Ruling Target Clarification

[Rocket Grunt Brad]

Searched for this, didn't find anything relevant, sorry if I missed it.

Had a match ruling come up during free play at League night. Player A had Mewtwo Lv. X with Psybarrier, player B had Darkrai Lv.X out. Obviously, no damage or effects done to Mewtwo go through because of Psybarrier, but then Player B declared an attack, using Darkness Roar from the GE Darkrai underneath the Lv.X.

Darkness Roar reads, "You may have your opponent switch the defending pokemon with 1 of his/her benched pokemon."

Player B's argument was that the target of Darkness Roar's effect was the opposing player, not Mewtwo, thus the forcing of a switch would not be affected by Psybarrier.

How would you call it? I thought it a fair argument and decided to ask around for opinions.

 

[DNA]

It is definitely a fair argument and I'll be glad to answer your question.

Near the end of 2009 in the Compendium, it was ruled that switching the Defending Pokemon targets the Benched Pokemon to bring up, not the Defending Pokemon. So Player B was close, but not totally correct.

If you would use Darkrai GE's Darkness Roar against an Active Mewtwo LV.X, Mewtwo receives no damage (because Psybarrier), and if you opt to use the switching effect, your opponent selects (targets) 1 of his/her Benched Pokemon, and that Pokemon is brought Active.

The instance in which the Benched Pokemon wouldn't be brought active is if it has an effect that blocks effects of attacks. Like, say, if it was another Mewtwo LV.X on the Bench, or it had an Unown G attached.