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 Retaliate 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 Retaliate blocked by Protect?

Yes, Retaliate 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.