Does Protean/Libero still activate if the move fails?

Question

I was thinking of making a Kecleon moveset, and I want to know if Protean/Libero will still activate if the move you are using fails. This could probably be tested easiest using Fake Out or Sucker Punch. Please have a definite answer, and not something like: "The entry for Protean says that it activates when the Pokémon uses a move so logically it should still work even if the move fails"

Thank you.

Answer 1

Protean and Libero only activate when the move succeeds. Here is a replay of this interaction in Generation IX.

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Protean will not activate if the move fails (unless it fails due to the activation of Protean), if the execution is interrupted entirely (such as by the effect of infatuation or confusion), if the move is prevented by heavy rain or extremely harsh sunlight, if the user is already the same single type as the move being used, or if the move is prevented by Powder. Protean will activate even if the move misses, is blocked by a protection move, or fails to affect the opponent. Protean will still change the user's type when using Roar, Whirlwind, Trick-or-Treat, and Forest's Curse, regardless of whether the move successfully executes or not.

Libero will not activate if the move fails (unless it fails due to the activation of Libero), if the execution is interrupted entirely (such as by the effect of infatuation or confusion), if the user is already the same single type as the move being used, or if the move is prevented by heavy rain or extremely harsh sunlight. Libero will activate even if the move misses, is blocked by a protection move, or fails to affect the opponent. Libero will still change the user's type when using Roar, Whirlwind, Trick-or-Treat, and Forest's Curse, regardless of whether the move successfully executes or not.

Protean (Bulbapedia)
Libero (Bulbapedia)

Comments

Guess I was wrong

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Protean and libero need to activate before the move is used. They can't predict the future to see if the move is going to succeed.

Answer 2

Pokemon games check for move successes and failures in a very specific order. This is a list of checks that happen before protean and libero activate: aura wheel, aurora veil, clangorous soul (checks if user has enough HP), counter, mirror coat, metal burst, destiny bond, fake out, first impression, mat block, fling, follow me, rage powder, future sight, doom desire, last resort, no retreat (checks if user has already used no retreat), poltergeist, protect-like moves, rest, sucker punch, sleep talk, snore, steel roller, stockpile, stuff cheeks, swallow, spit up, teleport

Checks that happen after protean and libero activate: attract, venom drench, coaching, dream eater, endeavor, ingrain, leech seed, OHKO moves, perish song, major status inflicting moves (checks if target already has a major status), stat changing moves (checks if target's stats can't go higher or lower), torment, worry seed, yawn

Moves in the second list can still activate protean or libero if they fail. Please tell me if the lists are incomplete or outdated
source

Answer 3

I used Court Change on Cinderace but got Taunted before I could so it failed, but Cinderace still turned into a Normal Type, so yes, it should still activate even if it fails.