Does No Guard Let You Hit Ghost Types with Normal Moves? A Definitive Guide

No, No Guard does not allow Normal-type moves to hit Ghost-type Pokémon. While No Guard ensures that all moves used by and against the Pokémon with the ability will always hit, it specifically circumvents accuracy checks and evasion boosts. It does not override type immunities. Type immunities are a fundamental aspect of the Pokémon battle system, dictating which types are completely ineffective against others.

Understanding No Guard and Type Immunities

To fully grasp why No Guard doesn’t negate type immunities, it’s essential to differentiate between accuracy and type effectiveness. Accuracy is a probabilistic factor influencing whether a move connects, while type effectiveness is a predetermined relationship between types that either amplifies, reduces, or nullifies damage.

No Guard removes the accuracy factor, guaranteeing that any move used by or against the Pokémon will land, regardless of the move’s base accuracy or any evasion boosts on the target. However, type immunities stand as an absolute barrier, making certain moves completely ineffective regardless of accuracy. In the case of Normal-type moves against Ghost-type Pokémon, this immunity remains absolute, even with No Guard in play.

Think of it like this: No Guard is like having perfect aim, but type immunity is like trying to punch through a solid steel wall. You can aim perfectly, but the wall will still stop you.

The Mechanics Behind No Guard

The No Guard ability, introduced in Generation IV, creates a battle environment where accuracy checks are effectively removed. This means that moves with lower accuracy, like Dynamic Punch, will always hit, and moves that require charging turns, like Fly or Dig, become more predictable. While this makes for interesting strategies, it does not negate the fundamental mechanics of type matchups.

One common misconception arises because No Guard does affect moves like Protect and Detect. If a move with less than 100% accuracy is used against a Pokémon using Protect or Detect, the No Guard ability will allow the move to hit through the protection. However, this is because Protect and Detect are essentially very high evasion moves. They don’t grant immunity; they merely make it very difficult to hit.

Workarounds to Hit Ghost Types with Normal Moves

While No Guard doesn’t bypass type immunities, there are ways to make Normal-type moves hit Ghost-type Pokémon. The primary method involves the ability Scrappy.

Scrappy explicitly allows Normal- and Fighting-type moves to hit Ghost-type Pokémon. From Generation VIII onwards, Scrappy also provides immunity to Intimidate. This ability provides a direct workaround to the Normal/Fighting-type immunity, as well as a secondary benefit in competitive play.

Another method involves using moves that change type interactions, such as Foresight, Odor Sleuth, or Miracle Eye. These moves remove the Ghost-type’s immunity to Normal and Fighting-type moves.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the relationship between No Guard, type immunities, and Ghost-type Pokémon:

1. Does No Guard affect type resistances?

No, No Guard only affects accuracy and does not change type resistances. A move that is normally “not very effective” will still deal reduced damage even with No Guard.

2. Can a Pokémon with No Guard hit a Pokémon using Protect?

Yes, but only if the attacking move has less than 100% accuracy. If the attacking move has 100% accuracy, the Protect will still block the move. No Guard essentially makes all moves 100% accurate, even against defensive moves like Protect.

3. Does Wonder Guard interact with No Guard?

Wonder Guard only allows super-effective moves to hit. No Guard does not bypass this, as it doesn’t change type effectiveness, only accuracy.

4. What happens if a Pokémon with No Guard uses a move that always hits?

Moves that already have perfect accuracy, like Swift, are unaffected by No Guard. The move will still hit (unless blocked by Protect/Detect, as explained above).

5. If a Pokémon with No Guard uses a move that lowers accuracy, does it still hit?

Yes, the move will still hit. No Guard negates any accuracy drops or evasion boosts. However, the accuracy drop might affect subsequent moves by other Pokémon without No Guard.

6. Can a Pokémon with No Guard be affected by evasion-boosting moves like Double Team?

No, a Pokémon with No Guard ignores evasion boosts from moves like Double Team.

7. Besides Scrappy, are there any other abilities that allow Normal-type moves to hit Ghost types?

No, Scrappy is the primary ability that grants this effect directly. Other methods involve using moves like Foresight or Odor Sleuth.

8. What are some good Pokémon with the Scrappy ability?

Some notable Pokémon with the Scrappy ability include Kangaskhan, Mega Kangaskhan, and Pangoro.

9. Does the move Foresight permanently remove the Ghost-type immunity?

No, the effects of Foresight, Odor Sleuth, and Miracle Eye are temporary and last only for the duration of the battle or until the target switches out.

10. Are there any held items that allow Normal-type moves to hit Ghost types?

No, there are no held items that directly grant this ability.

11. If a Pokémon has both No Guard and Foresight active, is a Normal-type move guaranteed to hit a Ghost type?

Yes, in this scenario, the Normal-type move is guaranteed to hit. Foresight removes the immunity, and No Guard ensures that accuracy checks are bypassed.

12. Is there any instance in Pokémon history where No Guard allowed Normal-type moves to hit Ghost types?

No. The mechanics of No Guard have remained consistent throughout the generations, always prioritizing accuracy over type immunities.

13. Can a Pokémon with No Guard use a Normal-type Z-Move on a Ghost-type Pokémon if Foresight is active?

Yes, if Foresight or a similar move is active, a Normal-type Z-Move (powered-up move from using a Z-Crystal) can hit a Ghost-type Pokémon, as the immunity is removed by Foresight. No Guard ensures the move will not miss.

14. How does the move “Normalize” interact with Ghost types?

Normalize changes the user’s moves to Normal type. If the Pokémon then uses a Normal-type move, it will still be ineffective against Ghost types unless Scrappy, Foresight, or Odor Sleuth is in effect.

15. Where can I learn more about the mechanics of Pokémon battles?

You can learn more about the mechanics of Pokémon battles through various online resources, strategy guides, and competitive battling communities. You can also explore educational resources related to games and learning at the Games Learning Society, accessible at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. GamesLearningSociety.org is a great source for understanding the educational aspects of gaming.

Conclusion

In summary, while No Guard is a powerful ability that ensures moves never miss, it does not override fundamental type immunities. To hit Ghost-type Pokémon with Normal-type moves, you’ll need to rely on abilities like Scrappy or moves like Foresight to bypass the immunity altogether. Understanding the difference between accuracy and type effectiveness is key to mastering Pokémon battles and building effective strategies.