Does Protect Work in Trick Room? A Comprehensive Guide
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The Straight Answer: Yes, Protect Works in Trick Room
The simple answer is yes, Protect works perfectly fine under Trick Room. The mechanics of Protect remain the same regardless of the presence of Trick Room. Protect will always prevent damage from direct attacks aimed at the user, regardless of the Speed stats of the user and attacker or the active effects of Trick Room.
However, it’s important to understand how Protect works within the altered speed dynamics of Trick Room. Trick Room reverses the usual turn order. Under normal circumstances, the Pokemon with the higher Speed stat typically acts first, after priority moves. However, under Trick Room, the Pokemon with the lower Speed stat moves first. This change in turn order does not change the priority of moves. Protect still has a priority of +4, and that’s why it will always be triggered before most other damaging attacks.
While Protect works fine under Trick Room, the real question isn’t about its functionality but about its strategy under Trick Room’s specific turn order. Trick Room is often employed to allow slower, powerful Pokemon to strike first. Clever use of Protect can be a vital tool in a Trick Room strategy.
How Protect Interacts with Trick Room
Priority Still Rules
Trick Room does not change the priority of moves, it only modifies the order in which Pokemon act within the same priority bracket. Therefore, Protect will always activate before moves with normal or lower priority, regardless of Trick Room. Even if the opposing Pokemon is slower and would normally act before yours under Trick Room, if that opposing Pokemon attacks with a normal priority move like Tackle and you choose Protect, you will still act before them due to Protect’s inherent priority.
Stalling with Protect
Many Trick Room strategies use Protect to effectively stall the limited duration of Trick Room. Trick Room only lasts for four turns. By using Protect every other turn on your Trick Room team, you effectively allow it to only be vulnerable for two turns and waste two out of your opponent’s four active turns, thereby mitigating the advantage they gain from the field effect. This tactic maximizes your Trick Room’s offensive output while limiting your opponent’s.
Prediction and Mind Games
Protect under Trick Room is a game of prediction. As the trick room user, you might need to protect the slower Pokémon that would usually be targeted first, and use that turn to prepare for a counterattack. Conversely, as an opposing player, understanding when the Trick Room user is likely to Protect can let you set up, switch, or prepare your counter. This level of strategic thinking is the beauty of Pokémon battles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Trick Room affect move priority?
No, Trick Room does NOT affect move priority. Moves with higher priority (like Protect) will always go before moves with lower priority (like Tackle) regardless of Trick Room’s active effect. Trick Room only changes the order of Pokemon action within the same priority bracket.
2. Can you use Protect against a Trick Room setter?
Yes, absolutely. Protect will work against any attack, including those from a Trick Room setter. If you anticipate an attack from the setter before they use Trick Room, Protect can block the damage, allowing you an opportunity to retaliate or set up on your turn.
3. Does Fake Out work in Trick Room battles?
Yes, Fake Out works as normal in Trick Room battles. The move has +3 priority, which means it will always go first before the Pokemon who would normally attack first from the speed dynamic of trick room. Because it always goes first it is used to prevent the opposing player from taking their turn with disruptions like taunt and set up moves.
4. What’s a good counter for Trick Room teams besides Protect?
Several strategies counter Trick Room. A common one is using Imprison and Trick Room simultaneously, denying its activation. Other strategies include using Taunt to prevent Trick Room activation and employing very fast attackers outside of Trick Room’s reach to sweep your opponent.
5. Can I extend the duration of Trick Room?
No, there is no way to increase the duration of Trick Room. It will always last for four turns regardless of any held items.
6. Can you outspeed Pokemon in Trick Room?
Yes, technically, but it’s complicated. Due to the way Speed calculation occurs when Trick Room is active, Pokemon with a base speed of over 1809 will still act before Pokémon slower than 1809, regardless of Trick Room. This is incredibly difficult and usually only possible with speed boosting items.
7. How does Trick Room affect Gyro Ball?
Trick Room does not affect the calculation of Gyro Ball’s power. Gyro Ball’s power depends on the difference between the user’s Speed and the target’s speed. Only if the attacking Pokemon has a Speed of 0 after stat reductions, is Gyro Ball’s power set to 1.
8. Does Haze cancel Trick Room?
No, Haze does not negate Trick Room. The only way to cancel Trick Room early is to use Trick Room again.
9. Can I use Trick Room if I’m holding an Assault Vest?
No, you cannot use Trick Room if your Pokemon is holding an Assault Vest. The Assault Vest restricts you to attacking moves, and Trick Room is a status move.
10. Does Quick Claw work with Trick Room?
Yes, Quick Claw can activate under Trick Room to give its holder an advantage. If your Quick Claw activates, and you and the enemy have used the same priority move, you will move before them in the turn order, regardless of speed and the active effects of Trick Room.
11. Does Prankster make Trick Room go first?
Prankster adds +1 priority to non-attacking moves. Trick Room has a negative priority of -8. Prankster only makes it -7, which is still less priority than a standard attacking move. Even if you managed to go first with Trick Room using Prankster, the actual switch in speed would not happen until the next turn.
12. Does Trick Room affect moves like Roar and Whirlwind?
Yes, phazing moves like Roar and Whirlwind are still faster than Trick Room, as these moves have a higher priority. If you use Roar or Whirlwind, and the enemy tries to set Trick Room, you will still take your turn first before Trick Room is set.
13. Can Gengar use Trick Room effectively?
Gengar can be a great user of Trick Room due to its speed and access to Taunt. It can prevent opposing Trick Room setters from using their move and can also use its offensive and support moves effectively within Trick Room’s altered speed dynamic.
14. Is Trick Room better than Tailwind?
It depends on your team composition. Trick Room is generally better for slower, hard-hitting Pokémon, while Tailwind benefits faster, more offensive Pokémon. They both speed up teams but in different ways. Trick Room reverses the speed order, while Tailwind doubles the speed stat.
15. How can you strategically use Protect within a Trick Room team?
Using Protect to scout the opponents team and moves, allowing for your slower Pokémon to move faster later is crucial in Trick Room teams. Protecting your slower pokemon while your partner attacks is a common tactic. By protecting every other turn, you can make the most of your Trick Room and allow your team to attack while keeping them safe from enemy attacks.