Bubble (move)

Bubble
あわ Bubble
Type  Water
Category  Special
PP  30 (max. 48)
Power  40
Accuracy  100%
Priority  0
Range
Opponent Opponent Opponent
Self Ally Ally
Many Others: Affects all adjacent opponents, but not allies
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Cute
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  2 ♥♥
Startles all Pokémon that have done their appeals.
Condition  Cute
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Enables the user to perform last in the next turn.
Condition  Cute
Appeal  4 ♥♥♥♥
Jamming  0  
Quite an appealing move.

Bubble (Japanese: あわ Bubble) is a damage-dealing Water-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Generation I

Bubble's power is 20. Bubble inflicts damage and has a 33.2% chance of lowering the target's Speed stat by one stage.

When used by an in-game opponent, there is an additional chance of 25% for the effect to fail (resulting in an effective chance of 24.9%).

Generation II

Bubble now has a 10% chance of lowering the target's Speed stat by one stage.

When used by an in-game opponent, there is still an additional chance of 25% for the effect to fail (resulting in an effective chance of 7.5%). This does not apply when Lock-On or Mind Reader are in effect, nor in the Battle Tower.

Generation III to V

Bubble's effect no longer has an additional chance to fail when used by an in-game opponent.

Bubble targets both opposing Pokémon in Double Battles. In a Triple Battle, Bubble will only hit opposing adjacent Pokémon.

Bubble can be used as the second move of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining 2 bonus appeal points if Rain Dance was used in the previous turn.

Generations VI and VII

Bubble's power changed from 20 to 40. In Horde Encounters, it will target all opponents.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Bubble cannot be selected in a battle.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Bubble cannot be selected in a battle.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Category  Special
PP  25
Agile Strong
Power  40  30  50
Accuracy  100%  100%  100%
Action speed modifier
Self  0  0  +5
Target  +3  +5  +3
Additional effect
   ?  ?
   ?  ?
   ?  ?
None

Generation IX

Bubble cannot be selected in a battle.

Description

Games Description
Stad A Water-type attack. Has a one-in-three chance of reducing the target's Speed.
Stad2 A Water-type attack. Has a one-in-ten chance of reducing the target's Speed.
GSC An attack that may reduce Speed.
RSE An attack using bubbles. May lower the foe's Speed.
FRLG A spray of bubbles hits the foe. It may lower the foe's Speed stat.
ColoXD A bubble attack that may lower the target's Speed.
DPPtHGSSPBR A spray of countless bubbles is jetted at the foe. It may also lower the target's Speed stat.
BWB2W2 A spray of countless bubbles is jetted at the opposing team. It may also lower the targets' Speed stats.
XYORAS A spray of countless bubbles is jetted at the opposing Pokémon. This may also lower their Speed stats.
SMUSUMPE A spray of countless bubbles is jetted at the opposing Pokémon. This may also lower their Speed stat.
SwShBDSP
SV
This move can't be used. It's recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can't be remembered.
LA The user attacks the target with a spray of countless bubbles.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0007 Squirtle Monster Water 1 8 7 7 7 7 13 13 9
0008 Wartortle Monster Water 1 1, 8 1, 7 1, 7 1, 7 1, 7 13 13 1, 9
0009 Blastoise Monster Water 1 1, 8 1, 7 1, 7 1, 7 1, 7 13 13 1, 9
0054 Psyduck Water 1 Field 1
0055 Golduck Water 1 Field 1
0060 Poliwag Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1 5 5 11 11 1
0061 Poliwhirl Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1 1, 5 1, 5 11 11 1
0062 Poliwrath
Water 1 Water 1 1
0072 Tentacool
Water 3 Water 3 6
0073 Tentacruel
Water 3 Water 3 6
0098 Krabby Water 3 Water 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0099 Kingler Water 3 Water 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0116 Horsea Water 1 Dragon 1 1 1 1 1 11XY
1ORAS
1 1
0117 Seadra Water 1 Dragon 1 1 1 1 1 1, 11XY
1ORAS
1 1
0134 Vaporeon Field Field Evo.
0170 Chinchou
Water 2 Water 2 1 1 1 1 12XY
1ORAS
1
0171 Lanturn
Water 2 Water 2 1 1 1 1 12XY
1ORAS
1
0183 Marill
Water 1 Fairy 1B2W2 7 7
0184 Azumarill
Water 1 Fairy 1B2W2 7 7
0211 Qwilfish
Water 2 Water 2 13 13
0222 Corsola
Water 1 Water 3 13 12 8 8 8XY
4ORAS
4
0223 Remoraid Water 1 Water 2 1
0224 Octillery Water 1 Water 2 1
0226 Mantine
Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5
0230 Kingdra
Water 1 Dragon 1 1 1 1 1, 11XY
1ORAS
1
0270 Lotad
Water 1 Grass 9ORAS 9
0271 Lombre
Water 1 Grass 9ORAS 9
0283 Surskit
Water 1 Bug 1 1 1 1 1
0284 Masquerain
Water 1 Bug 1 1 1 1 1
0298 Azurill
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 10 10 10BW
1B2W2
7 7
0341 Corphish Water 1 Water 3 1 1 1 1 1
0342 Crawdaunt
Water 1 Water 3 1 1 1 1 1
0393 Piplup Water 1 Field 8 8 8 8 6
0394 Prinplup Water 1 Field 8 8 8 1, 8 6
0395 Empoleon
Water 1 Field 1, 8 1, 8 1, 8 1, 8 6
0456 Finneon Water 2 Water 2 1
0457 Lumineon Water 2 Water 2 1
0458 Mantyke
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1 1 1 1 5
0489 Phione Water 1 Fairy 1 1 1 1 1
0490 Manaphy Water 1 Fairy 1 1 1 1 1
0535 Tympole Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1
0536 Palpitoad
Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1
0537 Seismitoad
Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1
0592 Frillish
Frillish
All forms

