Z-Moves — Deep-Dive Reference

01At a glance

A Z-Move is a once-per-battle move triggered by holding the matching Z-Crystal. The Pokémon's existing move (whatever type matches the Z-Crystal) is converted into a Z-Move with boosted base power. Status moves trigger a Z-Effect (typically a stat boost) instead of damage.

02How Z-Moves work

The Pokémon must hold a Z-Crystal of a matching type. When you select a move that matches the Z-Crystal's type, you can opt to convert it into a Z-Move (replaces the move for that turn).

Mechanically

• Activation: requires holding the matching Z-Crystal AND knowing a move of the matching type.
• Trigger: at move selection, choose "Z" (in Showdown / official games) to convert the move.
• Once per battle: only one Z-Move per team per battle. The Z-Crystal does not break or get consumed in lore — but only one activation is allowed mechanically.
• BP conversion: the Z-Move's base power is determined by the original move's base power, via a published table (see next section).
• Type: matches the Z-Crystal's type. STAB applies normally based on the user's typing.
• Animation: roughly 6-second animation (skippable in Showdown). In offline games, it's a cinematic sequence — added flavor.

What Z-Moves bypass and don't bypass

03Base power conversion table

Z-Move base power depends on the original move's BP, following a published table. Higher-BP moves yield Z-Moves with proportionally higher BP.

Standard BP table

Special-case base powers

• Multi-hit moves (Bullet Seed, Pin Missile, etc.): BP table uses single-hit BP, not total. Bullet Seed (25 BP × 5 hits) → Bloom Doom 100 BP, not multi-hit.
• Variable BP moves (Gyro Ball, Heavy Slam, etc.): BP is calculated, then table applies. Gyro Ball at 100 BP → 180 BP Z-Move.
• Hidden Power: always 100 BP regardless of HP type → Z-Hidden Power is 175 BP.
• Mega Drain: 75 BP → 140 BP Bloom Doom (no HP recovery on Z).
• OHKO moves (Sheer Cold, Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill): cannot be Z-converted.
• Multi-turn (Solar Beam, Geomancy, Sky Attack): Z-version is single-turn.
• Counter / Mirror Coat: cannot be Z-converted.

04Z-Effects (status moves)

When a Pokémon equips a Z-Crystal of the matching type and uses a status move of that type, it does NOT damage. Instead, the Z-Move triggers a Z-Effect — typically a stat boost. This converts setup moves into compressed turns: setup AND boost in one action.

Z-Effects by move type

05Signature Z-Moves

Eight Pokémon have signature Z-Moves: Z-Crystals tied to a specific Pokémon and a specific move, with stronger BP than generic Z-Moves of the same type.

Pokémon	Signature Z-Move	Stats	Z-Crystal
Raichu-Alola	Stoked Sparksurfer	175 BP Electric, paralyzes target	Aloraichium Z
Snorlax	Pulverizing Pancake	210 BP Normal, only on Snorlax	Snorlium Z
Mew	Genesis Supernova	185 BP Psychic + sets Psychic Terrain	Mewnium Z
Pikachu	Catastropika	210 BP Electric (only Pikachu, not Cap variants)	Pikanium Z
Eevee	Extreme Evoboost	Status: +2 to all stats. The strongest setup Z in the game.	Eevium Z
Decidueye	Sinister Arrow Raid	180 BP Ghost, on Decidueye	Decidium Z
Incineroar	Malicious Moonsault	180 BP Dark, on Incineroar	Incinium Z
Primarina	Oceanic Operetta	195 BP Water, on Primarina	Primarium Z
Kommo-o	Clangorous Soulblaze	185 BP Dragon + +1 to all stats	Kommonium Z
Lunala	Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom	200 BP Ghost, on Lunala	Lunalium Z
Solgaleo	Searing Sunraze Smash	200 BP Steel, ignores target's ability	Solganium Z
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane	Searing Sunraze Smash	Same as Solgaleo (fused form)	Solganium Z
Necrozma-Dawn-Wings	Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom	Same as Lunala (fused form)	Lunalium Z
Necrozma-Ultra	Light That Burns the Sky	200 BP Psychic, mixed Atk/SpA used	Ultranecrozium Z
Marshadow	Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike	195 BP Fighting	Marshadium Z
Lycanroc	Splintered Stormshards	190 BP Rock + clears terrain	Lycanium Z

06Z-Crystals

18 elemental Z-Crystals (one per type) + 17 signature Z-Crystals = 35 total Z-Crystals across the Gen 7 era.

The 18 elemental Z-Crystals

Normalium Z, Firium Z, Waterium Z, Electrium Z, Grassium Z, Icium Z, Fightinium Z, Poisonium Z, Groundium Z, Flyinium Z, Psychium Z, Buginium Z, Rockium Z, Ghostium Z, Dragonium Z, Darkinium Z, Steelium Z, Fairium Z. Each universal — any Pokémon with a matching-type move can use one.

