Guard Spec.

Guard Spec. エフェクトガード Effect Guard

Pokémon Global Link artwork

Introduced in Generation I Pocket Generation I Items Generation II Items Generation III Items Generation IV Battle items Generation V Items Generation VI Items Generation VII Items Generation VIII Battle Items Fling Power 30

The Guard Spec. (Japanese: エフェクトガード Effect Guard) is a type of battle item introduced in Generation I. It temporarily prevents stat reduction.

In the core series games

Price

Games Cost Sell price RGBY/RBY GSC RSEFRLG DPPtHGSS BWB2W2 XYORAS $700 $350 SMUSUM SwSh $1,500 $750 PE $700 $350

Effect

Guard Spec. replicates the effect of the move Mist, which itself has changed through the generations.

Generation I

Prevents opponents' moves whose only effect is to cause stat changes to the player's Pokémon, such as Growl or String Shot, from having those effects, for as long as the player's current Pokémon remains active in the current battle. Guard Spec. will not block stat drops that are side effects of damaging moves, such as Aurora Beam or Psychic.

Generation II

Like other battle items, using Guard Spec. now causes the active Pokémon to get a small friendship boost.

Guard Spec. now prevents stat drops that are side effects of opponents' damaging moves as well. It does not prevent the user from having their stats dropped as a result of their own moves (such as a non-Ghost-type using Curse).

Generation III onward

Guard Spec. now has a maximum duration of five turns, but continues to apply to a new Pokémon after the previous one switches out or faints.

Description

Games Description Stad Temporarily increases Speed for one battle. GS Prevents stat reduction. (1 BTL) C Prevents stats reduction. (1 BTL) RSE Prevents stat reduction when used in battle. FRLG An item that prevents stat reduction among party Pokémon for five turns after use. ColoXD Prevents stat reduction when used in battle. DPPtHGSS BWB2W2 An item that prevents stat reduction among the Trainer's party Pokémon for five turns after use. XYORAS SMUSUMPE SwSh An item that prevents stat reduction among the Trainer's party Pokémon for five turns after it is used in battle.

Acquisition

Games Finite methods Repeatable methods RBY/RGBY Victory Road Celadon Department Store GSC Team Rocket's HideoutC Goldenrod Department Store, Celadon Department Store RSE Route 103 Mauville and Fallarbor Poké Marts, Lilycove Department Store FRLG Victory Road Celadon Department Store Colo Phenac Poké Mart XD Realgam Tower (Battle CD 18 completion prize) Pyrite Poké Mart DPPt Route 205Pt, Route 215DP Veilstone Department Store HGSS Team Rocket HQ Goldenrod Department Store, Celadon Department Store PW Suburban Area, Town Outskirts BW Nacrene City, Shopping Mall Nine B2W2 Castelia City Battle Company Nacrene City, Shopping Mall Nine Join Avenue (Market) XY Routes 13 and 21 Santalune City Poké Mart ORAS Routes 103 and 112 Slateport City Poké Mart, Lilycove Department Store (Level 3) SMUSUM Route 13, Poni Gauntlet, Team Rocket's CastleUSUM Route 2, Route 5USUM, Route 8, and Hau'oli Poké Marts Festival Plaza (Battle Store)MUM PE Route 6, Team Rocket Hideout, Silph Co. All Poké Marts (after obtaining 1 Badge), Celadon Department Store SwSh Hammerlocke Poké Mart (south)

Wonder Launcher

The Guard Spec. appears as a Wonder Launcher item. It costs 3 points to use.

In the TCG

Guard Spec. appears as a Trainer card in Sheet 2 of the Vending Machine cards released exclusively in Japan.

Trivia

• In Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, there is a Trainer Tips sign in Celadon City that states Guard Specs. decrease damage taken by Special attacks. This is incorrect, as Guard Specs. protect a Pokémon from having its stats lowered.
  • Interestingly, the item's description in the leaked beta version of Gold and Silver states that it increases Special Defense, which would make the sign retroactively correct. The item's actual effect in the beta, however, is still the same as in the officially released versions of the games.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 能力防守 Nàhnglihk Fòhngsáu * 效果防護 Haauhgwó Fòhngwuh * Mandarin 能力防守 Nénglì Fángshǒu French Garde-Stats* Défense Spéciale* Défense Spéc.* German Megablock Italian Superguardia Korean 이펙트가드 Effect Guard Spanish Protección X* Protec. Especial*

Battle items

X Attack

X Defense

X Sp. Atk

X Sp. Def

X Speed

X Accuracy

Guard Spec.

Dire Hit

Exclusive to Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Aux Power

Aux Guard

Aux Powerguard

Aux Evasion

This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items.