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Substitute is a powerful move when utilized correctly, often buying the user an extra turn to defend. Read on to learn how to properly use Substitute in competitive play and how to use it to win Ranked Battles in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)!
| What Can We Learn From This Article? |
|---|
 How Substitute works |
| When to set up a Substitute |
| What Substitute will and will NOT protect against |
| How to Beat Substitute |
List of Contents
Image from Pokemon Sword and Shield
| Move | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Substitute |
|
The user creates a decoy by sacrificing 25% of the user's max HP. |
Substitute uses 1/4 of your Pokemon's maximum HP (rounded up) to generate a Substitute which receives damage instead of your Pokemon.
The Substitute's durability is dependent on the HP consumed when using it, and will be destroyed if it takes enough damage.
The move will fail if the user attempts to use Substitute while already behind a Substitute.
Substitute will protect your Pokemon from taking large amounts of damage. Status moves targeting a Pokemon behind a Substitute will fail when used, as will moves with secondary effects that lower stats or inflict status conditions. Pokemon behind a Substitute will not flinch if a move like Fake Out is used against it.
Your Pokemon will still take residual damage from Sandstorm because Substitute will not protect the user from weather's residual damage.
Substitute does not protect the user from moves that affect the entire field, such as Perish Song, Haze, and Destiny Bond. If the user was burned or poisoned before using Substitute, the user will still incur damage from these Status Conditions.
| Examples of Status Moves That Fail Against Substitute | Examples of Status Moves That Work Against Substitute |
|---|---|
| ・Toxic ・Will-O-Wisp ・Thunder Wave ・Leech Seed Trick |
・Leech Seed ・Roar ・Taunt ・Curse ・Destiny Bond ・Perish Song ・Encore ・Disable ・Attract ・Disable ・Haze ・Imprison ・Psych Up ・Taunt ・Transform ・Whirlwind |
Image from Pokemon Sword and Shield
Placing a Substitute in anticipation of an opponent's status move can earn you a huge advantage. This is a good countermeasure against tanky Pokemon who rely on stalling strategies.
This is also a good strategy for stalling out turns of Trick Room.
| Examples of Tanky Stall Pokemon | ||
|---|---|---|
 Slowbro
|
 Forretress
|
 Hippowdon
|
Image from Pokemon Sword and Shield
Some Pokemon may want to have a turn to boost their stats and set up a sweep. Substitute allows Pokemon to do that, giving them a layer of durability that they otherwise would not have.
Additionally, Substitutes can get passed to an ally waiting in the back with Baton Pass.
| Examples of Setup Pokemon | |
|---|---|
 Drifblim
|
 Mimikyu
|
| Sound-based Moves | Infiltrator |
| Multi-hitting Moves | High-damage Moves |
| Taunt |
Substitute cannot protect against Sound-based Moves.
 Chansey
Sing |
 Sylveon
Hyper Voice |
 Gengar
Perish Song |
Pokemon with the Infiltrator Ability can deal damage through Substitutes.
 Dragapult
Infiltrator |
 Noivern
Infiltrator |
 Jumpluff
Infiltrator |
Mult-hit moves can cause a Substitute to fade and damage the user with additional hits.
 Breloom
Bullet Seed |
 Cloyster
Icicle Spear |
 Dragonite
Dual Wingbeat |
Moves with high enough damage will cause a Substitute to fade. You can also try outspeeding and damaging an opponent before it can set up a Substitute because lowering its life to below 25% will prevent it from setting one up.
Using Taunt in anticipation of an opponent using Substitute can be an effective way of impeding your opponent's gameplan. Do remember that Taunt will still work on an opponent behind a Substitute, preventing it from further setting up.
Image from Pokemon Sword and Shield
Making contact with an opposing Pokemon with the Rocky Helmet item, Iron Barbs or Rough Skin Ability will not deal damage to you if they are behind a Substitute.
However, if the attacking Pokemon makes contact with a Pokemon with Rocky Helmet, Iron Barbs or Rough Skin, they will still take damage as normal even if the attacking Pokemon is behind a Substitute.
How to Use Substitute in Competitive Battle
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I believe the very last part of the article should say: However, if the attacking Pokemon makes contact with a Pokemon with Rocky Helmet, Iron Barbs or Rough Skin, they will still take damage as normal even if the >> attacked << Pokemon is behind a Substitute.