Character Skills
"content": "## Character Skills
In Pokémon Red and Blue, the skills used in battle are the moves your Pokémon learn. The Trainer themselves have no direct combat abilities; their skill lies in choosing the right Pokémon and moves. This guide covers every move available in Generation I, providing details on their effects, strategy, and usage.
#### Normal-Type Moves
#### Fire-Type Moves
#### Water-Type Moves
#### Electric-Type Moves
#### Grass-Type Moves
#### Ice-Type Moves
#### Fighting-Type Moves
#### Poison-Type Moves
#### Ground-Type Moves
Overview
In Pokémon Red and Blue, the skills used in battle are the moves your Pokémon learn. The Trainer themselves have no direct combat abilities; their skill lies in choosing the right Pokémon and moves. This guide covers every move available in Generation I, providing details on their effects, strategy, and usage.
Move Statistics Explained
- Power: Base damage. Higher is stronger.
- Accuracy (Acc): Chance to hit (%).\"--\" means never misses.
- PP: Power Points; how many times the move can be used.
- Effect: Additional effects such as status conditions, stat changes, or trapping.
- STAB: Same Type Attack Bonus (1.5x damage) when the move's type matches the user's type.
- Type Chart: Use type effectiveness to choose moves (e.g., Water beats Fire).
Complete Move List by Type
#### Normal-Type Moves
| Move | Power | Acc | PP | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrage | 15 | 85% | 20 | Hits 2-5 times | Unreliable, low power. Avoid. |
| Bide | -- | -- | 10 | Stores damage for 2-3 turns, returns double | Can catch opponents off guard. |
| Bind | 15 | 85% | 20 | Traps for 2-5 turns, deals damage | Annoying but weak. |
| Bite | 60 | 100% | 25 | 30% flinch | Good early move. |
| Body Slam | 85 | 100% | 15 | 30% paralyze | Excellent for spreading paralysis. |
| Comet Punch | 18 | 85% | 15 | Hits 2-5 times | Unreliable. Use on physical attackers. |
| Constrict | 10 | 100% | 35 | May lower Speed | Very weak; replace quickly. |
| Conversion | -- | -- | 30 | User becomes type of first move | Porygon's gimmick; rarely useful. |
| Cut | 50 | 95% | 30 | None | HM; weak in battle. |
| Defense Curl | -- | -- | 40 | Raises user's Defense | Setup move for bulky monsters. |
| Dizzy Punch | 70 | 100% | 10 | 20% confuse | Decent filler. |
| Double Slap | 15 | 85% | 10 | Hits 2-5 times | Unreliable. |
| Double Team | -- | -- | 15 | Raises Evasiveness | Annoying but risky. |
| Double-Edge | 120 | 100% | 15 | Recoil 25% | Powerful but hurts user. |
| Egg Bomb | 100 | 75% | 10 | None | Inaccurate. |
| Flash | -- | 100% | 20 | Lowers opponent's accuracy | HM; niche in battle. |
| Focus Energy | -- | -- | 30 | Raises critical hit rate | Often not worth a turn. |
| Fury Attack | 15 | 85% | 20 | Hits 2-5 times | Unreliable. |
| Fury Swipes | 18 | 80% | 15 | Hits 2-5 times | Unreliable. |
| Glare | -- | 100% | 30 | Paralyzes opponent | Good status move on Normal types. |
| Growth | -- | -- | 40 | Raises user's Special | Setup for special attackers. |
| Guillotine | -- | 30% | 5 | OHKO | Very unreliable. |
| Hammer Arm | 100 | 90% | 10 | Lowers user's Speed | Powerful but reduces speed. |
| Headbutt | 70 | 100% | 15 | 30% flinch | Reliable physical STAB. |
| Horn Attack | 65 | 100% | 25 | None | Decent early move. |
| Horn Drill | -- | 30% | 5 | OHKO | Unreliable. |
| Hyper Beam | 150 | 90% | 5 | User must recharge next turn | Devastating but risky. |
| Karate Chop | 50 | 100% | 25 | High critical hit rate | Good for early Fighting types (Normal type in Gen I). |
| Leer | -- | 100% | 30 | Lowers opponent's Defense | Debuff for physical sweepers. |
| Lovely Kiss | -- | 75% | 10 | Puts opponent to sleep | Inaccurate but crippling. |
| Mega Kick | 120 | 75% | 5 | None | High power, low accuracy. |
| Mega Punch | 80 | 85% | 20 | None | Decent. |
| Metronome | -- | -- | 10 | Uses a random move | Fun but unpredictable. |
