String Shot (move)

String Shot いとをはく Spit Thread

Battles Type  Bug Category  Status PP  40 (max. 64) Power  — Accuracy  95% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Affected by Magic Coat and Magic Bounce Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Many Others: Affects all adjacent opponents, but not allies

Availability Introduced  Generation I Move Tutor in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  3 ♥♥♥ Startles the Pokémon that appealed before the user.

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

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Clever 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

String Shot (Japanese: いとをはく Spit Thread) is a non-damaging Bug-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Generations I to II

String Shot decreases the targets' Speed stat by one stage.

In the Generation I and II core series games, when an in-game opponent outside of the Battle Tower uses String Shot, the move has a 25% chance to fail in addition to its normal chance to miss.

Generations III to V

In battles with multiple opponents, String Shot targets all adjacent foes.

String Shot can be used as the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing Spider Web to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn.

Generation VI onwards

String Shot now decreases the targets' Speed stat by two stages.

String Shot can also be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, causing any of the moves Electroweb, Spider Web and Sticky Web to give an extra three appeal points if used in the next turn.

If powered up by a Buginium Z into Z-String Shot, the user's Speed stat is raised by one stage.

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII		VIII		IX
												SMUSUM	PE	SwSh	BDSP	SV
0010		Caterpie		Bug		Bug	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
0012		Butterfree		Bug		Bug	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	1	1
0013		Weedle		Bug		Bug	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	−		1
0015		Beedrill		Bug		Bug	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−		1
0167		Spinarak		Bug		Bug		1	1	1	1	1	1			1	1
0168		Ariados		Bug		Bug		1	1	1	1	1	1			1	1
0193		Yanma		Bug		Bug		−	−	−	−	−	−			30	−
0265		Wurmple		Bug		Bug			1	1	1	1	1			1
0267		Beautifly		Bug		Bug			−	−	−	−	−			1
0269		Dustox		Bug		Bug			−	−	−	−	−			1
0412		Burmy All forms		Bug		Bug				−	−	−	−			20
0413		Wormadam All forms		Bug		Bug				−	−	−	−			20
0414		Mothim		Bug		Bug				−	−	−	−			20
0469		Yanmega		Bug		Bug				−	−	−	−			30	−
0540		Sewaddle		Bug		Bug					1	1	1				1
0541		Swadloon		Bug		Bug					1	1	1				1
0542		Leavanny		Bug		Bug					1	1	1				1
0595		Joltik		Bug		Bug					1	1	1		12		12
0596		Galvantula		Bug		Bug					1	1	1		12		12
0636		Larvesta		Bug		Bug					1	1	1		1		1
0637		Volcarona		Bug		Bug					1	1	1		1		1
0664		Scatterbug		Bug		Bug						1	1				1
0684		Swirlix		Fairy		Fairy						−	−		21
0685		Slurpuff		Fairy		Fairy						−	−		21
0736		Grubbin		Bug		Bug							4		5		5
0737		Charjabug		Bug		Bug							1, 4		1		1
0738		Vikavolt		Bug		Bug							1, 4		1		1
0917		Tarountula		Bug		Bug											1
0918		Spidops		Bug		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
						V	VI	VII
								SMUSUM
0636		Larvesta		Bug		Bug	✔	✔	✔
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 Move Tutor

