Swarm (Ability)

Swarm むしのしらせ
Bug Notification
Flavor text
Generation III
Ups Bug moves in a pinch.
Generation IV
Powers up Bug-type moves in a pinch.
Generation V
Powers up Bug-type moves in a pinch.
Generation VI
Powers up Bug-type moves when the Pokémon is in trouble.
Generation VII
Powers up Bug-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is low.
Generation VIII
Powers up Bug-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is low.
Generation IX
Powers up Bug-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is low.

Swarm (Japanese: むしのしらせ Bug Notification) is an Ability introduced in Generation III.

Effect

In battle

Generations III to IV

When a Pokémon with Swarm uses a Bug-type move, the move's power will be increased by 50% if the user has less than or equal to ⅓ of its maximum HP remaining.

Generations V onward

Instead of boosting Bug-type moves' power, Swarm now technically boosts the Pokémon's Attack or Special Attack by 50% during damage calculation if a Bug-type move is being used, resulting in effectively the same effect.

Outside of battle

In Pokémon Emerald, if the first Pokémon in the player's party has this Ability, the frequency of cries of wild Pokémon that are heard in the overworld is increased. Despite the fact this mechanic also exists in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, Swarm has no overworld effect there.

Pokémon with Swarm

# Pokémon Types First Ability Second Ability Hidden Ability
0015 Beedrill Beedrill
Bug Poison None Sniper
0123 Scyther Scyther
Bug Flying TechnicianGen IV+ Steadfast
0165 Ledyba Ledyba
Bug Flying Early Bird Rattled
0166 Ledian Ledian
Bug Flying Early Bird Iron Fist
0167 Spinarak Spinarak
Bug Poison Insomnia Sniper
0168 Ariados Ariados
Bug Poison Insomnia Sniper
0212 Scizor Scizor
Bug Steel TechnicianGen IV+ Light Metal
0214 Heracross Heracross
Bug Fighting Guts Moxie
0267 Beautifly Beautifly
Bug Flying None Rivalry
0313 Volbeat Volbeat
Bug Bug Illuminate Prankster
0402 Kricketune Kricketune
Bug Bug None Technician
0414 Mothim Mothim
Bug Flying None Tinted Lens
0540 Sewaddle Sewaddle
Bug Grass Chlorophyll Overcoat
0542 Leavanny Leavanny
Bug Grass Chlorophyll Overcoat
0543 Venipede Venipede
Bug Poison Poison Point Speed BoostGen VI+
0544 Whirlipede Whirlipede
Bug Poison Poison Point Speed BoostGen VI+
0545 Scolipede Scolipede
Bug Poison Poison Point Speed BoostGen VI+
0588 Karrablast Karrablast
Bug Bug Shed Skin No Guard
0589 Escavalier Escavalier
Bug Steel Shell Armor Overcoat
0595 Joltik Joltik
Bug Electric Compound Eyes Unnerve
0596 Galvantula Galvantula
Bug Electric Compound Eyes Unnerve
0632 Durant Durant
Bug Steel Hustle Truant
0636 Larvesta Larvesta
Bug Fire Flame Body None
0637 Volcarona Volcarona
Bug Fire Flame Body None
0736 Grubbin Grubbin
Bug Bug None None
0824 Blipbug Blipbug
Bug Bug Compound Eyes Telepathy
0825 Dottler Dottler
Bug Psychic Compound Eyes Telepathy
0826 Orbeetle Orbeetle
Bug Psychic Frisk Telepathy
0900 Kleavor Kleavor
Bug Rock Sheer Force SharpnessGen IX+
0919 Nymble Nymble
Bug Bug None Tinted Lens
0920 Lokix Lokix
Bug Dark None Tinted Lens
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later.
  • For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

If a Pokémon with Swarm is below 25% of its HP, the power of Bug-type moves increases by 2-timesRBTDS or 1.5-timesGtISMD.

Pokémon Conquest

In Pokémon Conquest, Swarm will increase user's Attack if the Pokémon using it is below ⅓ of its HP.

Description

Games Description
MDRB Boosts the power of Bug-type moves when HP is low.
MDTDS Boosts the power of the Pokémon's Bug-type moves when its HP is low.
BSL HPがへって ピンチになると むしタイプの わざが つよくなる
Conq. Raises Attack when HP is low.
MDGtI When the Pokémon's HP is low, the power of its Bug-type moves goes up.*
When the Pokémon's HP is low, the power of Bug-type moves goes up!*
SMD When the Pokémon's HP is low, the power of Bug-type moves goes up!
MDRTDX When the Pokémon's HP is low, the power of Bug-type moves goes up.


In animation

Pokémon animated series


Leavanny

Lokix
The Pokémon's Bug-type moves become more powerful when it gets tired or weak.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Leavanny When Leavanny becomes tired or weak, its outline becomes surrounded by a light-green aura, powering up its Bug-type moves.
Ash's Leavanny Strong Strategy Steals the Show! Debut
Lokix When Lokix becomes tired or weak, its body becomes covered by a light-green aura, powering up its Bug-type moves.
Katy's Lokix Liko vs. Rika! Towards the Battle's End None

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Trivia

  • The Japanese name for Swarm, むしのしらせ Mushi no Shirase (Bug Notification), is a Japansese expression that translates to "foreboding; premonition; gut feeling". This is reflected by the way the Ability works, as the Pokémon is preparing itself for a tough fight by making itself stronger.
  • Swarm was the first Ability in animation to be a Pokémon's confirmed Ability without getting activated.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 蟲之預感 Chùhng jī Yuhgám *
預感 Yuhgám *
Mandarin 蟲之預感 / 虫之预感 Chóng-zhī Yùgǎn *
預感 Yùgǎn *
Dutch Zwerm
Finnish Parvi
French Essaim
German Hexaplaga
Indonesian Berkerumun
Italian Aiutinsetto
Korean 벌레의 알림 Beolle-ui Allim
Polish Rój
Portuguese Enxame
Russian Рой Roy
Spanish Enjambre
Thai ฝูงแมลง
Vietnamese Điềm Báo Xấu
Variations of the Ability
OvergrowBlazeTorrent


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.