Can You Protect Against Skill Swap? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you can protect against Skill Swap in Pokémon, although not in the most straightforward way. The move Protect itself does not block Skill Swap, as Skill Swap isn’t considered a damaging move. However, the effectiveness of Skill Swap, and how you can “protect” against it, is far more nuanced than that. The core of this lies in understanding how Skill Swap interacts with abilities, specific Pokémon, and other moves. Let’s dive into the details.

Understanding Skill Swap Mechanics

Skill Swap is a non-damaging move that exchanges the abilities of the user and the target. It’s crucial to understand that Skill Swap isn’t directly blocked by Protect, unlike attacking moves. If a Pokémon uses Skill Swap on a target that’s also using Protect, the Skill Swap will still occur. The user and target swap abilities.

Abilities That Block Skill Swap

There are specific abilities that prevent a Pokémon from being affected by Skill Swap. These can be considered a form of protection, as they nullify the move entirely. Here’s a list of abilities that render Skill Swap ineffective:

• Wonder Guard: This is the signature ability of Shedinja and is programmed specifically to prevent Skill Swapping.
• Multitype: The ability exclusive to Arceus, preventing any ability change.
• Illusion: This is the ability of Zoroark and Zorua and also prevents ability swapping.
• Stance Change: The ability of Aegislash also locks out ability swaps.
• Schooling: This ability belongs to Wishiwashi and prevents skill swap.
• Comatose: The exclusive ability of Komala.
• Shields Down: Minior’s ability, preventing changes.
• Disguise: The ability of Mimikyu cannot be swapped.
• RKS System: Silvally’s ability is also untouchable by Skill Swap.
• Battle Bond: Greninja’s ability, and only activate when using the move water shuriken.
• Power Construct: Zygarde’s ability preventing it from being swapped.
• Ice Face: Eiscue’s ability locks out skill swaps.
• Gulp Missile: The ability of Cramorant, locking it to this ability.
• Neutralizing Gas: Galarian Weezing’s ability also prevents this.
• Zero to Hero: The ability of Palafin cannot be swapped with this.
• Commander: The exclusive ability of Tatsugiri.
• Protosynthesis: The exclusive ability of Paradox Pokémon (Scarlet Exclusives) in sun.
• Quark Drive: The exclusive ability of Paradox Pokémon (Violet Exclusives) in electric terrain.
• Orichalcum Pulse: The ability of Koraidon, cannot be swapped out.
• Hadron Engine: The exclusive ability of Miraidon.

These abilities are programmed to reject any attempt to Skill Swap, thus, effectively providing a form of passive protection against the move.

How Switching Out Affects Skill Swap

Another key aspect to consider when “protecting” against Skill Swap is the impact of switching out. Once the ability has been Skill Swapped if either the user or the target is switched out, they will regain their original Ability. This provides a way to reset ability changes. It’s not a direct protection during a turn, but a way to undo the effects of Skill Swap.

Other Forms of Indirect Protection

While Protect doesn’t block Skill Swap, there are other moves and strategies that can “protect” against the move indirectly. These tactics don’t stop the move from connecting, but they can make it less impactful or even beneficial for the target. For example:

• Abilities that activate after being Skill Swapped: Some abilities, like Trace, Power of Alchemy or Receiver, copy the ability after Skill Swap has been used. Thus, the target will get the user’s original ability back, as well.
• Using Skill Swap offensively: Instead of defending against it, consider using it offensively. Skill Swapping a harmful ability onto your opponent (like Truant from Slaking) can be a powerful way to cripple them.
• Strategic team building: Consider creating a team that benefits from a specific ability to counter skill swapping.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Skill Swap work on Shedinja?

No, Skill Swap does not work on Shedinja. Wonder Guard, Shedinja’s only ability, is programmed to prevent any attempts to skill swap it, which makes it a reliable defensive choice against the move.

2. Can Shedinja be made invincible with Skill Swap?

While it might seem like a strategy, it is not possible to make Shedinja invincible through Skill Swap in combination with Sturdy, since no Sturdy Pokemon learns skill swap. However, a pokemon with sturdy can swap with a intermediate pokemon to give sturdy to a different pokemon and skill swap that to shedinja. This still leaves shedinja with a weakness.

3. Can Struggle damage affect Shedinja?

Yes, Struggle will affect Shedinja, both through direct damage and recoil. Additionally, other forms of indirect damage like Poison, Burn, and confusion can also defeat Shedinja.

4. Can Slaking use Skill Swap?

Yes, Slaking can use Skill Swap. This is often used to remove Slaking’s ability Truant, which makes Slaking a very powerful competitive pokemon.

5. Is Skill Swap’s effect permanent?

Skill Swap’s effects are not permanent; they last as long as the pokemon affected remains in battle. If either the user or target is switched out, they will regain their original abilities.

6. Does Skill Swap work on Slow Start?

Yes, Skill Swap works on Slow Start. If you swap away the slow start ability, the pokemon will return to its normal state.

7. How does Skill Swap interact with Huge Power?

Skill swapping Huge Power will not double the attack of the swapped user, but instead increase by 50% (1.5x).

8. Can you Skill Swap Zero to Hero?

No, you cannot Skill Swap Zero to Hero. This ability is one of the abilities that prevents Skill Swap entirely.

9. Can Prankster Pokémon use Skill Swap?

Yes, a select few, like Meowstic and Mega Banette can learn and utilize Skill Swap with Prankster.

10. Does Skill Swap work on Palafin?

No, Skill Swap does not work on Palafin because of its ability Zero to Hero.

11. How does switching skills relate to Skill Swap in Pokémon?

The term “switch skill swap” refers to a gameplay mechanic in other games, not Pokémon, where you can change currently equipped skills.

12. Is using swap memory bad for my computer?

No, using swap memory is not inherently bad for your computer. It is simply an extension of your computer’s RAM.

13. How can I permanently remove swap?

You can remove a swap file by using the command swapoff /swapfile, and then removing the corresponding line in /etc/fstab and removing the file itself with rm /swapfile.

14. Why is Slaking so good?

Slaking possesses incredible base stats, especially in attack. Its ability, Truant, limits it drastically, however, through skill swapping, its ability can be changed.

15. Why does Slaking do no damage with Yawn?

Slaking has a fast move called Yawn, which does zero damage but builds energy for its charge move.

Conclusion

While the move Protect does not directly block Skill Swap, the multitude of abilities that resist it and the mechanic of switching out provide strategic ways to “protect” against it. By understanding these mechanics and related moves, you can effectively manage and counter Skill Swap in your Pokémon battles. Remember that skill swap, like any competitive move, has its counter plays.