How does Payback work against a move that does not effect the target?

Jun. 11, 2018

For example (I know that speed would not make this work), if a Ursaring uses Slash and afterwards, a Gastly uses Payback, what would the effect be? Would it hit, and if it does, how much damage would it deal?

Pleaselog inorregisterto add a comment.

Payback inflicts damage. Its power doubles to 100 if the usermovesafter the target, if the target switches out, or if the opponent uses an item.

sourceIt says the target has to move. Damage has nothing to do with this.

Payback will hit regardless if the user took damage beforehand, but it will have 50 bp instead of 100. Payback will not double in damage if the user did not take damage first, so if a move had no effect and didn’t hit, it counts as not taking damage and the move will strike with only 50 bp.

In other words, Ursaring will use Slash but the move will fail. Gastly will use Payback, which does hit, but has lower bp than it would if Gastly had taken damage before it used the move.