Shadow Ball
GhostSingle-target Ghost attack that may lower Special Defense.
Technical data
- Type
- Ghost
- Category
- special
- Power
- 80
- Accuracy
- 100
- PP
- 15
- Priority
- 0
- Target
- adjacent
- Contact
- No
- Spread
- No
- Protect blocks
- Yes
- Wide Guard blocks
- No
Competitive value
Consistent special STAB and coverage for many attackers.
How to learn it
Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.
Level-up76 Pokémon
Delphox Mega
Chandelure Mega
Gholdengo
Gengar Mega
Golurk Mega
Basculegion Female
Froslass Mega
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Skeledirge
Chandelure
Sinistcha
Delphox
Banette Mega
Rotom Mow
Spiritomb
Rotom Fan
Zoroark Hisui
Rotom Frost
Runerigus
Typhlosion Hisui
Gourgeist Average
Rotom Wash
Basculegion Male
Rotom Heat
Cofagrigus
Polteageist
Meowstic Female
Sableye Mega
Gourgeist Super
Gourgeist Large
Froslass
Gourgeist Small
Golurk
Banette
Rotom
Sableye
TM / HM423 Pokémon
Metagross Mega
Gardevoir Mega
Drampa Mega
Houndoom Mega
Delphox Mega
Dragalge Mega
Gallade Mega
Glalie Mega
Slowbro Mega
Chandelure Mega
Gholdengo
Dragapult
Gengar Mega
Kangaskhan Mega
Snorlax
Lucario Mega Z
Lucario Mega
Alakazam Mega
Glaceon
Leafeon
Whimsicott
Lopunny Mega
Golurk Mega
Abomasnow Mega
Audino Mega
Basculegion Female
Noivern
Zoroark
Froslass Mega
Decidueye Hisui
Mr Rime
Flareon
Gengar Gmax
Aegislash Blade
Gengar
Jolteon
Skeledirge
Ceruledge
Typhlosion
Vaporeon
Hatterene Gmax
Armarouge
Clawitzer
Alakazam
Absol Mega
Ninetales
Tauros Paldea Aqua Breed
Houndstone
Meowscarada
Absol Mega Z
Tauros Paldea Blaze Breed
Chandelure
Farigiraf
Tauros Paldea Combat Breed
Weavile
Sinistcha
Delphox
Dragalge
Gardevoir
Musharna
Banette Mega
Kangaskhan
Mawile Mega
Clefable Mega
Primarina
Rotom Mow
Roserade
Slowking Galar
Chimecho Mega
Passimian
Spiritomb
Oranguru
Rotom Fan
Zoroark Hisui
Rotom Frost
Runerigus
Typhlosion Hisui
Hatterene
Abomasnow
Gourgeist Average
Rotom Wash
Snorlax Gmax
Basculegion Male
Rotom Heat
Cofagrigus
Clefable
Polteageist
Slowbro Galar
Aegislash Shield
Glalie
Overqwil
Houndoom
Meowstic Female
Mimikyu Totem Busted
Sylveon
Decidueye
Gallade
Mimikyu Totem Disguised
Sneasler
Lucario
Metagross
Mimikyu Busted
Sableye Mega
Slowbro
Annihilape
Umbreon
Wyrdeer
Espeon
Tauros
Toxicroak
Reuniclus
Trevenant
Drampa
Medicham Mega
Gourgeist Super
Espathra
Gourgeist Large
Ninetales Alola
Absol
Lopunny
Froslass
Gourgeist Small
Slowking
Mimikyu Disguised
Chimecho
Golurk
Meowstic Male
Liepard
Banette
Qwilfish
Audino
Rotom
Qwilfish Hisui
Castform Snowy
Castform Rainy
Castform Sunny
Watchog
Castform
Medicham
Mawile
Sableye
Move Tutor11 Pokémon
Ninetales
Zoroark Hisui
Typhlosion Hisui
Ninetales Alola
Qwilfish Hisui
Pokémon that use this move
423 Pokémon, sorted by usage
Metagross Mega
Gardevoir Mega
Drampa Mega
Houndoom Mega
Delphox Mega
Dragalge Mega
Gallade Mega
Glalie Mega
Slowbro Mega
Chandelure Mega
Gholdengo
Dragapult
Gengar Mega
Kangaskhan Mega
Snorlax
Lucario Mega Z
Lucario Mega
Alakazam Mega
Glaceon
Leafeon
Whimsicott
Lopunny Mega
Golurk Mega
Abomasnow Mega
Audino Mega
Basculegion Female
Noivern
Zoroark
Froslass Mega
Decidueye Hisui
Mr Rime
Flareon
Gengar Gmax
Aegislash Blade
Gengar
Jolteon
Skeledirge
Ceruledge
Typhlosion
Vaporeon
Hatterene Gmax
Armarouge
Clawitzer
Alakazam
Absol Mega
Ninetales
Tauros Paldea Aqua Breed
Houndstone
Meowscarada
Absol Mega Z
Tauros Paldea Blaze Breed
Chandelure
Farigiraf
Tauros Paldea Combat Breed
Weavile
Sinistcha
Delphox
Dragalge
Gardevoir
Musharna
Banette Mega
Kangaskhan
Mawile Mega
Clefable Mega
Primarina
Rotom Mow
Roserade
Slowking Galar
Chimecho Mega
Passimian
Spiritomb
Oranguru
Rotom Fan
Zoroark Hisui
Rotom Frost
Runerigus
Typhlosion Hisui
Hatterene
Abomasnow
Gourgeist Average
Rotom Wash
Snorlax Gmax
Basculegion Male
Rotom Heat
Cofagrigus
Clefable
Polteageist
Slowbro Galar
Aegislash Shield
Glalie
Overqwil
Houndoom
Meowstic Female
Mimikyu Totem Busted
Sylveon
Decidueye
Gallade
Mimikyu Totem Disguised
Sneasler
Lucario
Metagross
Mimikyu Busted
Sableye Mega
Slowbro
Annihilape
Umbreon
Wyrdeer
Espeon
Tauros
Toxicroak
Reuniclus
Trevenant
Drampa
Medicham Mega
Gourgeist Super
Espathra
Gourgeist Large
Ninetales Alola
Absol
Lopunny
Froslass
Gourgeist Small
Slowking
Mimikyu Disguised
Chimecho
Golurk
Meowstic Male
Liepard
Banette
Qwilfish
Audino
Rotom
Qwilfish Hisui
Castform Snowy
Castform Rainy
Castform Sunny
Watchog
Castform
Medicham
Mawile
Sableye
What this move does
Shadow Ball is a Ghost-type special attack. It has 80 base power, 100% accuracy, 15 PP and targets a single adjacent target. Single-target Ghost attack that may lower Special Defense.
Consistent special STAB and coverage for many attackers.
When to consider it
Consider Shadow Ball 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, Shadow Ball 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 Shadow Ball 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 Shadow Ball 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 Shadow Ball good in VGC?
Consistent special STAB and coverage for many attackers.
+Is Shadow Ball affected by Protect?
Yes, Shadow Ball is blocked by Protect and Detect.