Triage - Ability ID 205

In-Game Description

"Moves that have a healing effect gain +3 priority."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Triage grants +3 priority to all healing moves, making them nearly as fast as Protect moves. Affects draining moves like Giga Drain, recovery moves like Recover and Roost, weather healing like Morning Sun, and team healing like Heal Pulse. Priority boost applies to both direct and indirect healing effects.

Character count: 295

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

• Priority Boost: All moves with healing effects receive +3 priority
• Priority Bracket: +3 priority places healing moves in the same bracket as Fake Out and First Impression
• Activation: Automatic when using any move that has a healing effect

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability Triage = {
    .onPriority = +[](ON_PRIORITY) -> int {
        CHECK(IsHealingMoveEffect(gBattleMoves[move].effect))
        return 3;
    },
};

Complete List of Affected Move Effects

Based on IsHealingMoveEffect() function:

• EFFECT_ABSORB: Giga Drain, Mega Drain, Leech Life, Drain Punch, etc.
• EFFECT_MORNING_SUN: Morning Sun (weather-dependent healing)
• EFFECT_MOONLIGHT: Moonlight (weather-dependent healing)
• EFFECT_RESTORE_HP: Recover, Slack Off, Milk Drink, Soft-Boiled
• EFFECT_REST: Rest (full heal + sleep)
• EFFECT_ROOST: Roost (heal + temporary Flying type removal)
• EFFECT_WISH: Wish (delayed healing)
• EFFECT_HEALING_WISH: Healing Wish (sacrifice for team heal)
• EFFECT_REVIVAL_BLESSING: Revival Blessing (revive teammate)
• EFFECT_SOFTBOILED: Soft-Boiled variants
• EFFECT_SYNTHESIS: Synthesis (weather-dependent healing)
• EFFECT_SHORE_UP: Shore Up (Ground/Rock terrain boost)
• EFFECT_JUNGLE_HEALING: Jungle Healing (team status cure)
• EFFECT_HEAL_PULSE: Heal Pulse (heal target)
• EFFECT_MATCHA_GOTCHA: Matcha Gotcha (damage + heal)
• EFFECT_STRENGTH_SAP: Strength Sap (heal + Attack drop)
• EFFECT_DRAIN_BRAIN: Custom draining move

Priority System Context

• +4 Priority: Protect, Detect, other protection moves
• +3 Priority: Fake Out, First Impression, Triage-boosted healing moves
• +2 Priority: Extreme Speed, some priority moves
• +1 Priority: Quick Attack, Bullet Punch, most priority moves
• 0 Priority: Normal moves

Interactions with Other Abilities/Mechanics

• Prankster: Does not stack - Triage overrides for healing moves
• Gale Wings: Does not stack - each ability only affects specific move types
• Heal Block: Triage still grants priority, but moves will fail if blocked
• Choice Items: Priority boost applies even when locked into healing moves
• Magic Bounce: Priority boost applies before Magic Bounce reflection

Strategic Implications

• Defensive Pivoting: Makes bulky Pokemon extremely hard to revenge kill
• Stall Breaking: High-priority recovery can outlast opposing offense
• Support Role: Priority Heal Pulse and team healing becomes extremely valuable
• Revenge Prevention: Nearly impossible to revenge kill with priority healing

Example Damage Calculations

Priority healing with Triage can completely change battle dynamics:

• Comfey with +3 priority Draining Kiss can heal while dealing damage
• Meganium with +3 priority Giga Drain becomes nearly impossible to KO
• Audino with +3 priority Wish can guarantee healing for teammates

Common Users in Elite Redux

• Comfey: Natural Triage user, excellent with Draining Kiss
• Meganium: As innate ability, pairs with Grassy Surge for healing synergy
• Mega Meganium: Enhanced bulk with priority healing
• Audino: Support role with priority team healing
• Mega Audino: Defensive wall with priority recovery
• Blissey: Ultimate special wall with priority healing
• Chansey: Eviolite tank with priority recovery
• Dolliv/Arboliva: Olive-themed healers with priority recovery

Competitive Usage Notes

• Tier Impact: Makes defensive Pokemon significantly more viable
• Team Synergy: Excellent on stall and balance teams
• Speed Control: Eliminates need for speed investment on healers
• Revenge Killing: Makes revenge killing Triage users extremely difficult

Counters

• Taunt: Prevents use of status healing moves
• Heal Block: Completely shuts down healing moves
• Encore: Can lock into non-healing moves
• Strong Priority: Higher priority attacks (though rare at +4)
• Multi-hit Moves: Can break through Substitute + healing strategies

Synergies

• Leftovers: Passive healing complements active healing
• Regenerator: Additional healing when switching out
• Magic Guard: Prevents indirect damage while healing
• Grassy Terrain: Boosts Grass-type healing moves and provides passive healing
• Substitute: Priority healing can easily maintain Substitute

Version History

• Introduced in Generation VII (Sun/Moon)
• Originally exclusive to Comfey
• Elite Redux: Expanded to multiple Pokemon as regular or innate ability
• Priority value consistent across all implementations (+3)