[09] Dragon vs Involuntary Twitch

[Negrek]

Battle Style: 1vs1
DQ Time: 3 Days
Damage Cap: 35%
Banned Moves: OHKO's; chills limited to three/pokémon; direct healers limited to one/pokémon
Terrain: The Battle Factory

The Battle Factory’s arena is simple but practical: a large clay arena bordered by a two-meter-wide, three-meter-deep trough of water to accommodate water-dependent pokemon and attacks. The ceiling is retractable, allowing weather attacks to be used. Other than that, there’s nothing of note: just wide-open brawling space with nothing to get in your way.

The Battle Factory’s stands are mostly empty, housing only a few bored-looking spectators and one old guy who has apparently fallen asleep. The only enthusiastic-looking attendees are probably members of one of the competitor’s families. The first round of the Championship tournament isn’t the most highly-anticipated event in the history of the League, but for the challengers loitering to one side of the arena, it is just as important as any other match. Doing their best not to show any nervousness they might be feeling, they crane their necks to watch a huge screen mounted on the side wall between them. For now, it shows only their own names and faces, but at a signal from the referee, images of pokemon flash at the bottom of the display, a dizzying cascade of different species.

The randomization seems to last an age for the competitors whose victory may rest on what the computer chooses, but it is really only a few seconds before six images settle on the screen and, with a rattle, six pokéballs are dispensed into depressions below the display. The two trainers step up and select one pokéball each before making their way to the boxes marked off on either side of the arena.

A brief, muted stir of activity sweeps the stands. The League Championship is about to begin, and even the most jaded of spectator’s can’t help but feel a little thrill as the referee calls out the match’s beginning and two pokéballs are hurled into the air.

For this battle, you will be using a rental Pokémon instead of one from your team. The six (only one of each) available to you are the following:

Primeape (M) <Vital Spirit>, Ditto (X), Unown I (X), Finneon (F) <Swift Swim>, Magneton (M) <Sturdy>, Dragonair (F)

1. Involuntary Twitch chooses
2. Dragon chooses and attacks
3. Involuntary Twitch attacks

 

[Involuntary Twitch]

It's unfortunate that the Union members must step down for this battle, but such is how we must proceed.

...Let's make this fun, shall we?

Ditto (X)

 

[Dragon]

Don't screw this up, don't screw this up...

Alright theeeen.. Let's go with the female Dragonair. The Ditto'll have to Transform first, or move out of the way or something, so let's start with Thunder Wave. Ice Beam after that, or Thunder Wave if the first one failed. Ice Beam again.

Thunder Wave~Ice Beam/Thunder Wave~Ice Beam

 

[Involuntary Twitch]

Thunder wave? Thunder wave?! Really now, with an ability like Limber, why on earth would they want to do something as knuckleheaded as that? Just sit there and take it for the first two turns, then after she attacks you a second time turn into something that doesn't mind a little ice, like, say, an Empoleon. (If you don't know what Empoleon is, uhh... it's a really big water/steel-type Penguin. Just do your best, really-- the important thing is that you become that type.) Since I don't expect you to know what Empoleon's moves are, just do your best to hit it with your beak using either a Peck attack or, if you can manage it, a Drill Peck.

Take the attack ~ Wait to be attacked, then transform into an Empoleon ~ try to Peck/Drill Peck

psssst does Transform change your ability as well?

 

[Sylph]

Reffing from Negrek

Round One​

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
- Calm and composed.

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X)
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
- Burbling happily.

Their selections made, the trainers cast out their pokéballs and call on their fighters-for-hire. Dragon's choice is appropriate to her name, a sleek blue dragonair whose dark eyes betray no sign of nervousness. Involuntary Twitch's pokémon manifests first as a puddle of pink goo, but once fully formed the pokémon heaves itself up into an amorphous blob that sprouts eyes and a smiling mouth. Dragonair watches the ditto chirp and sprout four protrusions at the top of its body with something like disdain.

