Pokemon Showdown relies entirely on a text-based command architecture to handle everything from casual matchmaking and private messages to automated tournament brackets and server moderation. Whether you're trying to execute rapid switches in a tight VGC match or run a community tournament, knowing the exact syntax of these commands saves precious seconds and prevents interface errors.
This guide details the essential chat, battle, administrative, and research commands used across Pokemon Showdown clients and servers. You'll learn how to navigate client rooms, manage private battles, execute custom rule sets, and troubleshoot common execution snags without wading through bloated menus.
Core Client and Navigation Commands
Before entering a battle, you'll spend your time in the lobby, chat rooms, and private messaging interfaces. Showdown processes these inputs instantly when prefixed with a forward slash.
Identity and Customization Commands
/nick [name]— Changes your active display name on the server. If the name is registered, the client prompts you for a password./avatar [number or name]— Updates your trainer sprite using either the internal sprite index or a specific character identifier./status [message]— Sets a custom status message visible to players inspecting your user profile./away— Automatically marks your account as inactive, halting incoming direct challenges until toggled off./back— Resets your status from away to active.
Room Navigation and Communication
/join [room]— Transports you directly to a specific public room, battle link, or tournament channel./leaveor/part— Exits your current chat room or spectators' view./rooms— Opens a directory listing active public rooms, official formats, and user counts./whois [username]— Displays a user's current global rank, active rooms, and authentication status./ignore [username]— Blocks all public chat messages and private whispers from a specific user.
For official platform documentation and client updates, check the Pokémon Showdown Client Repository.
In-Battle Action Syntax and Shortcuts
During an active match, clicking interface buttons works fine, but mastering shortcut syntax accelerates your play under timer pressure. Showdown maps actions directly to command structures behind the graphical buttons.
Core Move and Switch Inputs
/move [1-4](shortcut/m [1-4]) — Selects and executes the corresponding move slot from your active Pokémon's moveset./switch [1-6](shortcut/s [1-6]) — Switches your active Pokémon with a party member from your bench slots 1 through 6./megaor/terastallize— Triggers your Pokémon's mechanic transformation simultaneously with a move input. For instance, inputting a move alongside your transformation command ensures it fires on the same turn./zmove [1-4]— Activates a Z-Move on the designated move slot in compatible historical formats.
Timer and Concession Commands
/timer— Requests or activates the battle clock timer. If your opponent disconnects or stalls, using this forces a countdown for their remaining turns./forfeit— Concedes the current match immediately, awarding the win to your opponent and logging the rating change./tieor/draw— Offers a draw to your opponent in matches where mutual agreement rules apply.
Server Administration and Tournament Management
If you run a private server, moderate a public room, or organize community tournaments, you need administrative commands to control user access and bracket progression.
Moderation and Chat Control
/warn [username] [reason]— Issues an official, logged warning to a disruptive user./mute [username] [duration]— Silences a user for a set time (e.g.,7mfor minutes,1hfor hours)./roomauth— Lists all room drivers, moderators, and administrators assigned to the current channel./roomban [username]— Bars a user from entering a specific chat room./globalban [username]— Restricts a banned user from accessing any public room on the entire server instance.
Running Automated Tournaments
Showdown features a built-in tournament manager that handles seeding, round progression, and disconnections automatically.
/tournament create [format], [elimination type]— Sets up a bracket. Formats match standard tier names likegen9ouorgen9vgc2026regg, while elimination types includeeliminationorroundrobin./tournament start— Locks registration and generates the initial round pairings once all competitors have joined./tournament ban [pokemon/item]— Restricts specific elements from being used in the active tournament bracket./tournament forcejoin [username]— Adds a player manually if they encounter client connection blocks./tournament end— Cancels or concludes an active tournament prematurely.
To explore the broader ecosystem of competitive tiers governed by these rules, visit the Smogon Strategy Dex.
Format Customization and Research Commands
Researchers and league organizers often need to test custom rulesets or parse historical battle data. Showdown supports custom alterations via server configuration commands.
Custom Rules and Modifiers
Server operators and room founders can inject rule clauses into custom battles using specific tags:
[Mod] Flat Rules— Normalizes all Pokémon to Level 50, standardizing competitive damage calculations.[Clause] Sleep Clause Mod— Prevents players from putting more than one of the opponent's Pokémon to sleep simultaneously.[Clause] Moody Clause— Bans the ability Moody to prevent excessive RNG-based stat boosts.[Clause] Species Clause— Stops players from bringing duplicate Pokémon species onto the same team.
Replay Management and Data Extraction
/savereplay— Uploads the current or just-completed battle log to the public server database, generating a permanent URL for analysis./help— Brings up an interactive directory of all available server commands based on your current user rank.
For a deeper dive into the server-side code powering these features, review the Pokémon Showdown Server Engine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use shortcuts during a fast-paced battle?
You can type commands directly into the bottom chat box instead of clicking buttons. Typing /m 1 instantly selects your first move, saving milliseconds when the battle timer is ticking down.
Can I run a tournament without being a server administrator?
Yes. Most public servers allow trusted regular users or room drivers to start standard tournaments in designated side rooms using the /tournament create command.
Why does the /timer command sometimes fail?
The timer command can only be activated after the first turn has fully played out, or when an opponent has disconnected and their grace period timer begins counting down.
Where are my exported teams saved when I use import/export commands?
Teams exported via commands are copied directly to your system clipboard as packed text strings, allowing you to paste them into text files or share them with other players.
