How To Get TM17 Protect in Pokémon USUM

You can buy TM17 Protect from the Technical Machine Shop in the Heahea City Pokémon Center. This shop sells another three TMs: TM16, TM20 and TM33.

Heahea City is located on Akala Island. You will be able to access Heahea once you complete the Melemele grand trial.

Obtaining TM17 Protect (Step-by-Step)

While playing through the main storyline you’ll arrive at Heahea City from the southwest.

Step 1: After exiting the stairs, walk east on the main street.

Walking east on Heahea City’s main street.

Step 2: Continue walking east on the main street.

Heading east on the main street.

Step 3: Continue east until you reach the intersection past the sign board. Walk east past the intersection.

Walking past the intersection.

Step 4: After the intersection, you will arrive at the Pokémon Center. Enter the building.

Entering the Heahea Pokémon Center.

Step 5: In the Pokémon Center, walk to the counter on the right side.

Walking to the counter on the right side of the Pokémon Center.

Step 6: Talk to the clerk on the right side of the counter in order to access the Technical Machine Shop. Select “Buy” from the menu.

Talking to the clerk on the right side of the counter.

Step 7: Select Protect, which is the second item from top to bottom. The TM will cost 10,000 PokéDollars.

Selecting Protect from the TM Shop’s menu.

TM17 Protect Details + Use

TM17 item description in the game.

Protect Move Details
Type	Normal
Category	Status
Power	–
Accuracy	–
PP	10

Protect is a defensive move that renders the user immune to all moves for a turn.

The following damage-dealing moves will bypass Protect’s effect:

Feint
Hyperspace Fury
Hyperspace Hole
Phantom Force
Shadow Force

Damage-dealing Z Moves will also bypass Protect, but will have their damage reduced by 75%.

When used with a Normalium Z, Protect becomes Z-Protect. Aside from Protect’s basic effect, Z-Protect will also reset the user’s lowered stats.

Protect has +4 priority. In battle, priority determines which user will act first. Moves with higher priority will bypass Speed checks against moves with lower priority. At +4 priority, Protect is part of the second-highest priority bracket.

When used in consecutive turns, Protect will have a higher chance of failing.

Consecutive Turns	Success Rate
2	33%
3	11%
4	3.7%
5	1.2%
6	0.4%
7	0.1%

Protect is a staple move in competitive play. Most teams have at least one Pokémon with Protect in the moveset.

In a main story playthrough, Protect is only useful against high level opponents. You can use Protect to guard from Z Moves later in the game. Most opponents in the main story, however, are too weak to make Protect a worthy investment.