Spikes (move)

Spikes まきびし Caltrop

Battles Type  Ground Category  Status PP  20 (max. 32) Power  — Accuracy  —% Priority  0 Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Affected by Magic Coat and Magic Bounce Not affected by Snatch Not affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Other Side: Affects the opponent's side of the field

Availability Introduced  Generation II TR23 in Pokémon Sword and Shield Move Tutor in Pokémon Legends: Arceus TM090 in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  0   Makes all Pokémon after the user nervous.

Super Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Prevents the Voltage from going up in the same turn.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Clever Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jamming  0   Makes the remaining Pokémon nervous.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Spikes (Japanese: まきびし Caltrop) is a non-damaging Ground-type move introduced in Generation II. It was TR23 in Generation VIII, and is TM090 in Generation IX.

Effect

Generation II

Spikes sets an entry hazard around the enemy team's field. Pokémon who switch into the spike-ridden field take 12.5% of their maximum HP in damage (rounded down). Flying-type Pokémon are immune to this damage. The move Rapid Spin removes Spikes around the user.

In Pokémon Stadium 2, if both players are forced to switch-in their last remaining Pokémon, and they have 12.5% or less HP, then they receive Spikes damage, faint and the match is declared a draw.

Spikes glitch

In this generation only, Pokémon fainting from Spikes will not run the regular faint checks until later, meaning that player can potentially end up with a Pokémon with 0HP on the field which hasn't fainted if the game loop doesn't do any further unrelated faint checks later. The easiest way to reproduce this is to have a Pokémon faint to Perish Song, then switch into a Pokémon who immediately faints from Spikes.

Generations III and IV

Spikes can now be set up to three times, each increasing the damage done to the opponent upon switching in. One layer of Spikes will damage the opponent Pokémon by 1/8 (12.5%) of its maximum HP, two layers will deal 1/6 (16.67%), and three layers will deal 1/4 (25%). Any Pokémon with Levitate will also be immune to the damage.

The move Defog will remove Spikes around its target. Any Pokémon under the effect of the Magnet Rise or Magic Guard Ability are unaffected by the damage. However, Flying and Levitating Pokémon are affected under Gravity, while holding Iron Ball, or if Baton Passed an Ingrain.

Generation V

Spikes can now be reflected with Magic Coat and the Ability Magic Bounce. Any Pokémon holding an Air Balloon will be immune to the damage.

Generation VI onwards

Defog now removes all Spikes from play regardless of which side of the field they were placed on.

Spikes can be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, causing Circle Throw, Dragon Tail, Roar, and Whirlwind to give an extra three appeal points if used in the next turn.

If powered up by a Groundium Z into Z-Spikes, the user's Defense stat rises by one stage.

Generation VIII

Pokemon Sword and Shield

If a Pokémon is holding Heavy-Duty Boots, they are immune to Spikes when entering battle.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Spikes is a physical move that deals direct damage with a base power of 40. It also leaves the target with splinters for 4 turns (Strong Style), 2 turns (Agile Style), or 3 turns (otherwise).

Generation IX

Using Ceaseless Edge will set up one layer of spikes on the target's side of the field.

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII			IX
											SMUSUM	SwSh	BDSP	LA	SV
0091		Cloyster		Water 3		Water 3	33C	33RSE 36FRLG	28	28	28	28	1	1		1
0204		Pineco		Bug		Bug	43	43	23DP 28PtHGSS	28	28	28		28		28
0205		Forretress		Bug		Bug	49	49	23DP 28PtHGSS	28	28	28		28		28
0211		Qwilfish		Water 2		Water 2	1C	1	1	1	1	1	20	20		20
0211		Qwilfish Hisuian Form		Water 2		Water 2									5	20
0227		Skarmory		Flying		Flying	−	42	27DP 28PtHGSS	28	28	28	44	44		44
0331		Cacnea		Grass	Human-Like		33	33	33	33XY 30ORAS	30		30		30
0332		Cacturne		Grass	Human-Like		35	35	35	35XY 30ORAS	30		30		30
0386		Deoxys Defense Forme		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered		20	33	33	33XY 25ORAS	25		25		25
0658		Greninja All available forms		Water 1		Water 1					28	28				28
0707		Klefki		Mineral		Mineral					15	15	−			−
0904		Overqwil		Water 2		Water 2									5	20
1003		Ting-Lu		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered										5
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 TM/TR/Move Tutor

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Spikes is a damage-dealing move, so Gliscor receives STAB when using it.

