<p>Using <strong>Dust Gathering</strong> with a benched <strong>Incineroar</strong> with <strong>Strong Cheer</strong> ability does no damage.</p>

<p>From the official <a href="https://compendium.pokegym.net/compendium-bw.html#c3" rel="noreferrer">Rulings Compendium BW</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>An attack has to do "some" damage before an effect can add "more" damage to it. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-25T19:38:52.980Z
This is generally true in the game - for example, if something makes a card have "no retreat cost", nothing can add to the retreat cost, but if the retreat cost is reduced to 0 then it can.
Joe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-18T23:18:27.263Z
thanks for the link to the rules compendium -- I'd looked for something like that, but was unable to find it.
Kem Mason
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-20T15:11:25.040Z
Does this rule still hold for something like poisoning? This does no damage until Pokémon checkup, which is after the attack.
Beerhunter
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-20T15:53:20.687Z
Poison does no damage, it puts damage counters which is a different thing :-)
Kate Miháliková
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-24T22:30:09.090Z
2019-10-24T22:30:09.090Z
Kate Miháliková
<p>I have a benched <strong>Incineroar</strong> (Unbroken Bonds 29) with <strong>Strong Cheer</strong> ability.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Strong Cheer</strong><br>
  Your Pokémon's attacks do 30 more damage to your opponent's Active Pokémon <em>(before applying Weakness and Resistance)</em>. You can't apply more than 1 Strong Cheer Ability at a time.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If I have an active <strong>Cosmog</strong> (Sun &amp; Moon 64) with <strong>Dust Gathering</strong> attack, does it do 30 damage? I assume <strong>Strong Cheer</strong> would make it do 30 damage, but I have been unable to find clarification online.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[C] <strong>Dust Gathering</strong><br>
  Draw a card.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QJTp3.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QJTp3m.jpg" alt="Incineroar UNB 29"></a> <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MS0dt.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MS0dtm.jpg" alt="Cosmog SUM 64"></a></p>

<pokemon>
Does Incineroar's ability, Strong Cheer, affect attacks that normally deal no damage?
Kem Mason
# Does Incineroar's ability, Strong Cheer, affect attacks that normally deal no damage?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-24)

I have a benched **Incineroar** (Unbroken Bonds 29) with **Strong Cheer** ability.

> **Strong Cheer**  
> Your Pokémon's attacks do 30 more damage to your opponent's Active Pokémon *(before applying Weakness and Resistance)*. You can't apply more than 1 Strong Cheer Ability at a time.

If I have an active **Cosmog** (Sun & Moon 64) with **Dust Gathering** attack, does it do 30 damage? I assume **Strong Cheer** would make it do 30 damage, but I have been unable to find clarification online.

> [C] **Dust Gathering**  
> Draw a card.

[![Incineroar UNB 29](https://i.sstatic.net/QJTp3m.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/QJTp3.jpg) [![Cosmog SUM 64](https://i.sstatic.net/MS0dtm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/MS0dt.jpg)

**Tags:** pokemon


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-10-24. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Using **Dust Gathering** with a benched **Incineroar** with **Strong Cheer** ability does no damage.

From the official [Rulings Compendium BW](https://compendium.pokegym.net/compendium-bw.html#c3):

> An attack has to do "some" damage before an effect can add "more" damage to it. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This is generally true in the game - for example, if something makes a card have "no retreat cost", nothing can add to the retreat cost, but if the retreat cost is reduced to 0 then it can.  
> **username_0**: thanks for the link to the rules compendium -- I'd looked for something like that, but was unable to find it.  
> **username_3**: Does this rule still hold for something like poisoning? This does no damage until Pokémon checkup, which is after the attack.  
> **username_1**: Poison does no damage, it puts damage counters which is a different thing :-)  

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