From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

This article is about the Pokémon move. For the status condition, see Confusion (status condition).

Confusion (Japanese: ねんりき Willpower) is a damage-dealing Psychic-type move introduced in Generation I.

Effect

Confusion does damage and has a 10% chance of confusing the target.

Confusion can be used as the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing Future Sight, Kinesis, Psychic, and Teleport to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn. It can also be used to finish a combination, with the user gaining 2 bonus appeal points if Calm Mind, Kinesis, or Psychic was used in the previous turn.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Description

Games Description StadStad2 A Psychic-type attack. Has a one-in-ten chance of leaving the target confused. GSC An attack that may cause confusion. RSEColoXD A psychic attack that may cause confusion. FRLG A weak telekinetic attack that may also leave the foe confused. DPPtHGSSPBR The foe is hit by a weak telekinetic force. It may also leave the foe confused. BWB2W2 The target is hit by a weak telekinetic force. It may also leave the target confused. XYORAS SMUSUMPE SwShBDSP The target is hit by a weak telekinetic force. This may also confuse the target. LA The target is hit with a weak telekinetic force to inflict damage. SV The target is hit with a weak telekinetic force to inflict damage. This may also confuse the target.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII		VIII			IX
0012				Bug		1, 12RGB 1, 10Y	1, 10	1, 10	1, 10	1, 10	1, 10	1, 11	1	8	8
0048				Bug		19Y	17	17	11	11	11	11	12		11		11
0049				Bug		1Y	17	17	11	11	11	11	1, 12		11		11
0054				Water 1	Field	36	16	16	18	18BW 15B2W2	15XY 11ORAS	10	14	6	6	6	6
0055				Water 1	Field	39	1, 16	16	18	18BW 15B2W2	15XY 11ORAS	10	1, 14	6	6	6	1
0064				Human-Like		1, 16RGB 16Y	1, 16	1, 16	1, 16	1, 16	1, 16	1, 16	1	1, Evo.	1, Evo.	Evo.
0065				Human-Like		1, 16RGB 16Y	1, 16	1, 16	1, 16	1, 16	1, 16	1, 16	1	1	1	6
0077				Field										10
0078				Field										1
0079				Monster	Water 1	1	20	20RSE 17FRLG	15	14	14	14	18	12	12		12
0079				Monster	Water 1									12			12
0080				Monster	Water 1	1	20	20RSE 17FRLG	15	14	14	14	18	12	12		12
0080				Monster	Water 1									12			12
0096				Human-Like		17	18	18RSE 11FRLG	9	9	9	9	9		9		9
0097				Human-Like		1, 17	1, 18	1, 18RSE 1, 11FRLG	1, 9	1, 9	1, 9	1, 9	1, 9		1, 9		1
0102				Grass		−	19	19	27	27	27	27	14	20	20		20
0103				Grass		−	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1
0103				Grass								1	1	1			1
0114				Grass		−	−	−	−	−	−	−	10	−	−	−
0122				Human-Like		1, 15	6	5	1	1	1	1	1	12	12	1
0122				Human-Like										12
0124				Human-Like		−	−	−	−	−	−	−	12	12	12
0144				No Eggs Discovered										5			5
0150				No Eggs Discovered		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1
0151				No Eggs Discovered		−	−	−	−	−	−	−	1	−	−		−
0163				Flying			34	34	21	21	21	10		9	9		9
0164				Flying			41	41	22	22	22	10		9	9		9
0196				Field			16	16	15	15BW 9B2W2	9	1, Evo.		1, Evo.	1, Evo.	Evo.	Evo.
0199				Monster	Water 1		20	20RSE 17FRLG	15	14	14	14		12	12		12
0199				Monster	Water 1									12			12
0200				Amorphous			−	−	−	−	−	−			1	6	1
0203				Field			1, 7	13	1	1	1	1			5		5
