Skill Swap

Psychic

Skill 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

  • SylveonSylveon
  • ReuniclusReuniclus
  • AromatisseAromatisse

TM / HM199 Pokémon

  • Gardevoir MegaGardevoir Mega
  • Floette MegaFloette Mega
  • Delphox MegaDelphox Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • FlorgesFlorges
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • Audino MegaAudino Mega
  • Starmie MegaStarmie Mega
  • Mr RimeMr Rime
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • Floette EternalFloette Eternal
  • Hatterene GmaxHatterene Gmax
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • MeowscaradaMeowscarada
  • FarigirafFarigiraf
  • DelphoxDelphox
  • GardevoirGardevoir
  • MusharnaMusharna
  • Raichu AlolaRaichu Alola
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Clefable MegaClefable Mega
  • Slowking GalarSlowking Galar
  • Chimecho MegaChimecho Mega
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • OranguruOranguru
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • TinkatonTinkaton
  • HattereneHatterene
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • ClefableClefable
  • PolteageistPolteageist
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • MalamarMalamar
  • Meowstic FemaleMeowstic Female
  • SylveonSylveon
  • GalladeGallade
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • WyrdeerWyrdeer
  • EspeonEspeon
  • ReuniclusReuniclus
  • StarmieStarmie
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Medicham MegaMedicham Mega
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • EspathraEspathra
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • SlowkingSlowking
  • AromatisseAromatisse
  • ChimechoChimecho
  • Meowstic MaleMeowstic Male
  • BanetteBanette
  • AudinoAudino
  • MedichamMedicham
  • FloetteFloette
  • SableyeSableye

Move Tutor139 Pokémon

  • Gardevoir MegaGardevoir Mega
  • Delphox MegaDelphox Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • Audino MegaAudino Mega
  • Starmie MegaStarmie Mega
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • DelphoxDelphox
  • GardevoirGardevoir
  • MusharnaMusharna
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Slowking GalarSlowking Galar
  • Chimecho MegaChimecho Mega
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • Meowstic FemaleMeowstic Female
  • SylveonSylveon
  • GalladeGallade
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • EspeonEspeon
  • ReuniclusReuniclus
  • StarmieStarmie
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • SlowkingSlowking
  • AromatisseAromatisse
  • ChimechoChimecho
  • Meowstic MaleMeowstic Male
  • BanetteBanette
  • AudinoAudino

Egg move (breeding)17 Pokémon

  • Chimecho MegaChimecho Mega
  • ChimechoChimecho

Pokémon that use this move

199 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • Gardevoir MegaGardevoir Mega
  • Floette MegaFloette Mega
  • Delphox MegaDelphox Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • FlorgesFlorges
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • Audino MegaAudino Mega
  • Starmie MegaStarmie Mega
  • Mr RimeMr Rime
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • Floette EternalFloette Eternal
  • Hatterene GmaxHatterene Gmax
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • MeowscaradaMeowscarada
  • FarigirafFarigiraf
  • DelphoxDelphox
  • GardevoirGardevoir
  • MusharnaMusharna
  • Raichu AlolaRaichu Alola
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Clefable MegaClefable Mega
  • Slowking GalarSlowking Galar
  • Chimecho MegaChimecho Mega
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • OranguruOranguru
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • TinkatonTinkaton
  • HattereneHatterene
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • ClefableClefable
  • PolteageistPolteageist
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • MalamarMalamar
  • Meowstic FemaleMeowstic Female
  • SylveonSylveon
  • GalladeGallade
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • WyrdeerWyrdeer
  • EspeonEspeon
  • ReuniclusReuniclus
  • StarmieStarmie
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Medicham MegaMedicham Mega
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • EspathraEspathra
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • SlowkingSlowking
  • AromatisseAromatisse
  • ChimechoChimecho
  • Meowstic MaleMeowstic Male
  • BanetteBanette
  • AudinoAudino
  • MedichamMedicham
  • FloetteFloette
  • SableyeSableye

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.

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.