Surf (move)

Surf (Japanese: なみのり Surfing) is a damage-dealing move introduced in Generation I.
It is:
* HM03 from Generations through .
* TM94 in Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
* TM47 in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
* TR04 in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
* TM95 in .
* TM123 in Generation IX.
==Effect==
===In battle===
Surf inflicts damage.
Surf can hit during the target's semi-invulnerable turn of , dealing twice the damage in all generations except in Generation IV, where the power is doubled instead (resulting in virtually the same effect).
If a with uses Surf (or ), it catches prey and , unless it already caught prey or is Dynamaxed.
====Generations I and II====
Surf's power is 95.
====Generation III====
In a Double Battle, Surf hits both opposing Pokémon.
Surf can be used as the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn. It can also be used to finish a combination, with the user gaining 3 bonus appeal points if or was used in the previous turn.
====Generations IV and V====
In a Double or Triple Battle, Surf now hits all adjacent Pokémon, including allies.
====Generation VI onwards====
Surf's power has been reduced from 95 to 90. Surf will also destroy stalagmites found in the background of s.
===Outside of battle===
In all core series games up to Generation VI and in , Surf is a field move; it can be used outside of battle to travel over bodies of water.
From Generation I onwards, Surf is usable from the party screen if the player is facing a water tile. From Generation II onwards, it is also possible to use Surf simply by pressing A to interact with a water tile. A surfing player can resume walking by simply moving onto land.
When surfing, Pokémon Trainers and wild Pokémon can be encountered (though only specific places contain Pokémon found via surfing in Generation I). The other field moves , , and may only be used outside of battle when the player is surfing. Since Generation III, the player is also able to fish for Pokémon while surfing.
In Generations I and II, land-based NPCs (including Trainers) can be talked to while surfing. 
Surf is required to complete almost all games where it is usable outside of battle, with the exception of . This move is needed to reach some cities, towns, and ultimately the Pokémon League where the Elite Four reside.
====Badges====
In certain games, Surf requires a specific badge to use outside of battle; the Soul Badge, Fog Badge, Balance Badge, Relic Badge, Fen Badge, or Rumble Badge.
====Speed====
The speed of Surfing has varied back and forth through games:
* In Generations I and II, and in , the speed is the same as walking.
* In Generation III, and from onwards, the speed is the same as running.
** In Generation VI, surfing on is faster than usual, and surfing on is twice as fast as usual.
====Appearance====
When Surf is used outside of battle, the surfing Pokémon is controlled by the player. A generic aquatic Pokémon shape is used for most or all Pokémon in a given game. In Generations I and , the player character is not seen in the surfing sprite; only the Pokémon is seen. Starting in Generation III, the player character is visibly riding the surfing Pokémon as well.
* In Generation I, the surfing sprite used for almost all Pokémon resembles and . This is the same generic sprite that represents fifteen Pokémon species in the party screen, although the color palette is not the same.
** In , if uses Surf outside of battle, the sprite is a surfing Pikachu.
* In Generation II, the surfing sprite used for almost all Pokémon is a . This Lapras is red if the player is , or blue if the player is . This is the same Lapras sprite used in the party screen.
** If uses Surf outside of battle, the sprite is a surfing Pikachu as well. This Pikachu has a red surfboard if the player is male, or a blue surfboard if the player is female.
* In Generation VI, surfing on specifically will show the player riding on Lapras instead of the usual generic shape. In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, , , and all have their own surfing models; additionally, Kyogre moves faster and has a larger hitbox, while Sharpedo moves twice as fast as normal but prevents fishing.
* In , when Surf is used via the app, the player will be shown riding a .
====Water tiles====
In several games, there are water where the surfing player is forced to go in a certain direction. They are found in the Seafoam Islands, Hoenn routes , , and , as well as in Unova Route 17.
In several games, there is and puddles where the player walks instead of surfing. For instance, shallow water is found in the Shoal Cave, and some puddles are found in Hoenn Route 120.
In , there are some fast currents at the Sevii Islands where the player is unable to use Surf.
====Cycling Road glitch====
In Generation I, due to a glitch, if the player saves at the and then creates a new game, it will not be possible to use Surf outside of battle (or use the Bicycle) in the new game until the player does any of these things: blacks out (either in battle or the overworld), uses , , or outside of battle, uses an Escape Rope, or enters and leaves the Cycling Road.
====Legacy====
From Generation VII onwards, Surf is no longer a field move. In Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, its functions are given to the Ride Pokémon and . In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the player can use Secret Technique Sea Skim instead. In , the player can travel across water after getting their Rotom Bike upgraded. In , Surf is usable in the field again, but now it is accessed via the Pokétch rather than a party Pokémon. In , the player's or can travel across water in Swimming Build or Aquatic Mode, respectively.
==Description==
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==Learnset==
===By leveling up===
===By TM/HM/TR===
===By Move Tutor===
===Special move===
====Generation III====
====Generation IV====
====Generation VII====
====Generation IX====
===By ===
====Generation I====
====Generation III====
====Generation IV====
====Generation VI====
====Generation VII====
====Generation IX====
==In other games==
===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series===
Surf inflicts damage. It will deal double damage to those in middle of using .
===Super Smash Bros. series===
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, creates a wave and then surfs on it, pushing any players it hits. Anyone caught in it will be pushed until Piplup disappears, or pushes the character off the stage. Piplup will keep using Surf even when off the stage.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, uses the move with a similar effect.
===Pokémon GO===
In Pokémon GO, Surf is a Charged Attack that has been available since December 8, 2017.
