How Does Clear Smog Work? A Comprehensive Guide
Clear Smog is a Poison-type move in the Pokémon world known for its unique ability to reset stat changes on a single target while also dealing damage. Unlike moves like Haze, which affects all Pokémon on the field, Clear Smog is a single-target attack. It inflicts damage by throwing special clumps of mud at the foe, but its primary function is to nullify any stat alterations the target might have accumulated during a battle. This makes it a powerful tool in competitive Pokémon battles and a valuable move to understand. The move’s stat-resetting effect is not a secondary effect; it’s an integral part of the move itself.
Understanding the Mechanics of Clear Smog
The Core Functionality
At its core, Clear Smog resets all stat stages of the target to zero. This includes both positive and negative stat changes. If a Pokémon has boosted its Attack stat through moves like Swords Dance, or lowered its Speed stat with moves like String Shot, Clear Smog will return all those stats to their base levels. This effect is a complete reset, meaning it doesn’t just remove the latest stat change but clears the entire slate.
How It Works in Battle
When Clear Smog is used, it first calculates and inflicts Poison-type damage based on the user’s Special Attack stat and the target’s Special Defense stat. Following the damage calculation, stat stages are immediately reset. This includes all the key stats: Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed, Accuracy, and Evasion. A Pokémon that has meticulously built up stat boosts to achieve high damage output or improved defenses will find those efforts completely undone by Clear Smog.
Limitations
While Clear Smog is a powerful tool, it does have its limitations. The primary constraint is that it is a single-target move. Unlike Haze, which clears the board, Clear Smog only affects the targeted Pokémon. Furthermore, if the target is immune to Poison-type moves, such as Steel-type Pokémon, or protected by Substitute, Clear Smog’s effect will not activate. Additionally, if the target is behind a move like Protect or is affected by Type immunities the stat reset will be blocked. It also will not reset stat changes on the user.
Important Considerations
- No Miss: Clear Smog is not an accuracy-based attack so it does not miss.
- Not Taunt Blocked: Unlike Haze, Clear Smog cannot be blocked by Taunt, further increasing its utility.
- Damage and Stat Reset: The damage and stat reset are considered to happen simultaneously as one move.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clear Smog
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions to further clarify the nuances of Clear Smog:
1. Does Clear Smog remove negative stat changes?
Yes, Clear Smog removes all stat changes, both positive and negative. If your opponent has lowered its own stats with moves like Overheat, Clear Smog will reset those changes as well.
2. Does Clear Smog reset evasion?
Absolutely. As part of its complete stat reset, Clear Smog resets all evasion changes the target might have acquired from moves like Double Team or Minimize.
3. Can Clear Smog miss?
No, Clear Smog is a guaranteed hit move and does not miss the target. This makes it highly reliable when you need to remove stat boosts.
4. Does Clear Smog bypass Substitute?
No, Clear Smog cannot bypass Substitute. If the target is behind a Substitute, the damage and the stat resetting effects will be blocked.
5. Does Clear Smog bypass Protect?
No, like Substitute, Clear Smog cannot bypass Protect or other similar protection moves. If a target is protected, they are immune to Clear Smog.
6. Does Clear Smog remove the effects of Covert Cloak?
No, while Clear Smog removes stat boosts, it’s stat removal is not considered a secondary effect. Covert Cloak does not protect the user from the stat reset caused by Clear Smog. The Cloak only protects from secondary effects of moves such as paralysis, flinching, etc.
7. What type is Clear Smog?
Clear Smog is a Poison-type move. Therefore, it is ineffective against Steel-type Pokémon.
8. Is Clear Smog better than Haze?
Whether Clear Smog is better than Haze depends on the context. Haze affects all Pokémon on the field, resetting every stat change, and is blocked by Taunt. Clear Smog affects only one target and is not blocked by Taunt, but it is ineffective against Steel types. Thus, Clear Smog is better for single-target strategies, and Haze for board reset strategies.
9. What moves can give Evasion buffs?
Moves that can increase evasion include: Double Team, Minimize, and abilities like Sand Veil and Snow Cloak also increase Evasion under certain conditions.
10. Does Clear Smog work against Clear Amulet?
No, similar to Covert Cloak, Clear Amulet does not prevent the stat reset effect from Clear Smog.
11. What are other moves that remove Stat Changes?
There are very few moves that directly ignore stat changes. Some notable examples include: Chip Away, Sacred Sword, Darkest Lariat, and Final Gambit. These moves, however, often bypass stat changes instead of resetting them.
12. How is Clear Smog different from Smog?
Smog is another Poison-type move that inflicts damage and has a chance to poison the target. Clear Smog, on the other hand, has no poisoning effect and primarily resets stat changes.
13. Is Clear Smog similar to any other moves?
While no moves are exactly the same, moves like Roar, Whirlwind, Dragon Tail and Circle Throw all force the opponent to switch, therefore often making their stat boosts obsolete.
14. Can Clear Smog be used to remove paralysis?
No, Clear Smog does not remove paralysis or other status conditions. It only affects stat stages.
15. Is there a move that only paralyzes?
Yes, Thunder Wave is a move that inflicts no damage but has a 100% chance to cause paralysis, excluding ground-type Pokémon.
Conclusion
Clear Smog is a powerful move with a unique utility. It’s a reliable tool to reset stat changes on a single target and inflict damage, making it a great choice for various strategies. While it has limitations, such as being ineffective against Steel-types and being blocked by Substitute and other protection moves, its ability to ignore Taunt and completely negate stat boosts makes it a highly valuable move for many Pokémon. Understanding how it works can significantly improve your success in battles. It provides a direct counter to stat-boosting strategies and promotes strategic flexibility in the game.