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Compatibility
						IV
						HGSS Tutor
0001		Bulbasaur		Monster	Grass	✔
0002		Ivysaur		Monster	Grass	✔
0003		Venusaur		Monster	Grass	✔
0010		Caterpie		Bug		Bug	✔
0011		Metapod		Bug		Bug	✔
0012		Butterfree		Bug		Bug	✔
0013		Weedle		Bug		Bug	✔
0014		Kakuna		Bug		Bug	✔
0015		Beedrill		Bug		Bug	✔
0046		Paras		Bug	Grass	✔
0047		Parasect		Bug	Grass	✔
0048		Venonat		Bug		Bug	✔
0049		Venomoth		Bug		Bug	✔
0127		Pinsir		Bug		Bug	✔
0151		Mew		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0165		Ledyba		Bug		Bug	✔
0166		Ledian		Bug		Bug	✔
0167		Spinarak		Bug		Bug	✔
0168		Ariados		Bug		Bug	✔
0193		Yanma		Bug		Bug	✔
0204		Pineco		Bug		Bug	✔
0205		Forretress		Bug		Bug	✔
0213		Shuckle		Bug		Bug	✔
0223		Remoraid		Water 1	Water 2	✔
0224		Octillery		Water 1	Water 2	✔
0226		Mantine		Water 1		Water 1	✔
0265		Wurmple		Bug		Bug	✔
0266		Silcoon		Bug		Bug	✔
0267		Beautifly		Bug		Bug	✔
0268		Cascoon		Bug		Bug	✔
0269		Dustox		Bug		Bug	✔
0283		Surskit		Water 1	Bug	✔
0284		Masquerain		Water 1	Bug	✔
0290		Nincada		Bug		Bug	✔
0291		Ninjask		Bug		Bug	✔
0292		Shedinja		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0313		Volbeat		Bug	Human-Like	✔
0314		Illumise		Bug	Human-Like	✔
0345		Lileep		Water 3		Water 3	✔
0346		Cradily		Water 3		Water 3	✔
0347		Anorith		Water 3		Water 3	✔
0348		Armaldo		Water 3		Water 3	✔
0401		Kricketot		Bug		Bug	✔
0402		Kricketune		Bug		Bug	✔
0412		Burmy		Bug		Bug	✔
0413		Wormadam All forms		Bug		Bug	✔
0414		Mothim		Bug		Bug	✔
0415		Combee		Bug		Bug	✔
0416		Vespiquen		Bug		Bug	✔
0422		Shellos All forms		Water 1	Amorphous	✔
0423		Gastrodon All forms		Water 1	Amorphous	✔
0469		Yanmega		Bug		Bug	✔
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

String Shot lowers the Travel Speed of the target by one stage. This move is affected by Magic Coat.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including String Shot could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. String Shot could be seen as a move used by Boss Grubbin.

String Shot

Charge time	1.06 seconds
Range type	Arc (wide)
Target	Enemy
Additional effect	None

