Friend-Guard

Friend Guard is an ability in the Pokémon series that provides crucial defensive support in multi-battle formats, such as Double or Triple Battles. When a Pokémon with Friend Guard is on the battlefield, it reduces the damage received by its allies from attacks by 25%. This effect does not apply to the Pokémon with Friend Guard itself but can significantly enhance the survivability of its teammates, allowing for more strategic plays and prolonging their presence in battle.

Interestingly, Friend Guard is an ability commonly seen on Pokémon that can function as support roles. For example, Clefairy and Igglybuff are often utilized in competitive formats due to their access to Friend Guard and various support moves like Follow Me and Helping Hand, which can draw attacks away from more offensive team members or boost their power.

Additionally, Friend Guard's utility extends to mitigating self-inflicted damage from moves like Earthquake or Explosion, making it a valuable asset in teams that rely on such strategies. Despite its powerful effect, Friend Guard does