0234				Field			−	−	−	−	−	−			−	5	−
0238				No Eggs Discovered			21	21	15	15	15	15		12	12
0251				No Eggs Discovered			1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1
0269				Bug				1, 10	1, 10	1, 10	1, 10XY 12ORAS	12			12	Evo.
0280				Human-Like	Amorphous			6	6	6	6XY 4ORAS	4		6	6	1	6
0281				Human-Like	Amorphous			1, 6	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6XY 1, 4ORAS	1, 4		1	1	1	1
0282				Human-Like	Amorphous			1, 6	1, 6	1, 6	1, 6XY 1, 4ORAS	1, 4		1	1	1	1
0307				Human-Like				9	8	8	8XY 7ORAS	7			7		1
0308				Human-Like				1, 9	1, 8	1, 8	1, 8XY 1, 7ORAS	1, 7			1, 7		1
0325				Field				−	−	−	−	−			1		7
0326				Field				−	−	−	−	−			1		1
0337				Mineral				7	1	1	1	1		1	1
0338				Mineral				7	1	1	1	1		1	1
0343				Mineral				1	1	1	1	1		6	6
0344				Mineral				1	1	1	1	1		1	1
0358				Amorphous				14	14	14	14XY 1, 10ORAS	1, 10			1, 10	6	1
0368				Water 1				8	6	6	6XY 1ORAS	1			1
0375				Mineral				20	1, 20	1, 20	1, 20	1, Evo.		1, Evo.	1, Evo.		Evo.
0376				Mineral				1, 20	1, 20	1, 20	1, 20	1		1	1		1
0380				No Eggs Discovered				−	−	−	−	−		15	15		15
0381				No Eggs Discovered				−	−	−	−	−		15	15		15
0385				No Eggs Discovered				1	1	1	1	1		1	1		1
0413				Bug					23	23	23	23			23	11
0414				Bug					23	23	23	23			23	11
0425				Amorphous					−	−	−	−		−	−	1	−
0426				Amorphous					−	−	−	−		−	−	1	−
0429				Amorphous					−	−	−	−			1	6	−
0433				No Eggs Discovered					14	14	14XY 10ORAS	10			10	6	10
0436				Mineral					1	1	1	1		1	1	6	1
0437				Mineral					1	1	1	1		1	1	6	1
0439				No Eggs Discovered					1	1	1	1		12	12	1
0475				Human-Like	Amorphous				1, 6	1, 6	1, 6XY 1, 4ORAS	1, 4		1	1	1	1
0480				No Eggs Discovered					21DP 1PtHGSS	1	1	1		1	1	1	1
0481				No Eggs Discovered					21DP 1PtHGSS	1	1	1		1	1	1	1
0482				No Eggs Discovered					21DP 1PtHGSS	1	1	1		1	1	1	1
0488				No Eggs Discovered					1	1	1	1		1	1	6	1
0489				Water 1	Fairy				−	−	−	−			−	6	−
0490				Water 1	Fairy				−	−	−	−			−	6	−
0493				No Eggs Discovered					−	−	−	−			−	6	−
0494				No Eggs Discovered						1	1	1		1
0527				Field	Flying					1	1	1		5
0528				Field	Flying					1	1	1		1
0561				Flying						−	−	−		1
0574				Human-Like						3	3	3		1			1
0575				Human-Like						1, 3	1, 3	1, 3		1			1
0576				Human-Like						1, 3	1, 3	1, 3		1			1
0577				Amorphous						−	−	−		1			1
0578				Amorphous						−	−	−		1			1
0579				Amorphous						−	−	−		1			1
0605				Human-Like						1	1	1		1
0606				Human-Like						1	1	1		1
0648				No Eggs Discovered						11	11	1, 11					1
0677				Field							9	9		9			9
0678				Field							9	1, 9		9			9
0720				No Eggs Discovered							1	1					1
0765				Field								1		1			1
0779				Water 2								9					9
0786				No Eggs Discovered								1		1
0792				No Eggs Discovered								1		1			1
0800				No Eggs Discovered								1		1			1
0825				Bug										1, Evo.
0826				Bug										1
0856				Fairy										1			1
0857				Fairy										1			1
0858				Fairy										1			1
0866				Human-Like										12
0898				No Eggs Discovered										1			1
0899				Field												5	−
0954				Bug													1
0955				Flying													5
0956				Flying													5
0981				Field													5
1015				No Eggs Discovered													1
1023				No Eggs Discovered													1
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.