Intent on putting a damper on the ditto's good mood, Dragonair channels electrical energy into her horn, which sparks with power for a moment before emitting a thin strand of crackling energy. The thunder wave strikes Ditto solidly, but the pokémon only giggles with delight, seeming to enjoy itself as electricity crawls over its skin. Without a nervous system, muscles, or much in the way of internal anatomy, Ditto remains happily unaffected by the paralyzing attack. Dragonair narrows her eyes. Looks as though that was a failure.
Once more the dragonair blasts a thunder wave at the ditto, but the attack has no more effect than its predecessor. Even as the last of the electricity zapping through its body dissipates, the ditto is on the move, expanding grotesquely, its entire body seething and shifting as it draws itself up into a new shape. The tall column that results spreads out to form a rotund, regal penguin. At first, the new-minted bird is the bubblegum pink of a ditto, but as the final details of the pokémon's form are determined, pigments flood its skin, rendering it indistinguishable from a real empoleon save for the odd detail here and there (its crown is missing its central prong) and a slight pinkish tinge to its coloration.

Somewhat taken aback by Ditto's choice of form, Dragonair nevertheless wastes no time in conjuring up a response to the transformation. The air around the dragonair grows chill as she cools her body enough to drop the water in her internal reserves to subzero temperatures. The column of liquid that she blasts at Ditto freezes to his steely skin upon contact, forming a thick cake of ice just below the elbow on his left flipper. Though the cold of the attack has little effect on Ditto in its new form, its left arm is thus solidly frozen to its side.

Ditto, a bit more somber in its new form, gives Dragonair a reproachful look, then waddles forward and brings its beak down solidly on the dragon's head. Dragonair hisses and slithers away, wearing a smarting welt where the attack connected but not badly hurt.

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 98%
Energy: 85%
- Stung and a bit put out.

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Empoleon>
Health: 98%
Energy: 95%
- Totally a penguin, guys. Left arm frozen to its side.

Final Notes
- If a ditto transforms into a pokémon it is not directly presented with, it does not copy that pokémon's movepool, although it can approximate some attacks, such as, in this case, peck. However, these attacks are weaker than their "actual" counterparts and are always normal type.
- If a pokémon transforms to another one on the field, then it does copy that pokémon's ability. If asked to transform into one that is not present, though, the ability will not be copied. I'll expand upon the definition of transform in the Attack Guide when I next get the chance, so you two may want to review that later for more details about how transform is handled.
- Involuntary Twitch attacks first next round.

 

[Involuntary Twitch]

Nice job, Ditto. Remember that form in case we have to use it again.

Now that that's settled and we've sufficiently frustrated our foe, transform into your foe (I figure the ice on your arm shouldn't hold up since you, er, won't have any arms) and Dragon Dance, then wreak a little havoc with Outrage. Status effects shouldn't be too much of a problem with Shed Skin.

However, if you find yourself incapable of Transforming for whatever reason the first time around, flee to the water-- submerging your wing should crack the ice, we're talking basic physics here-- then Transform into your foe. Chances are the Dragonair'll be flinging everything it's got atcha, but don't worry, you'll make your comeback before this is over.

Transform into Dragonair ~ Dragon Dance / Submerge in water ~ Outrage / Transform into Dragonair

 

[Dragon]

*feels like an idiot* Damn, should've checked its ability. >_<

So we're going to blast the hell out of the Empoleon with a Thunderbolt, but if the Ditto turns into a Dragonair before you can attack, Ice Beam. If it Dragon Dances, Dragon Dance as well, otherwise, another Ice Beam. Do your best to get out of the way of the Outrage.

Thunderbolt/Ice Beam~Dragon Dance~Get the hell away from the Outrage/B]

 

[Negrek]

Round Two​

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 98%
Energy: 85%
- Stung and a bit put out.

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Empoleon>
Health: 98%
Energy: 95%
- Totally a penguin, guys. Left arm frozen to its side.

Dragonair whips around to face Ditto, her horn starting to spark with electricity again. The penguin shrinks away and, indeed, starts to shrink, its body running like hot wax as it sheds its empoleon shape. Dragonair does her best not to be unnerved; the charge building in her horn is powerful, much more powerful than the thunder wave she tried earlier, and she has no doubt that it will fry even this weird creature.

