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Does Yawn Work Through Substitute? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer is: no, Yawn does not work through a Substitute. A Pokémon behind a Substitute is protected from the effects of Yawn. This means if a Pokémon uses Substitute, and then another Pokémon uses Yawn targeting the protected Pokémon, Yawn will have no effect. This is a crucial interaction to understand in Pokémon battles, as it significantly impacts strategy and move selection. Let’s delve deeper into why this is the case, and explore the intricacies of Substitute and Yawn.

Understanding Substitute and Status Moves

Before examining the specific interaction between Yawn and Substitute, it’s important to understand how these mechanics work individually.

How Substitute Functions

The Substitute move creates a temporary decoy for the user. This decoy, which is a small doll-like effigy, protects the user from incoming attacks and status conditions. Here are the key points regarding Substitute:

HP Cost: Creating a Substitute costs 25% of the user’s maximum HP.
Damage Absorption: The Substitute takes the brunt of incoming damage until it’s destroyed.
Status Immunity: The Substitute itself, once created, is immune to status changes and certain other effects. However, the Pokémon behind the substitute can still be affected by status conditions in some instances. This is important distinction.
Limitations: If a Pokémon’s HP is below 25%, it cannot create a Substitute.
One-Hit KOs: A One-Hit KO move will always break a Substitute if it hits.

How Yawn Functions

Yawn is a status move that induces a delayed sleep effect. Here’s how it works:

Drowsiness: When used, Yawn causes the target Pokémon to become drowsy.
Delayed Sleep: The target will fall asleep at the end of the next turn unless it switches out or uses a move like Sleep Talk.
Restrictions: Yawn will fail if the target is already afflicted by a major status condition (like Paralysis, Burn, Poison, Sleep, or Freeze).
Affected by Abilities: Pokémon with Insomnia or Vital Spirit are immune to Yawn.
Other Blocks: Moves like Safeguard, Magic Coat, and Uproar also block Yawn.
Targeting: In double battles, it can target any opponent, but in Triple Battles, it’s limited to adjacent opponents.

The Interaction: Yawn and Substitute

As noted, Yawn will fail if the target is behind a substitute. This is because Substitute protects the Pokémon behind it from being afflicted by status changes. Yawn is a status move which causes the sleep status, thus it is blocked by a Substitute.

Therefore, if an opponent has set up a Substitute, using Yawn will not have the desired effect. The move will be rendered useless, essentially wasting a turn. Understanding this interaction is essential for planning your strategies and avoiding wasted move attempts.

Related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to give further insight into the mechanics of Substitute, Yawn, and related moves:

1. What moves can bypass Substitute?

Several moves can ignore the protection of a Substitute, including:

Sound-based moves like Boomburst, Hyper Voice, Uproar, Bug Buzz, Relic Song, Snore, Round, and Chatter.
Infiltrator Ability moves such as Brave Bird
Torch Song
Specific moves, such as Curse.

2. Can a Pokémon behind a Substitute be put to sleep?

Yes, a Pokémon behind a Substitute can be put to sleep, but not by direct application. Moves that attempt to directly induce sleep, like Yawn, are blocked by the Substitute. However, if a Pokémon is already asleep before the Substitute is created, the sleep status remains. It also does not prevent indirect status conditions like Leech Seed, or Disable.

3. How do you break a Substitute?

A Substitute is broken by absorbing enough damage. A one-hit KO attack will always break a Substitute if it hits. Normal attacks will chip away at the Substitute until it disappears. The Substitute absorbs damage based on the user’s remaining HP when it’s created.

4. Can you paralyze through a Substitute?

No, a Substitute protects against Paralysis effects, along with other status effects like Sleep and Confusion which includes direct and indirect applications. HP draining moves miss if used on a Pokémon behind a Substitute.

5. Is Spore better than Yawn for inducing sleep?

Yes, for sleep, Spore and Sleep Powder are better. Spore has 100% accuracy, and Sleep Powder has 75% accuracy, with both instantly inducing sleep. Yawn requires the opponent to remain on the field for an entire turn before falling asleep.

6. Do status moves work through a Substitute?

Direct Status moves like Toxic, Thunder Wave, and Will-O-Wisp are blocked by Substitute. However, they will work on the Pokémon behind the substitute if they are used before a Substitute is in place.

7. Does Water Absorb work with a Substitute?

Yes, abilities like Water Absorb, Volt Absorb, and Flash Fire will still trigger if the Pokémon behind the Substitute is hit with the appropriate type of attack. The Pokémon behind the Substitute will still get healed if they have these abilities.

8. Why does Yawn sometimes fail?

Yawn fails if the target is already afflicted by a major status condition, has the Insomnia or Vital Spirit ability, or if moves such as Safeguard, Magic Coat, or Uproar are in effect. It also fails if targeting a Substitute.

9. Does Yawn override a Burned or Poisoned Pokémon?

No, Yawn will fail if the target is Burned, Poisoned, Asleep, Frozen, or Paralyzed.

10. Does Roar work on a Substitute?

Yes, moves like Roar and Whirlwind bypass a Substitute and force the target to switch out.

11. Can you be Burned and Poisoned simultaneously?

Yes, a Pokémon can be Burned and Poisoned at the same time, and can even have other status conditions simultaneously.

12. Does Haze work through Substitute?

Yes, Haze works through a Substitute. Many moves like Attract, Destiny Bond, Disable, Encore, Foresight, Guard Swap, Haze, Heart Swap, Imprison, Miracle Eye, Odor Sleuth, Perish Song, Power Swap, Psych Up, Roar, Role Play, Skill Swap, Spite, Taunt, Torment, Transform, and Whirlwind ignore Substitute protection.

13. Why is Substitute a good move?

Substitute is a highly versatile move due to its ability to provide a buffer against incoming attacks and status conditions. It provides an extra turn for set-ups or switching, and mitigates damage and status changes.

14. Does Yawn violate Sleep Clause?

Yes, using Yawn knowing it will cause a second Pokémon to fall asleep would be a violation of the Sleep Clause in competitive play.

15. Can you Leech Seed a Substitute?

No, you cannot plant a Leech Seed on a Pokémon with a Substitute. The move will miss. However, if the Leech Seed is already active before the Substitute is created, the effect will still remain.

Conclusion

Understanding the intricate interactions between moves and mechanics like Substitute and Yawn is crucial for successful battles. While Yawn is a useful status move for forcing sleep, it’s important to be aware that it will not affect a Pokémon that is behind a Substitute. Knowledge of these mechanics is a key component of any well-rounded battle strategy, allowing trainers to make informed decisions and outmaneuver their opponents.

Does yawn work through substitute?