Can You Use Healing Moves With Assault Vest? A Comprehensive Guide
No, you cannot use healing moves while your Pokémon is holding an Assault Vest. The Assault Vest is a held item in the Pokémon games that significantly boosts a Pokémon’s Special Defense by 50%, but it comes with a crucial drawback: it prevents the holder from using any moves that don’t directly deal damage. Since healing moves like Recover, Wish, Heal Pulse, and Moonlight are classified as status moves and do not inflict direct damage, they are rendered unusable while the Assault Vest is equipped.
This limitation essentially subjects the Pokémon to a permanent Taunt effect, restricting it solely to attacking moves. Understanding this restriction is vital when building competitive teams and strategizing battles.
Understanding the Assault Vest: A Deep Dive
The Assault Vest serves as a powerful tool for enhancing a Pokémon’s ability to withstand special attacks, making it a popular choice for Pokémon that already possess decent natural Special Defense or those that require an extra layer of protection. However, its restriction on non-damaging moves dramatically changes the Pokémon’s role and capabilities within a team.
Benefits and Drawbacks
- Benefit: The primary advantage of the Assault Vest is the substantial 50% increase to the holder’s Special Defense. This can transform a Pokémon with moderate Special Defense into a formidable special wall, capable of absorbing significant damage from powerful special attackers.
- Drawback: The major drawback, and the focus of this article, is the inability to use any non-damaging moves. This includes not only healing moves, but also stat-boosting moves, status condition inflictors, and utility moves like Protect, Detect, Trick Room, and Haze.
Strategic Implications
The Assault Vest is best suited for Pokémon that are primarily offensive or serve as offensive pivots. These Pokémon can take advantage of the boosted Special Defense to switch into special attacks more safely and then retaliate with powerful attacking moves. Pokémon that heavily rely on status moves, set-up moves, or healing will find the Assault Vest to be a significant hindrance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly constitutes a “healing move” that is blocked by Assault Vest?
Any move whose primary function is to restore the user’s or an ally’s HP is considered a healing move and cannot be used with the Assault Vest. This includes, but is not limited to, moves like Recover, Wish, Soft-Boiled, Moonlight, Synthesis, Morning Sun, Heal Pulse, Slack Off, and Roost.
2. Can I use moves that indirectly heal, like Giga Drain, with Assault Vest?
Yes, you can. Moves like Giga Drain, Leech Life, and Drain Punch are attacking moves that also restore HP as a secondary effect. Since they primarily deal damage, they are perfectly usable with the Assault Vest.
3. What happens if I try to use a healing move while holding Assault Vest?
The game will prevent you from selecting the move. A message will appear indicating that the Assault Vest prevents you from using status moves. You will then be forced to choose a different move that deals direct damage.
4. Does Assault Vest prevent me from using Z-Moves?
If the Z-Move is based on a status move, such as Z-Celebrate, then yes, you cannot use it while holding the Assault Vest. However, Z-Moves based on attacking moves are still usable, even though they may have secondary effects like stat boosts.
5. Can I use Rest with Assault Vest?
No. Rest is a status move that restores the user’s HP to full but induces sleep. Since it doesn’t deal damage, it is blocked by the Assault Vest. You also cannot use Sleep Talk for the same reason.
6. Does the Assault Vest affect passive healing from abilities like Regenerator or items like Leftovers?
No, the Assault Vest only affects the use of non-damaging moves. Passive healing from abilities like Regenerator or items like Leftovers will function normally even while the Pokémon is holding the Assault Vest. The Leftovers held item allows the Pokemon to passively regenerate 6% of their health every turn.
7. Can I use moves that remove status conditions, such as Heal Bell or Aromatherapy?
No. Heal Bell and Aromatherapy are status moves that cure status conditions affecting the user’s party. As they do not deal direct damage, they are unusable with the Assault Vest.
8. What if my Pokémon has an ability like Natural Cure or Shed Skin that passively cures status conditions?
Abilities that passively cure status conditions, such as Natural Cure and Shed Skin, are not affected by the Assault Vest. These abilities will function normally even if the Pokémon is holding the Assault Vest.
9. Does Assault Vest prevent the use of moves like Roar or Whirlwind?
Yes. Roar and Whirlwind are status moves that force the opponent to switch out. Since they don’t deal direct damage, they are blocked by the Assault Vest.
10. Can I use Helping Hand while holding Assault Vest?
No. Helping Hand is a status move that boosts the power of an ally’s attack. As it doesn’t deal direct damage, it is unusable with the Assault Vest.
11. If my Pokémon is burned and holding an Assault Vest, will the burn damage still occur?
Yes, status conditions like burn, poison, and paralysis will still inflict their effects even while the Pokémon is holding the Assault Vest. The Assault Vest only prevents the use of status moves, not the effects of existing status conditions.
12. Are moves like Substitute and Protect usable with Assault Vest?
No. Substitute creates a decoy using the user’s HP, and Protect shields the user from attacks. Both are status moves and therefore cannot be used with the Assault Vest.
13. How does the move Pain Split interact with Assault Vest?
Pain Split is a status move that averages the HP of the user and the target. Since it does not deal damage, it cannot be used with the Assault Vest.
14. Can I use conversion 2 with Assault Vest?
No, Conversion 2 is a status move, so it cannot be used with the Assault Vest.
15. I want to learn more about the strategy of the game, where can I find more information?
You can explore the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org to discover more about strategy and how we learn through playing. This Games Learning Society is an excellent resource.
Conclusion
The Assault Vest is a powerful item that can significantly enhance a Pokémon’s Special Defense, but its restriction on non-damaging moves, particularly healing moves, requires careful consideration. Choosing the right Pokémon to equip with the Assault Vest is crucial to maximizing its benefits and minimizing its drawbacks. Understanding these limitations allows players to build more effective and competitive teams.