Protect vs Detect

[traingledd]

Other than the obvious of PP, what exactly is the difference between these two moves? I've read that in 2nd  and 3rd gen you could alternate between those moves for tons of invincibility, but that seems to have changed in the 4th gen. Is there a difference in priority or something?


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[SirBlaziken]

No, not really, but one's a fighting type and the other is regular, and protect is more widely available, so there's that.

[Mistral]

^ Pretty much this.

I believe Detect is more commonly seen as a level up move instead of as a TM like Protect is, but I also think that some Pokemon that get Detect level up can also get Protect via TM.

[Turner]

Protect is used in double/triple battles a lot to negate damage from team attacks like Earthquake, so it's common to have a counter that uses Imprison/Protect to stop this from happening. Detect has a much smaller spread so you'd be hard pushed to find anyone in doubles/triples that would use it with Imprison because there's a lower chance of encountering it. If you use Detect to avoid team damage then any counter running Imprison/Protect becomes largely useless and you still get to use your team attacks without taking damage.

[Lord Raven]

Protect is also used in single battles to basically waste a turn of attack, especially against someone you know/suspect is using a Choice Band.  Lets you switch in safer.  It'a also used in some stall teams to allow a free turn of Toxic/Leech Seed to do some more damage.

It's also used by Speed Boost sets to get that first speed boost in safely.