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List of Protecting Moves

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Pokemon Sword and Shield Protection Moves.png

This is a list of all protecting moves in Pokemon Sword and Shield, Isle of Armor, and the Crown Tundra DLC. Read on to learn more about these moves and their effects in battle.

List of Contents

List of Protecting Moves

Move Type Effect
Baneful Bunker Pokemon Poison Image In addition to protecting the user from attacks, this move also poisons any attacker that makes direct contact
Crafty Shield Pokemon Fairy Image Protects the user and its allies from status moves with a mysterious power. This does not stop moves that do damage.
Detect Pokemon Fighting Image This move enables the user to protect itself from all attacks. Its chance of failing rises if it is used in succession.
King's Shield Pokemon Steel Image The user takes a defensive stance while it protects itself from damage. It also harshly lowers the Attack stat of any attacker who makes direct contact.
Mat Block Pokemon Fighting Image Using a pulled-up mat as a shield, the user protects itself and its allies from damaging moves. This does not stop status moves.
Max Guard Pokemon Normal Image This move enables the user to protect itself from all attacks. Its chance of failing rises if it is used in succession.
Obstruct Pokemon Dark Image This move enables the user to protect itself from all attacks. Its chance of failing rises if it is used in succession. Direct contact harshly lowers the attacker's Defense stat.
Protect Pokemon Normal Image This move enables the user to protect itself from all attacks. Its chance of failing rises if it is used in succession.
Quick Guard Pokemon Fighting Image The user protects itself and its allies from priority moves.
Spiky Shield Pokemon Grass Image In adddition to protecting the user from attacks, this move also damages any attacker who makes direct contact.
Substitute Pokemon Normal Image The user creates a substitute for itself using some of its HP. The substitute serves as the user's decoy.
Wide Guard Pokemon Rock Image The user and its allies are protected from wide-ranging attacks for one turn.

What are Protection Moves

Protect.png
Protection moves are moves that protect the user from damage and other effects during battle. The more a user uses a protection move in succession, the higher the chance for it to fail. However, this does not protect the user from effects of status conditions or from weather effects.

Moves that Bypass Protection Moves

Move Type Effect
Acupressure Pokemon Normal Image The user applies pressure to stress points, sharply boosting one of its or its allies' stats.
Aromatic Mist Pokemon Fairy Image The user raises the Sp. Def stat of an ally Pokémon by using a mysterious aroma.
Block Pokemon Normal Image The user blocks the target's way with arms spread wide to prevent escape.
Confide Pokemon Normal Image The user tells the target a secret, and the target loses its ability to concentrate. This lowers the target's Special Attack stat.
Conversion 2 Pokemon Normal Image The user changes its type to make itself resistant to the type of the attack the target used last.
Curse Pokemon Ghost Image A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all other types.
Decorate Pokemon Fairy Image The user sharply raises the target's Attack and Sp. Atk stats by decorating the target.
Doom Desire Pokemon Steel Image Two turns after this move is used, a concentrated bundle of light blasts the target.
Feint Pokemon Normal Image This attack hits a target using a move such as Protect of Detect. This also lifts the effects of those moves
Flower Shield Pokemon Fairy Image The user raises the Defense stat of all Grass-type Pokemon in battle with a mysterious power
Future Sight Pokemon Psychic Image Two turns after this move is used, a hunk of psychic energy attacks the target
Hold Hands Pokemon Normal Image The user and a aliy hold hands. This makes them very happy.
Hyperspace Fury Pokemon Dark Image Using its many arms, the user unleashes a barrage of attacks that ignore the effects of move like Protect and Detect. But the user's Defense stat falls.
Hyperspace Hole Pokemon Psychic Image Using a hyperspace hole, user appears rght next to the target and strikes. This also hits a target using a move such as Protect or Detect.
Mean Look Pokemon Normal Image The use pins the target with a dark, arresting look. The target becomes unable to flee.
Perish Song Pokemon Normal Image Any Pokmeon that hears this song faints in three turns, unless it switches out of battle.
Phantom Force Pokemon Ghost Image The user vanishes somewhere, then strikes the target on the next turn. This move hits even of the target protects itself.
Play Nice Pokemon Normal Image The user and the target become friends, and the target loses its will to fight. This lowers the target's Attak stat.
Psych Up Pokemon Normal Image The user hypnotizes itself into copying any stat change made by the target.
Roar Pokemon Normal Image The target is scared off, and a different Poemon is dragged out. In the wild, this ends a battle against a single Pokemon.
Role Play Pokemon Psychic Image The user mimics the target completely, copying the target's natural Ability.
Shadow Force Pokemon Ghost Image The user disappears, then strikes the target on the next turn. This move hits even if the target protects itself.
Sketch Pokemon Normal Image It enables the user to permanently learn the move last used by the target. Once used, Sketch disappears.
Tearful Look Pokemon Normal Image The user gets teary eyed to make the target lose its combative spirit. This lowers the target's Attack and Sp. Atk stat.
Teatime Pokemon Normal Image The user has teatime with all the Pokémon in the battle. Each Pokémon eats its held Berry.
Transform Pokemon Normal Image The user transforms into a copy of target right down to having the same move set.
Whirlwind Pokemon Normal Image The target is blown away, and a different Pokémon is dragged out. In the wild, this ends a battle against a single Pokémon.

Using Max and Gigantamax Moves

Dynamax2

Using Max and Gigantamax moves bypass protection moves, but still deal 25% of their damage

Abilities that Bypass Protection Moves

Unseen Fist.png

Ability Effect
Unseen Fist The user disappears, then strikes the target on the next turn. This move hits even if the target protects itself.

Substitute and Sound-Based Moves

When using Substitute, sound-based moves such as Hyper Voice and Boom Burst will bypass the substitute and deal direct damage to the target.

Related Links

List of Moves
List of All New Moves (Crown Tundra Updated)
Moves by Type
FireFire WaterWater GrassGrass
ElectricElectric IceIce FightingFighting
PoisonPoison GroundGround FlyingFlying
PsychicPsychic BugBug RockRock
GhostGhost DragonDragon DarkDark
SteelSteel FairyFairy NormalNormal
Moves by Category
Physical Special Status
Dynamax Moves
Max Moves G-Max Moves
Moves by Effects
Stat-Boosting Moves Stat-Reducing Moves Status-Inflicting Moves
Moves that Never Miss Moves that Set Entry Hazards Moves that Ignore Abilities
High-Critical Hit Moves Moves that Change Weather Moves that Change Terrain
Multi-Target Moves Moves that Restore HP Redirection Moves
Multi-Hit Moves One-Hit Knockout Moves Trapping Moves
Moves that Make Contact Moves that Do Not Make Contact Moves that Block Attacks
Status Restoring Moves Moves that Forces a Switch Sound-Based Moves
List of Priority Moves

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