Smogon Calculator
The premier tool for competitive Pokémon damage calculations.
Attacker Details
Defender Details
Calculation Results
What is a Smogon Calculator?
A Smogon calculator is an essential tool for any serious competitive Pokémon player. Named after Smogon University, the leading community for competitive Pokémon battling, this calculator determines the amount of damage a Pokémon’s move will inflict on an opponent. It goes beyond simple type matchups, incorporating crucial variables like Pokémon stats, levels, move power, abilities, items, and field conditions. For anyone looking to succeed in formats like VGC or Smogon singles, understanding potential damage output is key. A good Smogon calculator allows you to test matchups, optimize your Pokémon’s EV (Effort Value) spreads, and make informed strategic decisions during battle without risking a loss. This process is often called “calcing.” This specific tool is a simplified version of the full pokemon showdown calculator but provides a strong foundation. The primary keyword and focus of this page is the smogon calculator.
The Pokémon Damage Formula and Explanation
The core of any Smogon calculator is the Pokémon damage formula. While the full formula includes many modifiers, the fundamental calculation is as follows:
Damage = ( ( ( (2 * Level / 5) + 2) * Move Power * (Attack / Defense) ) / 50 ) + 2
This base damage is then adjusted by modifiers for STAB, type effectiveness, and a random factor between 0.85 and 1.0. This is why damage is always shown as a range. Mastering the smogon calculator means understanding these variables.
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | The attacker’s level. | Level | 50 (VGC) or 100 (Singles) |
| Move Power | The base power of the move being used. | Power Points | 40 – 250 |
| Attack | The attacker’s relevant offensive stat (Attack or Special Attack). | Stat Points | 100 – 500+ |
| Defense | The defender’s relevant defensive stat (Defense or Special Defense). | Stat Points | 100 – 500+ |
Practical Examples
Example 1: Strong Neutral Hit
Imagine a max Special Attack Gengar (394 Sp. Atk) at Level 100 using Shadow Ball (80 Power) on a standard Ferrothorn (317 HP, 298 Sp. Def). Shadow Ball is neutral. Gengar gets STAB.
- Inputs: Level 100, Move Power 80, Attack Stat 394, Defender HP 317, Defense Stat 298, STAB, 1x Effectiveness.
- Results: Damage Range: 130-154, Percentage: 41.0% – 48.5%. This is a likely 3-hit KO. Learning this through a smogon calculator is faster than testing in-game.
Example 2: Super-Effective Hit
Consider a standard Charizard (299 Sp. Atk) at Level 100 using Flamethrower (90 Power) against a Venusaur (364 HP, 328 Sp. Def). Flamethrower is super-effective (2x) and gets STAB.
- Inputs: Level 100, Move Power 90, Attack Stat 299, Defender HP 364, Defense Stat 328, STAB, 2x Effectiveness.
- Results: Damage Range: 224-266, Percentage: 61.5% – 73.0%. This is a guaranteed 2-hit KO, but not a 1-hit KO (OHKO). Knowing this helps you decide if it’s safe to attack or if you need to switch. For more complex scenarios, consult a vgc damage calculator.
How to Use This Smogon Calculator
- Enter Attacker Info: Input your Pokémon’s Level, the Move’s Base Power, and the relevant final Attack or Special Attack stat.
- Check STAB: Tick the STAB box if your attacker’s type matches the move’s type for a 1.5x bonus.
- Enter Defender Info: Input the opposing Pokémon’s Max HP and the relevant defensive stat.
- Set Type Matchup: Use the dropdown to select the type effectiveness. For dual-types, multiply the effectiveness (e.g., a Fire move vs. a Grass/Poison type is 2 * 1 = 2x effective).
- Calculate: Click the “Calculate Damage” button to see the results.
- Interpret Results: The primary result shows the percentage range of the defender’s HP that will be lost. The chart and intermediate results provide more detail.
Key Factors That Affect Damage Calculations
- STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus): A 1.5x damage multiplier if the move type matches the user’s type. This is a fundamental aspect of any smogon calculator.
- Type Effectiveness: Moves can be super effective (2x or 4x damage) or not very effective (0.5x or 0.25x damage). See our pokemon type chart for details.
- Abilities: Many abilities like Guts, Sheer Force, or Tinted Lens can drastically alter damage output.
- Held Items: Items like Choice Band, Life Orb, or Expert Belt provide significant damage boosts.
- Critical Hits: A critical hit typically ignores the attacker’s negative stat changes and the defender’s positive stat changes, and deals 1.5x damage.
- Field Effects: Weather (Sun, Rain) and Terrains (Electric, Grassy) can boost or reduce the power of certain move types.
- EVs and Natures: The foundation of competitive Pokémon. Properly distributed Effort Values (EVs) and a beneficial Nature are required to achieve the high stats used in these calculations. A guide on ev training guide can be very helpful.
- Base Stats: Every Pokémon species has unique base stats that determine their potential. You can find these in a pokemon base stats list.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A: The Pokémon damage formula includes a random multiplier that varies from 85% to 100% of the calculated total. A smogon calculator shows this full range to represent all possible outcomes.
A: For most competitive formats on simulators like Pokémon Showdown, Level 100 is standard. For official Video Game Championships (VGC), Pokémon are set to Level 50.
A: These are acronyms for “One-Hit KO,” “Two-Hit KO,” and so on. They describe how many hits of a specific move it takes to knock out an opponent. Calcing helps determine if you can achieve a OHKO.
A: This is a simplified calculator that focuses on the core formula. The full, official Smogon calculator and other advanced tools incorporate hundreds of abilities, items, and unique move effects.
A: The easiest way is to use a team builder on Pokémon Showdown, which calculates final stats based on base stats, EVs, IVs, and Nature.
A: Usually, yes. However, the ability Adaptability increases the STAB modifier from 1.5x to 2x.
A: You must multiply the effectiveness of the move against both of the defender’s types. For example, an Ice-type move (2x effective) against a Dragon/Flying type (also 2x effective) results in a 4x multiplier.
A: Smogon is the German name for the Pokémon Koffing. The founder of the site chose it, and it has since become synonymous with the competitive Pokémon scene.