Aurora Veil is an Ice-type status move that halves all incoming damage (physical and special) to the user’s side of the field for 5 turns — or 8 turns with Light Clay. It can only be used while Snow weather is active.
Why it defines Snow teams
Most screens (Reflect for physical, Light Screen for special) only halve one damage type. Aurora Veil does both at once, on a single turn of setup. That makes it dramatically more efficient — one turn buys 5 turns of full screen coverage on both sides of the damage axis.
It also stacks with the defensive boost Snow gives Ice-types (Ice-type Defense is multiplied by 1.5 in Snow). An Ice-type behind Aurora Veil can survive hits that would otherwise OHKO.
Common Aurora Veil setters
- Alolan Ninetales — sets Snow with Snow WarningSnow WarningabilitySets harsh snow the moment this Pokémon enters the field — no move required.Click to read more → on entry, then sets Aurora Veil. The classic combo.
- Mega FroslassMega FroslassmegaSets harsh snow the moment it Mega Evolves, boosting Ice-type Defense and giving Blizzard perfect accuracy.Click to read more → — sets Snow on Mega EvolutionMega EvolutionmechanicOnce per battle, a Pokémon holding the right Mega Stone transforms into a stronger form with new stats, type, and ability.Click to read more →, can also run Aurora Veil from the same slot.
Counterplay
- Brick Break and Defog remove Aurora Veil. So does Brick Break smashing through to deal damage.
- Critical hits ignore screens — a high-crit move like Stone Edge bypasses the damage reduction.
- Replacing the weather disables future Aurora Veil setups — DroughtDroughtabilityAn ability that instantly sets permanent sun when the Pokémon enters the field.Click to read more →, DrizzleDrizzleabilityAn ability that instantly summons permanent rain when the Pokémon enters the field — no move required.Click to read more →, or Sand StreamSand StreamabilityAn ability that summons permanent sandstorm on entry, dealing 1/16 HP chip to non-Rock/Ground/Steel types each turn.Click to read more → override Snow and lock Aurora Veil out for the rest of the game.