Twineedle (move)

Move data

Type Bug
Category Physical  Physical
Power 25
Accuracy 100
PP 20  (max. 32)
Makes contact? No
Introduced Generation 1

Effects

Twineedle deals damage and will strike twice (with 25 base power each time). It has a 20% chance of poisoning the target. Poison or Steel type Pokémon, those with the ability Immunity or those behind a Substitute cannot be poisoned.

Each strike of Twineedle is treated like a separate attack:

  • Each strike can get a critical hit independently.
  • If the Sturdy ability, Focus Sash, or Focus Band activates before the final hit, the subsequent hit will still deal damage and therefore cause the opponent to faint.
  • If the first hit breaks a Substitute, the second hit will deal damage to the target Pokémon.

The move Counter only counters the final hit, but Bide counters the complete damage.

Changes

  • In Generations 1-2, Twineedle can poison Poison and Steel types.
  • In Generations 2-4, if a Focus Sash or Focus Band activates before the final hit, subsequent hits do not cause the holder to faint.
  • In Generations 1-3, Twineedle ends immediately if any hit breaks a Substitute.
  • In Generation 1, each hit will always deal the same damage - if the first critical hits, so will the rest.

Z-Move effects

When a Pokémon is holding Buginium Z and uses its Z-Power, Twineedle turns into Savage Spin-Out and has base power 100.

Move target

Foe
Foe
Foe
User
Ally
Ally

Targets a single adjacent Pokémon.

Other languages

English Twineedle
Japanese ダブルニードル (Double Needle)
German Duonadel
French Double-Dard
Italian Doppio Ago
Spanish Doble Ataque
Korean 더블니들
Chinese (Simplified) 双针
Chinese (Traditional) 雙針

Game descriptions

Gold​/​Silver
Crystal
Jabs the foe twice using stingers.
Ruby​/​Sapphire
Emerald
Stingers on the forelegs jab the foe twice.
FireRed​/​LeafGreen The foe is stabbed twice with foreleg stingers. It may poison the foe.
Diamond​/​Pearl
Platinum
HeartGold​/​SoulSilver
The foe is stabbed twice by a pair of stingers. It may also poison the target.
Black​/​White
Black 2​/​White 2
The user damages the target twice in succession by jabbing it with two spikes. It may also poison the target.
X​/​Y
O.Ruby​/​A.Sapphire
The user damages the target twice in succession by jabbing it with two spikes. This may also poison the target.
Sun​/​Moon
Ultra Sun​/​Ultra Moon
L.G. Pikachu​/​L.G. Eevee
The user damages the target twice in succession by jabbing it with two spikes. This may also poison the target.
Sword​/​Shield
B.Diamond​/​S.Pearl
This move can’t be used. It’s recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can’t be remembered.
Scarlet​/​Violet This move can’t be used. It’s recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can’t be remembered.

Learnt by level up

These Pokémon learn Twineedle at the level specified. The numbers given are for Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon and may vary in other games; check the respective Pokédex pages for details.

Beedrill Beedrill
#0015 / Bug · Poison
Level 1
Escavalier Escavalier
#0589 / Bug · Steel
Level 1
Escavalier Escavalier
#0589 / Bug · Steel
Level 13

Learnt upon evolution

Beedrill Beedrill
#0015 / Bug · Poison

Learnt by breeding

These Pokémon can learn Twineedle as an egg move. Their breeding groups are also shown for reference.

Spinarak Spinarak
#0167 / Bug · Poison
Bug
Ariados Ariados
#0168 / Bug · Poison
Bug
Venipede Venipede
#0543 / Bug · Poison
Bug
Whirlipede Whirlipede
#0544 / Bug · Poison
Bug
Scolipede Scolipede
#0545 / Bug · Poison
Bug