Shadow Tag (Ability)

Shadow Tag	かげふみ
	Stepping on Shadows
Flavor text Generation III Prevents the foe's escape. Generation IV Prevents the foe from escaping. Generation V Prevents the foe from escaping. Generation VI Prevents opposing Pokémon from escaping. Generation VII This Pokémon steps on the opposing Pokémon's shadow to prevent it from escaping. Generation VIII This Pokémon steps on the opposing Pokémon's shadow to prevent it from escaping. Generation IX The Pokémon steps on the opposing Pokémon's shadows to prevent them from fleeing or switching out.

Shadow Tag (Japanese: かげふみ Stepping on Shadows) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. Prior to Generation V, it was the signature Ability of Wynaut and Wobbuffet.

Effect

In battle

Shadow Tag prevents all adjacent opponents from fleeing (including Teleport) or switching out while the Pokémon with this Ability is on the field. However, if a Pokémon with Shadow Tag switches in, opponents that decided to switch out at the beginning of that turn but have not yet moved will still switch out.

Using Baton Pass, U-turn, Volt Switch, Flip Turn, or Parting Shot will still cause the Pokémon to switch out. Having the Ability Run Away or holding a Smoke Ball allows the Pokémon to flee or Teleport, but not switch.

If the player does not switch out a fainted Pokémon and instead attempts to flee, they will not be affected by a wild Pokémon with Shadow Tag.

Shadow Tag does not affect allies.

Generation IV onward

Shadow Tag now makes the Pokémon immune to the effects of other Pokémon's Shadow Tag. Holding a Shed Shell allows the Pokémon to switch out, but not flee or Teleport.

Generation VI onward

Ghost-type Pokémon are now immune to Shadow Tag.

Outside of battle

Shadow Tag has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Shadow Tag

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0094		Gengar Mega Gengar	Ghost	Poison	Shadow Tag	None	None
0202		Wobbuffet	Psychic		Psychic	Shadow Tag	None	Telepathy
0360		Wynaut	Psychic		Psychic	Shadow Tag	None	Telepathy
0574		Gothita	Psychic		Psychic	Frisk	CompetitiveGen VI	Shadow Tag
0575		Gothorita	Psychic		Psychic	Frisk	CompetitiveGen VI	Shadow Tag
0576		Gothitelle	Psychic		Psychic	Frisk	CompetitiveGen VI	Shadow Tag
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

Pokémon that formerly had Shadow Tag

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0607		Litwick	Ghost	Fire	Flash Fire	Flame Body	Shadow TagGen V
0608		Lampent	Ghost	Fire	Flash Fire	Flame Body	Shadow TagGen V
0609		Chandelure	Ghost	Fire	Flash Fire	Flame Body	Shadow TagGen V
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

• In the Generation V games, Litwick, Lampent, and Chandelure have Shadow Tag as their Hidden Ability, but they cannot be obtained with it by any legitimate means. Their Hidden Ability is replaced with Infiltrator in Generation VI.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, and Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, when a Pokémon with this Ability is attacked, there is a 12% chance that the attacking Pokémon may become immobilized.

In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Shadow Tag prevents any adjacent Pokémon from moving, although they are still able to use moves or items. It has no effect on Ghost-type Pokémon and Pokémon with the Run Away or Shadow Tag Ability.

Description

Games Description MDRB MDTDS Immobilizes attackers. BSL こうげきしてきた ポケモンを いどうできなく してしまう MDGtI Unavailable SMD Enemy Pokémon next to the Pokémon can't move! It has no effect on Ghost-type Pokémon and Pokémon with the Run Away or Shadow Tag Ability. MDRTDX Enemies next to the Pokémon can't walk. This Ability has no effect on Ghost-type Pokémon and Pokémon with the Run Away or Shadow Tag Ability.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Mega Gengar
The Pokémon hides in the opposing Pokémon's shadows to prevent them from fleeing or switching out.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	When Mega Gengar is hidden in shadows, the opponent becomes unable to retreat.
X's Garma	Changing Gengar		Debut

• Mirei's Wobbuffet is revealed to have Shadow Tag as its Ability.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 踩影 Cháaiyíng * 影子遊戲 Yíngjí Yàuhhei * Mandarin 踩影 Cǎiyǐng * 影子遊戲 Yǐngzǐ Yóuxì * French Marque Ombre German Wegsperre Italian Pedinombra Korean 그림자 밟기 Geurimja Balgi European Spanish Sombra TrampaVI SombratrampaIII–V

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.