Honey Gather - Ability ID 118

In-Game Description

"Has a 50% chance to find Honey each turn."

Extended In-Game Description

For use in Elite Redux extended ability UI (IMPORTANT: exactly 280-300 chars counted WITH spaces)

Honey Gather gives a 50% chance to find a Honey item at the end of each turn, but only if the Pokémon is not already holding an item. Honey restores 20 HP when consumed and can be sold for 100 Poké Dollars. Excellent for resource gathering and emergency healing in longer battles.

Character count: 280

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

HONEY GATHER is a utility ability that provides consistent item generation for resource management and emergency healing.

Core Mechanics:

• Trigger: End of each turn
• Activation Rate: 50% chance per turn
• Requirement: Pokémon must not be holding an item
• Item Generated: Honey (ITEM_HONEY)
• Honey Properties: Restores 20 HP when consumed, sells for 100 Poké Dollars

Activation Conditions:

1. Turn End Trigger: Activates during the end-of-turn phase
2. No Item Requirement: Pokémon must have an empty item slot
3. Random Check: 50% probability using the game's random number generator
4. Success: Pokémon receives a Honey item that can be used immediately

Item Details - Honey:

• Healing: Restores 20 HP when consumed
• Monetary Value: Can be sold for 100 Poké Dollars
• Usage: Can be consumed during battle for emergency healing
• Inventory: Transfers to bag if gained outside battle

Strategic Applications:

Resource Generation:

• Consistent income source through Honey sales
• Emergency healing item for extended battles
• Useful for Pokémon without reliable recovery moves

Synergies:

• Pairs well with item-consuming moves or abilities
• Benefits Pokémon that frequently use their held items
• Good on defensive Pokémon that can survive to generate multiple items

Limitations:

• Requires empty item slot to activate
• 50% chance means inconsistent activation
• Honey provides modest healing compared to other items
• No benefit if Pokémon already holds a better item

Technical Implementation:

constexpr Ability HoneyGather = {
    .onEndTurn = +[](ON_END_TURN) -> int {
        CHECK_NOT(gBattleMons[battler].item)  // Must not hold item
        CHECK(Random() % 2)                   // 50% chance
        
        gBattleMons[battler].item = gLastUsedItem = ITEM_HONEY;
        BattleScriptPushCursorAndCallback(BattleScript_HoneyGatherActivates);
        return TRUE;
    },
};

Competitive Viability:

Pros:

• Passive resource generation
• No setup required
• Works consistently throughout battle
• Provides both healing and monetary value

Cons:

• Requires giving up held item slot
• 50% activation rate can be unreliable
• Modest healing amount (20 HP)
• Competes with more powerful abilities

Optimal Users:

• Defensive Pokémon that can survive multiple turns
• Pokémon without access to reliable recovery moves
• Team members used primarily for utility rather than combat
• Pokémon in casual play where resource management matters

Comparison to Similar Abilities:

• Pickup: Activates after battle, can find various items
• Harvest: Restores consumed Berries, more reliable for healing
• Frisk: Reveals opponent items but doesn't generate resources

Historical Context:

Honey Gather originated as a primarily overworld ability in the main series games, with different mechanics for in-battle vs. out-of-battle activation. In Elite Redux, it's been adapted as a consistent in-battle utility ability focused on resource generation and emergency healing.