Retaliate
NormalRetaliate 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
Kingambit
Arcanine
Aegislash Blade
Samurott Hisui
Samurott
Arcanine Hisui
Aegislash Shield
Furfrou
TM / HM261 Pokémon
Tyranitar Mega
Hawlucha Mega
Houndoom Mega
Heracross Mega
Chesnaught Mega
Gallade Mega
Falinks Mega
Malamar Mega
Kangaskhan Mega
Sharpedo Mega
Snorlax
Lucario Mega Z
Lucario Mega
Scrafty Mega
Glaceon
Infernape
Leafeon
Lopunny Mega
Audino Mega
Arcanine
Zoroark
Machamp Gmax
Machamp
Staraptor Mega
Flareon
Aegislash Blade
Pyroar Male
Tyranitar
Jolteon
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Vaporeon
Absol Mega
Tauros Paldea Aqua Breed
Absol Mega Z
Heracross
Tauros Paldea Blaze Breed
Tauros Paldea Combat Breed
Weavile
Kangaskhan
Clefable Mega
Samurott Hisui
Grimmsnarl
Passimian
Spiritomb
Conkeldurr
Zoroark Hisui
Samurott
Arcanine Hisui
Chesnaught
Snorlax Gmax
Krookodile
Clefable
Falinks
Scrafty
Aegislash Shield
Malamar
Houndoom
Sylveon
Corviknight Gmax
Gallade
Lucario
Sableye Mega
Umbreon
Sharpedo
Espeon
Tauros
Toxicroak
Hawlucha
Medicham Mega
Absol
Lopunny
Pangoro
Corviknight
Staraptor
Furfrou
Audino
Dedenne
Castform Snowy
Castform Rainy
Castform Sunny
Watchog
Castform
Medicham
Sableye
Egg move (breeding)13 Pokémon
Greninja Ash
Greninja Mega
Greninja Battle Bond
Greninja
Pokémon that use this move
274 Pokémon, sorted by usage
Tyranitar Mega
Hawlucha Mega
Greninja Ash
Greninja Mega
Houndoom Mega
Heracross Mega
Kingambit
Chesnaught Mega
Gallade Mega
Falinks Mega
Malamar Mega
Kangaskhan Mega
Sharpedo Mega
Snorlax
Lucario Mega Z
Lucario Mega
Scrafty Mega
Glaceon
Infernape
Leafeon
Lopunny Mega
Audino Mega
Arcanine
Zoroark
Machamp Gmax
Machamp
Staraptor Mega
Flareon
Aegislash Blade
Pyroar Male
Tyranitar
Greninja Battle Bond
Jolteon
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Vaporeon
Greninja
Absol Mega
Tauros Paldea Aqua Breed
Absol Mega Z
Heracross
Tauros Paldea Blaze Breed
Tauros Paldea Combat Breed
Weavile
Kangaskhan
Clefable Mega
Samurott Hisui
Grimmsnarl
Passimian
Spiritomb
Conkeldurr
Zoroark Hisui
Samurott
Arcanine Hisui
Chesnaught
Snorlax Gmax
Krookodile
Clefable
Falinks
Scrafty
Aegislash Shield
Malamar
Houndoom
Sylveon
Corviknight Gmax
Gallade
Lucario
Sableye Mega
Umbreon
Sharpedo
Espeon
Tauros
Toxicroak
Hawlucha
Medicham Mega
Absol
Lopunny
Pangoro
Corviknight
Staraptor
Furfrou
Audino
Dedenne
Castform Snowy
Castform Rainy
Castform Sunny
Watchog
Castform
Medicham
Sableye
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.