>>42554027Furthermore benched Pokemon can Protect, dual screen, Wide Guard and even use reactionary attacking moves such as Counter or Spiky Shield.
Attacking Pokemon can attack anyone on the field with exception for the Pokemon directly behind the opposing attacker and moves that affect the field like Surf will in fact also do less damage to these protected benched Pokemon.
Choosing to attack a benched Pokemon will leave the attacker open to attack, raising the chances of getting critically hit by the opponent (if the opponent chooses to attack them).
Moves such as Whirlwind could potentially end up doing minimal damage to Pokemon thrown into the bench suggesting the Pokeballs shield them from said damage. Ally Switch and Teleport could become integrally strategic moves to use and the Pledges would probably see more wide use in this format as well.
