Regarding the defense trainer card, can it be used to keep magnemite
(that is the one i'm thinking of, isn't it?) from destroying itself in a
self-destruct attack?  It seems to violate the spirit of the power, but
since it doesn't say to simply KO the magnemite, one would think that
decreasing the damage would make it possible for the thing to survive
its own self destruct!

Thank you for your time, keep up the informative site!
-ART

Defender reduces damage done to a Pokemon.  Magnemite does damage to itself.  Thus, defender will reduce that damage.  Not a good combo, but it is a combo.

Scott