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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
ProspectusDate rr_ProspectusDate Nov. 30, 2011
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return, Heading rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Investment Objective, Heading rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
investment Objective, Primary rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock 
Morgan Stanley Global Strategist Fund seeks to maximize the total return on
its investments.
Expense, Heading rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense, Narrative rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock 
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and
your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the
Morgan Stanley Funds. More information about these and other discounts is
available from your financial adviser and in the "Share Class Arrangements"
section beginning on page 26 of this Prospectus and in the "Purchase,
Redemption and Pricing of Shares" section beginning on page 53 of the Fund's
Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").
Shareholder Fees, Caption rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses, Caption rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover, Heading rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock 
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's
performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover
rate was 123% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 123.00%
Expense Breakpoint, Discounts rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Morgan Stanley Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required Amount rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount 25,000
Expense Example, Heading rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example, Narrative rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock 
The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a
5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same (except
for the ten-year amounts for Class B shares which reflect the conversion to
Class A shares eight years after the end of the calendar month in which shares
were purchased). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, By Year, Caption rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption If You SOLD Your Shares:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption If You HELD Your Shares:
Investment Strategy, Heading rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Investment Strategy, Narrative rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock 
The Fund's Adviser, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., seeks to achieve
the Fund's investment objective by investing primarily in a blend of equity and
fixed-income securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers. Equity securities may
include common and preferred stocks, depositary receipts, convertible securities,
equity-linked securities, real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), and rights
and warrants to purchase equity securities. Fixed income securities may include
mortgage-related or mortgage-backed securities, floating rate securities,
inflation-linked fixed income securities, securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, securities issued or guaranteed
by non-U.S. governments, their agencies, or instrumentalities, corporate bonds
and notes issued by U.S. and non-U.S. entities.

The Adviser will utilize a top-down investment approach that focuses on asset
class, sector, region, country, and currency selection. The portfolio's
allocations will be based upon the Adviser's evaluations and analyses, taking
into account results of its fundamental market research and recommendations
generated by the Adviser's quantitative models. Investment decisions will be
made without regard to any particular allocation as to geographical location,
sector, credit rating, maturity, currency denomination or market capitalization.
The Fund may invest in any country, including developing or emerging market
countries. The Fund's investments may be U.S. and non-U.S. dollar denominated.

The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in below investment grade fixed
income securities. The Fund may also invest in restricted and illiquid
securities. The Fund may, but is not required to, use derivative instruments for
a variety of purposes, including hedging, risk management, portfolio management
or to earn income. The Fund's use of derivatives may involve the purchase and
sale of derivative instruments such as options, futures, swaps, structured
investments (including commodity-linked notes) and other related instruments and
techniques. The Fund may also invest in forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, which are also derivatives, in connection with its investments in
foreign securities.

The mortgage-backed securities in which the Fund may invest include mortgage
pass-through securities which represent a participation interest in a pool of
mortgage loans originated by U.S. governmental or private lenders such as banks.
Risk, Heading rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks
Risk, Narrative rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock 
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and
you can lose money investing in this Fund. The principal risks of investing in
the Fund include:

• Common Stock and Other Equity Securities. In general, stock and other equity
security values fluctuate, and sometimes widely fluctuate, in response to
activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and
political conditions. Investments in convertible securities subject the Fund to
the risks associated with both fixed-income securities, including credit risk
and interest rate risk, and common stocks.

• Fixed-Income Securities. All fixed-income securities are subject to two types
of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the
possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest
payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Certain of the Fund's
investments may have speculative characteristics. Interest rate risk refers to
fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in
the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates
goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general
level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income securities go
up. Because the Fund is not limited as to the maturities of the fixed-income
securities in which it may invest, a rise in the general level of interest rates
may cause the price of the Fund's portfolio securities to fall substantially. In
addition, a portion of the Fund's securities may be rated below investment
grade, commonly known as "junk bonds," and may have speculative risk
characteristics.

• Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-backed securities entail prepayment risk,
which generally increases during a period of falling interest rates. Certain
mortgage-backed securities may be more volatile and less liquid than other
traditional types of debt securities. In addition, an unexpectedly high rate of
defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value
of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to the Fund. The risk
of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include
subprime mortgages.