The thunderbolt roars out from her horn and strikes the transforming ditto dead on, causing it to spasm and flail as electricity rattles through its temporarily watery body. Dragonair isn't able to judge the impact of the attack very well, unable as she is to tell the difference between the weird contortions of an ordinary transform and expressions of pain, but Ditto definitely feels the thunderbolt. Nevertheless, the attack is only a temporary impediment--as soon as the electricity dissipates, Ditto swiftly completes its transform. The chunky empoleon shape slims down and elongates, dark blue body lightening to a softer hue and limbs melting down into its torso. The ice that had caked on Ditto's empoleon-flipper no longer has a flipper to which to bind, but is still frozen firmly to the pokémon's ectoplasm, such that when the transformation is commplete the resulting dragonair has a block of ice sticking weirdly out of its side. Other than that, though, the transformation is perfect: with its subject right there in front of it, Ditto has gotten every detail correct.

Still more unnerved now that the opponent looks just like her, Dragonair watches Ditto as it begins to dance. The newly-formed dragon loops in and over itself in a flowing, rhythmic pattern, going faster and faster as draconic energy rushes into its body. The block of ice on its side shatters against the floor as Ditto dances, and the pokémon doesn't appear to even notice.

Not to be outdone, the real dragonair starts up a dance of her own. The two pokémon look all the more like mirror images as they throw themselves into their respective dances; they slither and sway, coil and uncoil one after the other, and in the end both are left feeling invigorated as the ancient power of dragons pulses through their veins.

Ditto is quick to seize upon this new energy, rearing back and letting out a deep, unearthly howl. Blue-green flames leap up all down its slender body and its eyes glow a deep blue as it unleashes the fury of dragonkind. Understandably intimidated, Dragonair turns tail and flees, but Ditto gives chase, gouts of flame flying in all directions as it goes. Dragonair can't hope to outrun Ditto's maddened wrath--the fiery dragon soon catches up to its target and slams a blazing tail into her side. Dragonair tries again and again to escape from Ditto's outrage, slithering free of reaching coils and ducking under furious blows, but ultimately she can do little to shield herself from the powerful attack. She is left scorched and bruised as a result of Ditto's whipping tail, horned head, and the flames that wreath it; even now, the faux-dragonair is rushing in for another strike, blank, glowing eyes trained on its target.

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 77%
Energy: 72%
- Battered and fearful. +1 Attack, +1 Speed

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Dragonair>
Health: 88%
Energy: 79%
- On a rampage. +1 Attack, +1 Speed

Final Notes
- Dragonair's attempts at escape did reduce the damage from outrage somewhat, but there was really no avoiding the brunt of the attack.
- As promised, transform's attack definition has been updated and expanded upon.
- Dragon attacks first next round.

 

[Dragon]

Okay, try to fend it off with a Dragon Pulse, and another Ice Beam. Do your best to stay away from the Ditto if it's still using Outrage by that time, if not let's have another Dragon Dance, and yeah.

Dragon Pulse~Ice Beam~Keep away/Dragon Dance

 

[Involuntary Twitch]

KILL IT DITTO. If you stop, try and pull yourself together and throw up a safeguard. Try it again next action if it fails, or if you succeed, start another Outrage.

Outrage ~ Outrage/Safeguard ~ Safeguard/Outrage

(Will Safeguard cancel out existing status problems? And does Shed Skin apply to confusion?)

 

[Sylph]

Reffing from Negrek

Round Three​

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 77%
Energy: 72%
- Battered and fearful. +1 Attack, +1 Speed

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Dragonair>
Health: 88%
Energy: 79%
- On a rampage. +1 Attack, +1 Speed

With Ditto bearing down on her in a towering rage, Dragonair has to work quickly to produce her dragon pulse. A swirling ball of dragonfire collects between her open jaws, Dragonair pouring energy into the attack for as long as she can before she is forced to release it when Ditto slithers too close for comfort. The seething blue-green orb of energy sails true, headed straight for Ditto, but the false dragonair twists out of the way, whether by accident or by design, and the dragon pulse only grazes its blazing side. Dragonair gets out the beginning of a vehement curse, but is cut off as Ditto lashes out with its blazing tail, wrapping Dragonair's neck in its coils and squeezing as hard as it can. Dragonair thrashes, choking and trying to pull away, but with unnatural strength Ditto drags her closer, the flames spraying from its body blackening her scales and searing her body with their sheer energy. Raising Dragonair above its head, Ditto then brings her crashing down against the floor of the arena several times before she manages to wriggle free of its grasp and slither away.

