Moves API

Access move data including base power, accuracy, type, effects, and more

Overview

The Moves API provides comprehensive data about Pokémon moves including damage, accuracy, type, priority, effects, and generation-specific changes.

Basic Usage

Get a Move

Retrieve move information using Dex.moves.get():

const {Dex} = require('pokemon-showdown');

const tackle = Dex.moves.get('Tackle');
console.log(tackle.name); // 'Tackle'
console.log(tackle.basePower); // 40
console.log(tackle.type); // 'Normal'
console.log(tackle.accuracy); // 100

Move names are case-insensitive and whitespace is ignored.

// All of these work
Dex.moves.get('tackle');
Dex.moves.get('Tackle');
Dex.moves.get('TACKLE');
Dex.moves.get('T a c k l e');

Move Properties

Basic Properties

const thunderbolt = Dex.moves.get('Thunderbolt');

console.log(thunderbolt.num); // Move dex number
console.log(thunderbolt.name); // 'Thunderbolt'
console.log(thunderbolt.type); // 'Electric'
console.log(thunderbolt.category); // 'Special'
console.log(thunderbolt.basePower); // 90
console.log(thunderbolt.accuracy); // 100
console.log(thunderbolt.pp); // 15

Move Categories

Damaging Moves

const flamethrower = Dex.moves.get('Flamethrower');

console.log(flamethrower.category); // 'Special'
console.log(flamethrower.basePower); // 90
console.log(flamethrower.type); // 'Fire'

const closeCombat = Dex.moves.get('Close Combat');
console.log(closeCombat.category); // 'Physical'
console.log(closeCombat.basePower); // 120

Status Moves

const thunderWave = Dex.moves.get('Thunder Wave');

console.log(thunderWave.category); // 'Status'
console.log(thunderWave.basePower); // 0
console.log(thunderWave.status); // 'par'

const swordsDance = Dex.moves.get('Swords Dance');
console.log(swordsDance.boosts); // { atk: 2 }

Multi-Hit Moves

const doubleSlap = Dex.moves.get('Double Slap');
console.log(doubleSlap.multihit); // [2, 5]
// Hits 2-5 times

const doubleKick = Dex.moves.get('Double Kick');
console.log(doubleKick.multihit); // 2
// Always hits exactly 2 times

const beatUp = Dex.moves.get('Beat Up');
console.log(beatUp.multihit); // undefined
// Calculated dynamically based on party

Recoil & Drain Moves

Recoil

const bravebird = Dex.moves.get('Brave Bird');

console.log(bravebird.recoil); // [33, 100]
// User takes 33/100 (33%) of damage dealt

const doubleEdge = Dex.moves.get('Double-Edge');
console.log(doubleEdge.recoil); // [33, 100]

Critical Hit Ratios

const aeroblast = Dex.moves.get('Aeroblast');
console.log(aeroblast.critRatio); // 2
// High critical hit ratio (1/8 chance)

const slash = Dex.moves.get('Slash');
console.log(slash.critRatio); // 2

const tackle = Dex.moves.get('Tackle');
console.log(tackle.critRatio); // undefined
// Normal critical hit ratio (1/24 chance)

Special Move Properties

Accuracy

const aurasphere = Dex.moves.get('Aura Sphere');
console.log(aurasphere.accuracy); // true
// Never misses (ignores accuracy/evasion)

const blizzard = Dex.moves.get('Blizzard');
console.log(blizzard.accuracy); // 70
// 70% accuracy (100% in hail)

OHKO Moves

const fissure = Dex.moves.get('Fissure');
console.log(fissure.ohko); // true
console.log(fissure.accuracy); // 30
// Base 30% accuracy, fails if target is higher level

Two-Turn Moves

const fly = Dex.moves.get('Fly');
console.log(fly.flags.charge); // 1
// Charges on turn 1, attacks on turn 2

const bounce = Dex.moves.get('Bounce');
console.log(bounce.flags.charge); // 1
console.log(bounce.accuracy); // 85

Move Effects

Stat Changes

User Stat Changes

const closeCombat = Dex.moves.get('Close Combat');

console.log(closeCombat.self);
// { boosts: { def: -1, spd: -1 } }
// User's Defense and Sp. Def decrease by 1

const ancientPower = Dex.moves.get('Ancient Power');
console.log(ancientPower.secondary);
// { chance: 10, self: { boosts: 
//   { atk: 1, def: 1, spa: 1, spd: 1, spe: 1 } } }