| Mimic | -- | -- | 10 | Copies opponent's last move | Situational. |
| Minimize | -- | -- | 20 | Raises Evasiveness | Same as Double Team. |
| Pound | 40 | 100% | 35 | None | Basic starting move. |
| Quick Attack | 40 | 100% | 30 | Priority +1 | Great for finishing low HP foes. |
| Rage | 20 | 100% | 20 | Raises user's Attack after each hit | Can snowball. |
| Razor Wind | 80 | 100% | 10 | Charges turn 1, attacks turn 2 | Two-turn move; unreliable. |
| Recover | -- | -- | 20 | Heals 50% HP | Excellent for longevity. |
| Reflect | -- | -- | 20 | Halves Physical damage for 5 turns | Boosts team survivability. |
| Rest | -- | -- | 10 | Heals all HP, user sleeps 2 turns | Full heal but leaves user vulnerable. |
| Roar | -- | 100% | 20 | Forces opponent to switch | Useful for disrupting setups. |
| Rock Slide | 75 | 90% | 10 | 30% flinch | Good coverage move. |
| Sand Attack | -- | 100% | 15 | Lowers opponent's accuracy | Utility move. |
| Scratch | 40 | 100% | 35 | None | Basic. |
| Screech | -- | 85% | 40 | Sharply lowers opponent's Defense | Good for physical sweepers. |
| Seismic Toss | -- | 100% | 20 | Deals damage equal to user's level | Consistent damage. |
| Self-Destruct | 200 | 100% | 5 | User faints | Nuke move. |
| Skull Bash | 130 | 100% | 10 | Charges turn 1, raises Defense | Two-turn move. |
| Slam | 80 | 75% | 20 | None | Low accuracy. |
| Slash | 70 | 100% | 20 | High critical hit rate | Reliable STAB. |
| Smog | 20 | 70% | 20 | May poison opponent | Inaccurate. |
| Smokescreen | -- | 100% | 20 | Lowers opponent's accuracy | Utility. |
| Soft-Boiled | -- | -- | 10 | Heals 50% HP | Excellent recovery. |
| Spore | -- | 100% | 15 | Puts opponent to sleep | Reliable sleep move (user must be Grass-type). |
| Stomp | 65 | 100% | 20 | 30% flinch | Good. |
| Strength | 80 | 100% | 15 | None | HM, decent. |
| Substitute | -- | -- | 10 | Uses 25% HP to create a decoy | Useful for protection. |
| Super Fang | -- | 90% | 10 | Cuts opponent's HP in half | Great for whittling down tough foes. |
| Supersonic | -- | 55% | 20 | Confuses opponent | Low accuracy. |
| Surf | 95 | 100% | 15 | None | Powerful Water move, HM. |
| Swift | 60 | -- | 20 | Never misses | Reliable finishing move. |
| Swords Dance | -- | -- | 20 | Sharply raises user's Attack | Key setup for physical sweepers. |
| Tackle | 35 | 95% | 35 | None | Starter move. |
| Tail Whip | -- | 100% | 30 | Lowers opponent's Defense | Weak debuff. |
| Take Down | 90 | 85% | 20 | Recoil 25% | Strong but risky. |
| Teleport | -- | -- | 20 | Escape from wild battle | Useless in trainer battles. |
| Thrash | 120 | 100% | 10 | User confused after 2-3 turns | Powerful but leaves user confused. |
| Thunder Wave | -- | 100% | 20 | Paralyzes opponent | Excellent status move. |
| Toxic | -- | 85% | 10 | Badly poisons opponent | Worsens each turn. |
| Transform | -- | -- | 10 | User copies opponent's moves and stats | Ditto's signature; can copy powerful foes. |
| Tri Attack | 80 | 100% | 10 | 20% chance of burn/freeze/paralyze | Good coverage. |
| Vice Grip | 55 | 100% | 30 | None | Decent early move. |
| Vise Grip | 55 | 100% | 30 | None | Same as Vice Grip. |
| Waterfall | 80 | 100% | 15 | None | HM, good Water move. |
| Wrap | 15 | 90% | 20 | Traps for 2-5 turns | Similar to Bind. |
| Move | Power | Acc | PP | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ember | 40 | 100% | 25 | 10% burn | Basic Fire move. |
| Fire Blast | 120 | 85% | 5 | 30% burn | Powerful but inaccurate. |
| Fire Punch | 75 | 100% | 15 | 10% burn | Good for physical attackers. |
| Fire Spin | 15 | 70% | 15 | Traps for 2-5 turns | Annoying but weak. |
| Flamethrower | 95 | 100% | 15 | 10% burn | Reliable Fire STAB. |
| Move | Power | Acc | PP | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble | 20 | 100% | 30 | May lower Speed | Very weak. |
| Bubble Beam | 65 | 100% | 20 | May lower Speed | Good early Water move. |
