Does Clear Smog Ever Miss? Unveiling the Truth Behind This Unique Pokémon Move

The short answer is no, Clear Smog does not miss under normal circumstances. It bypasses accuracy checks and will always hit its target, provided certain conditions are met. Let’s dive deeper into the intricacies of this move and explore its behavior in various situations.

Understanding Clear Smog: A Poison-Type Powerhouse

Clear Smog is a Poison-type move introduced in Generation V. What makes it special is not just its type or damage output but its unique effect: it removes all stat changes on the target, both positive and negative, before dealing damage. Think of it as an offensive Haze, targeted specifically at one opponent.

Why the “Always Hits” Claim?

The phrase “Clear Smog bypasses accuracy checks” is key. Traditional moves rely on accuracy and evasion stats to determine if they hit or miss. Clear Smog disregards these calculations, effectively guaranteeing a hit. This makes it incredibly reliable, particularly against opponents who rely on boosting their stats during battle.

Conditions that Prevent Clear Smog from Hitting

Despite its near-perfect accuracy, Clear Smog isn’t infallible. Several factors can still prevent it from landing:

• Type Immunity: Like any other move, Clear Smog won’t affect Pokémon with type immunities. For example, Steel-type Pokémon are immune to Poison-type moves, rendering Clear Smog useless against them.
• Semi-Invulnerable Turns: Moves like Dig and Fly involve a turn where the user is underground or in the air, effectively becoming invulnerable. Clear Smog cannot hit a Pokémon during these invulnerable phases.
• Protection Moves: Moves like Protect and Detect create a barrier that blocks all incoming attacks, including Clear Smog.
• Substitute: If the target has a Substitute active, Clear Smog will hit the Substitute instead, removing stat changes from it and dealing damage to it. The Pokémon behind the Substitute remains unaffected.
• Being Unaffected: Sometimes the game can register a situation where the opponent is considered unaffected.

The Strategic Implications of Clear Smog

Clear Smog’s guaranteed hit and stat-resetting effect make it a valuable tool in various battling scenarios:

• Raid Battles: While the anecdote in the intro highlights a failed raid, Clear Smog can still be useful for preventing an opponent from snowballing out of control with stat boosts, especially if you can time it well. However, be wary of the timing in relation to other allies’ actions.
• Competitive Battles: In competitive play, Clear Smog can shut down strategies that rely on stat boosting. It can be especially effective against teams that use moves like Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, or Calm Mind.
• Story Mode Battles: Even in the main story, Clear Smog can be helpful against opponents who use stat-boosting moves.

FAQs: Delving Deeper into Clear Smog

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the mechanics and applications of Clear Smog:

1. Does Clear Smog remove positive and negative stat changes?

Yes, Clear Smog removes all stat changes, regardless of whether they are positive (boosts) or negative (drops). It resets the target’s stats to their base values.

2. Is Clear Smog better than Haze?

It depends on the situation. Haze clears stat changes from all Pokémon on the field, including your own, and is blocked by Taunt. Clear Smog only affects the target, deals damage, isn’t blocked by Taunt, and isn’t affected by accuracy. Consider your team composition and strategy when choosing between the two.

3. Does Clear Smog remove status conditions like paralysis?

No, Clear Smog only removes stat changes. Status conditions like paralysis, burn, poison, sleep, and freeze are not affected.

4. Does Covert Cloak prevent Clear Smog from removing stat boosts?

No, Covert Cloak does not prevent Clear Smog from removing stat boosts. Clear Smog’s stat removal isn’t considered a secondary effect, so it bypasses the item’s protection. Neither does Clear Amulet

5. Can Clear Amulet block Clear Smog?

No, Clear Amulet only prevents stat drops inflicted by other Pokemon. It doesn’t protect against the stat-resetting effect of Clear Smog or Haze.

6. Can Clear Smog hit a Pokémon behind a Substitute?

Yes, Clear Smog can hit a Pokémon behind a Substitute, but it will hit and damage the Substitute itself and remove any stat changes from it rather than the Pokémon behind it.

7. What types are immune to Clear Smog?

Steel-type Pokémon are immune to Clear Smog because it is a Poison-type move.

8. How does Clear Smog interact with moves like Dig and Fly?

Clear Smog cannot hit a Pokémon during the semi-invulnerable turn of moves like Dig and Fly.

9. Is Clear Smog affected by Taunt?

No, Clear Smog is not affected by Taunt. Taunt only prevents the use of status moves, and Clear Smog is a damaging move.

10. Does Clear Smog work on Dynamax/Gigantamax Pokémon?

Yes, Clear Smog works on Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon. It removes any stat changes they have, just like with regular Pokémon.

11. How to learn Clear Smog?

Clear Smog can be learned through leveling up by certain Pokemon or by breeding by certain other Pokemon. Check individual Pokemon pages online to understand how they learn the move.

12. Is Clear Smog a good move?

Whether Clear Smog is a “good” move depends entirely on the context. In situations where stat boosts are prevalent, it can be a game-changer. However, its low base power and Poison typing limit its overall effectiveness.

13. Are there any abilities that block Clear Smog?

No, there are currently no abilities that directly block the stat-resetting effect of Clear Smog itself. However, abilities that grant immunity to Poison-type moves (like Steelworker) would indirectly block it by preventing the move from hitting.

14. Can Clear Smog be used in double battles to target an ally?

No, Clear Smog cannot target allies. It can only target opponents.

15. How does Clear Smog compare to other stat-resetting moves?

Compared to Haze (which affects all Pokémon) and moves that only remove specific stat boosts, Clear Smog offers a unique combination of offensive pressure and targeted stat removal, making it a niche but potentially powerful option.

Conclusion: The Calculated Certainty of Clear Smog

Clear Smog’s unique combination of guaranteed accuracy (under most circumstances) and stat-resetting effect makes it a valuable tool in the Pokémon battling landscape. While it’s not a universally powerful move, its reliability in shutting down stat-boosting strategies makes it a worthwhile consideration for any trainer looking for a tactical edge. Just remember its limitations regarding type immunities, invulnerable states, and protective moves, and you’ll be well-equipped to utilize Clear Smog to its full potential.

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