• REITs. REITs are susceptible to risks associated with the ownership of real
estate and the real estate industry in general. In addition, REITs depend on
specialized management skills, may not be diversified, may have less trading
volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the
overall securities market. Investments in REITs may involve duplication of
management fees and certain other expenses.

• Foreign and Emerging Market Securities. Investments in foreign markets entail
special risks such as currency, political, economic and market risks. There also
may be greater market volatility, less reliable financial information, higher
transaction and custody costs, decreased market liquidity and less government
and exchange regulation associated with investments in foreign markets. The
risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than risks
associated with investments in foreign developed countries. Hedging the Fund's
currency risks through forward foreign currency exchange contracts involves the
risk of mismatching the Fund's objectives under a forward foreign currency
exchange contract with the value of securities denominated in a particular
currency. There is additional risk that such transactions reduce or preclude the
opportunity for gain and that currency contracts create exposure to currencies
in which the Fund's securities are not denominated.

• U.S. Government Securities. With respect to U.S. government securities that
are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, there is the
risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to such U.S.
government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not
obligated to do so by law.

• Liquidity Risk. The Fund's investments in restricted and illiquid securities
may entail greater risk than investments in publicly traded securities. These
securities may be more difficult to sell, particularly in times of market
turmoil. Illiquid securities may be more difficult to value. If the Fund is
forced to sell an illiquid security to fund redemptions or for other cash needs,
it may be forced to sell the security at a loss.

• Derivatives. A derivative instrument often has risks similar to its underlying
instrument and may have additional risks, including imperfect correlation
between the value of the derivative and the underlying instrument, risks of
default by the other party to certain transactions, magnification of losses
incurred due to changes in the market value of the securities, instruments,
indices or interest rates to which they relate, and risks that the transactions
may not be liquid. Certain derivative transactions may give rise to a form of
leverage. Leverage magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss.

Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by
the FDIC or any other government agency.
Risk, Lose Money rr_RiskLoseMoney There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you can lose money investing in this Fund.
Risk, Not Insured Depository Institution rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table, Heading rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Past Performance
Performance, Narrative rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock 
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing
in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's Class B shares' performance from
year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the one,
five and 10 year periods compared with those of broad measures of market
performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds,
over time. The performance of the other Classes will differ because the Classes
have different ongoing fees. The performance information in the bar chart does
not reflect the deduction of sales charges; if these amounts were reflected,
returns would be less than shown. The Fund's returns in the table include the
maximum applicable sales charge for each Class and assume you sold your shares
at the end of each period (unless otherwise noted). The Fund's past performance
(before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the
future. Updated performance information is available online at
www.morganstanley.com/im or by calling toll-free (800)869-NEWS.
Performance, Information Illustrates Variability of Returns rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's Class B shares' performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods compared with those of broad measures of market performance, as well as an index that represents a group of similar mutual funds, over time.
Performance, Availability Phone Number rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (800) 869-NEWS.
Performance, Availability Website Address rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.morganstanley.com
Performance, Past Does Not Indicate Future rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart, Heading rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns-Calendar Years
Bar Chart, Does Not Reflect Sales Loads rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The performance information in the bar chart does not reflect the deduction of sales charges; if these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than shown.
Bar Chart, Closing rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock 
The year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2011 was -9.23%.