| Clamp | 35 | 85% | 10 | Traps for 2-5 turns | Low power, unreliable. |
| Crabhammer | 100 | 85% | 10 | High crit | Kingler's best move. |
| Hydro Pump | 120 | 80% | 5 | None | Strong but inaccurate. |
| Surf | 95 | 100% | 15 | None | Excellent Water STAB, HM. |
| Water Gun | 40 | 100% | 25 | None | Basic. |
| Waterfall | 80 | 100% | 15 | None | HM, decent. |
| Withdraw | -- | -- | 40 | Raises Defense | Setup for Water types. |
| Move | Power | Acc | PP | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder | 120 | 70% | 10 | 30% paralysis | Powerful but inaccurate; accurate in rain. |
| Thunder Punch | 75 | 100% | 15 | 10% paralysis | Good coverage. |
| Thunder Shock | 40 | 100% | 30 | 10% paralysis | Basic. |
| Thunder Wave | -- | 100% | 20 | Paralyzes opponent | Excellent status. |
| Thunderbolt | 95 | 100% | 15 | 10% paralysis | Best Electric move. |
| Move | Power | Acc | PP | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absorb | 20 | 100% | 20 | User recovers half HP dealt | Early recovery move. |
| Leech Seed | -- | 90% | 10 | Drains HP each turn | Great for stalling. |
| Mega Drain | 40 | 100% | 15 | User recovers half HP dealt | Upgrade from Absorb. |
| Petal Dance | 120 | 100% | 10 | User confused after 2-3 turns | Powerful but leaves user confused. |
| Razor Leaf | 55 | 95% | 25 | High crit | Good Grass STAB. |
| Sleep Powder | -- | 75% | 15 | Puts opponent to sleep | Inaccurate but crippling. |
| Solar Beam | 120 | 100% | 10 | Charges turn 1 | Two-turn move; avoid. |
| Spore | -- | 100% | 15 | Puts opponent to sleep | Perfect accuracy (Grass type). |
| Stun Spore | -- | 75% | 30 | Paralyzes opponent | Inaccurate. |
| Vine Whip | 35 | 100% | 10 | None | Basic Grass move. |
| Move | Power | Acc | PP | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Beam | 65 | 100% | 20 | May lower Attack | Good. |
| Blizzard | 120 | 90% | 5 | 30% freeze | Powerful but inaccurate. |
| Haze | -- | -- | 30 | Resets all stat changes | Useful for resetting boosts. |
| Ice Beam | 95 | 100% | 15 | 10% freeze | Reliable Ice STAB. |
| Ice Punch | 75 | 100% | 15 | 10% freeze | Good coverage. |
| Mist | -- | -- | 30 | Protects against stat reduction for 5 turns | Niche. |
| Powder Snow | 40 | 100% | 25 | May freeze | Basic. |
| Move | Power | Acc | PP | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brick Break | 75 | 100% | 15 | Breaks Light Screen and Reflect | Useful. |
| Counter | -- | 100% | 20 | Returns double physical damage | Niche but can OHKO. |
| Cross Chop | 100 | 80% | 5 | High crit | Strong but inaccurate. |
| Double Kick | 30 | 100% | 30 | Hits twice | Reliable. |
| Jump Kick | 85 | 95% | 25 | Crash damage if miss | Risk-reward. |
| Karate Chop | 50 | 100% | 25 | High crit | Normal-type in Gen I but listed here (known as fighting). |
| Low Kick | 50 | 90% | 20 | 30% flinch | Decent. |
| Rolling Kick | 60 | 85% | 15 | 30% flinch | Moderate. |
| Seismic Toss | -- | 100% | 20 | Damage = user's level | Consistent Fighting-type damage. |
| Submission | 80 | 80% | 25 | Recoil 25% | Powerful but risky. |
| Move | Power | Acc | PP | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acid | 40 | 100% | 30 | May lower Defense | Good early move. |
| Acid Armor | -- | -- | 40 | Sharply raises Defense | Setup for bulky Poison types. |
| Poison Gas | -- | 55% | 40 | Poisons opponent | Low accuracy. |
| Poison Powder | -- | 75% | 35 | Poisons opponent | Inaccurate. |
| Poison Sting | 15 | 100% | 35 | May poison | Weak. |
| Sludge | 65 | 100% | 20 | May poison | Decent. |
| Smog | 20 | 70% | 20 | May poison | Inaccurate. |
| Toxic | -- | 85% | 10 | Badly poisons | Worsens each turn. |
| Move | Power | Acc | PP | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone Club | 65 | 85% | 20 | 30% flinch | Marowak signature. |
| Bonemerang | 50 | 90% | 10 | Hits twice | Reliable. |
| Dig | 100 | 100% |