From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Whirlwind redirects here. For the TFG starter set, see Whirlwind (TFG).

Whirlwind (Japanese: ふきとばし Blow Away) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM04 in Generation I.

Effect

Generation I

If Whirlwind is successfully used in a wild Pokémon battle by either Pokémon, the battle will automatically end. In a Trainer battle, Whirlwind has no effect. Whirlwind has 85% accuracy and normal priority.

If the user's level is less than the target's level, there is a chance that Whirlwind will fail, between approximately 10% and 25%, depending on the levels of the two Pokémon. The chance of failure typically increases the higher the target's level is than the user's. Specifically, the chance of failure is the following.

F a i l u r e C h a n c e = ⌊ L e v e l t a r g e t 4 ⌋ L e v e l t a r g e t + L e v e l u s e r + 1 {\displaystyle FailureChance={\frac {\left\lfloor {Level_{target} \over 4}\right\rfloor }{Level_{target}+Level_{user}+1}}}

Generation II

When in a Trainer battle, Whirlwind will now force the target to switch with a randomly chosen Pokémon from its Trainer's party. If there is no Pokémon for the target to switch with, Whirlwind will fail. Whirlwind's accuracy is increased to 100% and its priority is decreased to -1. If Whirlwind is used before the opponent can make its move, Whirlwind will fail. Whirlwind can now hit Pokémon during the semi-invulnerable turn of Fly.

Whirlwind's chance to fail does not apply to Trainer battles. However, in Trainer battles, Whirlwind will always fail if used before the opponent has made its move. If the player uses Whirlwind against the Red Gyarados or to try escaping from the forced wild Pokémon encounters at Team Rocket HQ, the move will always fail.

Generations III and IV

Whirlwind now has a priority of -6.

Whirlwind will fail when used against Pokémon with the Ability Suction Cups or rooted by Ingrain. It no longer fails if it is not used last. It can no longer hit Pokémon during the semi-invulnerable turn of Fly.

The chance of failure if the user's level is less than the target's is now calculated slightly differently. Specifically, for a random integer X between 0 and 255, Whirlwind fails if the following relation is true:

⌊ X × ( L e v e l t a r g e t + L e v e l u s e r ) 256 ⌋ + 1 ≤ ⌊ L e v e l t a r g e t 4 ⌋ {\displaystyle \left\lfloor {\frac {X\times (Level_{target}+Level_{user})}{256}}\right\rfloor +1\leq \left\lfloor {\frac {Level_{target}}{4}}\right\rfloor }

The chance of failure can be approximated by the following formula. However, this approximation may diverge moderately from the true probability for low user and target levels.

F a i l u r e C h a n c e ≈ ⌊ L e v e l t a r g e t 4 ⌋ L e v e l t a r g e t + L e v e l u s e r {\displaystyle FailureChance\approx {\frac {\left\lfloor {\frac {Level_{target}}{4}}\right\rfloor }{Level_{target}+Level_{user}}}}

Generation V

In wild Pokémon battles, Whirlwind will now always fail if the user's level is less than the target's. In Trainer battles, Whirlwind will now succeed if it hits, regardless of either Pokémon's level.

Whirlwind is now reflected by Magic Coat and Magic Bounce.

If a battle with wild Pokémon ever involves more than one Pokémon on each side of the battle, Whirlwind will fail if used by the player's Pokémon against a wild Pokémon, but if a wild Pokémon uses it against the player, it will force the target to switch with another Pokémon in the Trainer's party, regardless of the target's level.

Generation VI onwards

Whirlwind now bypasses accuracy checks to always hit, unless the target is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly. Whirlwind can now hit a target even if it has used Protect, Detect, or Spiky Shield, but will fail if the target is protected by Crafty Shield.

Whirlwind can be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, with the user gaining an extra three appeal points if any of the moves Spikes, Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes was used in the prior turn.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Whirlwind, the user's Special Defense stat rises by one stage.

Whirlwind fails when used on a Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon.

Description

Games Description
Stad Generates a powerful wind that blows away wild Pokémon. Useful in the wild only.
Stad2 A powerful wind that blows the target away. The opposing trainer must use a new Pokémon.
GSC Blows away the foe & ends battle.
RSE Blows away the foe with wind and ends the battle.
FRLG The foe is made to switch out with an ally. In the wild, the battle ends.
ColoXD Blows away the target, switching it out of battle.
DPPtHGSS The foe is blown away, to be replaced by another Pokémon in its party. In the wild, the battle ends.
PBR The foe is blown away and replaced by another Pokémon in its party.
BW The target is blown away, to be replaced by another Pokémon in its party. In the wild, the battle ends.
B2W2 The target is blown away and switched. In the wild, a battle against a single Pokémon ends.
XYORAS
SMUSUM
SwShBDSPLA
SV 		The target is blown away, and a different Pokémon is dragged out. In the wild, this ends a battle against a single Pokémon.
PE The target is blown away, and a different Pokémon is dragged out.

