Shield Dust is an ability in the Pokémon series that offers unique protective benefits to the Pokémon possessing it. The primary effect of Shield Dust is that it prevents additional effects that might be caused by an opponent's moves. Specifically, any secondary effects that are supposed to occur as a result of a damaging move—such as causing a status condition (like paralysis from Thunderbolt or burn from Flamethrower), flinching, or stat changes—are nullified if the attack hits a Pokémon with Shield Dust.