What it does
Wish queues a recovery at the end of the following turn. The HP recovered is half of the user's maximum HP — not the recipient's. So a high-HP support Pokemon passing its Wish to a lower-HP sweeper still heals a massive chunk relative to that sweeper's max.
In doubles, the Wish+Protect two-turn cycle is self-sustaining: use Wish turn one, use Protect turn two, recover HP when the protection ends. No switching needed. The partner is free to attack both turns while you cycle. Opponents must either waste moves into your Protect or ignore you and deal with your partner — neither outcome is good for them.
If the Wish user is knocked out, forced out by Roar or Dragon Tail, or otherwise removed from the field before the Wish triggers, the effect is lost. Protect the Wish user or accept the loss.
Who runs it
Vaporeon (10%) has high base HP, which directly scales the Wish recovery value. A Vaporeon Wish heals a large chunk regardless of who catches it. Water Absorb sometimes lets it avoid taking damage entirely on turns where an opponent uses Water moves, which pairs naturally with the recovery loop — less incoming damage, consistent outgoing Wish support. In doubles, Vaporeon is typically the recovery backbone, not a damage dealer.
Audino (8%) uses a pure support configuration. Its HP and Special Defense are high enough to stay on the field and keep generating Wish turns. Often paired with Heal Pulse or other support tools — the idea is a multi-layer recovery system rather than depending on a single move.
How to use it
The Wish+Protect cycle: Turn one Wish, turn two Protect, heal at the end of Protect. Repeat. Your partner never needs to stop attacking. The opponent has to either burn moves on your Protect turn or concede the Wish recovery every cycle.
Passing Wish on switch: In singles this is the classic 'Wish pass' — use Wish, then switch to a hurt partner who catches the recovery. In doubles it's less frequent, but if a damaged sweeper needs to cycle in, Wish can be timed to land as they enter the field.
Use it early, not desperate: Wish has a one-turn delay. Don't wait until you're nearly fainted to use it — by then the next turn is too late. Start the Wish cycle when HP reaches around 50% or less, so the recovery lands before things get critical.
Tips & strategy
High-HP users maximize value: Recovery scales with the user's maximum HP, not a flat number. Pokemon with high base HP give larger Wish heals. This is the primary selection criterion for a Wish user — low base HP reduces the move's sustained value significantly.
Doubles loop advantage: While you Protect, your partner is still attacking freely. The opponent has to choose between wasting moves on your Protect or being beaten by your partner — that's a losing decision tree for them. This is the core reason Wish-Protect is so consistent in doubles.
The loop breaks under pressure: Feint ignores Protect and prevents the Wish recovery if it connects the turn you're protecting. Physical priority in combination with residual chip damage can also overwhelm the heal. Wish users need sufficient natural bulk to survive occasional breakthrough turns without the loop intact.