Shadow Claw

Ghost

Shadow Claw is a Ghost-type physical attack. It has 70 base power, 100% accuracy, 15 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.

Technical data

Type
Ghost
Category
physical
Power
70
Accuracy
100
PP
15
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-up20 Pokémon

  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • CeruledgeCeruledge
  • CharizardCharizard
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • Mimikyu Totem BustedMimikyu Totem Busted
  • Mimikyu Totem DisguisedMimikyu Totem Disguised
  • Mimikyu BustedMimikyu Busted
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Mimikyu DisguisedMimikyu Disguised
  • SableyeSableye

TM / HM268 Pokémon

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Metagross MegaMetagross Mega
  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Blaziken MegaBlaziken Mega
  • Drampa MegaDrampa Mega
  • Barbaracle MegaBarbaracle Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • KingambitKingambit
  • Chesnaught MegaChesnaught Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Kommo O TotemKommo O Totem
  • Garchomp Mega ZGarchomp Mega Z
  • Garchomp MegaGarchomp Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • Excadrill MegaExcadrill Mega
  • Lucario Mega ZLucario Mega Z
  • Lucario MegaLucario Mega
  • EmpoleonEmpoleon
  • Feraligatr MegaFeraligatr Mega
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • NoivernNoivern
  • RhyperiorRhyperior
  • GarchompGarchomp
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Decidueye HisuiDecidueye Hisui
  • Aggron MegaAggron Mega
  • FeraligatrFeraligatr
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • Aegislash BladeAegislash Blade
  • GengarGengar
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Grimmsnarl GmaxGrimmsnarl Gmax
  • SkeledirgeSkeledirge
  • CeruledgeCeruledge
  • TyphlosionTyphlosion
  • Hatterene GmaxHatterene Gmax
  • CharizardCharizard
  • BlazikenBlaziken
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • AggronAggron
  • BearticBeartic
  • MeowscaradaMeowscarada
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • SimipourSimipour
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • WeavileWeavile
  • BarbaracleBarbaracle
  • SimisearSimisear
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarl
  • SimisageSimisage
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui
  • HattereneHatterene
  • ChesnaughtChesnaught
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • ExcadrillExcadrill
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • Aegislash ShieldAegislash Shield
  • Mimikyu Totem BustedMimikyu Totem Busted
  • DecidueyeDecidueye
  • GalladeGallade
  • Mimikyu Totem DisguisedMimikyu Totem Disguised
  • SneaslerSneasler
  • LucarioLucario
  • MetagrossMetagross
  • Mimikyu BustedMimikyu Busted
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • AnnihilapeAnnihilape
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • SalazzleSalazzle
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • DrampaDrampa
  • AbsolAbsol
  • PangoroPangoro
  • Mimikyu DisguisedMimikyu Disguised
  • Maushold Family Of ThreeMaushold Family Of Three
  • Salazzle TotemSalazzle Totem
  • LiepardLiepard
  • BanetteBanette
  • Maushold Family Of FourMaushold Family Of Four
  • SableyeSableye

Move Tutor7 Pokémon

  • Decidueye HisuiDecidueye Hisui
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui

Egg move (breeding)1 Pokémon

No Pokémon listed in the current dataset.

Pokémon that use this move

268 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Metagross MegaMetagross Mega
  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Blaziken MegaBlaziken Mega
  • Drampa MegaDrampa Mega
  • Barbaracle MegaBarbaracle Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • KingambitKingambit
  • Chesnaught MegaChesnaught Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Kommo O TotemKommo O Totem
  • Garchomp Mega ZGarchomp Mega Z
  • Garchomp MegaGarchomp Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • Excadrill MegaExcadrill Mega
  • Lucario Mega ZLucario Mega Z
  • Lucario MegaLucario Mega
  • EmpoleonEmpoleon
  • Feraligatr MegaFeraligatr Mega
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • NoivernNoivern
  • RhyperiorRhyperior
  • GarchompGarchomp
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Decidueye HisuiDecidueye Hisui
  • Aggron MegaAggron Mega
  • FeraligatrFeraligatr
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • Aegislash BladeAegislash Blade
  • GengarGengar
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Grimmsnarl GmaxGrimmsnarl Gmax
  • SkeledirgeSkeledirge
  • CeruledgeCeruledge
  • TyphlosionTyphlosion
  • Hatterene GmaxHatterene Gmax
  • CharizardCharizard
  • BlazikenBlaziken
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • AggronAggron
  • BearticBeartic
  • MeowscaradaMeowscarada
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • SimipourSimipour
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • WeavileWeavile
  • BarbaracleBarbaracle
  • SimisearSimisear
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarl
  • SimisageSimisage
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui
  • HattereneHatterene
  • ChesnaughtChesnaught
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • ExcadrillExcadrill
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • Aegislash ShieldAegislash Shield
  • Mimikyu Totem BustedMimikyu Totem Busted
  • DecidueyeDecidueye
  • GalladeGallade
  • Mimikyu Totem DisguisedMimikyu Totem Disguised
  • SneaslerSneasler
  • LucarioLucario
  • MetagrossMetagross
  • Mimikyu BustedMimikyu Busted
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • AnnihilapeAnnihilape
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • SalazzleSalazzle
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • DrampaDrampa
  • AbsolAbsol
  • PangoroPangoro
  • Mimikyu DisguisedMimikyu Disguised
  • Maushold Family Of ThreeMaushold Family Of Three
  • Salazzle TotemSalazzle Totem
  • LiepardLiepard
  • BanetteBanette
  • Maushold Family Of FourMaushold Family Of Four
  • SableyeSableye

What this move does

Shadow Claw is a Ghost-type physical attack. It has 70 base power, 100% accuracy, 15 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for abilities and items that trigger on contact. Shadow Claw is a Ghost-type physical attack. It has 70 base power, 100% accuracy, 15 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 Shadow Claw 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 Claw 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 Claw 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 Claw 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 Claw 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 Shadow Claw blocked by Protect?

Yes, Shadow Claw 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.