Understanding what moves go through substitute requires a deep dive into the mechanics of turn-based RPGs, particularly the way priority interactions and status conditions dictate the flow of battle. Substitute is a unique status that allows a user to avoid certain attacks and effects, but it is not an impenetrable wall, and specific actions are designed to bypass it entirely.
Priority Moves and Bypassing Protect
The most consistent category of moves that go through substitute are priority moves. These actions execute before standard priority moves, allowing a faster Pokémon to strike before a slower user can establish protection. Moves like Quick Attack, Extremespeed, and Vacuum Wave ignore the barrier entirely, ensuring that the user of Substitute still takes damage or suffers the status effect. This creates a high-risk scenario for the Substitute user, as they often cannot predict when a fast priority move will break their defense.
Status Moves that Ignore Barriers
While Substitute blocks damage, it does not block the application of status conditions, creating a strategic dilemma for the defender. Moves such as Toxic, Thunder Wave, and Will-O-Wisp bypass the substitute to inflict their respective ailments directly on the Pokémon hiding behind the shield. This forces the Substitute user to either remove the status condition with a specific move, switch out, or risk staying behind the substitute while suffering debilitating effects that hinder their offensive capabilities.
Leech Seed presents a unique challenge to Substitute users because it transfers health from the target to the user regardless of whether a substitute is active. The mechanic treats the target as the intended user, draining their HP even if a barrier is present. This creates a problematic scenario for the Substitute user, as they are unable to heal through switching and must rely on specific healing items or moves to counteract the passive damage drain.
Moves that Remove Substitute
Another category of interaction involves moves that specifically remove the substitute itself. Taunt prevents the target from using status moves for a few turns, which stops the Substitute user from healing the barrier. Haze resets the stat changes that might have been used to set up the Substitute, while Defog and Rapid Spin remove it entirely if the user is on the field. These moves effectively counter the defensive strategy, leaving the Substitute user vulnerable to direct attacks.
Certain powerful moves are capable of breaking through a substitute if the user's stats are high enough. Moves like Focus Blast, Hyper Beam, and Giga Impact require a turn to charge, but they ignore the substitute barrier if the move connects. This high-risk, high-reward interaction means that a Substitute user must be wary of setting up on turns where the opponent might use these devastating attacks, as the barrier offers no protection against them.
Ultimately, the interaction between Substitute and the moves that bypass it defines a critical layer of competitive strategy. Players must weigh the benefits of avoiding an attack against the potential for status application, priority strikes, and indirect damage. Mastering these nuances is essential for effectively using Substitute or countering it on the opposing team.