Best Quarter (ended June 30, 2003) : 13.80%

Worst Quarter (ended September 30, 2002) : -12.84%
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
Performance Table, Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table, Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table, Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax returns due to foreign tax credits and/or an assumed benefit from capital losses that would have been realized had Fund shares been sold at the end of the relevant periods, as applicable.
Performance Table, Closing rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock 
The after-tax returns shown in the table above are calculated using the
historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates during the
period shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax
returns for the Fund's other Classes will vary from the Class B shares' returns.
Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ
from those shown, and after-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold
their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or
individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns may be higher than before-tax
returns due to foreign tax credits and/or an assumed benefit from capital losses
that would have been realized had Fund shares been sold at the end of the
relevant periods, as applicable.
Average Annual Returns, Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2010
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund (Prospectus Summary) | Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Class B
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel The year-to-date total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn (9.23%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2003
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 13.80%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2002
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (12.84%)
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | MSCI All Country World Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel MSCI All Country World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [1]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.67%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.44%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.20%
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Barclays Capital U.S. Government/ Credit Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Barclays Capital U.S. Government/ Credit Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [2]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.59%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.56%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.83%
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Lipper Global Flexible Portfolio Funds Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Lipper Global Flexible Portfolio Funds Index (reflects no deduction for taxes) [3]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.92%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.19%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.94%
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Lipper Flexible Portfolio Funds Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Lipper Flexible Portfolio Funds Index (reflects no deduction for taxes) [4]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.91%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.75%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.64%
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.25% [5]
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none [6]
Advisory fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.42%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.98%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 620
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 821
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,038
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,663
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 620
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 821
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,038
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,663
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class A: Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 4.72%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.47%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.96%
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Class B
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 5.00% [7]
Advisory fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.42%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.73%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 676
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 845
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,139
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,842
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 176
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 545
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 939
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,842
Annual Return 2001 rr_AnnualReturn2001 (11.06%)
Annual Return 2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 (16.14%)
Annual Return 2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 24.65%
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 9.14%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 6.99%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 13.83%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 7.39%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (24.26%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 18.69%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 9.75%
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class B: Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 5.07%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.52%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.88% [8]
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Class B | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class B: Return After Taxes on Distributions [9]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.45%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.38%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.16% [8]
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Class B | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class B: Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.25%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 2.87%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.32% [8]
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Class C
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00% [7]
Advisory fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.42%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.73%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 276
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 545
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 939
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,041
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 176
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 545
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 939
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,041
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class C: Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 8.84%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 3.84%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.75%
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Class I
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Advisory fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.42%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.73%
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 75
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 233
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 406
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 906
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 75
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 233
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 406
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 906
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class I: Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 10.86%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.85%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.76%
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Class R
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Advisory fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.42%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.50%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.23% [10]
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 125
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 390
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 676
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,489
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 125
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 390
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 676
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,489
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class R: Return Before Taxes [11]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01   
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05   
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund | Class W
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at redemption) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Advisory fee rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.42%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.35%
Other expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Total annual Fund operating expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.08% [10]
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 110
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 343
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 595
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,317
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 110
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 343
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 595
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,317
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Class W : Return Before Taxes [11]
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01   
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05   
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10   
[1] The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country World Index (ACWI) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets. The term "free float" represents the portion of shares outstanding that are deemed to be available for purchase in the public equity markets by investors. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[2] The Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Index tracks the performance of government and corporate obligations, including U.S. government agency and Treasury securities and corporate and Yankee bonds. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
[3] The Lipper Global Flexible Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Global Flexible Funds classification. The Index, which is adjusted for capital gains distributions and income dividends, is unmanaged and should not be considered an investment. There are currently 30 funds represented in this Index. The Fund was in the Lipper Flexible Portfolio Funds classification as of December 31, 2010, however, it is in the Lipper Global Flexible Funds classification as of the date of this Prospectus.
[4] The Lipper Flexible Portfolio Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Flexible Portfolio Funds classification. There are currently 30 funds represented in this Index.
[5] Reduced for purchases of $25,000 and over.
[6] Investments that are not subject to any sales charges at the time of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.00% that will be imposed if you sell your shares within 18 months after purchase, except for certain specific circumstances.
[7] The Class B CDSC is scaled down to 1.00% during the sixth year, reaching zero thereafter and the Class C CDSC is only applicable if you sell your shares within one year after purchase. See "Share Class Arrangements" for a complete discussion of the CDSC.
[8] Effective April 2005, Class B shares will generally convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after the end of the calendar month in which the shares were purchased. The "Past 10 Years" performance for Class B shares reflects this conversion.
[9] These returns do not reflect any tax consequences from a sale of your shares at the end of each period, but they do reflect any applicable sales charges on such a sale.
[10] As of the date of the Prospectus, Class R and Class W shares were not operational. The expense information shown is that of Class I and includes the distribution and shareholder services fees of 0.50% in the case of Class R shares and 0.35% in the case of Class W shares.
[11] Class R and Class W had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus and therefore do not have return information to report. Return information for the Fund's Class R and Class W shares will be shown in the Average Annual Total Returns table in future prospectuses offering the Fund's Class R and Class W shares after the Fund's Class R and Class W shares have return information for a full calendar year to report.