Substitute (doll)

The substitute doll (Japanese: みがわり Doll) is a decoy created by a from some of its own HP by using the moves or . The substitute takes damage in place of the user until it breaks.
Substitute dolls have also appeared in various media outside of the use of a move. In some media, instead of appearing as a doll, the decoy may take the form of the Pokémon who used the move or some other object.
==In the core series games==
===Appearance===
In Generation I and Generation II, the substitute doll takes the appearance of the -like menu sprite that is used for various Pokémon.
In Generation III, the generic sprites are no longer used, with the substitute doll having its own unique appearance inspired by the original menu sprite. From Generation III onward, it has the appearance of a green and white plush doll that does not resemble any particular Pokémon.
In Generation VI, the size of the substitute depends on the size of the Pokémon using it. For example, a substitute made by a will be bigger than that of a .
When a Pokémon is behind a substitute, it switches places with the doll to perform moves.
===Creation===
By decreasing its HP by 25% (rounded down) of its maximum HP when using Substitute, the user creates a substitute with the same amount of HP as it lost. When using Shed Tail, the user decreases its HP by 50%, but the substitute still only has 25% of the user's maximum HP.
Substitute or Shed Tail fails if the user already has a substitute or if losing the required HP would cause the user to faint. Substitute or Shed Tail will fail if used by (who only has 1 HP).
 will steal the effect of Substitute when it is used.
===Effect===
If a Pokémon has a substitute and is attacked by another Pokémon, the substitute takes any damage instead. (This includes the damaging turns of and .) All damage factors use the owner's current stats (including maximum HP) and other traits. Any damage not directly from another Pokémon's attack (such as recoil damage or ongoing status conditions) will ignore the substitute.
The substitute will break when it loses all of its HP. It will also disappear if its owner leaves the field. A substitute can be passed by with the HP it has remaining.
 will remove all substitutes from both sides of the field.
====Interactions====
A substitute also protects its owner from certain effects caused by other Pokémon. (Most effects are not affected by their user's substitute.) A substitute protects from:
* any stat stages being lowered;
* all status conditions (, , , , and ) and (with some exceptions in Generation I: see below);
* flinching;
* effects;
* and effects involving the owner's held item.
This protection covers moves as well as some Abilities like and and items like King's Rock and Sticky Barb; but not , , or the Wonder Launcher's . Certain moves ignore substitutes; most notably, starting in Generation VI, this includes almost all sound-based moves (the only exception being , after it started to affect allies in Generation VIII). A Pokémon with can also successfully use any move except or on a Pokémon behind a substitute (since Generation VI).
These status moves will also fail if the target has a substitute:
* , , , , , , , 
** Because they have a protected effect: , , , , , , , 
 will also fail if the target has a substitute. These damaging moves will not have any effect besides damage if the target has a substitute:
* , , , 
** Because they have a protected effect: , , , , (damage can still double), , , , , 
(Some moves have changed regarding whether they fail or bypass a substitute; for those moves, refer to the list of below.)
Creating a substitute will free its owner from binding, but it does not change any other conditions (e.g. a Pokémon that was drowsy can still fall asleep behind a substitute).
A substitute does not protect the owner from effects originating from itself. Berserk Gene and (such as Figy Berry) will confuse the owner of a substitute (except in Generation IV), and and other status condition-inducing Abilities will function normally.
, , , , and will not count damage done to a substitute (except in Generations I and II, see below). Enigma Berry and (such as Occa Berry) will not trigger if a move hits a substitute.
In Generations I and II (except the localized Generation I handheld games), always fail if the target is behind a substitute. Due to an oversight, in the localized Generation I handheld games only, HP-draining moves can hit a Pokémon's substitute, but do not drain any HP if they break the substitute. From Generation III onward, HP-draining moves except can successfully hit substitutes and drain HP from them. In Generation III and IV, Dream Eater fails if the target has a substitute; starting in Generation V, Dream Eater can also successfully hit a substitute (as long as the Pokémon behind it is asleep).
If a move's damage exceeds the substitute's HP, the extra damage won't be applied to the Pokémon behind the broken substitute. However if a substitute breaks in the middle of a multistrike move, the move will continue hitting the Pokémon that was behind the substitute. If a substitute is broken by (or any damaging ) and the attacker is replaced by a Pokémon with , the substitute will block Intimidate's effect before disappearing. If a Pokémon with a substitute switches out while targeted by , the substitute will take the damage before it disappears. If a Pokémon with a substitute uses while surrounded by , the Pokémon switched in will not be ed, but if it is a grounded Pokémon, the Toxic Spikes will be removed.
====Generation I====
In Generations I and II, the substitute retains its user's color palette. (For instance, a blue Pokémon would create a blue substitute.)
Also in Generations I and II, counts damage to a substitute toward its effect.
;All effects below apply only to this generation.
The substitute's HP is 1 greater than the amount of HP lost by the user. If the user has exactly 25% of its maximum HP, it will create a substitute and immediately faint; this was fixed in Pokémon Stadium so that the user cannot create a substitute.