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM

By breeding

By event

Generation II

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0220 Swinub IceIC Big.png
GroundIC Big.png 		Field New York City Pokémon Center
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Whirlwind targets the enemy in the front and blows them away by 10 tiles. If the enemy hits a wall, they will take 5 HP of damage; if they hit another Pokémon, they will both take 5 HP damage. A Pokémon that enters a tile they cannot walk on will be warped away.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including Whirlwind could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Whirlwind could be seen as a move used by Boss Pidgeotto and Pidgeot.

NormalIC RR.pngWhirlwind
Charge time 0.78 seconds
Range type Arc (wide)
Target Enemy
Additional effect None
Whirlwind Rumble Rush.png

Pokémon Masters EX

  • Description prior to Version 2.10.0 (from June 28, 2021): Forces the opponent's sync pair to switch out.

Description

Games Description
MDRB Knocks the target flying. If the target hits a wall or another Pokémon, it sustains damage.
MDTDS Sends the target flying. If the target hits a wall or another Pokémon, it sustains damage.
BSL てきポケモンを とおくに ふきとばす ふきとんださきで かべや ポケモンに あたると ダメージをうける
MDGtI It blows away an enemy straight back. The enemy takes damage if it crashes into a wall or a Pokémon.
SMD
MDRTDX 		It blows an enemy away in a straight line. If the enemy crashes into a Pokémon or a wall, the enemy takes damage.

In the anime

Lance Dragonite Whirlwind.png
Dragonite Falkner Pidgeot Whirlwind.png
Pidgeot Aaron Beautifly Whirlwind.png
Beautifly Jessie Dustox Whirlwind.png
Dustox
The user blows a large gust of wind at the opponent or an attack.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Butterfree Butterfree flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Ash's Butterfree Clefairy and the Moon Stone Debut
Ritchie's Happy A Friend in Deed None
Lisa's Butterfree Spell of the Unown: Entei None
Zander's Butterfree Caterpie's Big Dilemma None
Zubat Zubat flaps its wings at a high speed, creating a gust of strong wind.
Brock's Zubat Clefairy and the Moon Stone Japanese version only
Pidgeotto Pidgeotto flaps its wings and a strong gust of wind is created from them.
Ash's Pidgeotto Clefairy and the Moon Stone None
Venomoth Venomoth flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Assunta's Venomoth Friends to the End None
Pidgeot Pidgeot flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Falkner's Pidgeot Fighting Flyer with Fire None
Noctowl Noctowl flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Ash's Noctowl Carrying On! None
Pidgey Pidgey flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Malachi's Ken Carrying On! None
Skarmory Skarmory flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind that blows the opponent away.
A wild Skarmory Delibird's Dilemma None
A wild Skarmory Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate Skarmory cannot legally know Whirlwind in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Team
Zirc's Skarmory The Ancient Poké Ball None
Onia's Skarmory The Ancient Poké Ball None
Dragonite Dragonite flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Lance's Dragonite Talkin' 'Bout an Evolution Dragonite cannot legally learn Whirlwind
Clair's Dragonite Great Bowls of Fire! Dragonite cannot legally learn Whirlwind
Shiftry Shiftry waves its hand, creating a strong gust of wind.
A wild Shiftry Jump for Joy! Shiftry could not legally learn Whirlwind at the time
Dustox Dustox flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind.
Jessie's Dustox Watt's with Wattson? None
Aerodactyl Aerodactyl flaps its wings, creating a strong gust of wind that blows the opponent away.
A wild Aerodactyl Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl! None
Hariyama Hariyama waves one or both of its hands, creating a strong gust of wind that blows the opponent away.
A wild Hariyama Pikachu's Island Adventure None
Staraptor Staraptor flaps its wings, creating a gust of strong wind.
Professor Rowan's Staraptor Following a Maiden's Voyage! None
Beautifly Beautifly flaps its wings at a high speed, creating a strong gust of wind.
Aaron's Beautifly A Trainer and Child Reunion! None
Snorlax Snorlax takes a deep breath and blows out a strong gust of wind from its mouth.
A Trainer's Snorlax Four Roads Diverged in a Pokémon Port! None

In the manga

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Pidgey Whirlwind HIBAPC.png
Pidgey
The user flaps its wings and releases swirling winds.
Pokémon Method
User First Chapter Used In Notes
Pidgey Pidgey flaps its wings, releasing a swirl of winds.
A wild Pidgey PW14 Debut

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

  • In the Japanese versions of Pokémon Red, Green, and Pokémon Blue, if the player's Pokémon uses Whirlwind on a wild Pokémon with 5 characters in its name, the exclamation mark will overwrite part of the text box. This was fixed in Yellow by adding a line break.

In other languages