From: Brian Brokaw <brokaw@pojo.com>
To: Jarrod Willard <mudskip@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Re: Rapidash vs. Onix
Date: Wednesday, November 10, 1999 8:43 PM

> My sister and I were in the middle of a battle.
> 
> She had one prize left and I had five.
> 
> Her Rapidash had just used Agility:
> 
> _Agility_  Flip a coin.  If heads, during your
> opponent's next turn, prevent all effects of
> attacks, including damage, done to Rapidash.
> 
> (30 damage)
> 
> 
> I told her I thought that Onix's Harden would still work:
> 
> _Harden_  During your opponent's next turn,
> whenever 30 or less damage is done to Onix
> (after applying Weekness and Resistance), prevent
> that damage.  (Any other effects of attacks still
> happen.)
> 
> 
> I know that Harden is an attack.
> In the text of Rapidash's attack my sister says that
> "...prevent all effects of attacks..."
> means that I can't attack.
> 
> But I remind her that it also says
> "...., prevent all effects of
> attacks, including damage, DONE TO Rapidash."
> 
> I assume that the Harden attack does nothing to Rapidash, so I can still use
> Harden.
> 
> Yet I seem to recall something in the Q and A archives that says otherwise,
> but I couldn't find it..
> But on the other hand, I'm not sure.
> 
> 
> 
> Here's another question.
> My sister's Rapidash just used Agility, and flipped heads.
> 
> Now it's my turn.
> 
> If I use a GOW to send back her Rapidash, and bring out her Mankey,
> and then use another GOW to bring the Rapidash out,
> Did that clear the 'Agility' effect?

Hi Jarrod.
Your questions were very well formulated, and easy to read.
I THANK you VERY much for this!  I wish everyone that emailed
me was so clear!

Agility does NOT stop an opponent from attacking.  
(So your Onix is allowed to use Harden.)

Agility does NOT stop "effects" from affecting the ATTACKING Pokemon,
they only stop "effects" from sticking to the Agility (DEFENDING) Pokemon.

Harden's shield "effect" is applied ONLY to Onix.  It doesn't matter which
Pokemon Onix's opponent switched to, as long as Onix is not benched or
evolved (er, that couldn't happen, but you know what I mean...) the Harden
"effect" will STAY with Onix. 
(so Agility does NOT prevent the Harden shield "effect")

So, you were right, and your sis wasn't... 

Attacks like Agility and Harden apply "effects" to Pokemon in play. Sometimes
they are stuck to the attacker, sometimes to the defender, and sometimes to
both.  (You just have to figure it out based on the attack text... no easy method
here.) Whenever that Pokemon is Benched or Evolved, the "effect" is removed.
(so using 2 GoW on a Pokemon will clear it of Agility shield "effect")

Hope this helps.
Brian Brokaw