A substitute does not protect against any effect; against direct effects (, , and ); or against indirect effects ( and ). It fully protects against , , and (as well as indirect paralysis and direct confusion).
If the substitute is hit by a (e.g. ), the Pokémon behind the substitute still becomes bound. In the Western versions, can drain HP from a substitute.
 and count damage to a substitute toward their effect.
If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with any of the following moves, their additional effects will be skipped for that turn:
* : no recharge required
* or : user's sprite will disappear but it will not lose HP or faint
* Recoil moves: no recoil damage will be taken
* : no money will be scattered
* : will not restore HP
* and : cannot confuse target
* Multistrike moves: ends immediately after the substitute breaks
Due to a glitch, if a Pokémon behind a substitute takes self-inflicted confusion damage, or crash damage from or , the damage is applied to the opponent's substitute instead. (If the opponent does not have a substitute, no Pokémon or substitute takes damage.)
Some mechanics above are different in Pokémon Stadium:
* A substitute protects from any paralysis, sleep, or confusion effect (direct or indirect).
* HP-draining moves always miss if used on a Pokémon behind a substitute.
* If a Pokémon breaks a substitute with or , it will faint as usual.
====Generation II====
In Generations I and II, the substitute retains its user's color palette. (For instance, a blue Pokémon would create a blue substitute.)
Also in Generations I and II, counts damage to a substitute toward its effect.
From Generation II onward, multistrike moves may now continue even after breaking a substitute.
;All effects below apply only to this generation.
, , and will fail if used by a Pokémon with a substitute.
The trapping moves and can affect a Pokémon with a substitute. The flinch effect of King's Rock can activate if an attack breaks a substitute (it will be blocked otherwise).
If a recoil move hits a substitute, the recoil damage will only be 1 HP. This is because the recoil damage is calculated from the damage the target took (not its substitute).
====Generation IV====
In this generation only, Shell Bell does not restore HP when a move hits a substitute, and (such as Figy Berry) will not their holder if it has a substitute when triggered.
Additionally, due to an oversight, if a Pokémon with a substitute has used and then selects a different move other than Substitute, it will no longer have the substitute, but this won't be visually communicated, and its rage will still be building. Due to this, if a Pokémon that already appears to have a substitute uses Substitute after technically losing it, it will get behind another substitute doll. This effect lasts until the Pokémon switches out or faints.
====Generation V====
In this generation only, cannot bypass a target's substitute.
In only, due to a glitch, if a Pokémon behind a substitute faints due to or a held Rocky Helmet, the sprite of the Pokémon that was attacked will be replaced by a substitute.
====Generation VI onward====
Dynamax Pokémon cannot have a substitute. If a Pokémon Dynamaxes while it has a substitute, the substitute will disappear.
====Unaffected moves====
Since Generation VI, a Pokémon with can ignore a substitute with any move except or .
Different moves are able to ignore substitutes in each generation. Moves marked with a ✓ in the following table can affect a Pokémon regardless of its substitute. (This applies to moves used by one Pokémon against another with a substitute; if a Pokémon with a substitute uses a move that affects itself, it receives the move's effect normally.)
																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																				
																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																																				
===Other appearances===
In the , a Substitute Doll was obtainable in the Plain Catalogue in exchange for 200 Sitrus Berries.
In , the Plush Toy enemy in the Mystery Doors of the Magical Land Series in Pokéstar Studios is similar to a substitute doll.
In Pokémon X, Y, , a Substitute Cushion also appears as an obtainable Décor item in the Pokémon-Amie screen on the PSS.
==In the side series games==
Substitutes appear in the , , , and in the same capacity as in the core series. 
In most , the decoy and the Pokémon will switch places when the Pokémon executes a move; in , the battle animations play out as if the substitute was the one performing the move. It generally remains stationary, except when using moves like or .
===Pokémon Stadium series===
In the , substitutes have the appearance of a small cartoonish Rhydon doll.
In , glitch Pokémon appear as substitute dolls. The color of the doll varies based on the player's ID and the glitch Pokémon's name, due to the game treating the glitch Pokémon's name as a nickname, which causes Pokémon to change colors in the Stadium series.
==In the spin-off games==
===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series===
The substitute doll is associated with the Decoy, Cross-Eyed, and Substitute s.
===Pokkén Tournament===
Substitute is the move used by when called as a Support Pokémon. It conjures up a set of three dolls that rotate around the Battle Pokémon, blocking incoming projectile attacks.Pokken Tournament DX/Projectile Priority | Shoryuken Wiki!, archived November 29, 2020 on Internet Archive It also restores a little of the Battle Pokémon's HP.
===Pokémon GO===
A Substitute Doll can be found in the internal data of Pokémon GO; however, its use is unknown, as is not a move available in the game.
===Pokémon: Magikarp Jump===
A Substitute Doll appears as a decoration in Pokémon: Magikarp Jump. While active, the player gains a +2 bonus to their max food number.
