Magic Guard (Ability)

Magic Guard (Japanese: マジックガード Magic Guard) is an Ability introduced in Generation IV. Ten Pokémon can have this Ability. Prior to Generation V, it was the signature Ability of Cleffa, Clefairy and Clefable.

Effect

In battle

Generation IV

Magic Guard prevents indirect damage, such as from weather conditions, poisoning, Curse, or Leech Seed. It prevents the damaging effects of status conditions, but it does not stop status conditions from being induced. Damage caused by entry hazards (such as Spikes) and recoil (except when using Struggle) is prevented. If paralyzed, a Pokémon with Magic Guard will suffer from the normal Speed reduction but cannot be fully paralyzed. Magic Guard will also cancel out Life Orb's HP deduction without negating its power boost. Magic Guard will prevent the user from being poisoned by Toxic Spikes.

Magic Guard does not prevent status conditions. Magic Guard prevents recoil, but does not prevent other damage the Pokémon with Magic Guard causes itself, such as Belly Drum, Substitute, or damage from confusion. If a Pokémon with Magic Guard causes a Pokémon that used Destiny Bond to faint, the Pokémon with Magic Guard will also faint. Additional effects such as trapping from moves like Fire Spin and Attack reduction from a burn are not prevented. Magic Guard does not prevent the effects of Perish Song.

Generation V

Magic Guard no longer grants immunity to being fully paralyzed and no longer prevents poisoning from Toxic Spikes, though it still prevents poison damage. Magic Guard now prevents Imposter from activating.

Outside of battle

Magic Guard has no effect outside of battle. This means a poisoned Pokémon with Magic Guard will still take damage in the field in Generation IV (but not later generations, because poison no longer causes damage in the field starting in Generation V).

Pokémon with Magic Guard

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0035		Clefairy	Normal		Normal	Cute Charm	Magic Guard	Friend Guard
0036		Clefable	Normal		Normal	Cute Charm	Magic Guard	Unaware
0063		Abra	Psychic		Psychic	Synchronize	Inner Focus	Magic Guard
0064		Kadabra	Psychic		Psychic	Synchronize	Inner Focus	Magic Guard
0065		Alakazam	Psychic		Psychic	Synchronize	Inner Focus	Magic Guard
0173		Cleffa	Normal		Normal	Cute Charm	Magic Guard	Friend Guard
0561		Sigilyph	Psychic	Flying	Wonder Skin	Magic Guard	Tinted Lens
0577		Solosis	Psychic		Psychic	Overcoat	Magic Guard	Regenerator
0578		Duosion	Psychic		Psychic	Overcoat	Magic Guard	Regenerator
0579		Reuniclus	Psychic		Psychic	Overcoat	Magic Guard	Regenerator
Please note that abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 魔法防禦 Mófǎ Fángyù French Garde Magik German Magieschild Italian Magicscudo Korean 매직가드 Magic Guard Portuguese Escudo Mágico Spanish Muro Mágico

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.