Fighting · Physical move · Gen 5

Circle Throw

Circle Throw is a Fighting-type physical move introduced in Generation 5. It has 60 base power and 90% accuracy, with 10 PP (16 with PP Max). It has -6 priority, so it usually moves after other attacks. 26 Pokémon and forms can learn it.

Type

Fighting

Effect

Forces the target to switch to a random ally. If both the user and the target have not fainted, the target is forced to switch out and be replaced with a random unfainted ally. This effect fails if the target is under the effect of Ingrain, has the Suction Cups Ability, or this move hit a substitute.

Targets: One adjacent Pokémon
Properties: Makes contact
Scarlet & Violet: Usable (5 Pokémon)
Pokémon Champions: Usable (7 Pokémon)
Legends: Z-A: Usable (20 Pokémon)

Type matchups as a Fighting attack

2× vsNormalIceRockDarkSteel

½× vsPoisonFlyingPsychicBugFairy

0× vsGhost

Pokémon that learn Circle Throw

26 Pokémon and forms (Mega Evolutions share their base form's moves). ✓ = can learn it in that game by any method; “Gens” lists every main-series generation it could be learned in.

Pokémon	Type	Champions	S/V	Z-A	Gens
Mankey	Fighting			✓
Primeape	Fighting			✓
Poliwrath	Water/Fighting		✓		5–9
Kangaskhan	Normal	✓		✓	5–8
Pinsir	Bug	✓		✓
Heracross	Bug/Fighting	✓		✓
Combusken	Fire/Fighting			✓
Blaziken	Fire/Fighting			✓
Whismur	Normal				5–8
Loudred	Normal				5–8
Exploud	Normal				5–8
Buneary	Normal			✓	5–8
Lopunny	Normal	✓		✓	5–8
Riolu	Fighting		✓	✓	5–9
Lucario	Fighting/Steel	✓	✓	✓	5–9
Emboar	Fire/Fighting			✓
Throh	Fighting			✓	5–8
Diggersby	Normal/Ground			✓
Pancham	Fighting			✓	6–8
Pangoro	Fighting/Dark	✓		✓	6–8
Malamar	Dark/Psychic			✓
Clobbopus	Fighting			✓	8
Grapploct	Fighting	✓		✓	8
Tarountula	Bug		✓		9
Spidops	Bug		✓		9
Annihilape	Fighting/Ghost			✓

Circle Throw FAQ

What does Circle Throw do?

Circle Throw is a Fighting-type physical move with 60 power. If both the user and the target have not fainted, the target is forced to switch out and be replaced with a random unfainted ally. This effect fails if the target is under the effect of Ingrain, has the Suction Cups Ability, or this move hit a substitute.

Which Pokémon can learn Circle Throw?

26 Pokémon and forms can learn Circle Throw in at least one game: 5 in Scarlet & Violet, 7 in Pokémon Champions and 20 in Legends: Z-A. Examples: Mankey, Primeape, Poliwrath, Kangaskhan, Pinsir and Heracross.

Is Circle Throw in Pokémon Champions?

Yes — 7 Pokémon can use Circle Throw in Pokémon Champions, with the same numbers as in Scarlet & Violet.

What is Circle Throw super effective against?

As a Fighting-type attack, Circle Throw is super effective against Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark and Steel, not very effective against Poison, Flying, Psychic, Bug and Fairy and has no effect on Ghost (unless its effect says otherwise).

Move data and effect text from Pokémon Showdown (MIT), generation from PokéAPI; learnsets for Gen 1–9, Pokémon Champions and Legends: Z-A from Showdown. Unofficial fan site.