Obstruct

Dark

Obstruct is a Dark-type status move. It targets the user and has 10 PP. It has +4 priority, so it acts before most moves.

Technical data

Type
Dark
Category
status
Power
Accuracy
100
PP
10
Priority
4
Target
self
Contact
No
Spread
No
Protect blocks
Yes
Wide Guard blocks
No

Competitive value

Prized for its priority, letting the user act before faster threats or enabling support in key turns.

How to learn it

Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.

Level-up1 Pokémon

No Pokémon listed in the current dataset.

Pokémon that use this move

1 Pokémon, sorted by usage

No Pokémon listed in the current dataset.

What this move does

Obstruct is a Dark-type status move. It targets the user and has 10 PP. It has +4 priority, letting it move before most attacks. Obstruct is a Dark-type status move. It targets the user and has 10 PP. It has +4 priority, so it acts before most moves.

Prized for its priority, letting the user act before faster threats or enabling support in key turns.

When to consider it

Consider Obstruct when your team needs the utility it provides rather than direct damage. Status moves define speed control, redirection, protection and disruption in VGC. Its value depends on whether your team can exploit the turns it creates. Check your team composition for Pokémon that benefit from the positioning or tempo it generates.

How to evaluate it in team building

In team building, Obstruct competes with other support and disruption options for a limited number of moveslots. Ask whether your team has enough offense to justify a utility move, and whether you have the speed or bulk to use it safely. Many successful teams run one or two status moves that enable the rest of the roster, so treat it as part of your overall gameplan rather than an afterthought.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes with Obstruct include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. Assuming priority always goes first without accounting for Quick Guard or Psychic Terrain. Not considering how redirectors like Follow Me and Rage Powder change targeting.

VGC interactions

Protect and Detect block this move. Quick Guard and Psychic Terrain can stop priority versions. These interactions are situational, so test them in the team builder and matchup analyzer before committing to the moveslot.

Related tools and guides

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

VGC interactions

  • Protect / Detect: blocks this move.
  • Wide Guard: does not block this move.
  • Follow Me / Rage Powder: spread moves are not redirected.
  • Quick Guard: blocks this priority move.

Frequently asked questions

Is Obstruct good in ChampionsVGC?

Prized for its priority, letting the user act before faster threats or enabling support in key turns. It is blocked by Protect and Detect, which can waste a key turn if predicted.

Is Obstruct blocked by Protect?

Yes, Obstruct is blocked by Protect and Detect.

Last updated: July 2026 · This entry is kept navigable while additional editorial context is being added.
All figures are estimated trends based on available data and do not guarantee competitive results. Matchups are situational. See our methodology for how these figures are calculated.