⚔️ Substitute | Gen 1

The user sacrifices 1/4 of its maximum HP to create a Substitute doll that absorbs damage and blocks most negative effects. If the user leaves the field, the doll vanishes. If the user cannot pay the HP cost, the move fails. The doll takes damage using the user’s stats and typing, and breaks when its HP reaches zero. Self‑inflicted damage from confusion or recoil bypasses the doll. Moves that scale with the user’s HP still use the user’s actual HP, not the doll’s.

The doll blocks major status conditions, confusion, and flinching. It also prevents stat changes and minor effects from moves like Curse, Leech Seed, Swagger, Intimidate, or Yawn. Multi‑turn trapping moves (e.g. Wrap) damage the doll but do not bind the user. Moves like Roar which force the target to Switch will still switch the target behind a Substitute and remove the Substitute.

Damage absorbed by the doll does not count as damage to the user for effects like Counter or Avalanche. HP‑draining moves heal the attacker as normal. Abilities that absorb moves (e.g. Volt Absorb) still activate even if the doll is present.

Generation I specifics: The Substitute’s HP is set to 1 point higher than the HP lost by the user. If the user has exactly 25% HP, it creates a Substitute and then faints (this does not happen in Pokémon Stadium). Substitute does not block sleep, direct paralysis (e.g. Thunder Wave), or indirect confusion (e.g. Psybeam), but it does block poison, burn, freeze, indirect paralysis, and direct confusion. Binding moves still trap the user. Rage, Bide, and Counter count damage to the Substitute. If a Substitute is broken, secondary effects from moves like Hyper Beam, Self‑Destruct, Pay Day, or recoil moves are skipped. Due to a bug, self‑inflicted confusion or crash damage may be applied to the opponent’s Substitute instead.