Solar Beam

Changes over time

How Solar Beam changed from game to game, newest first.

1. Champions

   PP 10 → 12 ▲ Buffed

2. Gen IX

   … is halved if the weather is dropped: Hail, Heavy Rain, Rain, added: Sandstorm, or dropped: Sandstorm added: Snow and the user is not holding …

3. Gen VIII

   … is Hail, Heavy Rain, Rain, or dropped: Sandstorm. added: Sandstorm and the user is not holding Utility Umbrella. If the user is holding a … the move completes in one turn. added: If the user is holding Utility Umbrella and the weather is Intense Sun or Sun, the move still requires a turn to charge.

4. Gen VI

   … halved if the weather is Hail, added: Heavy Rain, Rain, or Sandstorm. If the user is holding a Power Herb or the weather is added: Intense Sun or Sun, the move completes in one turn.

5. Gen V

   … turn and executes on the second. dropped: Damage added: Power is halved if the weather is …

6. Gen IV

   … Hail, Rain, or Sandstorm. If the added: user is holding a Power Herb or the weather is Sun, the move completes in one turn.

7. Gen III

   … is halved if the weather is dropped: Rain. added: Hail, Rain, or Sandstorm. If the weather is Sun, the …

8. Gen II

   … turn and executes on the second. added: Damage is halved if the weather is Rain. If the weather is Sun, the move completes in one turn.

Numbers: PokéAPI’s changelog. Descriptions: Pokémon Showdown’s for each generation, PokéAPI’s notes where Showdown’s don’t differ. Champions: Pokémon Showdown.

See it in the games

No clip of Solar Beam here yet. Find Solar Beam on YouTube →

How it works in Champions

What interacts

Abilities and items that boost Solar Beam, block it, punish its user or change how it works.

No ability or held item affected it in these games.

Good to know

• Can't be used through: Sleep Talk, Instruct.
• The weather changes it: Extremely harsh sun, Hail, Heavy rain, Rain, Sandstorm, Snow, Sun.

Who runs Solar Beam on Showdown

1. Mega Charizard Y47.8% of its sets
2. Torkoal13.3% of its sets
3. Mega Meganium97.8% of its sets
4. Mega Pyroar25.9% of its sets
5. Venusaur6.3% of its sets
6. Ninetales62.1% of its sets
7. Vileplume32.3% of its sets
8. Hisuian Typhlosion9.2% of its sets
9. Mega Houndoom7.3% of its sets

Smogon · Showdown Champions VGC · Sep 2026: Smogon’s usage stats from Pokémon Showdown, not the in-game ladder.

On the ladder today

Ranked Doubles Pokémon with Solar Beam among their most used moves.

Charizard, ladder rank #6Torkoal, ladder rank #35Meganium, ladder rank #82Pyroar, ladder rank #95Ninetales, ladder rank #97Houndoom, ladder rank #127Vileplume, ladder rank #162Typhlosion, ladder rank #175

Who learns Solar Beam

108 Pokémon can learn it in Pokémon Champions.

Show all 108 in Champions

VenusaurCharizardBeedrillClefableNinetalesVileplumeArcanineVictreebelKangaskhanTaurosSnorlaxMeganiumTyphlosionAriadosForretressHoundoomSceptileBlazikenMawileAggronCameruptTorkoalAltariaCastformTorterraInfernapeRoseradeLopunnyAbomasnowLeafeonSerperiorEmboarSimisageSimisearAudinoScolipedeWhimsicottGarbodorEmolgaChandelureGolurkVolcaronaChesnaughtDelphoxTalonflameVivillonPyroarFlorgesHelioliskTrevenantGourgeistNoivernDecidueyeTsareenaDrampaFlappleAppletunMr. RimeAlcremieDragapultWyrdeerMeowscaradaSkeledirgeArmarougeScovillainGlimmoraSinistchaArchaludonHydrappleSunny CastformRainy CastformSnowy CastformSmall GourgeistLarge GourgeistSuper GourgeistMega VenusaurMega Charizard XMega Charizard YMega KangaskhanMega HoundoomMega BlazikenMega MawileMega AggronMega AbomasnowEternal FloetteMega SceptileMega AltariaMega AudinoMega CameruptMega LopunnyMega BeedrillHisuian ArcanineHisuian TyphlosionHisuian DecidueyeMega ClefableMega VictreebelMega MeganiumMega EmboarMega ScolipedeMega ChandelureMega ChesnaughtMega DelphoxMega PyroarMega FloetteMega DrampaMega GolurkMega ScovillainMega Glimmora

All 316 Pokémon that learn it in any game → Filter the Pokédex to Champions →