Is the Covert Cloak Good in Pokemon? A Deep Dive
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
In short, the Covert Cloak is a situational but valuable item in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, particularly in competitive play. While it doesn’t offer the raw power of a Choice item or the survivability of Leftovers, its unique ability to block secondary effects from damaging moves opens up strategic possibilities and can drastically alter matchups. It shines against teams reliant on status conditions or other disruptive tactics. Knowing when and how to use it is key to unlocking its potential.
Understanding the Covert Cloak’s Niche
The Covert Cloak occupies a unique space among held items. Its function is purely defensive, but not in the traditional sense of boosting stats. Instead, it provides immunity to the secondary effects of damaging moves. This means your Pokémon can shrug off status conditions like paralysis, burn, poison, sleep, and freeze, as well as flinching or stat drops that often accompany certain attacks.
However, the Cloak does not protect against:
- Primary effects of moves: It won’t stop damage from any attack.
- Status conditions inflicted by status moves: Moves like Thunder Wave (paralysis) or Will-O-Wisp (burn) are not affected.
- Hazards: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web still function normally.
- Abilities: It will not stop ability-based stat reductions.
This means that its value hinges on the opponent’s strategy and the metagame. If facing a team heavily reliant on moves like Body Slam (paralysis chance), Scald (burn chance), or Rock Slide (flinch chance), the Covert Cloak becomes immensely useful. In a metagame dominated by pure damage, its usefulness diminishes.
When the Covert Cloak Shines
Here are some scenarios where the Covert Cloak proves its worth:
- Countering Flinch Teams: Pokémon like Kingambit often carry moves with a flinch chance. The Cloak renders these strategies useless against the holder.
- Avoiding Scald Burns: Scald is a common Water-type move with a high burn chance. The Covert Cloak lets your physical attackers safely engage without fear of being crippled by a burn.
- Ignoring Paralysis from Body Slam and other moves: Paralysis can cripple fast offensive Pokémon. The Cloak provides crucial insurance.
- Outpredicting Opponents: Sometimes, the mere threat of a Covert Cloak can influence your opponent’s decision-making, potentially leading to favorable outcomes.
Drawbacks and Considerations
Despite its potential, the Covert Cloak has limitations:
- Opportunity Cost: Holding the Covert Cloak means sacrificing another item slot. Are you giving up significant damage output by not holding a Choice Band or Life Orb? Are you missing out on recovery from Leftovers or Black Sludge?
- Predictability: Experienced players may be able to deduce that a specific Pokémon is holding the Covert Cloak, rendering its effect less impactful.
- Limited Scope: Its usefulness is highly dependent on the opponent’s moveset.
Viable Users of the Covert Cloak
The best users of the Covert Cloak are Pokémon that:
- Hate being statused: Pokemon that rely on speed, or don’t want to be burned.
- Benefit from consistency: Some Pokémon require perfect operation to function.
- Are already bulky or have good type matchups: This allows them to take advantage of the extra turn afforded by not being statused.
Examples include:
- Annihilape: Preventing paralysis or burn can be vital for its Rage Fist setup.
- Garganacl: Similarly, keeping Garganacl clear of status increases setup potential.
- Great Tusk: A bulky attacker that can be crippled by status.
Final Verdict
The Covert Cloak is not a universally “good” item, but it’s a valuable tool in the right circumstances. Its effectiveness hinges on understanding the metagame, predicting your opponent’s strategies, and choosing the right user. While it may not be a staple on every team, its ability to shut down specific tactics makes it a worthy addition to any competitive player’s arsenal. Consider the context of each battle and your team’s overall strategy before equipping the Covert Cloak. It’s a niche item, but one that can turn the tide of a match when used correctly.
The study of competitive Pokemon play, strategy, and design can be highly educational. Organizations like the Games Learning Society, or GamesLearningSociety.org, offer resources and research into the educational potential of games, including Pokemon. https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Covert Cloak:
- Does Covert Cloak prevent confusion? No. The Covert Cloak only prevents secondary effects from damaging moves, not status conditions inflicted by status moves or confusion caused by moves like Confuse Ray.
- Does Covert Cloak prevent paralysis from Static or Flame Body? No. Static and Flame Body are abilities, and the Covert Cloak only protects against secondary effects of damaging moves.
- If a move has multiple secondary effects, does Covert Cloak block all of them? Yes. If a damaging move has multiple secondary effects (e.g., a chance to burn and flinch), the Covert Cloak blocks all of them.
- Can Covert Cloak prevent stat drops from moves like Close Combat? No. The stat drops from Close Combat are considered a primary effect of the move, not a secondary effect. Covert Cloak does not help with the attack’s stat debuffs.
- Does the Covert Cloak work against Kingambit’s Supreme Overlord ability? No. Supreme Overlord is an ability, and Covert Cloak does not protect against ability-based effects.
- Can Covert Cloak prevent being forced out by moves like Roar or Whirlwind? No. Roar and Whirlwind are status moves, not damaging moves, so the Covert Cloak has no effect.
- Does Covert Cloak block the recoil damage from moves like Brave Bird? No. Recoil damage is a primary effect of the move, not a secondary effect.
- Does Covert Cloak prevent the healing reduction from moves like Life Dew? No. Life Dew is a status move, and the Covert Cloak only works against damaging moves.
- If a Pokemon with Serene Grace uses a move with a secondary effect while the target has a Covert Cloak, what happens? The Covert Cloak will still prevent the secondary effect from occurring. Serene Grace only increases the likelihood of the secondary effect; it doesn’t bypass immunities.
- Is Covert Cloak a good item to use on Pokemon with the ability Magic Bounce? No. Magic Bounce reflects status moves and secondary effects back to the opponent, making the Covert Cloak redundant. It’s better to use another item that enhances their offensive or defensive capabilities.
- Does Covert Cloak prevent the freeze chance from Ice Beam? Yes, it does. The freeze chance from Ice Beam is a secondary effect of the move, and the Covert Cloak will block it.
- Does the Covert Cloak protect against the secondary effects of Max Moves in Max Raid Battles? No, Max Moves do not have secondary effects. The Covert Cloak would have no impact during Max Raid Battles.
- Can Covert Cloak prevent a target from becoming drowsy from Yawn? No. Yawn is a status move. Covert Cloak doesn’t affect status moves.
- If my Pokemon is holding a Covert Cloak and is hit by a move that might burn and might flinch, does the cloak protect against both effects? Yes. The Covert Cloak protects the holder from all secondary effects associated with the damaging move.
- Is the Covert Cloak useful in the early game of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet? Generally, no. In the early game, you’re less likely to encounter opponents relying heavily on status-inducing moves or secondary effects. Other items that boost stats or provide healing are usually more beneficial during the main story progression.