Trying to recover her breath, Dragonair struggles into an upright position as Ditto starts moving again, questing blindly for its opponent as the very energy that lends it power inundates its senses, deafening, blinding, and leaving it almost entirely reliant on touch. Nevertheless, the ditto is fast, and Dragonair knows she has scant few seconds before it is upon her again. Damaged scales turn cold to the touch as the dragon's metabolism plummets, the water stored in her body falling to subzero temperatures as it rushes up her throat. The streamer of liquid Dragonair spews at Ditto freezes immediately upon contact with the maddened dragon's skin, but it shatters almost as quickly as Ditto whips around in the direction from which the attack came. It charges, head lowered and horn at the ready, and rams into Dragonair's side, then proceeds to flail around with its whip-like tail, laying open long slashes down its model's usually smooth side.

Fortunately for Dragonair, Ditto's unreasonable outrage is waning; it continues to flail, but the flames spewing from its scales die away and its eyes clear--though they remain sightless and unfocused. Dragonair slips away, but Ditto continues to slam its tail against the floor, and occasionally its head as well, battering at an opponent that is no longer there in its confusion. Breathing a sigh of relief, Dragonair takes a moment to collect herself, then launches into a somewhat ginger dragon dance. Dragonair's injuries don't hinder her for long, though, as the rush of energy that accompanies her attack soon masks the pain. Eventually she works up to such a frenzy pitch of movement that she is nearly indistinguishable from her confused foe, though her movements, despite their wildness, show much more coordination and rhythm.

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 42%
Energy: 54%
- Dancing away despite the damage caused by outrage. +2 Attack, +2 Speed

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Dragonair>
Health: 70%
Energy: 60%
- Thinks it's still on a rampage. Confused (severe). +1 Attack, +1 Speed

Final Notes
- Safeguard does not heal preexisting status conditions, and neither does shed skin affect confusion.
- Involuntary Twitch attacks first next round.

 

[Involuntary Twitch]

Wowee, that was fun, wasn't it Ditto? But you've gotta take a break now. Stop straining yourself to think and chill for a sec there. Then try throwing up a safeguard. If the confusion clears next round, start another outrage, or safeguard again if it failed the first time.

Chill and try to clear your head ~ Safeguard ~ Safeguard/Outrage

 

[Dragon]

Okay, while it's confused, start with an Ice Beam, try to freeze it to stall for a bit. See if you can stick an Ice Beam in again before it Safeguards, trying to keep it from the first time; if it does before you can, Icy Wind. If it goes into another Outrage, Reflect, if not, Dragon Pulse.

Ice Beam~Ice Beam/Icy Wind~Reflect/Dragon Pulse

 

[Negrek]

Round Four​

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 42%
Energy: 54%
- Dancing away despite the damage caused by outrage. +2 Attack, +2 Speed

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Dragonair>
Health: 70%
Energy: 60%
- Thinks it's still on a rampage. Confused (severe). +1 Attack, +1 Speed

Dragonair is the first one to come out of her fit of twisting and squirming and, still buoyed up by the rush of power afforded by the dragon dance, is quick to power up an ice beam. It is somewhat difficult to aim for Ditto, as its violent and erratic movement makes it an uncertain target, but Dragonair is patient and meticulous, and the burst of supercooled water she spits over the frenzied dragon flies true, freezing to Ditto's scales.

For a moment, Ditto pauses, as though the cold shock of the ice beam has returned some semblance of rational thought to it. Blearily, the transformed pokémon thinks on its command--take a break? Give that loathsome Dragonair the opportunity to get in another attack? There's no way Ditto's going to just lie down and take that. Plunging ahead against its better judgment, Ditto lunges for Dragonair, misses, and falls flat on its face.

Backing up to maintain a comfortable distance between herself and the crazed Ditto, Dragonair draws up water for another ice beam. Ditto jerks up off the floor as the freezing spray splashes down along her back, furious but still a little tipsy. This time, though, it is able to focus through the haze of confusion, and execute its attack instead of simply flying off the handle. A green glow emanates from Ditto's scales as it spreads a protective layer of energy just beneath its skin, intended to block out the energy that might otherwise allow undesirable status conditions to take hold in its body.

