Does Destiny Bond Work on Wonder Guard? The Definitive Answer

The short answer is yes, Destiny Bond does work on a Pokémon with the Wonder Guard ability, specifically Shedinja. However, the interaction isn’t as straightforward as you might initially think, and understanding the nuances is crucial for effective strategy. Destiny Bond doesn’t directly damage the target, therefore Wonder Guard is irrelevant.

Understanding the Mechanics

To fully grasp why Destiny Bond works against Wonder Guard, we need to break down the mechanics of each:

• Wonder Guard: This ability, exclusive to Shedinja, only allows damage from super-effective attacks. All other direct attacks do absolutely nothing. This sounds incredibly powerful, and it is, but it comes with a significant drawback: Shedinja only has 1 HP.

• Destiny Bond: This is a non-damaging move. When used, if the user faints due to an opponent’s attack on the same turn or the immediate subsequent turn, the attacking Pokémon also faints. Crucially, Destiny Bond doesn’t deal direct damage. It applies a state, or flag, that triggers under certain conditions.

Why It Works

Wonder Guard only prevents damage from direct attacks. Destiny Bond doesn’t fall into this category. It’s an indirect effect. It sets up a condition where if the user is knocked out by a direct attack while the effect is active, the attacking Pokemon also gets knocked out. Because it bypasses damage, it ignores Wonder Guard. The condition of faint from damage applies even if the damage is blocked initially by Wonder Guard.

Strategic Implications

This interaction has several strategic implications in battles:

• Shedinja as a Revenge Killer: Destiny Bond turns Shedinja into a potent revenge killer. If you predict an opponent will attack Shedinja, using Destiny Bond can ensure they go down with it, even if their attack is a resisted one.

• Mind Games: The threat of Destiny Bond can force opponents to play cautiously, potentially allowing you to set up other strategies or switch to a more favorable Pokémon.

• Situational Use: Destiny Bond is best used when you’re confident Shedinja will be targeted and knocked out in the near future. Predicting opponent moves is key.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to Destiny Bond, Wonder Guard, and Shedinja, providing a more comprehensive understanding of their interactions and strategic applications:

1. Does Mold Breaker bypass Destiny Bond?

No. Mold Breaker only allows the attacker to ignore the target’s Abilities during damage calculation. Since Destiny Bond’s effect isn’t tied to damage calculation, Mold Breaker doesn’t prevent it from working. If a Mold Breaker Pokemon KOs Shedinja with Destiny Bond active, it will also faint.

2. Does Destiny Bond work against multi-hit moves?

Yes, but with a caveat. If the first hit of a multi-hit move like Rock Blast or Bullet Seed knocks out the Destiny Bond user, the attacker will faint. However, if the Destiny Bond user survives the first hit and then faints from subsequent hits, Destiny Bond will not activate.

3. Does Destiny Bond work in a Double Battle if my ally KOs me?

No. In Double Battles, Destiny Bond only affects the opponents. If your ally accidentally (or intentionally) knocks out the Destiny Bond user, the effect won’t trigger on either of the opposing Pokémon.

4. What happens if both Pokémon use Destiny Bond against each other?

If both Pokémon use Destiny Bond and then knock each other out with a direct attack on the same turn, both Pokémon will faint. It’s a mutual KO scenario.

5. Does priority affect how Destiny Bond works?

Priority moves affect the order in which moves are executed, but they don’t change how Destiny Bond functions. If you use Destiny Bond and then get knocked out by a priority attack before your next turn, the attacker will faint.

6. Can Shedinja learn other moves to improve its survivability?

Yes, but its movepool is limited. Protect can stall for a turn, scout the opponent’s moves, and potentially allow Shedinja to survive status conditions being applied on it. Will-O-Wisp can cripple physical attackers.

7. What are some good strategies to counter Shedinja?

Aside from using super-effective moves or indirect damage, strategies include:

• Status Conditions: Poison, burn, and toxic all bypass Wonder Guard.
• Entry Hazards: Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes chip away at Shedinja’s HP upon entry.
• Mold Breaker/Teravolt/Turboblaze: These abilities ignore Wonder Guard, allowing any direct attack to hit.

8. Does Destiny Bond work if the opponent uses Self-Destruct or Explosion?

No. If the opponent uses Self-Destruct or Explosion and knocks out the Destiny Bond user, the opponent won’t faint because these moves have a built-in clause that prevents Destiny Bond from triggering.

9. If Shedinja holds a Focus Sash, does Destiny Bond still work?

Yes. If Shedinja is holding a Focus Sash and survives an attack with 1 HP, then it will be able to attack. If Shedinja uses Destiny Bond on its next turn and subsequently faints, the Pokemon that KO’d Shedinja will also faint.

10. Can you Skill Swap Wonder Guard onto another Pokémon?

No. Wonder Guard is a unique ability coded to be non-transferable. Skill Swap and similar moves will fail if used on a Shedinja.

11. What other moves can bypass Wonder Guard besides super-effective attacks and indirect damage?

A few specific moves bypass Wonder Guard, including Beat Up, Future Sight, and Doom Desire, even if they are not super-effective.

12. How does Destiny Bond interact with held items like Choice Scarf?

Choice Scarf boosts Speed, affecting move order, but it doesn’t change how Destiny Bond itself functions. If the Destiny Bond user outspeeds the opponent and then is KO’d on the next turn, Destiny Bond will trigger.

13. Is Shedinja the only Pokémon with the Bug/Ghost typing?

Yes. Shedinja is currently the only Pokémon with the unique Bug/Ghost type combination. This typing, combined with Wonder Guard, makes it a very niche and interesting Pokémon to use strategically.

14. How does Terastallizing affect Shedinja and Wonder Guard?

Terastallizing can change Shedinja’s typing, which in turn changes its weaknesses and resistances. This can dramatically alter which moves are super-effective and thus bypass Wonder Guard. Use this wisely.

15. Where can I learn more about Pokémon battling strategies and mechanics?

A great resource for learning about Pokémon battling and game mechanics is the Games Learning Society, which explores the educational aspects of gaming, including strategic thinking and problem-solving. You can visit their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. GamesLearningSociety.org provides valuable insights into how games can enhance learning and strategic skills.

Conclusion

Destiny Bond is a viable and strategically interesting move against Shedinja, despite the latter’s Wonder Guard ability. Understanding the nuances of these mechanics allows for more effective battling and clever counterplay. Remember to consider the broader strategic context and potential for mind games when utilizing Destiny Bond with or against Shedinja.