What Items Cannot Be Knocked Off Pokémon?
In the strategic world of Pokémon battles, the move Knock Off stands out as a potent tool. Its ability to not only inflict damage but also remove the opponent’s held item can significantly disrupt their strategy. However, not all items are vulnerable to this effect. So, what items cannot be knocked off Pokémon? Here’s a comprehensive breakdown:
Items Protected From Knock Off:
- Items Held by Pokémon with Specific Abilities:
- Sticky Hold: Any item held by a Pokémon with the Sticky Hold Ability is completely immune to Knock Off’s item-removing effect. This ensures that Pokémon with this ability can reliably maintain their held item.
- Multitype: Pokémon with the Multitype Ability, famously held by Arceus, cannot have their held plate knocked off by Knock Off.
- Specific Held Items:
- Griseous Orb: This item, which is exclusive to Giratina, cannot be removed by Knock Off regardless of the Pokémon holding it.
- Mega Stones: While Mega Stones are essential for Mega Evolution, they are protected from being removed. Mega Stones cannot be knocked off if they are held by the corresponding Pokémon capable of Mega Evolving.
- Z-Crystals: These powerful items that enable the use of Z-Moves are immune to the item-removal effect of Knock Off. Z-Crystals cannot be knocked off.
- Items During a Substitute:
- If Knock Off hits a Pokémon’s Substitute, the move will deal damage to the substitute but will not remove the original Pokémon’s held item.
It’s critical to understand these limitations when using Knock Off in competitive battles. Successfully navigating these restrictions can make or break a strategy.
Understanding Knock Off’s Mechanics
The Base Power and Boost
When Knock Off is used against a Pokémon that can have its item removed, the move will have a base power of 65 and will remove the item. However, if Knock Off is used on a Pokémon that cannot lose its item, such as a Pokémon with Sticky Hold, a Z-Crystal, or a Mega Stone, the move will still hit but will only have a base power of 65, and the item will not be removed. This means there is no damage boost when used against these types of Pokémon.
The Utility of Knock Off
Even when it doesn’t remove an item, Knock Off can still be a useful move, especially against Pokémon that rely heavily on their item for their battle strategy. It can be used to check if your opponent has an item that is not removable. Knowing what items cannot be removed via Knock Off is crucial for planning and execution within the meta-game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Knock Off and the items it can (or can’t) interact with:
1. Does Knock Off work on Pokémon with a Substitute?
No, Knock Off will damage the Substitute but will not remove the original Pokémon’s item.
2. Can Knock Off remove a held plate from Arceus?
No. Since Arceus has the Multitype Ability, it cannot have its held plate removed by Knock Off.
3. Does Knock Off remove Choice items?
Yes, Knock Off can remove Choice Scarf, Choice Specs, and Choice Band from the opponent, assuming they do not have an ability or holding a protected item. This is a key element of the move’s utility.
4. Can Knock Off remove items in Tera Raids?
Yes, Knock Off can remove items in Tera Raids. For example, it can remove the Light Ball from Pikachu in a raid.
5. Can a Pokémon with Sticky Hold have its item removed by other means?
No, the Sticky Hold ability makes the Pokémon’s held item completely immune to removal by moves or other means.
6. Can Knock Off remove a Pokémon’s Berry?
Yes, generally, Knock Off can remove a Pokémon’s Berry unless the Pokémon possesses the ability Sticky Hold or is holding a protected item.
7. What happens if Knock Off is used on a Pokémon that has already used its item?
If the Pokémon has already used its held item (e.g. a consumable item like a Berry), Knock Off will do damage at base power 65, even if the Pokémon doesn’t have an item anymore. The effect of the boosted damage and item removal will not apply because the Pokemon is no longer holding an item.
8. Is Knock Off a good move in competitive battles?
Yes, Knock Off is considered a very strong move in competitive play due to its ability to remove opponent’s held items and inflict decent damage if it can remove the item. This provides great utility and can help turn the tide of the battle.
9. Can you use Knock Off to see if a Pokémon has an item?
Yes. If Knock Off doesn’t do bonus damage or remove an item, you can infer that the Pokémon has a protected item, or a protected ability like Sticky Hold. This can provide valuable information in battle.
10. Can Knock Off remove a held item if a Pokémon is behind a Reflect or Light Screen?
Yes, the Reflect or Light Screen do not affect whether or not Knock Off can remove a held item.
11. Does Knock Off ignore the effects of Abilities like Dazzling or Queenly Majesty?
Yes, moves with priority like Fake Out will be stopped by those abilities, but Knock Off is not a priority move, therefore will ignore those abilities.
12. Can Knock Off be used on a Pokémon holding a Plate if it doesn’t have the Multitype ability?
Yes, if a Pokémon that does not have the Multitype ability holds a plate, Knock Off will remove it, as long as the Pokémon doesn’t possess the Sticky Hold ability.
13. Can Knock Off remove held items during a double battle?
Yes, Knock Off can remove held items in double battles as long as the target is not protected by an ability or holding a protected item.
14. Can a Pokémon learn Knock Off as an Egg Move?
Yes, some Pokémon can learn Knock Off as an Egg Move, meaning they can pass the move down to their offspring through breeding. Example, Ralts, Kirlia, or Gardevoir can learn Knock Off by breeding with a male Pokemon that can learn it by leveling up.
15. Does the removal of an item by Knock Off trigger other held-item-related abilities?
Yes, the item removal by Knock Off will trigger certain held-item-related abilities like Unburden or Symbiosis. This can make it difficult to predict outcomes in battle.
Conclusion
Understanding the limitations of Knock Off, specifically knowing what items cannot be knocked off, is essential for any serious Pokémon trainer. While Knock Off is a powerful move, its effectiveness is conditional. By learning these specific details, players can refine their battle strategy and gain a competitive edge. Knowing these details about the move will help you better understand its usefulness within the Pokémon metagame and allows players to better strategize with or against it.