Decoding Mold Breaker: Which Pokémon Abilities Crumble Before It?

Mold Breaker is a potent Pokémon ability that essentially smashes through certain defensive abilities of opposing Pokémon. Specifically, Mold Breaker ignores abilities that would fully negate attacks, prevent the effect of attacks, or grant general protective benefits. It doesn’t affect abilities that alter the Pokémon’s own stats or typing or that provide passive benefits unrelated to negating attacks.

In clearer terms, Mold Breaker allows moves to bypass abilities that actively try to stop or diminish the effectiveness of an attack. Imagine it as a wrecking ball swinging straight through a flimsy fence, while leaving the sturdy brick wall standing. This creates many strategic opportunities for the wielder of Mold Breaker, Teravolt, and Turboblaze.

Delving Deeper: Abilities Ignored vs. Abilities That Stand Strong

Let’s examine the types of abilities that fall prey to Mold Breaker and those that remain unaffected.

Abilities That Crumble

These abilities aim to completely negate, prevent side effects, or provide generalized protection against attacks. Examples include:

• Levitate: Mold Breaker allows Ground-type moves to hit Pokémon with Levitate.
• Water Absorb: Mold Breaker allows Water-type moves to damage Pokémon with Water Absorb.
• Volt Absorb: Mold Breaker allows Electric-type moves to damage Pokémon with Volt Absorb.
• Flash Fire: Mold Breaker allows Fire-type moves to damage Pokémon with Flash Fire.
• Clear Body: Mold Breaker allows moves with secondary effects (like stat drops) to apply.
• Shell Armor: Mold Breaker allows critical hits to land, even if the Pokémon has Shell Armor.
• Sticky Hold: Mold Breaker allows moves like Knock Off to remove the held item.
• Simple: While Simple boosts stat changes on the user, it also enhances defensive stat increases. Because Mold Breaker can bypass many of the benefits from simple, it is affected.
• Snow Cloak: Mold Breaker ignores the evasion boost provided by Snow Cloak in hail.
• Thick Fat: Mold Breaker allows Fire- and Ice-type moves to deal normal damage, bypassing the reduction provided by Thick Fat.
• Wonder Guard: Mold Breaker allows any move, even those that aren’t super effective, to damage Shedinja.
• Magic Bounce: Status moves are able to be reflected by Pokemon with Magic Bounce. Mold Breaker negates the affect.
• Armor Tail: Mold Breaker ignores Armor Tail, allowing priority moves to be used.

Abilities That Stand Strong

These abilities generally alter stats, provide passive benefits, or have unique functions that aren’t directly related to negating the effects of an incoming attack. Examples include:

• Aura Break: This ability weakens the power of Aura-based moves; it isn’t a direct defensive barrier.
• Magic Guard: Magic Guard prevents all damage except from direct attacks; it doesn’t negate the attacks themselves.
• Comatose: This ability puts the Pokemon into a permenant sleeping state.
• Shields Down: This ability changes the Pokémon’s form based on its HP; it isn’t a direct defensive barrier.
• Full Metal Body: This ability prevents stat drops; it doesn’t negate attacks.
• Shadow Shield: This ability reduces damage when the Pokémon is at full HP; it’s a conditional shield.
• Prism Armor: This ability reduces damage from super-effective attacks; it only reduces and doesn’t negate the move.
• Ruin Abilities (Sword of Ruin, Tablets of Ruin, Beads of Ruin, Vessel of Ruin): These abilities affect the Attack and Special Attack stats of all other Pokémon on the field. Mold Breaker does not affect these abilities.
• Protean: This ability changes the type of the Pokémon using the move; it doesn’t prevent attacks from working against the Pokémon.
• Unaware: This ability ignores stat changes for damage calculation.
• Good as Gold: Prevents the Pokémon from being affected by status moves.

Key Differences and Strategic Implications

The crucial distinction lies in whether the ability directly negates or alters the effectiveness of an attack. Mold Breaker bypasses defensive walls and redirections but does not interfere with abilities that passively influence the battle or the user’s own properties.

