Z-Moves
The once-per-battle super attacks from Generation VII: Z-Crystals, the power table and the special rules.
A Z-Move is a super-powered attack from Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. The Trainer and the Pokémon combine their power, and the Trainer strikes a pose before the attack. Z-Moves have only been in those four games in the main series.
What you need
The Trainer wears a Z-Ring (called a Z-Power Ring in the later games), and the Pokémon holds a Z-Crystal. There are 35 Z-Crystals:
- 18 type crystals, one for every type (such as Firium Z or Waterium Z). A Pokémon holding one can upgrade any move of that type. - 17 exclusive crystals for particular Pokémon, such as Pikanium Z (Pikachu), Eevium Z (Eevee), Snorlium Z, Mewnium Z and Ultranecrozium Z.
A Z-Move can be used only once per battle, and a Pokémon that is Mega Evolved cannot use one. In the story, Z-Crystals are earned in the island challenge, from the trials and the grand trials.
How a damaging Z-Move works
A Z-Move upgrades a regular move the Pokémon knows. The Z-Move's power depends on the original move's power:
- 0 to 55: 100 - 60 to 65: 120 - 70 to 75: 140 - 80 to 85: 160 - 90 to 95: 175 - 100: 180 - 110: 185 - 120 to 125: 190 - 130: 195 - 140 and over: 200
A one-hit knockout move turns into a Z-Move with power 180. The Z-Move keeps the original move's category (physical or special) but none of its extra effects. It also uses up PP from the original move.
Special rules
Damaging Z-Moves skip the accuracy check, so they always hit unless the target is in the air or underground. They cannot be completely blocked by Protect: they still deal a quarter of the damage. Exclusive Z-Moves, such as Catastropika or Light That Burns the Sky, have a fixed power and category and need a specific original move (Catastropika needs Volt Tackle, used by Pikachu).
Status Z-Moves
If the original move is a status move, the Z-Move version has the same effect, plus a bonus "Z-Power" effect that usually helps the user. Z-Splash, for example, also raises the user's Attack by three stages, and Z-Parting Shot also restores the replacement Pokémon's HP. The bonus works even if the move itself misses or fails.
The name and the lore
Books in the Malie Library, in the game, say the Z comes from "zenith", the highest point (the Japanese word is zenryoku, "full power"). The poses may be inspired by Hawaiian hula or Polynesian haka, but that is a fan reading, not an official statement. In the story, Professor Kukui guesses that Z-Crystals formed from pieces of Necrozma's body that broke off long ago.