The appearance of the safeguard is bad news for Dragonair, who hangs back, watching Ditto closely. She gulps as Ditto closes its eyes in a long blink, then opens them again to reveal a flat, seneless glare of light. There is no time for her to get a reflect together before the false dragon is upon her, gouts of flame starting to spit from its scales and its whiplike body imbued with irrational strength once more. This time, Ditto's frenzied thrashing is a sight more effective in damaging its opponent, and Dragonair finds herself scorched and bleeding, more wounds laid open down her sinuous length. She tries to concentrate through the pain, first on escaping and then, that accomplished, on constructing some sort of defense against Ditto's terrible attack. While Ditto is casting blindly about for her, Dragonair forces a solid sheet of dense power outward, forming a semitransparent wall of energy to disperse some of the damage from physical attacks. Whether or not it will be enough to defend her from Ditto in her severeley weakened state is questionable, but Dragonair will find out the answer soon--Ditto has already turned her way, awful purpose in its senseless eyes.

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 15%
Energy: 39%
- On her last proverbial legs. Protected by reflect (5 more actions). +2 Attack, +2 Speed

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Dragonair>
Health: 48%
Energy: 49%
- Back in "break stuff" mode, but still a little scattered. Protected by safeguard (4 more actions). Confused (mild). +1 Attack, +1 Speed

Final Notes
- Dragon attacks first next round.

 

[Dragon]

We're in trouble now, aren't we? There isn't much we can do to weasel out of this.. but we'll have to try.

Let's stall the fuck out, this round. Start with Endure, and Chill behind that. And.. I guess we'll have to hope for the confusion to maybe get in the way or something, and and and go with Double Team. If at any time your energy gets below 10%, chill instead.

Endure/Chill~Chill~Double Team/Chill *wince*

 

[Involuntary Twitch]

All right, Ditto. Kill that silly fool that dared stand up to your blobby draconic wrath. Try and clear your head of the confusion and focus on the killing, and don't expect to get it in the first action thanks to Endure-- instead, slam it in the second with Swift (if your outrage finishes) or just continue raaaageing that thing to pieces. Safeguard should protect you from confusing yourself after your rampage is finished.

...And then finish it off with False Swipe! Just kidding.

Outrage ~ Outrage/Swift ~ Swift

 

[Sylph]

Reffing from Negrek

Round Five​

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 15%
Energy: 39%
- On her last proverbial legs. Protected by reflect (5 more actions). +2 Attack, +2 Speed

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Dragonair>
Health: 48%
Energy: 49%
- Back in "break stuff" mode, but still a little scattered. Protected by safeguard (4 more actions). Confused (mild). +1 Attack, +1 Speed

Dragonair braces herself, eyes glowing blue as she calls on her energy reserves to serve for health in the face of Ditto's outrage. There isn't a great deal of time for Dragonair to prepare herself before her endurance is tested, Ditto throwing itself at her in a whirlwind of flame and fury. Under ordinary circumstances, the powerful attack would certainly have blasted Dragonair into unconsciousness, reflect or no, but sustained by the power of her endure, she manages to hang on long eough to witness the flames die back and the glow to leave Ditto's eyes. The fake dragon slithers away, snorting and shaking its head; though the safeguard glows as strongly as ever around it, it appears as disoriented as it had been after its last outrage.

Vision blurry and a bit uncertain, afflicted with an in infernal all-over ache, Dragonair nevertheless does her best to hang on, the blue aura of endure flickering around her. Ditto shakes its head a couple more times, then rears back, the orbs below its neck glowing a bright white before spraying star-shaped chunks of pure energy in all directions. Several of these smash against Dragonair's battered scales and the dragon closes her eyes, wincing, but the endure stays strong. It remains strong even as Ditto's thrashing redoubles, the false dragon falling into pointless flailing, and Dragonair is silently grateful that, at least for the moment, she has no more attacks to endure.