This has significant strategic implications. A Pokémon with Mold Breaker can force damage through, setting up knockouts that would otherwise be impossible. It allows for more reliable use of status moves against targets that would normally be immune. However, Mold Breaker cannot overcome fundamental type matchups or passively enhance its own power in the way other abilities might. Understanding the nuanced interaction of abilities is crucial for becoming an expert in Pokémon battling. Consider visiting the Games Learning Society website at GamesLearningSociety.org for more insights into the game’s mechanics and strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions for those who want a better understanding of Mold Breaker.

Does Mold Breaker ignore abilities that reduce damage?

No, Mold Breaker doesn’t ignore abilities that reduce damage. It primarily targets abilities that prevent the move from working altogether or drastically alter its effects. This is why Thick Fat is negatable, but Prism Armor is not.

Can Mold Breaker hit Flying-type Pokémon with Ground-type moves if they have Levitate?

Yes, Mold Breaker allows Ground-type moves to hit Flying-type Pokémon that have Levitate. Levitate is completely negated, as it would completely stop the attack.

Does Mold Breaker affect status moves?

Yes, Mold Breaker does allow status moves to bypass abilities that might otherwise prevent them from working, such as Magic Bounce.

Does Mold Breaker affect allies’ abilities?

Mold Breaker affects both allied and opposing Pokémon abilities. If an ally has an ability that would negate or change the effect of the Mold Breaker user’s move, it will be ignored.

Are Teravolt and Turboblaze functionally identical to Mold Breaker?

Yes, Teravolt and Turboblaze are functionally identical to Mold Breaker. All three abilities have the same effect of negating certain opposing abilities.

Does Mold Breaker ignore abilities that prevent status conditions?

Mold Breaker doesn’t explicitly ignore abilities that only prevent status conditions. However, if an ability prevents a move that inflicts a status condition from working at all, Mold Breaker will bypass it (like Magic Bounce reflecting status moves).

Does Mold Breaker affect the accuracy of moves?

Mold Breaker doesn’t directly affect the accuracy of moves, but it does prevent abilities that alter accuracy or evasion from hindering the Mold Breaker user’s attacks.

Does Mold Breaker ignore Sturdy?

Yes, Mold Breaker attacks bypass Sturdy, meaning a Pokémon with Sturdy will be OHKO’d if hit by an attack from a Pokémon with Mold Breaker, Teravolt, or Turboblaze.

Why doesn’t Mold Breaker ignore abilities like Protean or Libero?

Protean and Libero change the user’s type; they don’t prevent or alter the effects of an opponent’s moves. Therefore, Mold Breaker has no effect on these abilities.

Can Mold Breaker hit Shedinja if it has Wonder Guard?

Yes, Mold Breaker bypasses Wonder Guard, allowing Shedinja to be hit by any attack, regardless of its type effectiveness.

If a Pokémon has Simple, does Mold Breaker still affect it?

Mold Breaker is able to bypass most of the benefits of Simple that hinder the move from the Mold Breaker’s user.

Does Mold Breaker ignore priority granted by Prankster or Gale Wings?

No, Mold Breaker doesn’t affect abilities like Prankster or Gale Wings that grant priority. It allows the move to get around Armor Tail though.

What are some Pokémon that have the Mold Breaker ability?

Some popular Pokémon with Mold Breaker include:

• Rampardos
• Excadrill
• Haxorus

Does Mold Breaker affect weather effects?

Mold Breaker does not affect weather effects directly. It bypasses abilities that might be affected by weather.

Does Mold Breaker always guarantee a hit if the opposing Pokémon has an evasion-boosting ability?

While Mold Breaker negates the evasion bonus from abilities like Snow Cloak or Sand Veil, it doesn’t guarantee a hit. The move is still subject to its own accuracy and any other accuracy modifiers.

By understanding the intricacies of Mold Breaker and how it interacts with other abilities, you can gain a significant competitive edge in Pokémon battles. Happy battling!