Foul Play

Dark

Foul Play is a Charged Attack of type Dark in Pokémon GO. In Gym and Raid battles, it deals 70 damage and it costs 50 energy. In GO Battle League, Foul Play deals 65 damage and costs 40 energy. Explore its damage and energy stats in battles, its effectiveness against various Pokémon types, and see which Pokémon wield it best.

Foul Play effectiveness against other Pokémon types

NormalFightingFlyingPoisonGroundRockBugGhostSteelFireWaterGrassElectricPsychicIceDragonDarkFairy
Dark×1.0×0.6×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.6×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.6×1.0×1.0×0.6×0.6

Foul Play Adventure Effects

Foul Play has no Adventure Effects.

Foul Play in Gym and Raid Battles

Gym and Raid Battles Stats

CategoryCharged Attack
TypeDark
Power70
Energy50
Animation Duration2.0s
Damage Window1.7s - 1.9s
DPS35 Damage per second
DPE1.4 Damage per Energy

Similar moves in Gym and Raid Battles

DarkDark Pulse80503.0s26.67
DarkNight Slash45332.0s22.5
DarkCrunch65333.0s21.67
DarkFoul Play70502.0s35
DarkPayback951002.0s47.5
DarkBrutal Swing65332.0s32.5
DarkObstruct20331.5s13.33
DarkDarkest Lariat80502.0s40
DarkAura Wheel100502.5s40
DarkDark Pulse+1501003.0s50

Foul Play in Trainer Battles

Trainer Battles Stats

CategoryCharged Attack
TypeDark
Power65
Energy40
DPE1.63 Damage per Energy
TagsSpam / Bait

Special effects

Foul Play has no special effects.

Similar moves in Trainer Battles

DarkDark PulseGeneral1.788045
DarkNight SlashSpam / BaitBoost
Special effectsSpecial

Night Slash has a 12.5% chance to:

  • Increase User's Attack by 25.0%
1.435035
DarkCrunchGeneralDebuff
Special effectsSpecial

Crunch has a 20.0% chance to:

  • Decrease Target's Defense by 20.0%
1.567045
DarkFoul PlaySpam / Bait1.636540
DarkPaybackNuke1.8311060
DarkBrutal SwingSpam / Bait1.575535
DarkObstructSpam / BaitBoost
Special effectsSpecial

Obstruct has a 100.0% chance to:

  • Increase User's Defense by 25.0%
  • Decrease Target's Defense by 20.0%
0.381540
DarkDarkest LariatNuke212060
DarkAura WheelGeneralBoost
Special effectsSpecial

Aura Wheel has a 100.0% chance to:

  • Increase User's Attack by 25.0%
2.2210045
DarkDark Pulse+Spam / Bait1.56040

Strongest Pokémon with Foul Play

1.Shadow Darkrai (Shadow)Shadow DarkraiDarkSnarlDarkFoul Play17.2720.34273.56853s52
2.Mega Houndoom (Mega)Mega HoundoomDarkSnarlDarkFoul Play15.7317.87312.68933s46
3.DarkraiDarkraiDarkSnarlDarkFoul Play15.0517.28278.89976s51
4.KingambitKingambitDarkSnarlDarkFoul Play13.5715.06325.081,079s44
5.Shadow Weavile (Shadow)Shadow WeavileDarkSnarlDarkFoul Play13.3416.62164.321,108s88
6.Shadow Houndoom (Shadow)Shadow HoundoomDarkSnarlDarkFoul Play12.8915.79170.731,146s84
7.GrimmsnarlGrimmsnarlDarkSucker PunchDarkFoul Play12.0913.92222.031,215s65
8.WeavileWeavileDarkSnarlDarkFoul Play1214.46171.471,229s84
9.HoundoomHoundoomDarkSnarlDarkFoul Play11.4813.63176.821,283s81
10.ZoroarkZoroarkDarkSnarlDarkFoul Play11.3614.2139.271,301s103

