Throat Chop

Dark

Throat Chop is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 80 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
Dark
Category
physical
Power
80
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-up21 Pokémon

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • HeracrossHeracross

TM / HM222 Pokémon

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Hawlucha MegaHawlucha Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • KingambitKingambit
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Falinks MegaFalinks Mega
  • Sceptile MegaSceptile Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Eelektross MegaEelektross Mega
  • HydreigonHydreigon
  • Pinsir MegaPinsir Mega
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Excadrill MegaExcadrill Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • EmpoleonEmpoleon
  • Palafin HeroPalafin Hero
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • Scolipede MegaScolipede Mega
  • Audino MegaAudino Mega
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • Grimmsnarl GmaxGrimmsnarl Gmax
  • CeruledgeCeruledge
  • TyphlosionTyphlosion
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • Tauros Paldea Aqua BreedTauros Paldea Aqua Breed
  • BearticBeartic
  • MeowscaradaMeowscarada
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • Lycanroc DuskLycanroc Dusk
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • Tauros Paldea Combat BreedTauros Paldea Combat Breed
  • WeavileWeavile
  • ScolipedeScolipede
  • SceptileSceptile
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Samurott HisuiSamurott Hisui
  • GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarl
  • LuxrayLuxray
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • SamurottSamurott
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui
  • EelektrossEelektross
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • ExcadrillExcadrill
  • FalinksFalinks
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • MalamarMalamar
  • OverqwilOverqwil
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • GalladeGallade
  • MamoswineMamoswine
  • SneaslerSneasler
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • AnnihilapeAnnihilape
  • PinsirPinsir
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • ToucannonToucannon
  • WyrdeerWyrdeer
  • TaurosTauros
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • HawluchaHawlucha
  • GliscorGliscor
  • AbsolAbsol
  • PangoroPangoro
  • Palafin ZeroPalafin Zero
  • LiepardLiepard
  • BanetteBanette
  • QwilfishQwilfish
  • AudinoAudino
  • ArbokArbok
  • Qwilfish HisuiQwilfish Hisui
  • AriadosAriados
  • SableyeSableye

Move Tutor129 Pokémon

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Hawlucha MegaHawlucha Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Sceptile MegaSceptile Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Eelektross MegaEelektross Mega
  • HydreigonHydreigon
  • Pinsir MegaPinsir Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • EmpoleonEmpoleon
  • Scolipede MegaScolipede Mega
  • Audino MegaAudino Mega
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • TyphlosionTyphlosion
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • BearticBeartic
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • SimipourSimipour
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • WeavileWeavile
  • ScolipedeScolipede
  • SimisearSimisear
  • SceptileSceptile
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • LuxrayLuxray
  • SimisageSimisage
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui
  • EelektrossEelektross
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • Beedrill MegaBeedrill Mega
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • MalamarMalamar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • GalladeGallade
  • PinsirPinsir
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • HawluchaHawlucha
  • GliscorGliscor
  • AbsolAbsol
  • PangoroPangoro
  • LiepardLiepard
  • BanetteBanette
  • QwilfishQwilfish
  • AudinoAudino
  • ArbokArbok
  • Qwilfish HisuiQwilfish Hisui
  • AriadosAriados
  • BeedrillBeedrill

Egg move (breeding)3 Pokémon

  • IncineroarIncineroar

Pokémon that use this move

234 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Hawlucha MegaHawlucha Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • KingambitKingambit
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Falinks MegaFalinks Mega
  • Sceptile MegaSceptile Mega
  • Malamar MegaMalamar Mega
  • Eelektross MegaEelektross Mega
  • HydreigonHydreigon
  • Pinsir MegaPinsir Mega
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Excadrill MegaExcadrill Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • EmpoleonEmpoleon
  • Palafin HeroPalafin Hero
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • Scolipede MegaScolipede Mega
  • Audino MegaAudino Mega
  • ZoroarkZoroark
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • Grimmsnarl GmaxGrimmsnarl Gmax
  • CeruledgeCeruledge
  • TyphlosionTyphlosion
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • Tauros Paldea Aqua BreedTauros Paldea Aqua Breed
  • BearticBeartic
  • MeowscaradaMeowscarada
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • Lycanroc DuskLycanroc Dusk
  • SimipourSimipour
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • Tauros Paldea Combat BreedTauros Paldea Combat Breed
  • WeavileWeavile
  • ScolipedeScolipede
  • SimisearSimisear
  • SceptileSceptile
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Samurott HisuiSamurott Hisui
  • GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarl
  • LuxrayLuxray
  • SimisageSimisage
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • SamurottSamurott
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui
  • EelektrossEelektross
  • KrookodileKrookodile
  • Beedrill MegaBeedrill Mega
  • ExcadrillExcadrill
  • FalinksFalinks
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • MalamarMalamar
  • OverqwilOverqwil
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • GalladeGallade
  • MamoswineMamoswine
  • SneaslerSneasler
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • AnnihilapeAnnihilape
  • PinsirPinsir
  • UmbreonUmbreon
  • ToucannonToucannon
  • WyrdeerWyrdeer
  • TaurosTauros
  • ToxicroakToxicroak
  • HawluchaHawlucha
  • GliscorGliscor
  • AbsolAbsol
  • PangoroPangoro
  • Palafin ZeroPalafin Zero
  • LiepardLiepard
  • BanetteBanette
  • QwilfishQwilfish
  • AudinoAudino
  • ArbokArbok
  • Qwilfish HisuiQwilfish Hisui
  • AriadosAriados
  • BeedrillBeedrill
  • SableyeSableye

What this move does

Throat Chop is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 80 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. Throat Chop is a Dark-type physical attack. It has 80 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 Throat Chop 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, Throat Chop 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 Throat Chop 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 Throat Chop 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 Throat Chop 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 Throat Chop blocked by Protect?

Yes, Throat Chop 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.