Sludge (move)

	Sludge; ヘドロこうげき Sludge Attack
Type	Poison
Category	Special
PP	20 (max. 32)
Power	65
Accuracy	100%
Priority	0
	Does not make contact; Affected by Protect; Not affected by Magic Coat; Not affected by Snatch; Affected by Mirror Move; Affected by King's Rock;
	Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Introduced	Generation I
	Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.;
Condition	Tough
Appeal	1 ♥
Jam	4 ♥♥♥♥
	Badly startles the Pokémon in front.
Condition	Tough
Appeal	2 ♥♥
	Earn +2 if the Pokémon performs last in the turn.
Condition	Tough
Appeal	2 ♥♥
Jamming	3 ♥♥♥
	Startles the last Pokémon to act before the user.
	On Smogon's Movedex: Generation I; Generation II; Generation III; Generation IV; Generation V; Generation VI; Generation VII; Generation VIII; Generation IX; ;

Sludge (Japanese: ヘドロこうげき Sludge Attack) is a damage-dealing Poison-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Generation I

Sludge does damage and has a 40% chance of poisoning the target.

Generation II onwards

Sludge now has a 30% chance to poison the target.

Sludge can be used as the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing Sludge Bomb to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn. It can also be used to finish a combination, with the user gaining 1 bonus appeal point if Sludge Bomb was used in the previous turn.

Description

Games	Description
Stad	A Poison-type attack. Has a fifty-fifty chance of poisoning the target.
Stad2	A Poison-type attack. Has a one-in-three chance of poisoning the target.
GS C	An attack that may poison the foe.
RS EColoXD	Sludge is hurled to inflict damage. May also poison.
FRLG	Toxic sludge is hurled at the foe. It may poison the target.
DP Pt HGSSPBR	Unsanitary sludge is hurled at the foe. It may also poison the target.
BW B2W2	Unsanitary sludge is hurled at the target. It may also poison the target.
XY ORAS SM USUM PE SwSh BDSP LA	Unsanitary sludge is hurled at the target. This may also poison the target.
SV	The user hurls unsanitary sludge at the target to inflict damage. This may also poison the target.

Learnset

By leveling up

#		Egg Groups	Level
			I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII		VIII		IX
									SM USUM	PE	SwSh	BDSP	SV
0088	Grimer	Amorphous	Amorphous	37	16	13	20	20^BW 15^B2W2	15	15	24		15	15
0089	Muk	Amorphous	Amorphous	37	45	13	20	20^BW 15^B2W2	15	15	24		15	15
0109	Koffing	Amorphous	Amorphous	32	21	21	24	28^BW 18^B2W2	18	18	18	20	20	20
0110	Weezing	Amorphous	Amorphous	1, 32	21	21	24	28^BW 18^B2W2	18	18	18	20	20	20
0110	Weezing Galarian Form	Amorphous	Amorphous									20		20
0316	Gulpin	Amorphous	Amorphous			14	14	14	14^XY 10^ORAS	10			10	10
0317	Swalot	Amorphous	Amorphous			1, 14	1, 14	1, 14	1, 14^XY 1, 10^ORAS	1, 10			1, 10	1
0568	Trubbish	Mineral	Mineral					18	18	18		18
0569	Garbodor	Mineral	Mineral					18	18	18		18
0965	Varoom	Mineral	Mineral											13
0966	Revavroom	Mineral	Mineral											13
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

#		Egg Groups		Egg Move
				IV	V	VI	VII	VIII		IX
				HGSS			SM USUM	SwSh	BDSP	SV
0001	Bulbasaur	Monster	Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	−	✔	−
0258	Mudkip	Monster	Water 1	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0422	Shellos All forms	Water 1	Amorphous	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
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

Sludge deals damage and may leave the target poisoned.

Game	Base Power	Max Power	Base PP	Max PP	Base Accuracy	Max Accuracy	Range	Target	Cuts corners
MDRB	12	-	22	-	88%	-	Front	Enemy	Yes
MDTD S	12	-	15	-	88%	-	Front	Enemy	Yes
BSL	12	-	15	-	88%	-	Front	Enemy	Yes
MDGtI	10	99	17	50	90%	98%	Front	Enemy	Yes
SMD	10	99	17	40	90%	98%	Front	Enemy	Yes
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games: MD Rescue Team = Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. MD Time and Darkness = Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. MD Sky = Pokémon Platinum. MD Adventure Squad = Pokémon Platinum. MD Gates to Infinity = Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Super Mystery Dungeon = Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. MD Rescue Team DX = Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Pokémon GO

Sludge

Charged Attack

Gyms & Raids

Power

50

Energy cost

33

Duration

2.1 seconds

Damage window

1.2 - 1.55 seconds

Trainer Battles

Power

70

Energy cost

40

Eligible Pokémon:

Standard eligibility

Updates

Gyms & Raids

July 30, 2016
- Power: 25 → 30
February 16, 2017
- Power: 30 → 50
- Energy cost: 25 → 33
- Duration: 2.6 → 2.1 seconds
- Damage window: 1.85 - 2.35 → 1.2 - 1.55 seconds