Description

In animation

Pokémon animated series

Leavanny Spewpa Vikavolt Caterpie
The user blows silk from its mouth that binds opposing Pokémon.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Caterpie shoots white string from its mouth at the opponent, tying them up. Caterpie can also shoot it from its rear end to hang from trees.
Ash's Caterpie	Ash Catches a Pokémon		Debut
Multiple Caterpie from the Azalea Gym	Gettin' the Bugs Out		None
Bucky's Caterpie	The Dunsparce Deception		None
Multiple wild Caterpie	Celebi: The Voice of the Forest		None
Multiple wild Caterpie	For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!		None
Zander's Caterpie	Caterpie's Big Dilemma		None
A wild Caterpie	Butterfree and Me!		None
Goh's Caterpie	Getting More Than You Battled For!		None
A wild Caterpie	The Same Moon, Now and Forever!		None
Two wild Caterpie	The Treasure After the Storm!		None
	Spinarak shoots a white string from its mouth or its abdomen and ties the opponent up.
Officer Jenny's Spinarak	Spinarak Attack		None
Bugsy's Spinarak	Gettin' the Bugs Out		None
A wild Spinarak	Pikachu and Pichu		None
Dr. Anna's Spinarak	Hassle in the Castle		None
Multiple wild Spinarak	Ariados, Amigos		None
Multiple wild Spinarak	Celebi: The Voice of the Forest		None
Multiple wild Spinarak	For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!		None
Three wild Spinarak	Hocus Pokémon		None
A wild Spinarak	Abandon Ship!		None
	Metapod shoots white string from the middle of its body and ties up the opponent. Sometimes, the middle of its body glows while shooting thread.
Multiple Metapod from the Azalea Gym	Gettin' the Bugs Out		None
Ash's Metapod	I Choose You!		None
	Weedle shoots white string from its mouth and ties up the opponent.
Multiple Weedle from the Azalea Gym	Gettin' the Bugs Out		None
Multiple wild Weedle	Celebi: The Voice of the Forest		None
Multiple wild Weedle	For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!		None
Two wild Weedle	The Treasure After the Storm!		None
	Kakuna shoots white strings from the hole right below its head at the opponent, tying it up. It can also shoot string from the back of its head to hang from trees.
Multiple Kakuna from the Azalea Gym	Gettin' the Bugs Out		None
	Ariados shoots multiple white strings from its mouth or abdomen at the opponent, tying it up.
Tōkichi's Ariados	Ariados, Amigos		None
Multiple wild Ariados	For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!		None
Oakley's Ariados	Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias		None
Forrester Franklin's Ariados	All in a Day's Wurmple		None
Harley's Ariados	A Hurdle for Squirtle		None
A Trainer's Ariados	From Cradle to Save		None
Multiple wild Ariados	Following a Maiden's Voyage!		None
J's Ariados	Mutiny in the Bounty!		None
An Ariados captured by Kellyn's Capture Styler	Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part 1		None
An Ariados Angie used briefly	One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!		None
A wild Ariados	Historical Mystery Tour!		None
Multiple wild Ariados	DPS01		None
A wild Ariados	A Slippery Encounter!		None
A wild Ariados	Defending the Homeland!		None
A ninja's Ariados	The Legend of the Ninja Hero!		None
A wild Ariados	Time After Time!		None
Doctor Zed's four Ariados	Secrets of the Jungle		None
Ilunas's Ariados	Night and Day, You are the Ones!		None
	Beautifly shoots a white string from its mouth at the opponent, tying it up.
Janet's Beautifly	All Things Bright and Beautifly!		None
May's Beautifly	Now That's Flower Power!		None
	Wurmple shoots white string from its mouth at the opponent. It can also shoot string from in between the two large horns behind it to hang from trees.
May's Wurmple	All in a Day's Wurmple		None
Jessie's Wurmple	Which Wurmple's Which?		None
Goh's two Wurmple	Best Friend...Worst Nightmare!		None
	One of Silcoon's horns comes out and it releases a thin white string from it, allowing Silcoon to hang from it; or, Silcoon shoots white string from the front of its face at the opponent, tying it up.
May's Silcoon	A Mudkip Mission		None
	Cascoon releases a thin white string from the front of its face at the opponent, tying it up.
Jessie's Cascoon	A Three Team Scheme!		None
	Skitty releases a white string from a white orb on its paw at the opponent, tying it up.
May's Skitty	All Torkoal, No Play		Used via Assist
	Sewaddle releases a stream of white sticky string from its mouth at the opponent. It can also shoot string from the back of its head to hang from trees.
Ash's Sewaddle	Sewaddle and Burgh in Pinwheel Forest!		None
	Leavanny releases a stream of sticky white string from its mouth at the opponent.
Burgh's Leavanny	Sewaddle and Burgh in Pinwheel Forest!		None
Ash's Leavanny	Rocking the Virbank Gym! Part 1		None
A Trainer's Leavanny	Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!		None
Team Rocket's Leavanny	Suffering the Flings and Arrows!		None
	Swadloon opens its mouth and fires one or three white sticky strings from its mouth at the opponent. When the strings reach the opponent, they wrap themselves around its body.
Ash's Swadloon	Battling For The Love of Bug-Types!		None
A Trainer's Swadloon	Lost at the Stamp Rally!		None
A Trainer's Swadloon	Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!		None
	Larvesta releases a white stream of sticky string from its mouth at the opponent. When the string hits the opponent, it wraps itself around its body.
Luke's Larvesta	The Club Battle Hearts of Fury: Emolga Versus Sawk!		None
	Galvantula releases a thick white stream of sticky string from its mouth at the opponent. When the string gets near the opponent, it wraps itself around its body.
Two wild Galvantula	Crisis at Chargestone Cave!		None
	Spewpa shoots a stream of white thread from its mouth at the opponent, preventing it from moving by tying it up.
A wild Spewpa	To Catch a Pokémon Smuggler!		None
	Grubbin shoots a stream of white thread from its mouth at the opponent, preventing it from moving by tying it up.
A wild Grubbin	First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Style!		None
A wild Grubbin	Secrets of the Jungle		None
	Charjabug shoots a stream of white thread from its mouth at the opponent, preventing it from moving by tying it up.
Sophocles's Charjabug	Mounting an Electrifying Charge!		None
	Vikavolt shoots a stream of white thread from its mouth at the opponent, preventing it from moving by tying it up.
Sophocles's Vikavolt	A High-Speed Awakening!		None
Sterling's Vikavolt	Narrowing the Chaser Chase!		None

