Will-O-Wisp

Fire

Burns the target, halving its physical damage and causing chip.

Technical data

Type
Fire
Category
status
Power
Accuracy
85
PP
15
Priority
0
Target
adjacent
Contact
No
Spread
No
Protect blocks
Yes
Wide Guard blocks
No

Competitive value

Cripples physical attackers and adds residual damage.

How to learn it

Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.

Level-up39 Pokémon

  • Delphox MegaDelphox Mega
  • Chandelure MegaChandelure Mega
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Froslass MegaFroslass Mega
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • SkeledirgeSkeledirge
  • CeruledgeCeruledge
  • ArmarougeArmarouge
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • ChandelureChandelure
  • DelphoxDelphox
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • FroslassFroslass
  • BanetteBanette

TM / HM195 Pokémon

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Blaziken MegaBlaziken Mega
  • Gardevoir MegaGardevoir Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Delphox MegaDelphox Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Chandelure MegaChandelure Mega
  • DragapultDragapult
  • Scovillain MegaScovillain Mega
  • Altaria MegaAltaria Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Emboar MegaEmboar Mega
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • ArcanineArcanine
  • VolcaronaVolcarona
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • Froslass MegaFroslass Mega
  • Camerupt MegaCamerupt Mega
  • FlareonFlareon
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • Pyroar MalePyroar Male
  • SkeledirgeSkeledirge
  • CeruledgeCeruledge
  • TyphlosionTyphlosion
  • ArmarougeArmarouge
  • CharizardCharizard
  • BlazikenBlaziken
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • HoundstoneHoundstone
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • ChandelureChandelure
  • DelphoxDelphox
  • GardevoirGardevoir
  • SimisearSimisear
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Rotom MowRotom Mow
  • TalonflameTalonflame
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • Rotom FanRotom Fan
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • Arcanine HisuiArcanine Hisui
  • Rotom FrostRotom Frost
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • Rotom WashRotom Wash
  • Rotom HeatRotom Heat
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • AltariaAltaria
  • EmboarEmboar
  • PolteageistPolteageist
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • Mimikyu Totem BustedMimikyu Totem Busted
  • GalladeGallade
  • Mimikyu Totem DisguisedMimikyu Totem Disguised
  • TorkoalTorkoal
  • Mimikyu BustedMimikyu Busted
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • SalazzleSalazzle
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • AbsolAbsol
  • FroslassFroslass
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • ScovillainScovillain
  • Mimikyu DisguisedMimikyu Disguised
  • Salazzle TotemSalazzle Totem
  • BanetteBanette
  • CameruptCamerupt
  • RotomRotom
  • SableyeSableye

Egg move (breeding)4 Pokémon

No Pokémon listed in the current dataset.

Pokémon that use this move

195 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • IncineroarIncineroar
  • Blaziken MegaBlaziken Mega
  • Gardevoir MegaGardevoir Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Delphox MegaDelphox Mega
  • Gallade MegaGallade Mega
  • Chandelure MegaChandelure Mega
  • DragapultDragapult
  • Scovillain MegaScovillain Mega
  • Altaria MegaAltaria Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Emboar MegaEmboar Mega
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • ArcanineArcanine
  • VolcaronaVolcarona
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • Froslass MegaFroslass Mega
  • Camerupt MegaCamerupt Mega
  • FlareonFlareon
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • GengarGengar
  • Pyroar MalePyroar Male
  • SkeledirgeSkeledirge
  • CeruledgeCeruledge
  • TyphlosionTyphlosion
  • ArmarougeArmarouge
  • CharizardCharizard
  • BlazikenBlaziken
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • NinetalesNinetales
  • HoundstoneHoundstone
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • Tauros Paldea Blaze BreedTauros Paldea Blaze Breed
  • ChandelureChandelure
  • DelphoxDelphox
  • GardevoirGardevoir
  • SimisearSimisear
  • Banette MegaBanette Mega
  • Rotom MowRotom Mow
  • TalonflameTalonflame
  • SpiritombSpiritomb
  • Rotom FanRotom Fan
  • Zoroark HisuiZoroark Hisui
  • Arcanine HisuiArcanine Hisui
  • Rotom FrostRotom Frost
  • RunerigusRunerigus
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui
  • Gourgeist AverageGourgeist Average
  • Rotom WashRotom Wash
  • Rotom HeatRotom Heat
  • CofagrigusCofagrigus
  • AltariaAltaria
  • EmboarEmboar
  • PolteageistPolteageist
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • Mimikyu Totem BustedMimikyu Totem Busted
  • GalladeGallade
  • Mimikyu Totem DisguisedMimikyu Totem Disguised
  • TorkoalTorkoal
  • Mimikyu BustedMimikyu Busted
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • SalazzleSalazzle
  • TrevenantTrevenant
  • Gourgeist SuperGourgeist Super
  • Gourgeist LargeGourgeist Large
  • Ninetales AlolaNinetales Alola
  • AbsolAbsol
  • FroslassFroslass
  • Gourgeist SmallGourgeist Small
  • ScovillainScovillain
  • Mimikyu DisguisedMimikyu Disguised
  • Salazzle TotemSalazzle Totem
  • BanetteBanette
  • CameruptCamerupt
  • RotomRotom
  • SableyeSableye

What this move does

Will-O-Wisp is a Fire-type status move. It targets a single adjacent target and has 15 PP. Burns the target, halving its physical damage and causing chip.

Cripples physical attackers and adds residual damage.

When to consider it

Consider Will-O-Wisp 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, Will-O-Wisp 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 Will-O-Wisp 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 Will-O-Wisp 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 Will-O-Wisp good in VGC?

Cripples physical attackers and adds residual damage.

Is Will-O-Wisp affected by Protect?

Yes, Will-O-Wisp is blocked by Protect and Detect.

Last updated: July 2026
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.