Protect
NormalProtects the user from most attacks for one turn.
Technical data
- Type
- Normal
- Category
- status
- Power
- —
- Accuracy
- —
- PP
- 10
- Priority
- 4
- Target
- self
- Contact
- No
- Spread
- No
- Protect blocks
- Yes
- Wide Guard blocks
- No
Competitive value
A cornerstone of VGC, used to scout, stall and gain positional advantage. Success chance drops with consecutive use.
What this move does
Protect is a Normal-type status move. It targets the user and has 10 PP. It has +4 priority, letting it move before most attacks. Protects the user from most attacks for one turn.
A cornerstone of VGC, used to scout, stall and gain positional advantage. Success chance drops with consecutive use.
When to consider it
Consider Protect 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, Protect 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 Protect 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 Protect 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 Protect good in VGC?
A cornerstone of VGC, used to scout, stall and gain positional advantage. Success chance drops with consecutive use.
＋Is Protect affected by Protect?
Yes, Protect is blocked by Protect and Detect.