Does Mold Breaker Beat Levitate? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, Mold Breaker absolutely beats Levitate. A Pokémon with the Mold Breaker Ability can ignore the effects of Levitate, allowing it to hit Pokémon with Ground-type moves despite their immunity. This makes Mold Breaker a potent tool for overcoming otherwise insurmountable defensive strategies.
Understanding Mold Breaker and Its Impact
Mold Breaker is a powerful Pokémon Ability that allows the user to bypass certain defensive Abilities of opposing Pokémon. It essentially breaks down the walls that other Abilities erect, ensuring that moves connect as they normally would. In the case of Levitate, which grants immunity to Ground-type moves, Mold Breaker negates that immunity, opening up opportunities for devastating Earthquakes and other powerful Ground attacks.
The core principle behind Mold Breaker is simple: it removes the protective layer provided by specific Abilities. This doesn’t mean it nullifies all Abilities across the board, but it does target those that directly prevent damage or effects from occurring. Therefore, a Pokémon with Mold Breaker can strategically hit Pokémon that would otherwise be safe from certain attacks.
The Mechanics Behind the Interaction
When a Pokémon with Mold Breaker uses a Ground-type move against a Pokémon with Levitate, the game mechanics work as follows:
- The game checks for the presence of the Mold Breaker Ability on the attacking Pokémon.
- Upon detecting Mold Breaker, the game bypasses the usual check for Levitate.
- The Ground-type move connects, and damage is calculated as if Levitate were not present.
This interaction is crucial in battles where Ground-type moves are essential for offense, providing a tactical advantage against Levitate users that would otherwise wall these attacks.
Tactical Advantages and Considerations
Using a Pokémon with Mold Breaker provides several key advantages:
- Overcoming Immunities: The primary benefit is the ability to bypass immunities like Levitate, hitting otherwise untouchable targets.
- Strategic Coverage: This ability enhances the coverage of your team, allowing you to deal with specific threats more effectively.
- Predictable Damage: By negating defensive Abilities, Mold Breaker ensures that damage calculations are straightforward and reliable.
However, it’s important to note that Mold Breaker only applies to the moves executed by the Pokémon possessing the Ability. If two Pokémon use Earthquake in a Double Battle, only the Pokémon with Mold Breaker will hit a Levitate user.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mold Breaker
1. What Abilities does Mold Breaker ignore?
Mold Breaker nullifies a range of defensive Abilities including:
- Battle Armor
- Big Pecks
- Clear Body
- Damp
- Dazzling
- Disguise
- Dry Skin
- Filter
- Flash Fire
- Flower Gift
- Heatproof
- Hyper Cutter
- Immunity
- Inner Focus
- Insomnia
- Keen Eye
- Leaf Guard
- Levitate
- Lightningrod
- Limber
- Magma Armor
- Marvel Scale
- Motor Drive
- Oblivious
- Own Tempo
- Sand Veil
- Shell Armor
- Shield Dust
- Simple
- Snow Cloak
- Solid Rock
- Sticky Hold
- Sturdy
- Suction Cups
- Thick Fat
- Unaware
- Vital Spirit
- Volt Absorb
- Water Absorb
- Wonder Skin
2. Is Mold Breaker a good Ability?
Yes, Mold Breaker can be a very good Ability, especially in competitive play. It provides a strategic edge by negating defensive Abilities, making it easier to land crucial hits. However, its usefulness is situational, depending on the opponent’s team composition.
3. Is Mold Breaker better than Own Tempo?
The better Ability depends on the Pokémon and the team strategy. Mold Breaker offers offensive utility by ignoring defensive Abilities, while Own Tempo prevents confusion. For a Pokémon that relies on consistent offensive pressure, Mold Breaker might be more valuable.
4. Does Mold Breaker ignore Wonder Guard?
Yes, Mold Breaker is one of the Abilities that can ignore Wonder Guard, allowing moves that aren’t super-effective to hit Shedinja. This makes Mold Breaker users excellent counters to Shedinja.
5. Does Mold Breaker ignore Shell Armor?
Yes, Mold Breaker ignores Shell Armor, preventing the defending Pokémon from avoiding critical hits.
6. Does Mold Breaker ignore Multiscale?
No, Mold Breaker does not affect Multiscale. Multiscale reduces damage taken when the Pokémon is at full health, and Mold Breaker does not negate this effect.
7. Does Mold Breaker ignore the Ruin Abilities?
No, the Ruin Abilities are not affected by Mold Breaker. These Abilities have unique effects that Mold Breaker doesn’t bypass.
8. Does Mold Breaker ignore Protean?
No, Mold Breaker does not ignore Protean. Protean changes the Pokémon’s type before the move is used, and Mold Breaker doesn’t interfere with this type change.
9. Does Mold Breaker ignore Sand Veil?
Yes, Mold Breaker ignores Sand Veil, negating the evasion boost provided by a sandstorm.
10. What Abilities are not ignored by Mold Breaker?
Mold Breaker does not ignore Abilities such as:
- Aura Break
- Comatose
- Full Metal Body
- Magic Guard
- Prism Armor
- Shields Down
- Shadow Shield
11. Are Mold Breaker, Teravolt, and Turboblaze the same?
Yes, Mold Breaker, Teravolt, and Turboblaze have the same effect of ignoring certain defensive Abilities. They are effectively the same Ability with different names.
12. Does Mold Breaker hit allies?
Yes, Mold Breaker can affect allies in multi-battles. A Pokémon with Mold Breaker can hit its allies, even if they have defensive Abilities like Levitate, so strategic positioning is crucial.
13. Why is a Pokémon with Mold Breaker useful?
A Pokémon with Mold Breaker is valuable for its ability to bypass defensive Abilities that would otherwise hinder offensive strategies. This makes them excellent for breaking through defensive walls and applying pressure.
14. Which Pokémon have Mold Breaker?
Several Pokémon can have the Mold Breaker Ability, including:
- Pinsir
- Rampardos
- Excadrill
- Haxorus
- Bouffalant
- Druddigon
- Tinkatink
15. How does Mold Breaker affect moves like Earthquake?
When a Pokémon with Mold Breaker uses Earthquake, it bypasses Abilities like Levitate and Wonder Guard, allowing the move to hit Pokémon that would otherwise be immune or protected. This is crucial for dealing significant damage and controlling the battlefield.
Conclusion
Mold Breaker is a strategic Ability that provides a significant advantage by bypassing defensive Abilities like Levitate. Its impact can be game-changing, allowing for crucial hits and overcoming otherwise insurmountable defensive strategies. Understanding its mechanics and limitations is essential for effective team building and tactical gameplay. The Games Learning Society explores how games, like Pokémon, teach us valuable strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. You can learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.