Guard Spec.

	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
Generation IX	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
RG B Y/RB Y GS C RS E FRLG DP Pt HGSS BW B2W2 XY ORAS PE BDSP	$700	$350
SM USUM SwSh	$1,500	$750
SV	$1,500	$375

At Join Avenue's Market, Guard Spec. can be bought in dozens at $6300 each, which equates to $525 per Guard Spec..

Effect

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

Generation I

When used on a Pokémon from the Bag during battle, it creates Mist on that Pokémon's side of the field as long as it is in battle.

The mist protects the Pokémon from opponent's status moves that lower the target's stats (such as Growl and String Shot). It has no effect on damaging moves that have additional effects to lower stats (such as Aurora Beam or Psychic).

Generation II

When used on a Pokémon from the Bag during battle, it creates Mist on that Pokémon's side of the field as long as it is in battle (although it can be passed by Baton Pass).

The mist makes the Pokémon immune to the stat-lowering effects of other Pokémon's moves (both damaging and status moves). It does not prevent the user from decreasing its own stats with its own moves (such as a non-Ghost-type Pokémon using Curse).

Generation III onward

When used on a Pokémon from the Bag during battle, it creates Mist on that Pokémon's side of the field for 5 turns (even if the original Pokémon leaves the field). It also increases the Pokémon's friendship a little.

The mist makes the Pokémon immune to the stat-lowering effects of other Pokémon's moves and Abilities. It does not prevent the user from decreasing its own stats with its own moves (such as a non-Ghost-type Pokémon using Curse).

Wonder Launcher

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

Description

Games	Description
Stad	Temporarily heightens defense against special attacks for one battle.
GS	Prevents stat reduction. (1 BTL)
C	Prevents stats reduction. (1 BTL)
RS EColoXD	Prevents stat reduction when used in battle.
FRLG	An item that prevents stat reduction among party Pokémon for five turns after use.
DP Pt HGSS BW B2W2	An item that prevents stat reduction among the Trainer's party Pokémon for five turns after use.
XY ORAS SM USUM PE SwSh BDSP LA	An item that prevents stat reduction among the Trainer's party Pokémon for five turns after it is used in battle.
SV	An item that prevents Pokémon on your side from having their stats lowered in battle for five turns.

Acquisition

Games	Finite methods	Repeatable methods
RB Y/RG B Y	Victory Road	Celadon Department Store
GS C	Team Rocket's Hideout^C	Goldenrod Department Store, Celadon Department Store
RS E	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
DP Pt	Routes 205^Pt and 215^DP	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)
SM USUM	Route 13, Poni Gauntlet, Team Rocket's Castle^USUM	Route 2, Route 5^USUM, 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 Hidden recurring item (Team Rocket Hideout)
SwSh		Hammerlocke Poké Mart (south)
BDSP	Route 215	Veilstone Department Store
SV	Artazon, Cortondo, Area Zero, Casseroya Lake, Dalizapa Passage, Tagtree Thicket, East Province (Area Three), North Province (Area One), North Province (Area Two), North Province (Area Three), South Province (Area Five)	Chansey Supply (after earning 3 Gym Badges)
SVTM	Kitakami Road, Mossfell Confluence
SVID	Canyon Biome, Savanna Biome	Vending machines (Terarium)

Gallery

Artwork

Artwork from
Scarlet and Violet

In the TCG

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

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

In Pokémon Masters EX, Guard Spec. can only be used by certain sync pairs who have it as an item move.

Name	Category	MP (uses)	Target	Effect tag	Description	Playable sync pair(s)
Guard Spec.	Status	2	Allied side	—	Applies the Stat Reduction Defense effect to the allied field of play.	Brycen-Man & Zoroark

Trivia

The item has often been given incorrect descriptions:
- In Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, as well as Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, 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. The item's description in Pokémon Stadium also makes this same claim.
  - 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 *
Chinese	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*