Is Knock Off a Good Move in Pokémon? The Definitive Guide
Yes, Knock Off is unequivocally a fantastic move in Pokémon, particularly in competitive battling. Its effectiveness stems from a unique combination of decent base power, the ability to remove held items, and a significant damage boost when it successfully knocks off an item. This potent combination makes it a staple move for many Dark-type Pokémon and a highly valuable option for those with access to it. The move’s impact often swings the momentum of a battle, and its widespread usage speaks volumes about its worth. While its base power is only 65, it’s crucial to note that it increases by 50% to 97 when hitting an item-holding Pokemon and removing that item.
The Power of Item Removal
The core strength of Knock Off lies in its ability to remove a held item from the opposing Pokémon. This might seem minor, but it can be absolutely devastating in practice. Many competitive strategies heavily rely on specific items for various boosts and tactical advantages. Removing an item can cripple an opposing Pokémon by:
- Eliminating recovery: Removing Leftovers or Black Sludge significantly reduces sustain.
- Neutralizing offensive boosts: Choice items like Choice Scarf, Choice Band, and Choice Specs, become entirely useless, severely hampering the opponent’s speed and power.
- Disrupting defensive sets: Items like Eviolite lose all value when knocked off, weakening a Pokémon’s defenses.
- Negating support roles: Light Clay for dual screens or Healing Herbs for stat boosts become useless if knocked off.
- Depriving status healing: Items like Lum Berry and Chesto Berry are negated.
The impact of losing an item often outweighs the immediate damage dealt by Knock Off alone, giving players a long-term strategic advantage. Even if the move doesn’t score a knockout immediately, its potential to disrupt an entire strategy makes it invaluable.
The Bonus Damage Factor
Another reason why Knock Off is such a powerhouse is the 50% damage increase it receives when it successfully removes a held item. This bonus transforms a modest 65 base power attack to 97 base power, making it significantly more threatening. This can make the difference between a simple attack and a KO. The bonus damage applies even if a Pokémon has an ability like Sticky Hold, or the move hits a substitute. The item won’t be knocked off but the damage boost will occur.
This damage boost coupled with the item removal effect makes it a terrifying move in the right hands, allowing many Dark-type Pokémon to act as powerful offensive threats and disruptors.
Situational Awareness with Knock Off
While Knock Off is incredibly powerful, there are some situations where it’s less effective or even useless:
- Pokémon without held items: If a Pokémon isn’t holding an item or cannot have its item removed, Knock Off only has its base power of 65. This makes it a weak move in these situations.
- Substitute: While the item can’t be knocked off when hitting a substitute, the damage boost still applies.
- Pokémon with Sticky Hold: Pokémon with this ability cannot have their held items removed, although the damage boost is still applied.
Despite these limitations, the sheer prevalence of held items in competitive play ensures that Knock Off remains a valuable tool in most situations.
Comparison with Night Slash
Some players may consider Night Slash as an alternative Dark-type move. Night Slash has a slightly higher base power (70) and a higher chance to score a critical hit. However, Knock Off’s potential to remove items and gain a damage boost makes it superior in most competitive scenarios.
While Night Slash provides consistent damage, it lacks the crucial strategic utility and higher damage ceiling that Knock Off offers. The ability to cripple opposing teams via item removal far outweighs the minor advantage of Night Slash in most scenarios.
Knock Off’s Competitive Viability
In competitive battling, Knock Off is a staple move, appearing frequently on various teams. Its utility and power mean it’s almost mandatory for any Dark-type Pokémon that can learn it. Here’s why it’s so popular:
- Disruptive Power: Its ability to remove items and potentially shut down opposing strategies is invaluable in the metagame.
- Offensive Threat: With the bonus damage and reliable typing, it provides a consistent source of damage.
- Versatility: Many different Pokémon can make great use of this move.
Conclusion
In summary, Knock Off is an exceptionally good move in Pokémon. Its ability to disrupt opposing strategies through item removal, combined with the bonus damage it receives, make it a formidable tool in any player’s arsenal. While there are some niche situations where it might be less effective, its overall impact is overwhelmingly positive. Knock Off has carved out a niche for itself as one of the best moves in Pokémon due to its sheer utility and the meta it has created.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Knock Off a Dark-type move?
Yes, Knock Off is an offensive Dark-type move.
2. Does Knock Off work on Z-Moves?
No, Knock Off does not receive its bonus damage or remove held items on a Pokémon that is using a Z-Move. Z-Crystals cannot be removed or knocked off.
3. Does Knock Off destroy the item?
No, Knock Off does not destroy the item. It simply removes it from the opposing Pokémon for the duration of the battle. The item is not destroyed permanently. If the pokemon returns to your party it will still have the item when removed.
4. Is Knock Off a physical move?
While the article does not outright say it is a physical move, the nature of item removal suggests the use of physical force. The article mentions its main physical dark-type attack.
5. Does the bonus damage of Knock Off apply if the opponent has Sticky Hold?
Yes, the bonus damage of Knock Off applies even if the opposing Pokémon has the ability Sticky Hold. Though the item won’t be knocked off the damage boost will apply.
6. Does the bonus damage apply if Knock Off hits a substitute?
Yes, the bonus damage of Knock Off applies even if it hits a substitute. Though the item won’t be knocked off the damage boost will apply.
7. What is the base power of Knock Off?
The base power of Knock Off is 65, but it increases to 97 when it successfully removes a held item.
8. Is Knock Off better than Night Slash?
Generally, yes. Knock Off is considered better than Night Slash in most competitive scenarios due to its item removal capabilities and bonus damage potential, although Night Slash provides reliable damage.
9. Can Ralts learn Knock Off?
Yes, Ralts can learn Knock Off through breeding with a male Pokémon that learns the move.
10. What is the weakest Dark-type move?
According to the provided text, Power Trip is the weakest attack Dark-type move.
11. Is there a type immune to Dark-type moves?
Bug-type Pokémon are not immune to Dark moves, they are only resistant to them. There are no types immune to Dark-type moves.
12. Why is Knock Off so good in competitive battling?
Knock Off’s effectiveness in competitive play comes from its ability to remove items, disrupt strategies, deal bonus damage and act as a strong, stable dark move
13. What is the strongest Z-Move?
Snorlax’s exclusive Z-Move, Pulverizing Pancake, is considered the strongest Z-Move due to its base power of 210.
14. Why is Knock Off sometimes not good?
When the target has no item or cannot lose the item (as is the case with sticky hold or z-moves), Knock Off has a base power of 65. Making it weak.
15. How does Knock Off influence strategies?
Knock Off forces players to consider which Pokémon they send in, and which items they give to those Pokémon. It creates a meta that rewards defensive and offensive item-based strategies, and forces players to consider alternate strategies.