Ice · Special move · Gen 3

Sheer Cold

Sheer Cold is a Ice-type special move introduced in Generation 3. It has variable or fixed damage and 30% accuracy, with 5 PP (8 with PP Max). 33 Pokémon and forms can learn it.

Type

Ice

Effect

OHKOs non-Ice targets. Fails if user's lower level. Deals damage to the target equal to the target's maximum HP. Ignores accuracy and evasiveness modifiers. This attack's accuracy is equal to (user's level - target's level + X)%, where X is 30 if the user is an Ice type and 20 otherwise, and fails if the target is at a higher level. Ice-type Pokemon and Pokemon with the Sturdy Ability are immune.

Targets: One adjacent Pokémon
Scarlet & Violet: Usable (15 Pokémon)
Pokémon Champions: Usable (5 Pokémon)
Legends: Z-A: Usable (18 Pokémon)

Type matchups as a Ice attack

2× vsGrassGroundFlyingDragon

½× vsFireWaterIceSteel

Pokémon that learn Sheer Cold

33 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
Alolan Vulpix	Ice				7–8
Alolan Ninetales	Ice/Fairy				7–8
Dewgong	Water/Ice		✓		3–7, 9
Galarian Mr. Mime	Ice/Psychic			✓
Lapras	Water/Ice		✓		3–9
Articuno	Ice/Flying		✓		3–9
Delibird	Ice/Flying			✓
Suicune	Water		✓		4, 7–9
Glalie	Ice	✓	✓	✓	3–9
Spheal	Ice/Water				3–8
Sealeo	Ice/Water				3–8
Walrein	Ice/Water				3–8
Kyogre	Water		✓	✓	3–9
Snover	Grass/Ice		✓	✓	4–9
Abomasnow	Grass/Ice	✓	✓	✓	4–9
Glaceon	Ice			✓
Froslass	Ice/Ghost			✓
Vanillite	Ice			✓	5–8
Vanillish	Ice			✓	5–8
Vanilluxe	Ice	✓		✓	5–8
Cubchoo	Ice		✓		5–9
Beartic	Ice	✓	✓		5–9
Cryogonal	Ice		✓	✓	5–9
Kyurem	Dragon/Ice		✓		8–9
Kyurem-Black	Dragon/Ice		✓		8–9
Kyurem-White	Dragon/Ice		✓		8–9
Aurorus	Rock/Ice			✓
Avalugg	Ice			✓
Hisuian Avalugg	Ice/Rock			✓
Crabominable	Fighting/Ice			✓
Mr. Rime	Ice/Psychic	✓		✓
Baxcalibur	Dragon/Ice			✓
Chien-Pao	Dark/Ice		✓		9

Sheer Cold FAQ

What does Sheer Cold do?

Sheer Cold is a Ice-type special move. Deals damage to the target equal to the target's maximum HP. Ignores accuracy and evasiveness modifiers. This attack's accuracy is equal to (user's level - target's level + X)%, where X is 30 if the user is an Ice type and 20 otherwise, and fails if the target is at a higher level. Ice-type Pokemon and Pokemon with the Sturdy Ability are immune.

Which Pokémon can learn Sheer Cold?

33 Pokémon and forms can learn Sheer Cold in at least one game: 15 in Scarlet & Violet, 5 in Pokémon Champions and 18 in Legends: Z-A. Examples: Alolan Vulpix, Alolan Ninetales, Dewgong, Galarian Mr. Mime, Lapras and Articuno.

Is Sheer Cold in Pokémon Champions?

Yes — 5 Pokémon can use Sheer Cold in Pokémon Champions, with the same numbers as in Scarlet & Violet.

What is Sheer Cold super effective against?

As a Ice-type attack, Sheer Cold is super effective against Grass, Ground, Flying and Dragon, not very effective against Fire, Water, Ice and Steel (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.