Mold Breaker - Ability ID 104

In-Game Description

"Moves hit through abilities. Also affects innates."

Extended In-Game Description

For use in Elite Redux extended ability UI (280-300 chars max)

Mold Breaker allows moves to ignore the target's abilities and innate abilities that could interfere with or reduce damage. Only affects abilities marked as "breakable" - does not ignore protective abilities like Magic Guard or unsuppressable abilities. Bypasses all 4 Elite Redux ability slots.

Character count: 295

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

MOLD BREAKER is an ability-negation ability that allows the user's moves to bypass most defensive and protective abilities on the target.

Activation Mechanics:

• Trigger: Automatically active when the Pokémon with Mold Breaker uses any move
• Switch-in Message: "{Pokémon} breaks the mold!" (B_MSG_SWITCHIN_MOLDBREAKER)
• Scope: Affects both regular abilities and all three innate ability slots in Elite Redux's 4-ability system
• Flag: Sets HITMARKER_MOLD_BREAKER for the duration of the move

Core Mechanics:

Mold Breaker works by suppressing the target's abilities during move execution through the IsSuppressed() function:

int IsSuppressed(int battler, AbilityEnum ability, int checkMoldBreaker) {
    if ((checkMoldBreaker && battler != gBattlerAttacker && gHitMarker & HITMARKER_MOLD_BREAKER && gAbilities[ability].breakable) ||
        ((gFieldTimers.neutralizingGas || gStatuses3[battler] & STATUS3_GASTRO_ACID) && !IsUnsuppressableAbility(ability))) {
        return !DoesBattlerHaveAbilityShield(battler);
    }
    return FALSE;
}

Conditions for Mold Breaker Activation:

The ShouldSetMoldBreaker() function determines when abilities are ignored:

1. Mold Breaker Family: ABILITY_MOLD_BREAKER, ABILITY_TERAVOLT, ABILITY_TURBOBLAZE
2. Move-Specific: Moves with FLAG_TARGET_ABILITY_IGNORED flag
3. Special Cases:
   • ABILITY_BLIND_RAGE
   • ABILITY_MYCELIUM_MIGHT (status moves only)
   • Steel-type monotype champion (vs player)

Abilities That Can Be Ignored (breakable = TRUE):

• Defensive: Battle Armor, Shell Armor, Sturdy, Filter, Solid Rock, Multiscale
• Type Immunities: Levitate, Flash Fire, Water Absorb, Volt Absorb, Sap Sipper
• Status Immunities: Limber, Insomnia, Water Veil, Magma Armor, Immunity, Own Tempo
• Stat Protection: Clear Body, White Smoke, Keen Eye, Hyper Cutter
• Weather/Terrain: Thick Fat, Heatproof, Overcoat, Sand Veil, Snow Cloak
• Accuracy/Evasion: Tangled Feet, Compound Eyes, Wonder Skin
• Contact Effects: Effect Spore, Static, Flame Body, Poison Point
• Move Effects: Soundproof, Bulletproof, Dazzling, Queenly Majesty

Abilities That CANNOT Be Ignored:

• Unsuppressable: Neutralizing Gas, Comatose, Multitype, RKS System
• Non-breakable: Magic Guard, Wonder Guard, Air Lock, Cloud Nine
• Protective Items: Ability Shield holders are immune to suppression

Elite Redux 4-Ability System Impact:

Mold Breaker is particularly powerful in Elite Redux because it can suppress:

• Slot 0: Changeable ability (standard ability slot)
• Slot 1: First innate ability
• Slot 2: Second innate ability
• Slot 3: Third innate ability

This means Pokémon that rely on multiple defensive abilities for bulk can be completely bypassed.

Technical Implementation:

constexpr Ability MoldBreaker = {
    .onEntry = +[](ON_ENTRY) -> int { return SwitchInAnnounce(B_MSG_SWITCHIN_MOLDBREAKER); },
};

The ability itself has no special functionality beyond the switch-in message. The actual effect is implemented in the battle system's ability checking functions.

Example Interactions:

• vs Levitate: Ground moves hit normally
• vs Water Absorb: Water moves deal damage instead of healing
• vs Filter/Solid Rock: Super effective moves deal full damage
• vs Sturdy: One-hit KO moves and moves that would leave 1 HP work normally
• vs Magic Guard: Still blocks indirect damage (ability not breakable)

Strategic Applications:

1. Wall Breaking: Bypasses defensive abilities like Filter, Multiscale
2. Type Coverage: Ignores type-based immunities like Levitate, Flash Fire
3. Setup Prevention: Bypasses abilities that trigger on contact or damage
4. Guaranteed Effects: Move secondary effects work through Shield Dust

Common Users in Elite Redux:

Based on the species data, Mold Breaker appears on many powerful physical attackers and some special attackers, often as an innate ability or choice ability.

Counters:

• Ability Shield: Completely prevents ability suppression
• Non-breakable abilities: Magic Guard, Wonder Guard still function
• Switching: Opponent can switch to non-ability-reliant Pokémon
• Priority moves: Can KO before Mold Breaker user attacks

Synergies:

• High Attack: Maximizes damage when bypassing defensive abilities
• Super effective moves: Especially effective when ignoring Filter/Solid Rock
• Status moves: Can inflict status through immunity abilities
• Contact moves: Ignore contact-based defensive abilities

Competitive Usage Notes:

Mold Breaker is considered one of the most valuable abilities in Elite Redux due to the prevalence of multiple defensive abilities on most Pokémon. It's particularly effective in higher difficulty tiers where opponents stack defensive abilities.

Version History:

• Gen 4+: Original implementation
• Elite Redux: Extended to affect all four ability slots, making it significantly more powerful than in standard games