• In The Treasure Is All Mine!, Sebastian told his Spinarak to use String Shot on James, but James had his Mime Jr. confuse Sebastian and Spinarak with Teeter Dance before the move could be used.

Pokémon Origins

Metapod
The foe is bound with silk blown from the user.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Metapod shoots white, sticky string from the middle of its body and ties up the opponent, reducing its speed
Red's Metapod	File 1: Red		Debut

Pokémon Generations

Caterpie
The foe is bound with silk blown from the user's mouth.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Caterpie shoots white, sticky strings from its mouth at the opponent.
A wild Caterpie	The Adventure		Debut

In the manga

Ash & Pikachu

Beautifly
The user shoots a silky string.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Beautifly shoots a silky string from its mouth.
May's Beautifly	The Enchanting Pokémon Soul!		Debut

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Spinarak
The user shoots silky thread.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Spinarak shoots silky thread in the form of a spider web.
Team Rocket's Spinarak	PW31		Debut

Movie adaptations

Metapod
The user blows silk from its mouth that binds opposing Pokémon.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Metapod shoots silk from the middle of its body to bind the opponent.
Ash's Metapod	I Choose You!		Debut

Pokémon Adventures

Spinarak Caterpie Galvantula
The user shoots white thread at the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Caterpie shoots a thick white thread from its mouth at the opponent.
Yellow's Kitty	Ekans the Ecstasy		Debut
	Spinarak shoots a thick white thread from its mouth, creating a cage of webs.
Al's Spinarak	Great Girafarig		None
	Leavanny swings its leaf-like hand and shoots a thick white thread from it at the opponent.
Burgh's Leavanny	The Case of the Missing Pokémon		None
	Galvantula shoots an electrically-charged thread from its mouth at the opponent.
Black's Tula	Up in the Air		None

• Janine's Ariados was revealed to know String Shot on the official website, but he was never shown using the move.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

Wurmple
The user shoots white thread at the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Wurmple releases sticky thread from its mouth, tying up the opponent.
B-2's Wurmple	Dialga's Secret Keys		Debut

Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

Kakuna
The user shoots silky string.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Kakuna shoots silky string.
Bugsy's Kakuna	Let's Aim For The Goal!		Debut

• Bugsy's Metapod was told to use String Shot in Let's Aim For The Goal! but it was not shown using the move.

Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!

Spinarak Caterpie Weedle
The user shoots silky string.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Caterpie shoots silky string.
Shu's Caterpie	Enter Shu & Pikachu!		Debut
	Weedle shoots silky string.
Shu's Weedle	Pokémon Hot Springs, Hot-Hot Battle		None
	Spinarak shoots silky string.
Shu's Spinarak	Rin, Ran, and Spinarak, the Big Feud!		None

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Spinarak
The user shoots out string to bind the foe.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Spinarak shoots out white string to tie up the foe.
Giovanni's Spinarak	Showdown at the Radio Tower!!		Debut

Pokémon RéBURST

Galvantula
The user shoots white thread at the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Galvantula releases sticky thread from its mandibles.
Tougo's Galvantula	RB05		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

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

Trivia

• String Shot is the only Bug-type status move that has an accuracy less than 100%.

In other languages

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.