;Trainer Battles
* September 3, 2024
* Power: 65 → 75
** Energy cost: 40 → 45
===Pokémon Masters EX===
Name 	 	Move gauge cost 	MP(uses) 	Base	Max 	 	Target 	Effect tag	Description 	Playable 	
Surf 	 	3 	— 	100 	120 	100% 	All opponents	— 	No additional effect. 	(Support role only)Scottie/Bettie & (in )Users of (small chance)	
Surf 	 	4 	— 	120 	180 	100% 	All opponents	— 	No additional effect. 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Purifying Surf 	4	— 	160 	192 	100%	All opponents	— 	Activation Condition: When the user uses any moves twice.
Deactivation Condition: Cannot be deactivated.
Has a chance (20%) of making the target flinch. The power and chance of applying additional effects of this move are not lowered even if there are multiple targets.	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Name 	 	State 	State 	Base	Max 	Target 	Target 	Effect tag	Description 	Playable 	
Crystal Clear Surf	 	Default 	Default 	250 	300 	An opponent 	An opponent 	— 	No additional effect. 	 	
Crystal Clear Surf	 	6★ EX 	6★ EX 	250 	300 	An opponent 	An opponent 	— 	The sync buff is doubled the first time a sync move is used. 	 	
Crystal Clear Surf	 	6★ EX with EX role	6★ EX with EX role	250 	300 	An opponent 	An opponent 	— 	The first time the user's sync move is used each battle, the sync move countdown is reduced by three.	 	
Notes:
* Purifying Surf:
** This buddy move was known as B Surf prior to version 2.38.0.
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In Pokémon UNITE, Surf is 's, 's, and 's first move, as well as 's second move.
Blastoise can obtain the move by reaching stage at level 7 and upgrading into it instead of . The user rides a large wave in the designated direction; damaging, knocking back, and stunning enemies hit for 1.6s. The user is unstoppable while surfing, and once it ends, the user can jump in a designated direction. The wave continues for a short duration after the user has leapt off and continues to knock back enemies hit but inflicts no damage. At level 13 or higher, the user gains a small shield when hitting an enemy with Surf.
Slowbro can obtain the move by evolving from at level 4 and upgrading into it instead of . The user rides on a wave, damaging, knocking enemies back, and throwing them in the air briefly. Two more waves follow after the first, damaging and slowing enemies. At level 11 or higher, the second and third waves will now also throw enemies in the air, and the second wave will knock them back.
Greninja can obtain the move by evolving from at level 7 and upgrading into it instead of . The user dashes on a wave, damaging enemies and healing themself for each enemy hit. Enemies below half health are dealt bonus damage, and if this move KOs an enemy, the cooldown is reset. At level 11, the healing increases.
Cramorant can obtain the move at level 6 by upgrading into it instead of . The user sends a wave in a designated direction, damaging enemies that make contact with the wave. Once it reaches its full distance, the wave bounces back – further damaging and pulling back affected enemies. The user catches prey with the first wave, and can enter the wave that returns to catch prey for . At level 13 or higher, the wave also slows down enemies.
===Description===
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==In animation==
===Pokémon animated series===
===Pokémon Origins===
===Pokémon: Twilight Wings===
==In the manga==
===Be the Best! Pokémon B+W===
===The Electric Tale of Pikachu===
===Pokémon Adventures===
* In Just My Luck...Shuckle, Lucy's was revealed to know Surf by 's Pokédex.
* Lance's two were revealed to know Surf on the official website, but they were never shown using the move.
===Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!===
===Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure===
==In other generations==
===In battle===
====Core series games====
====Side series games====
====Spin-off series games====
===Outside of battle===
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====Used by Lapras====
====Used by Wailmer====
====Used by Sharpedo====
====Used by Kyogre====
==Trivia==
* Some of the Pokémon that can learn Surf, like , appear to lack the physique required to transport a human being at sea.
* Junichi Masuda revealed in an interview that Surf is his favorite move.Preview : Pokemon Platinum: Developer Interview! - GamePro.com
* Surf and are the only HM moves that become special moves on certain Pokémon, both on .
** However, since Generation VIII, Pikachu can learn this move via TM/TR, so it is no longer a special move.
* In Generation VI, Surf and Fly are tied for having the highest base power of all HM moves. Prior to Generation VI, Surf had the highest base power.
* If is used in the ocean in Generation III, it will have the animation of Surf.
* There is allowing players to cross water, identical to Surf in .
* has the same animation as Surf, except that the water is brown rather than blue.
** Similarly, animation in Generation VII resembles the Surf animation from Generation VI, but more purple.
* In the Stadium series, , , and , when uses Surf, a surfboard appears underneath it, and when uses Surf, it surfs on its tail. This does not occur in any core series games.
* In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, a glitch causes the game to freeze if the player is surfing on a and it evolves while the player is fishing.
* When using this move outside of battle, the text will always say "The water is a deep blue", even in cases where the water is not blue, such as the turquoise water at Unova's Village Bridge.
==References==
==In other languages==
Category:Moves that activate Gulp Missile
Category:Moves that target all adjacent Pokémon
Category:Moves that can hit semi-invulnerable Pokémon
Category:HM moves appearing in all generations
Category:Moves that can jam
Category:Moves that power up
Category:Moves in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Category:Moves usable in Pokémon Sword and Shield
Category:Moves usable in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
de:Surfer
es:Surf
fr:Surf
it:Surf
ja:なみのり
zh:冲浪（招式）