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Sometimes, according to the reference for the game or ruleset—but the sources disagree. Bulbapedia says a Pokémon with No Guard can use one-hit knockout (OHKO) moves without missing, while Pokéos says OHKO moves are unaffected. Pokémon Showdown’s implementation is relevant to simulator play, not proof of how every official game works. The exact answer depends on the game, generation, and battle format.
Why the answer is disputed
Bulbapedia describes No Guard as preventing moves used by or against its bearer from missing, and specifically says that a Pokémon with the Ability can use OHKO moves without missing. Bulbapedia’s No Guard entry therefore supports “yes” in the mechanics it describes.
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Pokéos gives the opposite guidance: its No Guard Abilitydex entry says that one-hit KO moves are unaffected. Since these references conflict, it would be misleading to state a universal ruling without naming a game or ruleset.
What No Guard does—and does not—mean
Even where No Guard affects an OHKO move’s chance to miss, that does not mean every attempt succeeds. OHKO moves have move-specific rules and can fail for reasons beyond ordinary accuracy. Bulbapedia’s OHKO move reference describes those special restrictions and notes that ordinary accuracy and evasion changes generally do not alter OHKO accuracy in later generations.
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So distinguish “the move cannot miss because of No Guard” from “the target is guaranteed to be knocked out.” The latter does not follow: eligibility, immunity, and other failure conditions still matter.
Does Pokémon Showdown use No Guard on OHKO moves?
Pokémon Showdown’s battle-actions.ts source contains separate accuracy handling for OHKO moves. That is useful evidence for how the simulator processes battles, but simulator code does not establish that every official Pokémon game uses identical mechanics. If your question is about a Showdown format, check the applicable simulator ruleset; if it is about a cartridge game, specify that title and generation.
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How to get a definitive answer for your battle
- Name the game and generation. A general Ability description is not enough to settle a disputed interaction across all releases.
- Specify the battle format. A simulator or format may implement rules that do not establish cartridge behavior.
- Check the interaction in that scope. The available references support conflicting general claims, so avoid treating either as a universal guarantee.
Move descriptions are not always a complete mechanics specification. The Pokémon Company has published a Scarlet and Violet notice correcting move descriptions; that notice concerns misleading critical-hit wording, not No Guard or OHKO moves, so it does not resolve this interaction.
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