By breeding

Form change

Generation VII

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0800				No Eggs Discovered		Having no other movesUSUM
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.

Generation VIII onward

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Confusion deals damage and may leave the target confused.

Super Smash Bros. series

Mewtwo uses Confusion as its side special move. The move acts as a grab, ignoring shields while flipping the opponent in midair. Additionally, the move is capable of reflecting projectiles, although they would not damage the initial user of the projectile in Super Smash Bros. Melee. This was fixed in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U.

Pokémon Conquest

Stars: ★★ Power: 29 Accuracy: 100%

Effect: 10% chance to confuse the target

Users:

Grid assumes the user is in the square marked by > facing to the right.
Orange squares indicate spaces that are hit.
Red squares indicate the knockback on hit Pokémon.
A blue square indicates the user's position after performing the move.

Pokémon GO

Updates

Gyms & Raids

• July 30, 2016
  • Power: 12 → 15
  • Energy boost: 7 → 14
• February 16, 2017
  • Power: 15 → 20
  • Energy boost: 14 → 10
  • Duration: 1.51 → 2.1 seconds
  • Damage window: 1.31 - 1.51 → 0.6 - 1.6 seconds
• February 21, 2017
  • Energy boost: 10 → 15
  • Duration: 2.1 → 1.6 seconds

Trainer Battles

• January 31, 2019
  • Power: 12 → 16

Pokémon Rumble Rush

Confusion

★★
Attack power	47.05378
Charge time	0.9 seconds
Range type	Circular (ranged)
Number of hits	1
Number of projectiles	1
Critical hit rate	1.5%
Additional effect	May confuse the foe

Pokémon Masters EX

• Description prior to Version 2.10.0 (from June 28, 2021): Has a very small chance of leaving the target confused.

Pokémon UNITE

In Pokémon UNITE, Confusion is Mr. Mime's and Gardevoir's first move and Hoopa's second move

Mr. Mime can obtain it by reaching level 4 and upgrading Fake Out into it instead of Psychic. The user fires a wave of psychic energy, damaging and knocking enemies back. Enemies hit into a wall take bonus damage and are stunned for 1.5s. Enemies debuffed by Guard Swap take bonus damage and are stunned, but are not knocked back. At level 11, its damage is increased.

Gardevoir starts with the move as Ralts. The user fires a piercing bolt, damaging enemies. At level 7 at Kirlia stage, the move is replaced by either Psychic or Moonblast.

Hoopa starts with the move. The user unleashes a telekinetic force in the designated direction, dealing damage to the first opposing Pokémon it hits. The telekinetic force clings to that Pokémon and then causes a delayed explosion. The explosion deals damage to opposing Pokémon in the area of effect and decreases their movement speed for a short time. At level 4, this move is replaced by either Hyperspace Hole or Trick.

Description

Games Description MDRB Inflicts damage on the target. It may also leave the target confused. MDTDS Inflicts damage on the target. It may also afflict the targeted enemy with a Confused status condition, which makes its movements and attacks go astray. BSL てきポケモンに ダメージをあたえる しかも いっていのかくりつで こんらんじょうたいにかえる Conq. The target is hit by a weak telekinetic force. It may also leave the target confused. MDGtI It damages an enemy. It could also cause the Confused status condition. The Confused status impairs its sense of direction. SMD It damages an enemy. It could also make the enemy confused.

