Effect
Magic Guard protects the Pokémon from indirect damage, including:
- Damage from the Poison status condition
- Damage from a Burn (though the Attack drop still occurs)
- Damage from Leech Seed or Curse
- Weather damage (hail or sandstorm)
- Recoil damage (e.g., from Head Charge)
- Crash damage from Jump Kick or High Jump Kick
- Damage from Spikes or Stealth Rock when switching in (Toxic Spikes still inflicts poisoning but does not cause HP loss)
- HP loss from Life Orb (though the move boosts still occur)
It does not prevent damage from confusion, trapping moves (e.g., Bind), or Struggle.
Changes
In Generation 4, a Pokémon with Magic Guard cannot be poisoned by Toxic Spikes, nor become fully immobile through paralysis (though the Speed drop still occurs).