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 1%
Energy: 23%
- Just barely hanging on to consciousness. Protected by reflect (2 more actions). +2 Attack, +2 Speed

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Dragonair>
Health: 48%
Energy: 34%
- Once again muddled and irrationaly aggressive. Protected by safeguard (1 more action). Confused (severe). +1 Attack, +1 Speed

Final Notes
- Endure lasts all round, as far as the version of the attack guide I have on my computer tells me. Therefore, Dragonair did nothing else over all three actions.
- Safeguard cannot protect against self-inflicted confusion.
- Involuntary Twitch attacks first next round.

 

[Involuntary Twitch]

Gonna complain, sorry: Our (TCoD) attack guide says Endure must be consciously maintained, and Dragonair's orders weren't to maintain it but rather to Endure the first action and chill the rest. You did that in the round though, so although it kind of bothers me that you changed the commands (and that it worked three-- er, two consecutive actions), I just plain don't get the Safeguard thing. I suppose it's like that in the games...?

Well anyway, sorry for bitching, I guess I'll have to wait another round or two for this to be finished.

Same deal Ditto; drop the safeguard, you won't be needing it anymore. You don't need to focus on your opponent, just relax your mind and send out a swift, which will find her on its own. Do it again if you fail. Do it again again if you fail, or if you just want to be sadistic.

Swift ~ Swift ~ Swift

 

[Dragon]

Damn, this is it, Dragonair. I guess there's one thing left to do..

Draco Meteor~Last Resort~Last Resort

YOU MUST USE DRACO METEOR IN THIS MATCH, DAMMIT >_<

 

[Negrek]

Round Six​

Dragon (O)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 1%
Energy: 23%
- Just barely hanging on to consciousness. Protected by reflect (2 more actions). +2 Attack, +2 Speed

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Dragonair>
Health: 48%
Energy: 34%
- Once again muddled and irrationaly aggressive. Protected by safeguard (1 more action). Confused (severe). +1 Attack, +1 Speed

The blue light around Dragonair fades, and the pain of her injuries seems to redouble as her mental defenses against it fall. Wavering on the edge of consciousness, she prepares one last attack, the most powerful she can muster. Tossing her head back, she lets out a long, piercing howl, and far overhead something answers her call. The Battle Factory's ceiling splits open and begins to retract, and Ditto looks up blearily, trying to focus on the specks of green that stand out against the blue sky overhead. As the specks grow larger, they resolve into huge green fireballs, chunks of extraterrestrial rocks wreathed in draconic flame.

The cluster of small meteors roars to earth, blowing craters in the arena and hiding Ditto behind a blazing curtain of flame. The transformed pokémon tries to slither away from the bombardment, but the draco meteors slam to earth all around it, cutting off its escape. The transformed pokémon finally emerges from the ruined area of the arena only after the attack ends, charred and cut all over by flying, superheated shrapnel but considerably less confused than it was before. Dragonair lets out a disappointed sigh as she sees her opponent wounded but still quite conscious. The fake dragonair closes its eyes and channels energy to the orb at its neck, which glows white before spewing energy stars in all directions. Dragonair struggles to stay conscious as stinging bursts of energy pound her body, but it's a losing battle. The dragon slumps forward, eyes fluttering closed as she succumbs to her injuries at last. Ditto, meanwhile, melts back down to an amorphous pink blob and lets out a victorious burble, extending a pseudopod and waving exuberantly to the sparse crowd.

Dragon (X)

Dragonair (F)
Health: 0%
Energy: 13%
Knocked Out!

Involuntary Twitch (O)

Ditto (X) <Dragonair>
Health: 24%
Energy: 30%
Victorious!

All right, Involuntary Twitch wins $10 and advances to the second round; Dragon gets $5, and I get $8. Good match, you two, and good luck in your future battles.

(I apologize that the version of endure's entry on my computer isn't consistent with the current one on the forums; it wouldn't have been a big deal to change the last round with that being the case. I don't really understand why you think that safeguard would protect against confusion from outrage, though--it's a veil or shield attack just like light screen or reflect. If the cause of a status condition originates within its boundaries, then there's nothing it could to to protect against it, just like reflect doesn't protect against recoil damage caused when the pokémon protected by it uses double edge or something similar. Safeguard doesn't protect against outrage confusion in the games either, no, but I just don't see why it would in any case.)