===Pokémon UNITE===
In Pokémon UNITE, Substitute is 's second move as . The user dashes while leaving behind a targetable decoy. 
Substitute Dolls appear on their own as part of the mode. Three Substitute Dolls are located throughout the stage. One is located in front of each team's base, and the last is on the far side of the middle of the top path. They can be attacked and shoved as though they are Pokémon. They are treated as being members of the opposing team, even though they are not displayed as such in splash and results screens. This means that moves that require targets that are opposing team members can be used on Substitute Dolls. The Dolls report the damage they have taken overall, the damage they have taken from basic attacks, the damage that they have taken from moves, the damage they are receiving per second, and the amount of time they spend under the effects of a hindrance. Substitutes have a large pool of HP, which can reset to full at certain points. The Substitute Dolls can be toggled on or off via the Practice Options menu, and disappear if they are set to off.
===Pokémon Café ReMix===
 has a substitute doll outfit named "Whimsicott's Substitute" in Pokémon Café ReMix.
===Super Smash Bros. series===
 is 's down special. The substitute doll it summons resembles those from the core series games, though it can also summon a log. The move functions as a counter, attacking opponents who hit Greninja while it is posing.
There is a trophy of the substitute doll in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
====Trophy information====
If it looks like a Pokémon and it gets attacked like a Pokémon, it's probably a- Oh, no, it could also be a Substitute Doll. This cute plush figure appears out of nowhere when a Pokémon uses the move Substitute. Is that a smile on its face or a grimace of determination? Only the doll knows, and it's not telling.
==In animation==
===Pokémon the Series===
The move creates a copy of the user instead of the typical substitute doll seen in the . Although they have never been shown in any depiction of the move so far, substitute dolls have nonetheless been featured in several episodes of the .
========
In Under the Pledging Tree!, a substitute doll was one of the items offered to by a market vendor in Coumarine City. 
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A substitute doll owned by appeared in Rocking Clawmark Hill! and No Stone Unturned!.
A substitute doll appeared in 's room in I Choose You!.
========
A substitute doll appeared Ash's room in Legend? Go! Friends? Go!, where was shown sleeping with it.
A substitute doll appeared in a flashback in Getting to the Heart of it All!. Being owned by a girl who'd one day grow up to be Nurse Joy, it was accidentally left behind when her family moved and was eventually reborn as a .
===Pokémon Origins===
In File 4: Charizard, a can be seen playing with a substitute plushie in Mr. Fuji's Pokémon House.
==In the manga==
===Phantom Thief Pokémon 7===
In Into The Hands Of Evil?!, 's used to create a copy of itself.
===Pokémon Adventures===
Unlike the , substitutes can appear as clones of the user, but more spectral and transparent, as shown by Red's Pikachu in Peace of Mime.
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A substitute doll appeared in Omega Alpha Adventure 21 as one the many items that pulled out of its ring while searching for a Diancite for .
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In PASV12, 's used Substitute to create a substitute doll to take a hit for it.
===Pokémon Battle Frontier===
In Pokémon Battle Frontier, the move causes the user to transform into a doll, similar to the one in the games.
==In the TCG==
The is a Team Flare branded version of the substitute doll. Its card was included in the expansion. The team's symbol is printed on the substitute's body. Aside from being done in a blue and black color scheme, it also has a visor over its eyes based on Lysandre's visor. The Robo Substitute is presumably also robotic in nature, judging from the name. 
After being played, Robo Substitute is put onto the Bench as a . It only has 30 , does not have any attacks printed on it, and lacks the ability to retreat. However, knocking it out does not grant the opponent any prize cards, and Robo Substitute can be freely discarded from play. The last property can be used in lieu of retreating by discarding the card while it is the Active Pokémon.
Substitute dolls also appear in the artwork of the Basic Pokémon cards from , from , and from , as well as the printings of and from .
MeowthUnbrokenBonds147.jpg|Meowth (Unbroken Bonds 147)
ChanseyLostThunder152.jpg|Chansey (Lost Thunder 152)
ImpidimpFusionStrike176.jpg|Impidimp (Fusion Strike 176)
MinccinoTemporalForces182.jpg|Minccino (Temporal Forces 136)
CinccinoTemporalForces183.jpg|Cinccino (Temporal Forces 137)
===Merchandise===
The substitute doll has been featured on card sleeves for the .
Product image:
==Gallery==
===Game assets===
 	 	 	 	 	 	
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===In-game appearances===
====Core series games====
====Side series games====
====Spin-off series games====
==Trivia==
* Gigantamax 's design contains a substitute doll, amongst several other objects.
* During Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Direct on April 8, 2014, a substitute plushie is seen in place of as he goes to showcase some of the Pokémon available from the and Master Ball items.
* The substitute doll appears in the Japanese merchandise line, the FuniFuni Mascot Collection Part 2 (a gacha set). Because it is a secret rare, it is labelled as "???" in promotional material.
==In other languages==
==Related articles==
* Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
==References==
Category:Pokémon world