A special move (Japanese: 特殊(とくしゅ)技(ぎ), Hepburn: special move) is one of the three categories of moves and one of the two that inflict damage.

In Generation I, special moves cause damage depending on the Special stats of both the attacking Pokémon and the defending Pokémon. In later generations, special moves typically deal damage depending on the Special Attack stat of the attacking Pokémon and the Special Defense stat of the defending Pokémon. However, a small number of special moves introduced in Generation V actually deal physical move damage, with their damage calculation being dependent on the defending Pokémon's Defense instead of its Special Defense stat.

While most special moves do not make contact, some do. For example, Grass Knot makes contact despite being a special move.

Prior to Generation IV, damaging moves from the following types were considered Special:

• Water
• Grass
• Fire
• Ice
• Electric
• Psychic
• Dragon
• Dark

Examples[]

• Absorb
• Ember
• Water Gun
• Thunderbolt