In the anime

Main series

Medicham Gothitelle Oranguru Psyduck
The target is hit by a weak telekinetic force. This may also confuse the target.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Kadabra's eyes flash red, and it uses psychic powers to control the opponent.
Sabrina's Kadabra	Abra and the Psychic Showdown		Debut
	Psyduck's eyes glow blue or purple and the opponent becomes outlined in a similarly colored aura. It then uses psychic powers to move it.
Misty's Psyduck	The Ninja Poké-Showdown		None
Marina's Psyduck	Bye Bye Psyduck		None
Emily's Psyduck	Sitting Psyduck		None
Three wild Psyduck	The Psyduck Stops Here!		None
A Trainer's Psyduck	Memories of a Warming Kindness!		None
	Golduck's eyes glow light blue and it can control the opponent with its mind. The opponent also glows light blue. On occasion, this will confuse the opponent.
A wild Golduck	Bye Bye Psyduck		None
Katie's Golduck	A Judgment Brawl		None
	Girafarig's eyes glow light blue, and the opponent becomes outlined in blue energy. Girafarig can then control the target with its mind.
Cherry's Girafarig	The Psychic Sidekicks!		None
	Noctowl's eyebrow tufts glow blue and they release a blue light toward the opponent or the opponent becomes outlined in blue energy and Noctowl can control the opponent with its mind.
Ash's Noctowl	From Ghost to Ghost		None
	Alakazam's eyes glow red and shoot black waves of psychic energy toward the opponent.
Eusine's Alakazam	For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!		None
	Slowbro's eyes glow blue and it points at the opponent. The opponent becomes outlined in light blue energy and Slowbro can control it with its mind.
Madeleine's Slowbro	Enlighten Up!		None
	Slowking's eyes glow blue and Slowking can control the opponent with its mind, or Slowking releases blue waves of energy at the opponent.
Alice Telesu's Arthur	A Crowning Achievement		None
	Venomoth's eyes glow blue and it uses psychic powers to control the opponent.
Chaz's Venomoth	All Things Bright and Beautifly!		None
	Medicham holds out its hands and they each become surrounded by a light blue aura. The opponent also becomes surrounded in light blue energy and Medicham can then control the opponent with its mind; or, Medicham's eyes glow purple and the opponent becomes surrounded in purple energy. Medicham can then control the opponent.
Grace's Medicham	Come What May!		None
Candice's Medicham	Sliding into Seventh!		None
	Solrock's eyes glow light blue. The opponent also becomes surrounded by a light blue aura and Solrock can then control the opponent with its mind.
A wild Solrock	Take the Lombre Home		None
Brandon's Solrock	Pace - The Final Frontier!		None
	Baltoy's eyes glow blue. The opponent also becomes surrounded by a light blue aura and Baltoy can then control the opponent with its mind.
Calista's Baltoy	Me, Myself and Time		None
Four Baltoy	It's Still Rocket Roll to Me!		None
	Metagross's eyes glow red and its body becomes outlined in light blue energy. The opponent also becomes outlined in blue energy and Metagross can control it; or, the 'X' on Metagross's face glows blue and the opponent becomes outlined in blue energy. Metagross can then control the opponent with its mind.
Rebecca's Metagross	Destiny Deoxys		None
Tyson's Metagross	Like a Meowth to a Flame		None
	Gorebyss's eyes glow light blue. The opponent becomes outlined in blue energy and Gorebyss can control it with its mind.
Nancy's Gorebyss	The Evolutionary War		None
	Metang's eyes glow light blue, and the opponent becomes outlined in light blue energy. Metang can then control the opponent with its mind.
Morrison's Metang	Saved by the Beldum		None
	Mr. Mime's eyes glow light blue. The opponent also becomes outlined in blue energy and Mr. Mime can control them with its mind.
Rhonda's Mr. Mime	Hail to the Chef!		Referred to as Psychic in the English dub
	Gengar lifts its arms and its body becomes outlined in light blue energy. Gengar can then control the opponent with its mind.
Gengar of Team Meanies	Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate		Gengar cannot legally learn Confusion
	Butterfree's eyes glow light blue or light purple and the opponent becomes surrounded by a similarly colored aura. Butterfree can then control the opponent with its mind.
Drew's Butterfree	The Unbeatable Lightness of Seeing!		None
A wild Butterfree	Butterfree and Me!		None
	Meditite's eyes glow purple and the opponent becomes surrounded by purple energy. Meditite can then control the opponent with its mind. On occasion, this will confuse the opponent.
Maylene's Meditite	Crossing the Battle Line!		None
	Chingling's eyes glow purple and the opponent becomes outlined in purple energy. Chingling can then control the opponent with its mind.
Francesca's Chingling	The Bells Are Singing!		None
Marilyn's Chingling	Battling A Cute Drama!		None
	Dustox's eyes glow purple and the opponent glows purple as well. Dustox can then control the opponent with its mind.
Austin's Dustox	Crossing Paths		None
	Wormadam's whole body becomes outlined in purple energy and her eyes glow purple as well. The opponent then becomes outlined in purple energy and Wormadam can control it.
Ursula's Wormadam	Another One Gabites the Dust!		None
	Gothitelle's eyes glow red and its body becomes surrounded by a red aura. The opponent's body glows red and becomes outlined in red energy. Gothitelle can then move the opponent with its mind. While controlling the opponent, Gothitelle can make its eyes and outline glow brighter, and the glow around the opponent also glows brighter, damaging it.
Damon's Gothitelle	Black—Victini and Reshiram		None
	Gothita's eyes glow pale red and its body becomes surrounded by a similarly colored aura. The opponent's body becomes outlined in pale red energy and its body starts to glow the same color. Gothita can then control the opponent with its mind.
A Trainer's Gothita	White—Victini and Zekrom Black—Victini and Reshiram		None
	The leaves on Oranguru's fan glow purple and it thrusts it forward, causing the target to briefly become outlined in a purple glow, confusing it.
Oranguru (anime)	Mallow and the Forest Teacher!		None

Pokédex entries

Pokémon Origins

Mewtwo (blast) Mewtwo (barrier) Mewtwo (sphere)
The foe is hit by a strong telekinetic force.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Mewtwo thrusts its hand forward, firing a purple blast of energy from it at the opponent, or Mewtwo forms a purple energy barrier in front of its body, blocking the opponent's attack. It then turns the barrier into a sphere of energy that surrounds the opponent, which is then hurled away.
Red's Mewtwo	File 4: Charizard		Debut

In the manga

Ash & Pikachu

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Pokémon Adventures

• Blaine's Mewtwo was revealed to know Confusion on the official website, but it was never shown using the move.
• A wild Dustox was revealed to know Confusion on the official website, but it was never shown using the move.

Pokémon Colosseum Snatcher Leo

Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All

Slowpoke
The user releases psychic energy at the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Slowpoke releases psychic energy at the opponent.
Shu's Slowpoke	GDZ26		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

• The English name of this move is semantically dissimilar to its Japanese name, ねんりき Nenriki, which can be translated to mean mindpower. This has been known to cause some confusion when depicted in the English dub of the anime.
• In the anime, Confusion seems to have exactly the same effect as the move Psychic.
• A majority of the time when Confusion is featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, it causes the Defending Pokémon to be Paralyzed rather than Confused.

In other languages

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