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Compatibility
						VIII		IX
						SwSh TR23	LA Tutor	SV TM090
0027		Sandshrew		Field		Field	−		✔
0028		Sandslash		Field		Field	✔		✔
0028		Sandslash Alolan Form		Field		Field	✔		✔
0090		Shellder		Water 3		Water 3	−		✔
0091		Cloyster		Water 3		Water 3	✔		✔
0138		Omanyte		Water 1	Water 3	✔
0139		Omastar		Water 1	Water 3	✔
0151		Mew		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔		✔
0185		Sudowoodo		Mineral		Mineral	−	−	✔
0194		Wooper		Water 1	Field	−		✔
0194		Wooper Paldean Form		Water 1	Field			✔
0195		Quagsire		Water 1	Field	−		✔
0204		Pineco		Bug		Bug			✔
0205		Forretress		Bug		Bug			✔
0207		Gligar		Bug		Bug		−	✔
0211		Qwilfish		Water 2		Water 2	✔		✔
0211		Qwilfish Hisuian Form		Water 2		Water 2		✔	✔
0214		Heracross		Bug		Bug	✔	✔	✔
0225		Delibird		Water 1	Field	✔		✔
0227		Skarmory		Flying		Flying	✔		✔
0315		Roselia		Fairy	Grass	✔	✔
0331		Cacnea		Grass	Human-Like			✔
0332		Cacturne		Grass	Human-Like			✔
0340		Whiscash		Water 2		Water 2	−	−	✔
0361		Snorunt		Fairy	Mineral	✔	✔	✔
0362		Glalie		Fairy	Mineral	✔	✔	✔
0383		Groudon		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	−		✔
0386		Deoxys Defense Forme		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered			✔
0406		Budew		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔	✔
0407		Roserade		Fairy	Grass	✔	✔
0416		Vespiquen		Bug		Bug	−	−	✔
0423		Gastrodon All forms		Water 1	Amorphous	−	−	✔
0438		Bonsly		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	−	−	✔
0445		Garchomp		Monster	Dragon	−	−	✔
0472		Gliscor		Bug		Bug		✔	✔
0478		Froslass		Fairy	Mineral	✔	✔	✔
0543		Venipede		Bug		Bug	✔
0544		Whirlipede		Bug		Bug	✔
0545		Scolipede		Bug		Bug	✔
0556		Maractus		Grass		Grass	✔
0557		Dwebble		Bug	Mineral	✔
0558		Crustle		Bug	Mineral	✔
0568		Trubbish		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0569		Garbodor		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0597		Ferroseed		Grass	Mineral	✔
0598		Ferrothorn		Grass	Mineral	✔
0616		Shelmet		Bug		Bug	✔
0617		Accelgor		Bug		Bug	✔
0650		Chespin		Field		Field			✔
0651		Quilladin		Field		Field			✔
0652		Chesnaught		Field		Field			✔
0656		Froakie		Water 1		Water 1			✔
0657		Frogadier		Water 1		Water 1			✔
0658		Greninja All available forms		Water 1		Water 1			✔
0659		Bunnelby		Field		Field	✔
0660		Diggersby		Field		Field	✔
0703		Carbink		Fairy	Mineral	−		✔
0707		Klefki		Mineral		Mineral	✔		✔
0719		Diancie		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	−		✔
0724		Decidueye Hisuian Form		Flying		Flying		✔	−
0767		Wimpod		Bug	Water 3	✔
0768		Golisopod		Bug	Water 3	✔
0801		Magearna All forms		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	−		✔
0804		Naganadel		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0837		Rolycoly		Mineral		Mineral	✔		✔
0838		Carkol		Mineral		Mineral	✔		✔
0839		Coalossal		Mineral		Mineral	✔		✔
0871		Pincurchin		Water 1	Amorphous	✔		✔
0904		Overqwil		Water 2		Water 2		✔	✔
0908		Meowscarada		Field	Grass			✔
0917		Tarountula		Bug		Bug			✔
0918		Spidops		Bug		Bug			✔
0946		Bramblin		Grass		Grass			✔
0947		Brambleghast		Grass		Grass			✔
0948		Toedscool		Grass		Grass			✔
0949		Toedscruel		Grass		Grass			✔
0968		Orthworm		Field		Field			✔
0969		Glimmet		Mineral		Mineral			✔
0970		Glimmora		Mineral		Mineral			✔
0980		Clodsire		Water 1	Field			✔
0989		Sandy Shocks		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered			✔
0995		Iron Thorns		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered			✔
1003		Ting-Lu		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered			✔
1017		Ogerpon All forms		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered			✔
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
						III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
										SMUSUM	BDSP	SV
0138		Omanyte		Water 1	Water 3	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0225		Delibird		Water 1	Field	−	−	−	✔	✔	✔	−
0315		Roselia		Fairy	Grass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0361		Snorunt		Fairy	Mineral	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	−
0406		Budew		Fairy	Grass		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0543		Venipede		Bug		Bug			✔	✔	✔
0556		Maractus		Grass		Grass			✔	✔	✔
0557		Dwebble		Bug	Mineral			✔	✔	✔
0568		Trubbish		Mineral		Mineral			✔	✔	✔
0597		Ferroseed		Grass	Mineral			✔	✔	✔
0616		Shelmet		Bug		Bug			✔	✔	✔
0650		Chespin		Field		Field				✔	✔		✔
0656		Froakie		Water 1		Water 1				−	−		✔
0659		Bunnelby		Field		Field				✔	✔
0767		Wimpod		Bug	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.