Best Great League Pokémon with Foul Play

Great League

Best Ultra League Pokémon with Foul Play

Ultra League

Best Master League Pokémon with Foul Play

Master League

All Pokémon that can learn Foul Play

52MeowthMeowthDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset
52Alolan Meowth (Alola)Alolan MeowthDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset
52Shadow Alolan Meowth (Alola Shadow)Shadow Alolan MeowthDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset
52Shadow Meowth (Shadow)Shadow MeowthDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset
53PersianPersianDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset
53Alolan Persian (Alola)Alolan PersianDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset
53Shadow Alolan Persian (Alola Shadow)Shadow Alolan PersianDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset
53Shadow Persian (Shadow)Shadow PersianDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset
101ElectrodeElectrodeDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset
101Shadow Electrode (Shadow)Shadow ElectrodeDarkFoul PlayReleasedStandard learnset

Foul Play FAQ

How does Foul Play compare with other moves of the same type?

In raids, Foul Play has lower move-only DPS compared with Dark Pulse+: 35 versus 50. This compares damage during the attack animation, not a Pokémon’s complete moveset.

In Trainer Battles, Foul Play deals less damage per energy compared with Aura Wheel (1.63 versus 2.22 DPE), and costs less energy (40 versus 45). Higher DPE uses energy more efficiently; a lower cost lets you reach the attack sooner.

Alternatives have the same type and attack category and at least one released Pokémon that learns them. The raid comparison uses the alternative with the highest move-only DPS; the PvP comparison uses the highest DPT for Fast Attacks or DPE for Charged Attacks. Stats alone do not account for buffs, debuffs, typing, or the other moves a Pokémon can learn.

How are the best PvP users selected?

These tables show Pokémon whose recommended moveset in our imported PvPoke rankings includes this move as the Fast Attack or either Charged Attack. The rank is their position in the full league ranking, not just among users of this move. Both recommended Charged Attacks are shown. Being able to learn the move does not automatically make a Pokémon a recommended user.

How are the strongest Pokémon with Foul Play ranked?

Pokémon are ranked by eDPS (effective DPS), which accounts for damage, survivability, and time lost when rejoining. The default ranking uses Level 40 attackers and average raid boss weaknesses. Every moveset includes this attack. TTW estimates the time to win, and faints estimates how many attackers faint during the battle. Changing the settings can change the order.

How are tiers assigned?

Tiers group attackers by similar scores, emphasizing differences near the top. We use eight groups, labelled SS, S, A, B, C, D, E and F, when there are enough distinct scores; otherwise, fewer tiers are used. Group sizes are determined by the scores, not fixed rank cutoffs. Tiers update with the simulation settings and stay the same when you sort or change pages.

How do opponent choice and rejoin time affect the rankings?

Scores attackers against the configured T4+ raid boss pool, including Mega, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Outgoing damage reflects how effective each move type is against the bosses; incoming damage reflects the attacker’s resistances to their moves. Per-type rankings use bosses weak to that type. Types without super-effective matchups use the full pool. Unavailable Pokémon are excluded from the boss pool.

The dummy boss uses neutral effectiveness (1.0×) for every move, with incoming damage based on Defense alone. This can favor attackers whose moves the raid pool resists, or whose weaknesses make them take more damage in raids. The dummy has a fixed 25,000 HP, regardless of raid tier.

Time to return after a team of six faints. Applies to eDPS and estimated battle time.

How do Mega and Primal Pokémon boost Foul Play?

The Pokémon in the Mega and Primal section above boost other Trainers’ Foul Play damage by 30% (1.3×) in Raid Battles. The boost follows the attack’s type, not the attacking Pokémon’s type.

Standard Mega Pokémon must be on the battlefield. Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon, and Mega Rayquaza provide their boost while in the current battle party, including after fainting. Multiple Mega or Primal boosts do not stack; the strongest applicable boost is used.

Explore all Mega and Primal type boosts

Does the ranking include Mega and Primal boosts to teammates?

No. The Mega Level setting adjusts the attacker’s own bonuses. Damage boosts provided to teammates are not included in this ranking.

What does the complete learnset list include?

It includes all Pokémon and forms that have access to Foul Play, whether they have been released in Pokémon GO or not.

What do legacy and exclusive moves mean?

Legacy moves were once available to a Pokémon but can no longer be learned through standard methods, such as a regular TM. Legacy and exclusive moves may require an event, an Elite TM, or another special method to obtain. Some legacy moves cannot be taught with an Elite TM.