Does Clear Amulet Protect Against Draco Meteor’s Stat Drop? A Comprehensive Guide

No, Clear Amulet does not protect against the stat drop associated with Draco Meteor. Draco Meteor is a powerful Dragon-type move that harshly lowers the user’s Special Attack stat by two stages after use. Clear Amulet only prevents stat reductions caused by opposing Pokémon’s moves or abilities, such as Intimidate or Icy Wind. Since Draco Meteor’s stat reduction is self-inflicted, Clear Amulet offers no protection against it. You’ll need other strategies to mitigate this drawback!

Understanding Clear Amulet: A Deep Dive

Clear Amulet is a held item in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet that provides valuable protection against specific types of stat reduction. To fully understand its usefulness, let’s explore its mechanics and limitations.

What Does Clear Amulet Actually Do?

The official description of Clear Amulet reads: “An item to be held by a Pokémon. This clear, sparkling amulet protects the holder from having its stats lowered by moves used against it or by other Pokémon’s Abilities.”

This means that Clear Amulet blocks stat reductions imposed by the opponent. This includes:

• Moves: Attacks that have a secondary effect of lowering stats, like Icy Wind (lowers Speed) or Sand Attack (lowers Accuracy).
• Abilities: Abilities that lower stats upon entering the battlefield or through other means, such as Intimidate (lowers Attack).

What Clear Amulet Doesn’t Do

It’s equally important to understand what Clear Amulet doesn’t protect against. It does not block:

• Self-inflicted Stat Drops: As mentioned, moves like Draco Meteor, Leaf Storm, and Close Combat lower the user’s stats as part of their primary effect.
• Stat Changes from Held Items: Items like the Life Orb, which increases damage output but reduces HP each turn, are unaffected by Clear Amulet.
• Ruin Abilities: The effects of the Ruinous Quartet (abilities like Ruin of Destruction, Ruin of Affliction, etc.) are not blocked. These abilities apply a passive stat reduction to all Pokémon except the holder, and are thus not blocked by Clear Amulet.
• Haze or Clear Smog: These moves reset all stat changes on the field and ignore Clear Amulet.
• Status Conditions: Clear Amulet has no effect on status conditions like burn, poison, paralysis, or sleep.
• Moves that Reset Stats: Moves like Haze and Clear Smog remove all stat changes from the field, including those that the Clear Amulet could block.
• Defog: Which removes hazards on the field and also lowers the target’s evasion.

Who Benefits Most from Clear Amulet?

Clear Amulet is most effective on bulky physical attackers that are vulnerable to Intimidate or other common stat-lowering tactics. This is especially relevant in competitive battles where predicting opponent strategies is crucial. Some ideal Clear Amulet users include:

• Tyranitar: Often used as a physical attacker and is common target for Intimidate
• Garchomp: A powerful physical attacker susceptible to stat drops.
• Gyarados: Can sweep with Dragon Dance if protected from stat reductions.
• Baxcalibur: A strong physical attacker.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Clear Amulet

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Clear Amulet, providing deeper insights into its usage and mechanics:

1. Does Clear Amulet work against abilities like Intimidate?

   Yes, Clear Amulet is excellent for negating Intimidate, preventing the Attack stat reduction that can cripple physical attackers.

2. If my Pokémon uses Close Combat, will Clear Amulet prevent the Defense and Special Defense drops?

   No, Clear Amulet does not prevent self-inflicted stat drops.

3. Does Clear Amulet stop stat drops caused by weather conditions like Sandstorm?

   No, weather-induced damage and stat changes are unaffected by Clear Amulet.

4. Can Clear Amulet prevent a Pokémon from being burned by Scald’s secondary effect?

   No, Clear Amulet only protects against stat reductions, not status conditions.

5. If my opponent uses Parting Shot on my Pokémon holding Clear Amulet, what happens?

   If you use Parting Shot into Clear Amulet, the Parting Shot user doesn’t switch.

6. Does Clear Amulet work against the Ruinous Quartet’s abilities (e.g., Ruin of Destruction)?

   No, Clear Amulet does not protect against the Ruinous Quartet abilities.

7. Does Clear Amulet negate the effects of Haze or Clear Smog?

   No, Haze and Clear Smog reset all stat changes, bypassing Clear Amulet’s protection.

8. Can Clear Amulet protect against a Pokémon using Swagger on itself?

   Since Swagger confuses the target and sharply raises its Attack, and the user is the target, Clear Amulet can not protect against the Defense drops if used on the same pokemon.

9. If a Pokémon with the Ability Defiant switches in against an Intimidate user, will Clear Amulet activate Defiant?

   The Ability Defiant raises a Pokemon’s Attack stat by two stages when one of its stats is lowered, this will not trigger defiant or competitive.

10. Is Clear Amulet a good item for Pokémon with the Moxie ability?

    Yes, if a Moxie Pokémon is susceptible to stat reduction, Clear Amulet would be a great held item.

11. Where can I purchase Clear Amulet in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?

    Clear Amulet can be purchased at Delibird Presents shop in Mesagoza.

12. Is the Clear Amulet considered one of the best defensive items in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

    While useful in specific situations, Clear Amulet is not considered one of the top-tier defensive items, with options like Covert Cloak and Leftovers being generally more versatile.

13. Can Clear Amulet stop stat drops caused by the user’s own ability?

    No, Clear Amulet does not prevent the holder from having its stats lowered by its own ability.

14. Does Clear Amulet prevent the effects of the move Defog?

    No, Clear Amulet does not prevent the effects of the move Defog. Defog removes hazards on the field and also lowers the target’s evasion.

15. Does the Pokémon holding the amulet coin need to be active to get double the money?

    Yes you do get the money. As long as the Pokemon holding the amulet coin was sent out at least once during the battle, then you will get the double $$.

Alternatives to Clear Amulet

If you’re looking for ways to mitigate the Special Attack drop from Draco Meteor, Clear Amulet isn’t the answer. Here are a few alternatives:

• Switching Out: The simplest solution is to switch out the Pokémon after using Draco Meteor, resetting its stats.
• Choice Specs/Choice Scarf: If you’re aiming for immediate power, these items boost Special Attack or Speed, respectively, but lock you into one move.
• White Herb: This item can be consumed to restore lowered stats but is a one-time use item.

Conclusion: Strategic Use of Clear Amulet

Clear Amulet is a situational but valuable item in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. It excels at protecting against opponent-induced stat drops, particularly those caused by Intimidate and moves like Icy Wind. However, it’s crucial to remember its limitations. It won’t protect against self-inflicted stat drops, status conditions, or abilities like the Ruinous Quartet.

Understanding these nuances allows you to strategically equip Clear Amulet on Pokémon that will genuinely benefit from its protection, enhancing your competitive edge. And while it won’t save you from the consequences of Draco Meteor, you can use alternative strategies to manage those stat drops effectively.

The world of Pokémon is constantly evolving, much like our understanding of how people learn through games. For more on the intersection of games and learning, check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, where they explore how games can be powerful tools for education and engagement.