Amorphous Amorphous 1 1 1
0593 Jellicent
Jellicent
All forms

Amorphous Amorphous 1 1 1
0656 Froakie Water 1 Water 1 5 5
0657 Frogadier Water 1 Water 1 5 1, 5
0658 Greninja
Greninja
All available forms

Water 1 Water 1 5 1, 5
0690 Skrelp
Water 1 Dragon 12 12
0691 Dragalge
Water 1 Dragon 12 12
0692 Clauncher Water 1 Water 3 12 12
0693 Clawitzer Water 1 Water 3 12 12
0704 Goomy Dragon Dragon 1 1 1
0705 Sliggoo Dragon Dragon 1 1
0705 Sliggoo
Sliggoo
Hisuian Form

Dragon Dragon 1
0706 Goodra Dragon Dragon 1 1
0706 Goodra
Goodra
Hisuian Form

Dragon Dragon 1
0739 Crabrawler Water 3 Water 3 1
0740 Crabominable
Water 3 Water 3 1
0751 Dewpider
Water 1 Bug 1
0752 Araquanid
Water 1 Bug 1
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By breeding

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Egg Move
0072 Tentacool
Water 3 Water 3
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By event

Generation II

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0129 Magikarp Water 2 Dragon New York Pokémon Center
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Bubble deals damage, and may lower the target's Travel Speed by one stage.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB 4 - 15 - 88% - 10 tiles away All Yes
MDTDS 4 - 12 - 83.6% - 10 tiles away All Yes
BSL 4 - 12 - 83.6% - 10 tiles away All Yes
MDGtI 2 99 20 99 95% 98% 10 tiles away All Yes
SMD 2 50 16 30 95% 98% 4 tiles away Enemy Yes
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Pokémon Conquest

 
>
 
Stars: ★
Power: 20
Accuracy: 100%
Effect: Has a 10% chance of lowering each target's speed.
Users: Piplup
Grid assumes the user is in the square marked by > facing to the right, to act as their origin point.
A blue square indicates the user's position after performing the move, if the move changes their positioning at all.
Orange squares indicate spaces that are hit.
Red squares indicate the knockback on hit Pokémon.

