Taunt
DarkPrevents the target from using status moves for three turns.
Technical data
- Type
- Dark
- Category
- status
- Power
- —
- Accuracy
- —
- PP
- 20
- Priority
- 0
- Target
- adjacent
- Contact
- No
- Spread
- No
- Protect blocks
- Yes
- Wide Guard blocks
- No
Competitive value
Shuts down Trick Room, redirection and screens before they happen.
How to learn it
Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.
Level-up108 Pokémon
Hawlucha Mega
Houndoom Mega
Sharpedo Mega
Infernape
Zoroark
Vanilluxe
Absol Mega
Absol Mega Z
Lycanroc Dusk
Lycanroc Midnight
Weavile
Mawile Mega
Oranguru
Zoroark Hisui
Bastiodon
Houndoom
Corviknight Gmax
Sneasler
Sharpedo
Toxicroak
Hawlucha
Absol
Pangoro
Corviknight
Liepard
Mawile
TM / HM473 Pokémon
Incineroar
Tyranitar Mega
Gardevoir Mega
Hawlucha Mega
Steelix Mega
Greninja Ash
Greninja Mega
Houndoom Mega
Gyarados Mega
Barbaracle Mega
Kingambit
Chesnaught Mega
Gallade Mega
Kommo O Totem
Glalie Mega
Aerodactyl Mega
Chandelure Mega
Malamar Mega
Hydreigon
Emboar Mega
Kommo O
Gengar Mega
Sharpedo Mega
Alakazam Mega
Scrafty Mega
Palafin Hero
Infernape
Whimsicott
Noivern
Zoroark
Aerodactyl
Froslass Mega
Quaquaval
Decidueye Hisui
Aggron Mega
Mr Rime
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Pyroar Male
Tyranitar
Greninja Battle Bond
Vanilluxe
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Ceruledge
Skarmory Mega
Armarouge
Gyarados
Alakazam
Greninja
Absol Mega
Aggron
Beartic
Meowscarada
Tsareena
Absol Mega Z
Lycanroc Dusk
Simipour
Chandelure
Lycanroc Midnight
Weavile
Lycanroc Midday
Barbaracle
Gardevoir
Simisear
Banette Mega
Mawile Mega
Samurott Hisui
Steelix
Talonflame
Grimmsnarl
Slowking Galar
Chimecho Mega
Passimian
Simisage
Spiritomb
Conkeldurr
Oranguru
Zoroark Hisui
Samurott
Bastiodon
Runerigus
Chesnaught
Krookodile
Emboar
Scrafty
Glalie
Malamar
Overqwil
Houndoom
Mimikyu Totem Busted
Decidueye
Corviknight Gmax
Gallade
Mimikyu Totem Disguised
Sneasler
Mimikyu Busted
Sableye Mega
Annihilape
Umbreon
Sharpedo
Serperior
Toxicroak
Salazzle
Hawlucha
Medicham Mega
Gliscor
Absol
Pangoro
Froslass
Palafin Zero
Mimikyu Disguised
Corviknight
Chimecho
Skarmory
Maushold Family Of Three
Salazzle Totem
Liepard
Banette
Maushold Family Of Four
Qwilfish
Morpeko Hangry
Qwilfish Hisui
Emolga
Morpeko Full Belly
Medicham
Mawile
Sableye
Egg move (breeding)1 Pokémon
Infernape
Pokémon that use this move
473 Pokémon, sorted by usage
Incineroar
Tyranitar Mega
Gardevoir Mega
Hawlucha Mega
Steelix Mega
Greninja Ash
Greninja Mega
Houndoom Mega
Gyarados Mega
Barbaracle Mega
Kingambit
Chesnaught Mega
Gallade Mega
Kommo O Totem
Glalie Mega
Aerodactyl Mega
Chandelure Mega
Malamar Mega
Hydreigon
Emboar Mega
Kommo O
Gengar Mega
Sharpedo Mega
Alakazam Mega
Scrafty Mega
Palafin Hero
Infernape
Whimsicott
Noivern
Zoroark
Aerodactyl
Froslass Mega
Quaquaval
Decidueye Hisui
Aggron Mega
Mr Rime
Gengar Gmax
Gengar
Pyroar Male
Tyranitar
Greninja Battle Bond
Vanilluxe
Grimmsnarl Gmax
Ceruledge
Skarmory Mega
Armarouge
Gyarados
Alakazam
Greninja
Absol Mega
Aggron
Beartic
Meowscarada
Tsareena
Absol Mega Z
Lycanroc Dusk
Simipour
Chandelure
Lycanroc Midnight
Weavile
Lycanroc Midday
Barbaracle
Gardevoir
Simisear
Banette Mega
Mawile Mega
Samurott Hisui
Steelix
Talonflame
Grimmsnarl
Slowking Galar
Chimecho Mega
Passimian
Simisage
Spiritomb
Conkeldurr
Oranguru
Zoroark Hisui
Samurott
Bastiodon
Runerigus
Chesnaught
Krookodile
Emboar
Scrafty
Glalie
Malamar
Overqwil
Houndoom
Mimikyu Totem Busted
Decidueye
Corviknight Gmax
Gallade
Mimikyu Totem Disguised
Sneasler
Mimikyu Busted
Sableye Mega
Annihilape
Umbreon
Sharpedo
Serperior
Toxicroak
Salazzle
Hawlucha
Medicham Mega
Gliscor
Absol
Pangoro
Froslass
Palafin Zero
Mimikyu Disguised
Corviknight
Chimecho
Skarmory
Maushold Family Of Three
Salazzle Totem
Liepard
Banette
Maushold Family Of Four
Qwilfish
Morpeko Hangry
Qwilfish Hisui
Emolga
Morpeko Full Belly
Medicham
Mawile
Sableye
What this move does
Taunt is a Dark-type status move. It targets a single adjacent target and has 20 PP. Prevents the target from using status moves for three turns.
Shuts down Trick Room, redirection and screens before they happen.
When to consider it
Consider Taunt 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, Taunt 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 Taunt 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 Taunt 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 Taunt good in VGC?
Shuts down Trick Room, redirection and screens before they happen.
+Is Taunt affected by Protect?
Yes, Taunt is blocked by Protect and Detect.