Ability: Technician

Basic Information

• Ability ID: ABILITY_TECHNICIAN
• Type: Offensive Multiplier
• Breakable: No

In-Game Description

"Moves with 60 BP or less get a 1.5x boost."

Extended In-Game Description

Technician boosts the power of weaker moves by 50%, turning moves with 60 base power or less into viable options. This includes multi-hit moves calculated per hit, priority moves like Bullet Punch and Mach Punch, and utility moves with damage like Rapid Spin. Perfect for sweepers who rely on priority or multi-hit strategies.

Character count: 299

Detailed Mechanics

Implementation

constexpr Ability Technician = {
    .onOffensiveMultiplier =
        +[](ON_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
            if (basePower <= 60) MUL(1.5);
        },
};

Key Mechanics

1. Power Threshold: Applies to moves with 60 base power or less
2. Damage Multiplier: 1.5x (50% increase)
3. Multi-hit Calculation: For multi-hit moves, the check is done per individual hit
4. Priority Move Synergy: Many priority moves are low power and benefit from Technician
5. Hidden Power: Always benefits regardless of type (base power is 60)

Affected Move Examples

• Priority Moves: Bullet Punch (40→60), Mach Punch (40→60), Quick Attack (40→60)
• Multi-hit Moves: Bullet Seed (25→37.5 per hit), Pin Missile (25→37.5 per hit)
• Utility Moves: Rapid Spin (50→75), Fake Out (40→60)
• Coverage Moves: Hidden Power (60→90), Aerial Ace (60→90)
• Status Moves: Doesn't affect status moves (0 base power)

Notable Interactions

• Works with Skill Link for devastating multi-hit combos
• Stacks with STAB and other damage multipliers
• Does NOT affect moves that have variable power (like Low Kick)
• The 60 BP check happens before other power modifications

Pokemon with Technician

As Changeable Ability

• Persian-Alola (tier 3)
• Krabby (tier 1)
• Kingler-Johto (tier 3)
• Wormadour (tier 1)
• Hitmontop (tier 3)
• Minccino (tier 1)
• Ambipom (tier 3)

As Innate Ability

• Persian (tier 3) - innate slot
• Persian-Alola (tier 3) - innate slot
• Kingler (tier 3) - innate slot
• Beedrill (tier 3) - innate slot
• Kricketune (tier 3) - innate slot
• Roserade (tier 4) - innate slot
• Scizor (tier 4) - innate slot

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

• Turns weak priority moves into legitimate threats
• Excellent on fast physical attackers with priority access
• Makes multi-hit moves extremely powerful with Skill Link
• Provides unique coverage options with boosted weak moves
• Great for revenge killing with boosted priority

Weaknesses

• No effect on stronger moves (>60 BP)
• Requires specific movepool to utilize effectively
• Less useful on special attackers due to limited low-BP special moves
• Competes with potentially stronger abilities on some Pokemon

Optimal Users

1. Scizor: Bullet Punch becomes a 90 BP priority STAB move
2. Ambipom: Fake Out + multi-hit moves with great coverage
3. Breloom: Mach Punch and Bullet Seed synergy
4. Persian: Wide movepool of low-BP coverage moves
5. Roserade: Benefits special moves like Hidden Power and Magical Leaf

Team Synergy

• Pairs well with entry hazard support for chip damage
• Benefits from speed control to maximize priority abuse
• Works great with Sticky Web teams
• Synergizes with weather teams using weather-boosted low BP moves

Moveset Examples

Physical Technician Set

• Bullet Punch / Mach Punch (priority STAB)
• U-turn (pivot + damage)
• Pursuit (trap + boost)
• Knock Off / Thief (utility + boost)

Special Technician Set

• Hidden Power (coverage)
• Vacuum Wave (priority)
• Magical Leaf (never miss)
• Swift (never miss + spread in doubles)

Multi-hit Technician Set

• Bullet Seed (2-5 hits boosted)
• Rock Blast (2-5 hits boosted)
• Pin Missile (2-5 hits boosted)
• Icicle Spear (2-5 hits boosted)

Notes

• One of the most popular abilities for physical priority users
• Elite Redux has many Pokemon with this as an innate ability
• Particularly strong in the early-game where low BP moves are common
• Calculation happens before other damage modifiers like STAB