Pokémon GO

 Bubble
Fast Attack
Gyms & Raids
Power 12
Energy boost 14
Duration 1.2 seconds
Damage window 0.75 - 1 seconds
Trainer Battles
Power 8
Energy boost 11
Turns 3
Eligible Pokémon:
Standard eligibility
SquirtlePoliwagPoliwhirlPoliwrathTentacoolKrabbyKinglerHorseaChinchouMarillAzumarillPolitoedCorsolaMantineLombreLudicoloSurskitAzurillCorphishPiplupPrinplupMantykePhioneManaphyTympolePalpitoadSeismitoadFrillishJellicentFroakieFrogadierGreninjaCrabrawlerCrabominable
By Elite Fast TM
By GO Snapshot
Smeargle
As Shadow Pokémon
As Purified Pokémon
Formerly eligible
None

Updates

Gyms & Raids
  • July 30, 2016
    • Power: 15 → 25
    • Energy boost: 15 → 25
  • February 16, 2017
    • Power: 25 → 15
    • Energy boost: 25 → 12
    • Duration: 2.3 → 1.7 seconds
    • Damage window: 2.1 - 2.3 → 0.75 - 1 seconds
  • February 21, 2017
    • Power: 15 → 12
    • Energy boost: 12 → 14
    • Duration: 1.7 → 1.2 seconds
Trainer Battles
  • January 11, 2021
    • Power: 8 → 7
  • December 1, 2023
    • Power: 7 → 8

Pokémon Rumble Rush

Bubble
Attack power 26.52369
Charge time 0.58 seconds
Range type Arc (narrow)
Number of hits 1
Number of projectiles 1
Critical hit rate 1.5%
Additional effect None

Pokémon Masters EX

Category Move gauge cost MP
(uses)
Base Power Max Power Accuracy Target Effect Tag(s) Description Playable sync pair(s)
Special 1 19 22 100% All opponents Has a chance (10%) of lowering the target's Speed by one stat rank. Barry & Piplup/Prinplup/Empoleon
Scottie/Bettie & Horsea/SeadraEgg
  • Description prior to Version 2.10.0 (from June 28, 2021): Has a very small chance of lowering the target's Speed.

Pokémon UNITE

In Pokémon UNITE, Bubble is Greninja's first move and Azumarill's second move.

Azumarill starts with the move. The user bubbles in a cone; dealing damage to enemies in the area of effect and decreasing their movement speed for a short time. This move can be used while moving. At level 7, it is replaced by either Play Rough or Water Pulse.

Greninja starts with the move as Froakie. The user launches 2 bubbles which pop when they hit an enemy, damaging and slowing them. After evolving from Frogadier at level 7, it is replaced by either Water Shuriken or Surf.

Description

Games Description
MDRB Inflicts damage on the target, even at a distance. It may also lower the target's Movement Speed by one level.
MDTDS Inflicts damage on the target, even at a distance. It may also reduce the target's Movement Speed by 1 level.
BSL はなれたポケモンに ダメージをあたえる しかも いっていのかくりつで いどうそくどを 1だんかいさげる
Conq. A spray of countless bubbles is jetted at the target. It may also lower the target's Speed.
MDGtI It damages even a faraway Pokémon. It could also lower the Pokémon's Travel Speed.
SMD It could lower an enemy's Travel Speed for a while.*
It damages a Pokémon, even one far away. It could also lower the Pokémon's Travel Speed.*


