Skill Swap
PsychicSkill Swap is a Psychic-type status move. It targets a single adjacent target and has 10 PP.
Technical data
- Type
- Psychic
- Category
- status
- Power
- —
- Accuracy
- —
- PP
- 10
- Priority
- 0
- Target
- adjacent
- Contact
- No
- Spread
- No
- Protect blocks
- Yes
- Wide Guard blocks
- No
Competitive value
A utility move whose value depends on the team's gameplan and the tempo it creates.
How to learn it
Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.
Level-up18 Pokémon
Sylveon
Reuniclus
Aromatisse
TM / HM199 Pokémon
Gardevoir Mega
Floette Mega
Delphox Mega
Gallade Mega
Slowbro Mega
Malamar Mega
Florges
Gengar Mega
Alakazam Mega
Audino Mega
Starmie Mega
Mr Rime
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Floette Eternal
Hatterene Gmax
Alakazam
Meowscarada
Farigiraf
Delphox
Gardevoir
Musharna
Raichu Alola
Banette Mega
Clefable Mega
Slowking Galar
Chimecho Mega
Spiritomb
Oranguru
Runerigus
Tinkaton
Hatterene
Gourgeist Average
Cofagrigus
Clefable
Polteageist
Slowbro Galar
Malamar
Meowstic Female
Sylveon
Gallade
Sableye Mega
Slowbro
Umbreon
Wyrdeer
Espeon
Reuniclus
Starmie
Trevenant
Medicham Mega
Gourgeist Super
Espathra
Gourgeist Large
Gourgeist Small
Slowking
Aromatisse
Chimecho
Meowstic Male
Banette
Audino
Medicham
Floette
Sableye
Move Tutor139 Pokémon
Gardevoir Mega
Delphox Mega
Gallade Mega
Slowbro Mega
Gengar Mega
Alakazam Mega
Audino Mega
Starmie Mega
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Alakazam
Delphox
Gardevoir
Musharna
Banette Mega
Slowking Galar
Chimecho Mega
Gourgeist Average
Cofagrigus
Slowbro Galar
Meowstic Female
Sylveon
Gallade
Slowbro
Espeon
Reuniclus
Starmie
Trevenant
Gourgeist Super
Gourgeist Large
Gourgeist Small
Slowking
Aromatisse
Chimecho
Meowstic Male
Banette
Audino
Egg move (breeding)17 Pokémon
Chimecho Mega
Chimecho
Pokémon that use this move
199 Pokémon, sorted by usage
Gardevoir Mega
Floette Mega
Delphox Mega
Gallade Mega
Slowbro Mega
Malamar Mega
Florges
Gengar Mega
Alakazam Mega
Audino Mega
Starmie Mega
Mr Rime
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Floette Eternal
Hatterene Gmax
Alakazam
Meowscarada
Farigiraf
Delphox
Gardevoir
Musharna
Raichu Alola
Banette Mega
Clefable Mega
Slowking Galar
Chimecho Mega
Spiritomb
Oranguru
Runerigus
Tinkaton
Hatterene
Gourgeist Average
Cofagrigus
Clefable
Polteageist
Slowbro Galar
Malamar
Meowstic Female
Sylveon
Gallade
Sableye Mega
Slowbro
Umbreon
Wyrdeer
Espeon
Reuniclus
Starmie
Trevenant
Medicham Mega
Gourgeist Super
Espathra
Gourgeist Large
Gourgeist Small
Slowking
Aromatisse
Chimecho
Meowstic Male
Banette
Audino
Medicham
Floette
Sableye
What this move does
Skill Swap is a Psychic-type status move. It targets a single adjacent target and has 10 PP. Skill Swap is a Psychic-type status move. It targets a single adjacent target and has 10 PP.
A utility move whose value depends on the team's gameplan and the tempo it creates.
When to consider it
Consider Skill Swap when your team needs the utility it provides rather than direct damage. Status moves define speed control, redirection, protection and disruption in VGC. Its value depends on whether your team can exploit the turns it creates. Check your team composition for Pokémon that benefit from the positioning or tempo it generates.
How to evaluate it in team building
In team building, Skill Swap competes with other support and disruption options for a limited number of moveslots. Ask whether your team has enough offense to justify a utility move, and whether you have the speed or bulk to use it safely. Many successful teams run one or two status moves that enable the rest of the roster, so treat it as part of your overall gameplan rather than an afterthought.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes with Skill Swap include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. 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 Skill Swap 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 Skill Swap good in ChampionsVGC?
A utility move whose value depends on the team's gameplan and the tempo it creates. It is blocked by Protect and Detect, which can waste a key turn if predicted.
+Is Skill Swap blocked by Protect?
Yes, Skill Swap is blocked by Protect and Detect.