Special move

Generation V

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0556		Maractus		Grass		Grass	Dream World - Rugged Mountain
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.

Generation VII

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0652		Chesnaught		Field		Field	Island Scan - Exeggutor IslandUSUM
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
0225		Delibird		Water 1	Field	New York City 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

Spikes causes the user to create a Spikes trap (Spiked Tile prior to Super Mystery Dungeon) underneath them, as long as it is a land tile that is neither stairs nor Kecleon Shop carpet. The trap also cannot be laid in hallways and the entrance of a room. Any Pokémon that triggers a Spikes trap will lose 15^RB / 20^TDS / 30^SMD HP.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

Spikes

★★★
Attack power	47.82716
Charge time	0.82 seconds
Range type	Circular (ranged)
Number of hits	1
Number of projectiles	1
Critical hit rate	1.5%
Additional effect	None

Description

Games Description MDRB The user places spikes underfoot. The Spiked Tile inflicts damage on foes that step on it. MDTDS Turns the user's tile into a Spiked Tile trap. A Spiked Tile trap inflicts damage on enemies that step on it. BSL あしもとに わな『まきびし』を つくる わな『まきびし』を ふんだ てきポケモンは ダメージをうける MDGtI UNUSED SMD It turns your tile into a Spikes trap. A Spikes trap damages Pokémon that step on it.

In animation

Pokémon animated series

Pineco Forretress Skarmory Effect
The user lays a trap of spikes at the opposing team's feet. The trap hurts Pokémon that switch into battle.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Pineco spins around and purple spikes come out of its body and hit the opponent.
Brock's Pineco	Ariados, Amigos		Debut
	Forretress spins around and glowing white spikes comes out of its body and hit the opponent; or, Forretress fires black spikes at the opponent that surround it. When the opponent gets pricked by them, it hurts them.
Brock's Forretress	A Tail with a Twist		None
	Skarmory spins its body rapidly and multiple glowing, metallic red spikes come out of its body and fall onto the battlefield. The spikes sink into the ground when they land. When the opponent switches to another Pokémon, small explosions go off under their feet, hurting them.
Barry's Skarmory	Casting a Paul on Barry!		None

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Association's Forretress Janine's Forretress Carr's Forretress
The user lays a trap of spikes at the feet of the opposing team.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Forretress spins its body rapidly, and multiple pyramid-shaped spikes come out of its body and onto the battlefield. The spikes make the opponent's movements restricted; or, Forretress shoots out spikes from the horns sticking out of its body and onto the battlefield.
The Pokémon Association's Forretress	Forretress of Solitude		Debut
Janine's Forretress	Crossing Crobat		None
Carr's Forretress	Breaking the Restraint		None

Pokémon Try Adventure

Forretress
The user shoots spikes from its body.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Forretress shoots spikes from its body.
Haidoru's Forretress	TA18		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RBY	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	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	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	RBY	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	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	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	RBY	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	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	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	RBY	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	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	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

In other languages

Variations of the move
• Stealth Rock • Toxic Spikes • Sticky Web

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.