Self-Destruct (Japanese: じばく Self-Destruct), formatted as Selfdestruct prior to Generation VI, is a damage-dealing Normal-type move introduced in Generation I.
It is:
Effect
Selfdestruct inflicts damage and causes the user to faint.
Sturdy or a held Focus Band or Focus Sash does not prevent the user from fainting.
This move cannot be used when a Pokémon with the Ability Damp is on the field.
Generation I
Though its power is listed as 130, the target's Defense will be halved during damage calculation (unless it is at a value of 1), effectively doubling the power to 260.
The user of Selfdestruct will faint even if the attack misses or the opponent is immune to it (due to being Ghost type).
If Selfdestruct breaks a target's substitute, the user will not faint, though its image will be replaced by a blank image. Additionally, if the user of Selfdestruct had a substitute at the time of such a situation, uses Substitute later, or switches out, its regular image will once again become visible.
If the user of Selfdestruct attacks first and faints itself, the opponent will not attack or be subjected to recurrent damage during that round.
In Stadium, if Selfdestruct breaks a target's substitute, the user will faint. The base power listed in Stadium is the one after halving Defense, i.e. 260.
Generation II
Selfdestruct's power is increased to 200. The target's Defense is still halved, effectively doubling the power to 400.
The user of Selfdestruct will now faint even if the target is behind a substitute, or is protected against it.
If the user of Selfdestruct attacks first and faints itself, the opponent will not attack this turn, but is subjected to end-of-turn damage such as from sandstorm.
Unlike the previous game, Stadium 2 lists Selfdestruct's power before halving Defense.
If Selfdestruct is selected, but fails due to confusion, then the user takes more confusion damage as well.
Generation III
The user's sprite no longer disappears upon using the move.
If the user of Selfdestruct attacks first and faints itself, all other Pokémon may still attack this turn.
Generation IV
If all targets of Selfdestruct have already fainted this turn such that there is no target when Selfdestruct is being executed, Selfdestruct will fail and the user will not faint.
Selfdestruct's temporary Defense drop no longer boosts confusion damage.
Generation V
Selfdestruct no longer halves the target's Defense. The user faints before dealing damage, unlike in previous generations.
If all targets of Selfdestruct have already fainted this turn such that there is no target when Selfdestruct is being executed, the user of Selfdestruct will now faint regardless.
Generation VI onwards
Self-Destruct returns to damaging the target before the user faints.
Self-Destruct can also be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, with the user gaining an extra three appeal points if any of the moves Block, Mean Look or Spider Web was used in the prior turn.
If used in a Max or Tera Raid Battle, Self-Destruct fails, and the user does not faint.
Generation VIII
Self-Destruct fails if the move misses, or the target is immune.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the user receives recoil damage instead of fainting, with the exact recoil amount depending on the style used.
Description
|
Learnset
By leveling up
By breeding
By TM/Move Tutor
Special move
Generation IV
In other games
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
Self-Destruct causes a 3×3 explosion centered on the user, that targets all Pokémon in the range; ally or enemy. From Super Mystery Dungeon, the move is instead classified as a status move and the user will first give itself the Self-Destruct status condition. With this, the user will only explode if attacked on the next turn.
In the Rescue Team, Explorers and Adventure Squad series, the explosion deals 40 HP damage to enemy Pokémon and halves the current HP of the user and teammates (dealing at least 1 HP of damage). Fire-type take half the usual damage from Self-Destruct. In Super Mystery Dungeon, the explosion will immediately defeat enemies in range, though Fire-type enemy Pokémon will only lose 50% of their HP. The damage to the user and teammates is the same as in previous games.
Self-Destruct also destroys all items and wall tiles (other than those on the edge of the floor and in locked chambers) in range. This move cannot be used if the current weather on the floor is rain, or if there is a Pokémon with Damp somewhere on the floor.
Description
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In the anime
In the manga
The Electric Tale of Pikachu
 Haunter | |||
| The user self-destructs violently, damaging everything around it. The user perishes upon using this move. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
 | Haunter's body swells up and it explodes violently. Haunter also takes its own life in the explosion. | ||
| Black Fog | Haunting My Dreams | Debut | |
How I Became a Pokémon Card
Pokémon Adventures
Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure
 Koffing | |||
| The user explodes violently. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
 | Koffing glows and then explodes violently. | ||
| Proton's Koffing | JBA2 | Debut | |
Pokémon Zensho
In other generations
Core series games
| Warning: The original animation from Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue contains several short flashes capable of causing epileptic seizures. |
Side series games
Spin-off series games
Trivia
- In Generation I, if Selfdestruct or Explosion knocks out the last remaining Pokémon on both sides of the field simultaneously, the player will black out as normal, but the victory music still plays.
- In Generations II and III, if a Pokémon attempts to use Selfdestruct or Explosion but hurts itself in confusion instead, the confusion damage is boosted by the move's Defense-halving effect.
- Self-Destruct, Explosion, and Misty Explosion are the only three damaging moves whose battle animations play out even if they would miss or have no effect.
- If Self-Destruct is upgraded into the Z-Move Breakneck Blitz, that Breakneck Blitz will have the same power as Self-Destruct (200).
In other languages
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