The Physical/Special Split Explained for Pokemon ROM Hacks
Updated October 20, 2026 · 5 minutes
Overview
If you read Pokemon ROM hack feature lists, you will see 'physical/special split' (often 'P/S split') everywhere. It is one of the most important changes a Gen 1-3 hack can make, and it completely changes which Pokemon are good. This guide explains what it means, why the original games did not have it and how to tell whether your hack uses it.
In short: in Generations 1 to 3, whether a move was physical or special depended only on its type. From Generation 4 onward, each move has its own category. Many GBA and GBC hacks port that later system back into older engines — and some deliberately keep the old one.
Step by Step
Understand the old type-based system
In Gen 1-3, every move of a physical type used Attack and Defense, and every move of a special type used Special Attack and Special Defense. Normal, Fighting, Flying, Poison, Ground, Rock, Bug, Ghost and Steel were physical; Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Psychic, Ice, Dragon and Dark were special. So Fire Punch was special, and Shadow Ball was physical — no matter which Pokemon used them.
See who suffered under the old system
Some Pokemon were stuck with stats that did not match their types. Gyarados has huge Attack but its Water STAB used Special Attack. Gengar has high Special Attack but its Ghost STAB was physical. Sneasel, Houndoom and other Dark types were also hurt, because Dark was a special type.
Learn how the split works
Starting with Diamond and Pearl, each move is assigned its own category. Fire Punch, Waterfall and Crunch are physical; Flamethrower, Surf and Dark Pulse are special. Pokemon can finally use STAB moves that fit their stats, which is why many Gen 1-3 species become stronger in hacks with the split.
Check whether your hack has it
Look at the hack's feature list or documentation. Modern GBA hacks built on CFRU or pokeemerald-expansion — such as Radical Red, Unbound and Emerald Imperium — use it by default. Older hacks such as Adventure Red Chapter and Dark Violet added it as a headline feature. In-game, a quick test is to check whether a move like Fire Punch hits harder from a high-Attack Pokemon.
Know the hacks that keep the old system
Some hacks stay faithful on purpose. Crystal Legacy keeps Gen 2's type-based system, only making Dark physical and Ghost special. R.O.W.E. lets you turn the split off with an in-game mode for a classic feel. Some older hacks even have later edits whose main purpose is adding the split, such as Light Platinum Plus.
Adapt your team building
With the split, judge a Pokemon by its stats and its movepool, not just its types. Physical attackers want moves like Waterfall or Crunch; special attackers want Surf or Dark Pulse. Without the split, plan around types: a high-Attack Water type is a poor attacker unless it has strong Normal or Ground coverage.
Quick Comparison
- Without the split (Gen 1-3 vanilla): category depends on type. Simple to learn, but many Pokemon cannot use their STAB well.
- With the split (Gen 4+ and most modern hacks): category depends on the move. More strategic, and many older Pokemon become viable.
Neither is 'wrong'. Hacks that keep the old system often do it to preserve the original game's identity, while hacks with the split aim for modern competitive depth.
Related Guides
Planning a challenge run? See how to Nuzlocke a ROM hack, or browse hacks like Radical Red, nearly all of which use the split.
FAQ
What is the physical/special split in Pokemon?
It is the Gen 4 change that gives each move its own damage category, instead of deciding physical or special by the move's type.
Does FireRed have the physical/special split?
No. Vanilla FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald use the type-based system. Many FireRed and Emerald hacks add the split.
Does Radical Red have the physical/special split?
Yes. Like most modern GBA hacks, it uses modern move categories.
Is Ghost physical or special in Gen 3?
Physical. Under the old system, Ghost and Bug were physical types, while Dark was special.
Can I turn the physical/special split off in a hack?
Only if the hack supports it. R.O.W.E., for example, has an in-game mode that removes the split.