DAMAGE vs COUNTERS - READ THIS FIRST (Fainting Spell, Ectoplasm, Radiance & the like)

[bulbasnore]

PLAYERS, attention!

If an attack, body: or powr: has this language as a required condition for its effect:

DAMAGE FROM AN ATTACK​

​

​

then placing counters ("put X damage counters", "put that many damage counters")
does NOT trigger that effect!

READ THE FRIENDLY COMPENDIUM

Q. I've noticed that some cards say "Does 10 damage to the Defending Pokémon", whereas others say "Put 1 damage counter on the defending Pokémon". Is there any reason for the different wording? I've spoken to someone who says that you do not apply weakness or resistance for attacks where it specifies Damage Counters; is this the case?
A. There is a difference. As you mention, weakness and resistance are not applied when placing counters. Also, things like Defender and Metal Energy will not block Placing Damage Counters. It will not trigger things like Base Set Machamp's Strike Back. In the steps of resolving an Attack, "placing Damage Counters" counts as an Effect of the attack, it is not part of "doing damage". (Sep 18, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

http://compendium.pokegym.net/compendium-lvx.html#c2

Placing damage counters is not the same as doing damage. Things that add to or subtract from damage done do not affect placing counters. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

 

[bulbasnore]

The language, "effects of attacks, excluding damage" means "excluding damage from an attack". So, placing damage counters is prevented, since that is not "damage from an attack".