Signature Z-Crystals (locked to specific Pokémon)

Aloraichium Z, Snorlium Z, Mewnium Z, Pikanium Z, Eevium Z, Decidium Z, Incinium Z, Primarium Z, Kommonium Z, Tapunium Z (Tapus), Lunalium Z, Solganium Z, Ultranecrozium Z, Marshadium Z, Lycanium Z, Mimikium Z, Pikashunium Z (Cap Pikachu).

07Competitive impact

Z-Moves shifted Gen 7 from the defensive Gen 6 OU to a more offensive metagame. The omnipresent threat of a once-per-battle nuke forced teams to balance "survive the Z" into every matchup.

Strategic effects

• Defensive walls become punishable: Toxapex / Skarmory / Mantine etc. can be 1-shot or 2-shot by a Z-Move from their checks. Forces hazards to be set carefully.
• Stall less viable: with omnipresent Z, stall teams need additional Z-coverage that taxes their economy.
• Coverage moves become threats: Pokémon can run Z-Hidden Power to nuke a specific opponent (e.g. Magnezone running Z-Hidden Power Fire to break Ferrothorn).
• Setup moves become Z-effects: Z-Sleep Talk gives +1 to all stats (random effects). Z-Recover gives +1 Attack while healing. The line between "Z move" and "Z effect" blurred teambuilding.
• Item budget: Z-Crystal slots block Choice items, Life Orb, hazards-mitigation. Taxes one Pokémon's held item completely.

No bans

Smogon never banned Z-Moves outright. Specific Pokémon (Mega Mewtwo, Mega Rayquaza, etc.) were already in higher tiers; the Z-Moves themselves stayed legal in OU throughout Gen 7.

08Iconic Z-Move users

Some Pokémon are remembered specifically for how they used Z-Moves to break the meta or to set themselves up for sweeps.

09Removal in Gen 8

Z-Moves were retired alongside Mega Evolution at the start of Gen 8 (Sword/Shield, November 2019). Z-Crystals do not function in Gen 8 or later. The mechanic exists only in SM/USUM and the Pokémon Bank-era cataloguing.

Why Z-Moves were removed

• Replaced by Dynamax: Game Freak chose Dynamax as Gen 8's new once-per-battle mechanic — different mechanically (HP doubling + 3 turns) but same role.
• Item balance: Z-Crystals locked the held item slot. Game Freak shifted to Dynamax with no item lock for Gen 8.
• Animations: Z-Move cinematics became a divisive feature; some players valued them, others disliked the long animations.

Z-Moves return potential

Z-Crystals appear in Pokémon HOMEas catalogued items but don't enable Z-Moves in Gen 8/9 battles. Pokémon GO has not adopted Z-Moves. As of April 2026, Z-Moves are gen-locked to Gen 7 with no path back.

10Common misconceptions

• "Z-Moves bypass type immunity" — wrong. Type immunity still applies. Normal Z on Ghost = no damage, full stop.
• "Z-Moves can be used multiple times" — wrong. Once per team per battle, not once per Pokémon.
• "Z-Crystal breaks after use" — wrong. The Z-Crystal stays held. The team-level "once" flag is what prevents reuse.
• "Z-Move BP is double the original" — wrong. BP is determined by a fixed table, not a multiplier. A 50 BP move becomes 100 BP Z (× 2). A 130 BP move becomes 195 BP Z (× 1.5). Higher base moves get less proportional boost.
• "Z-Effects are random" — wrong. Z-Effects on status moves are deterministic, based on the move's type. Z-Sleep Talk is the only Z-Move that picks randomly (because Sleep Talk itself is random).
• "Z-Moves bypass Substitute" — partial. Z-Moves break a Substitute in one hit, then deal full damage against the Pokémon. This is unique — most moves either deal damage to the sub (and stop) or break it without dealing more.
• "Z-Crystals can be Trick'd / Switched onto an opponent" — wrong. Z-Crystals are protected from item-stealing moves like Mega Stones.

11Where to go from here

Z-Moves are gen-locked but their impact on Gen 7 OU and VGC is foundational. Read the era guide for full context.

• Gen 7 Era — Gen 7 Sun/Moon Era for the complete Z-Move metagame history.
• Gen 7 OU — Gen 7 OU format guide for the format-specific banlist and archetypes.
• Mega Evolution — Mega Evolution Deep-Dive for the parallel Gen 6 once-per-battle mechanic.
• Dynamax (Gen 8 successor) — Dynamax Deep-Dive for the Gen 8 alternative.
• Damage formula — Damage Formula for how Z-Move BP slots into the damage calculation.
• Glossary — every term used above is defined in the Competitive Glossary.