In animation

Pokémon animated series


Horsea

Masquerain

Froakie

Dewpider
A spray of countless bubbles is jetted at the foe.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Horsea Horsea blows white bubbles out of its mouth at the opponent.
Misty's Horsea The Misty Mermaid Debut
Kingler Kingler releases multiple clear bubbles from its mouth at the opponent, or Kingler sprays a foam of bubbles at the opponent from its mouth.
Giovanni's Kingler The Battle of the Badge None
Ash's Kingler Round One - Begin! None
Tentacool Light blue bubbles come out of the red gem on Tentacool's forehead at the opponent.
Ritchie/Assunta's Tentacool Friends to the End Tentacool could not legally learn Bubble at the time
Poliwag Poliwag shoots multiple clear bubbles from its mouth at the opponent.
Misty's Poliwag Roll On, Pokémon! None
Poliwhirl Poliwhirl's hands glow white or blue and then it shoots blue or white bubbles from its hands at the opponent.
Misty's Poliwhirl The Totodile Duel None
Blastoise Blastoise shoots out blue or clear bubbles from its mouth at the opponent.
A Blastoise Jessie borrowed from the Battle Park One Trick Phony! None
Sid's Blastoise Destiny Deoxys None
Politoed Politoed opens its mouth a large white bubble appears inside of it. The bubble then pops and multiple white bubbles fire from its mouth at the opponent.
Misty's Politoed Gotta Catch Ya Later! None
Masquerain A large light blue bubble forms on the top of Masquerain's head and it releases clear bubbles at the opponent from it, or Masquerain fires clear bubbles from its face at the opponent.
Drew's Masquerain A Fan with a Plan None
Azurill Azurill releases light blue or clear bubbles from its mouth at the opponent.
A Coordinator's Azurill A Cacturne for the Worse None
Misty's Azurill A Real Cleffa-Hanger None
Squirtle Squirtle releases clear bubbles out of its mouth at the opponent.
May's Squirtle Hooked on Onix None
Squirtle of Team Go-Getters Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate None
Krabby Krabby releases multiple clear bubbles from its mouth at the opponent.
Multiple wild Krabby Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness None
Piplup Piplup opens its beak and releases multiple multicolored or clear bubbles from it at the opponent.
Piplup of Team Poképals Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness None
Tyler's Pippy The Thief That Keeps on Thieving! None
Professor Rowan's Piplup DPS01 None
Froakie Froakie releases several clear bubbles from its mouth at the opponent.
Ash's Froakie A Battle of Aerial Mobility! None
Frogadier Frogadier releases several clear bubbles from its mouth at the opponent.
Sanpei's Frogadier A Rush of Ninja Wisdom None
Dewpider Dewpider takes one or multiple bubbles from the bubble around its head and throws it/them at the opponent.
A wild Dewpider Dewpider Ascending! None

Pokémon Origins


Squirtle


The user attacks the target with a spray of countless bubbles.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Squirtle Squirtle sprays a foam of bubbles from its mouth at the opponent.
Blue's Squirtle File 1: Red Debut

Pokémon Evolutions


Piplup


A spray of countless bubbles is jetted at the foe.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Piplup Piplup shoots multiple blue bubbles from its mouth at the opponent.
Barry's Piplup The Rival Debut

In the manga

Aim to Be a Card Master!!

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master!

Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!

In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 泡沫 Póuhmuht *[specify]
泡泡 Póuhpóuh *[specify]
Mandarin 泡沫 Pàomò *[specify]
泡泡 Pàopao *[specify]
Czech Bublinkový útok
Danish Boble
Bobbelangreb
Dutch Bubbel
Finnish Kuplahyöky*
Kuplamyrsky*
Kupla (AG series)
French ÉcumeV+
EcumeIIV
German Blubber
Greek Φυσαλλίδα
Hebrew בועות Buhot
Indonesian Gelembung
Italian Bolla
Korean 거품 Geopum
Polish Bąbelek
Portuguese Brazil Bolha (games, TCG, PS015, PS342-present)
Bolhas (animated series, PS061-PS341)
Borbulhar (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Portugal Ataque de Bolhas
Serbian Mehur
Spanish Latin America Burbuja*
Spain Burbuja
Swedish Bubbelstråle*
Bubbel
Bubbla
Thai ฟอง
Vietnamese Phun Bong Bóng
Variations of the move Acid
Acid • • EmberThunder ShockPowder Snow
This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.