Close Combat

Type

Fighting

Category

physical

Power

120

Accuracy

100

PP

5

Priority

0

Target

adjacent

Contact

Yes

Spread

No

Protect blocks

Yes

Wide Guard blocks

No

High-damage STAB for physical breakers, at a defensive cost.

Close Combat is a Fighting-type physical attack. It has 120 base power, 100% accuracy, 5 PP and targets a single adjacent target. It makes contact, which matters for abilities and items that trigger on contact. Strong Fighting attack that lowers the user's Defense and Special Defense.

High-damage STAB for physical breakers, at a defensive cost.

Consider Close Combat when its type and power cover targets your team otherwise struggles with. Single-target attacks are reliable and do not risk your own partner, but they can be redirected by Follow Me or Rage Powder. Evaluate the move alongside your team's speed tiers and overall coverage.

In team building, Close Combat is usually a coverage or primary STAB option. It shines when your team already has speed control or when it patches a matchup hole. Compare it with alternative moves of the same type and category to decide whether the extra power, accuracy or side effect justifies the slot over a more defensive option.

Common mistakes with Close Combat include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. Spamming it predictably and letting the opponent switch into a resist. Not considering how redirectors like Follow Me and Rage Powder change targeting.

Protect and Detect block this move. These interactions are situational, so test them in the team builder and matchup analyzer before committing to the moveslot.

Use the tools below to test Close Combat in a full team context and compare it with alternative options.

• Protect / Detect: blocks this move.
• Wide Guard: does not block this move.
• Follow Me / Rage Powder: spread moves are not redirected.
• Quick Guard: no effect (non-priority).