Status Conditions

const thunderbolt = Dex.moves.get('Thunderbolt');
console.log(thunderbolt.secondary);
// { chance: 10, status: 'par' }

const blazeKick = Dex.moves.get('Blaze Kick');
console.log(blazeKick.secondary);
// { chance: 10, status: 'brn' }

const airSlash = Dex.moves.get('Air Slash');
console.log(airSlash.secondary);
// { chance: 30, volatileStatus: 'flinch' }

Z-Moves and Max Moves

const thunderbolt = Dex.moves.get('Thunderbolt');

// Check if move can be a Z-Move
console.log(thunderbolt.isZ); // undefined (can become Z-Move)

// Get Z-Move power
const breakdown = Dex.moves.get('Breakneck Blitz');
console.log(breakdown.isZ); // 'normaliumz'
console.log(breakdown.basePower); // 1 (calculated dynamically)

// Max Move power
const maxFlare = Dex.moves.get('Max Flare');
console.log(maxFlare.isMax); // 'Fire'

List All Moves

Retrieve all move data:

const allMoves = Dex.moves.all();

console.log(allMoves.length); // 900+ moves
console.log(allMoves[0].name); // First move in database

// Filter to damaging moves
const attackMoves = allMoves.filter(m => 
  m.basePower > 0 && m.exists && !m.isNonstandard
);

// Find all Fire-type moves
const fireMoves = allMoves.filter(m => 
  m.type === 'Fire' && m.exists && !m.isNonstandard
);

The .all() method includes nonstandard data from past generations, Z-Moves, Max Moves, and custom moves. Always check exists and isNonstandard properties.

Generation-Specific Data

Moves change between generations:

// Current generation
const tackle = Dex.moves.get('Tackle');
console.log(tackle.basePower); // 40

// Gen 1 data
const gen1Tackle = Dex.mod('gen1').moves.get('Tackle');
console.log(gen1Tackle.basePower); // 35

// Gen 4 - when special/physical split happened
const gen3Bite = Dex.mod('gen3').moves.get('Bite');
console.log(gen3Bite.category); // 'Physical'

const gen4Bite = Dex.mod('gen4').moves.get('Bite');
console.log(gen4Bite.category); // 'Physical'
console.log(gen4Bite.type); // 'Dark'

Checking Move Existence

const frobnicate = Dex.moves.get('frobnicate');
console.log(frobnicate.exists); // false
console.log(frobnicate.isNonstandard); // 'Custom'

const tackle = Dex.moves.get('Tackle');
console.log(tackle.exists); // true
console.log(tackle.isNonstandard); // null (standard)

const acidDownpour = Dex.moves.get('Acid Downpour');
console.log(acidDownpour.exists); // true
console.log(acidDownpour.isNonstandard); // 'Past'
console.log(acidDownpour.isZ); // 'poisoniumz'

Practical Examples

Find Highest Base Power Moves

const standardMoves = Dex.moves.all()
  .filter(m => m.exists && !m.isNonstandard && !m.isMax && !m.isZ);

const strongest = standardMoves.reduce((max, m) => 
  m.basePower > max.basePower ? m : max
);

console.log(strongest.name);
console.log(strongest.basePower);

Get All Priority Moves

const priorityMoves = Dex.moves.all()
  .filter(m => m.exists && !m.isNonstandard)
  .filter(m => m.priority > 0)
  .sort((a, b) => b.priority - a.priority);

priorityMoves.forEach(m => {
  console.log(`${m.name}: +${m.priority} priority`);
});

Find STAB Moves for a Type

const type = 'Electric';
const stab = Dex.moves.all()
  .filter(m => m.type === type && m.basePower > 0)
  .filter(m => m.exists && !m.isNonstandard)
  .sort((a, b) => b.basePower - a.basePower);

console.log(`Top ${type} moves:`);
stab.slice(0, 10).forEach(m => {
  console.log(`${m.name}: ${m.basePower} BP`);
});

Calculate Average Damage

const doubleSlap = Dex.moves.get('Double Slap');

if (Array.isArray(doubleSlap.multihit)) {
  const [min, max] = doubleSlap.multihit;
  const avgHits = (min + max) / 2;
  const avgDamage = doubleSlap.basePower * avgHits;
  console.log(`Average damage: ${avgDamage}`);
}

Move Callbacks

Some move effects are implemented via callback functions. These are not directly usable but show move behavior.

const acrobatics = Dex.moves.get('Acrobatics');

console.log(acrobatics.basePowerCallback);
// function(pokemon, target, move) {
//   if (!pokemon.item) {
//     return move.basePower * 2;
//   }
//   return move.basePower;
// }
// Base power doubles if user has no item

Related APIs

Species API

Query Pokémon species data

Abilities API

Get ability information

Items API

Access held items data

Formats Data

Check format-specific restrictions