Trainer Battles

March 4, 2025
- Power: 50 → 70

Pokémon Rumble Rush

Sludge

★★★
Attack power	37.94108
Charge time	0.62 seconds
Range type	Projectile
Number of hits	1
Number of projectiles	1
Critical hit rate	1.5%
Additional effect	May poison the foe

Pokémon Masters EX

Name	Category	Move gauge cost	MP (uses)	Base power	Max power	Accuracy	Target	Effect tag	Description	Playable sync pair(s)
Sludge	Special	2	—	42	50	100%	An opponent	—	Has a chance (30%) of leaving the target poisoned.	James & Weezing Roxie & Garbodor Scottie/Bettie & Grimer/Muk^Egg Scottie/Bettie & Koffing/Weezing^Egg (Support/tech roles only)
Sync move
Name	Category	State		Base power	Max power	Target		Effect tag	Description	Playable sync pair
Make It Double Sludge	Special	Default		200	240	An opponent		—	This attack's power increases when the target is poisoned or badly poisoned.	James & Weezing

Notes:

Sludge:
- Description prior to Version 2.10.0 (from June 28, 2021): Has a moderate chance of leaving the target poisoned.

Description

Games	Description
MDRB	Inflicts damage on the target. It may also leave the target poisoned, damaging it for several turns.
MDTD S	Inflicts damage on the target. It may also afflict the targeted enemy with a Poisoned status condition, which causes periodic damage.
BSL	てき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どくじょうたいにしていっていターンごとにダメージをあたえる
MDGtI	It damages an enemy. It could also cause the Poisoned status condition. With the Poisoned status, the enemy keeps taking damage and can't restore its HP naturally.
SMD	It damages an enemy. It could also make the enemy poisoned.

In animation

Pokémon animated series

Pokémon	Method
Koffing Weezing Grimer Gulpin
Unsanitary sludge is hurled at the foe.
User	First Used In	Notes
	Koffing spews dark brown sludge at the opponent from its mouth.
James's Koffing	Ash Catches a Pokémon	Debut
	Weezing spews dark brown sludge at the opponent from the mouth on its larger body or from both mouths at the same time.
James's Weezing	The Flame Pokémon-athon!	None
	Gulpin opens its mouth and spits a ball of brown or purple sludge at the opponent.
Multiple wild Gulpin	Gulpin it Down	None
Professor Jacuzzi's Gulpin	Gulpin it Down	None
Multiple wild Gulpin	Defending the Homeland!	None
	Grimer fires large balls of sludge from its mouth at the opponent, one after the other.
A Grimer Dawn used briefly	Camping it Up!	None

In the English dub of Here Comes the Trubbish Squad!, a wild Trubbish was mentioned to use Sludge. This is a dubbing error, as in the original Japanese version, the move in question was instead called Sludge Bomb.

Pokémon Generations

Pokémon	Method
Grimer
The user fire a stream of purple sludge at the opponent.
User	First Used In	Notes
	Grimer opens its mouth and fires a stream of dark purple sludge at the opponent.
A Team Rocket Grunt's Grimer	The Lake of Rage	Debut

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon	Method
Weezing
The user squirts sludge at the opponent.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Weezing spits out sludge at the opponent from its bigger body's mouth.
Harry's Weezing	Ekans the Ecstasy	Debut

Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl

Pokémon	Method
Koffing
The users fires sludge from its body.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Koffing fires a glob of sludge at the opponent.
A wild Koffing	PDP13	Debut

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team

Pokémon	Method
Koffing
The users fires sludge from its body.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Koffing shoots sludge from the holes on its body at the opponent.
A Koffing from Team Skull	BET1	Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

In Pokémon Stadium, Sludge is described as having a 50% chance of poisoning its target, but it actually has a 40% chance.
Since Generation V, Sludge has the same description text as Sludge Bomb.

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	污泥攻擊 Wūnàih Gūnggīk * 泥漿攻擊 Nàihjēung Gūnggīk *
Chinese	Mandarin	污泥攻擊 / 污泥攻击 Wūní Gōngjí / Wūní Gōngjī * 泥漿攻擊 Níjiāng Gōngjí *
Czech		Bahenní útok
Danish		Slam
Dutch		Blubber
Finnish		Lieju (season 1) Liejuvyöry (Johto series) Mönjä (AG series)
French		Détritus
German		Schlammbad
Greek		Γλίτσα Glitsa
Italian		Fango
Korean		오물공격 Omulgonggyeok
Norwegian		Gjørmeangrep
Polish		Błoto
Brazilian Portuguese		Ataque de Lama (games, manga) Jato de Lama (anime) Lama (The Official Pokémon Handbook) Lodo (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Serbian		Mulj
Spanish	Latin America	Residuos (EP046–present) Lodo (EP003–EP040, DP088)
Spanish	Spain	Residuos
Swedish		Gegga
Thai		สลัดจ์แอตแทก
Vietnamese		Tấn Công Bằng Bùn

Variations of the move Psybeam

	Spark
	Psybeam • Bubble Beam • Aurora Beam •

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.