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Upper Hand

In Pokémon ChampionsGen IX

Game

Pokémon Champions

FightingPhysical

100% flinch. Fails unless target using priority attack.

Power: 65
Accuracy: 100%
PP: 16 Scarlet & Violet: 15
Priority: +3
Hits: One Pokémon next to the user
On Showdown: 0.1% of Champions VGC Pokémon run it

Properties

Contact Secondary effect100%

Changes over time

How Upper Hand changed from game to game, newest first.

Champions
PP 15 → 16 Buffed

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 Upper Hand here yet. Find Upper Hand on YouTube →

How it works in Champions

Has a 100% chance to make the target flinch. Fails if the target did not select a physical or special attack for use this turn with altered priority greater than 0, or if the target moves before the user.

“The user reacts to the target's movement and strikes with the heel of its palm, making the target flinch. This move fails if the target is not readying a priority move.”
In-game text, Scarlet & Violet

What interacts

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

Boosts it

3

Tough Claws×1.3
Poison Touch30% to poison
Sheer Force×1.3, loses the effect

Blocks or weakens it

5

Fluffytakes ½
Aura Guardtakes ½
Queenly Majestyblocks it
Armor Tailblocks it
Shield Dustblocks the effect

Punishes the user

12

Rough Skintakes ⅛ back
Rocky Helmettakes ⅙ back
Static30% paralysis
Flame Body30% burn
Poison Point30% poison
Effect Spore30% poison, paralysis or sleep
Cute Charm30% infatuation
Gooey−1 Speed
Mummyreplaces its ability
Wandering Spiritswaps abilities
Aftermathtakes ¼ if it knocks the holder out
Pickpocketsteals its item

Changes how it works

4

Long Reachno contact
Unseen Fistgoes through Protect for ¼ damage
Piercing Drillgoes through Protect for ¼ damage
Infiltratorgoes through Substitute

Only in other games 9

Boosts it

1

Serene Gracedoubles the chance

Blocks or weakens it

2

Dazzlingblocks it
Covert Cloakblocks the effect

Punishes the user

5

Iron Barbstakes ⅛ back
Tangling Hair−1 Speed
Lingering Aromareplaces its ability
Perish Bodya 3-turn faint countdown for both
Sticky Barbcan stick to it

Changes how it works

1

Protective Padsno contact effects

Mold Breaker, Teravolt and Turboblaze ignore the abilities that block or weaken it.

Good to know

Psychic Terrain stops it hitting a grounded Pokémon.

Who runs Upper Hand on Showdown

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

Who learns Upper Hand

41 Pokémon can learn it in Pokémon Champions.

Show all 41 in Champions

All 59 Pokémon that learn it in any game → Filter the Pokédex to Champions →