Prism Armor - Ability ID 232

In-Game Description

"Takes 35% less damage from Super-effective moves."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Prism Armor reduces damage from super effective moves by 35%, calculating as a 0.65x multiplier. This protective ability activates whenever type effectiveness would deal 2x or greater damage. Works against all super effective attacks including those boosted by items or abilities. Provides consistent defensive utility against coverage moves.

Character count: 295

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

• Damage Reduction: Reduces super effective damage by 35% (multiplies by 0.65)
• Activation Threshold: Triggers when type effectiveness multiplier is ≥2.0x
• Calculation Order: Applied after type effectiveness but before other damage modifiers

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability PrismArmor = {
    .onDefensiveMultiplier = Filter.onDefensiveMultiplier,
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

// Filter implementation (shared with Prism Armor):
constexpr Ability Filter = {
    .onDefensiveMultiplier =
        +[](ON_DEFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
            if (typeEffectivenessModifier >= UQ_4_12(2.0)) MUL(.65);
        },
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

Activation Conditions

• 2x Super Effective: Normal super effective moves (65% damage taken)
• 4x Super Effective: Double weakness moves (65% damage taken)
• Enhanced Super Effective: Moves boosted by abilities like Tinted Lens still trigger reduction
• No Effect on: Not very effective, neutral, or resisted moves

Affected Move Categories

• All Attack Types: Physical, special, and status moves that deal damage
• Multi-hit Moves: Each hit receives the damage reduction
• Fixed Damage: Does not affect moves like Seismic Toss or Dragon Rage
• Critical Hits: Reduction applies even on critical hits

Interactions with Other Abilities/Items

Synergistic Combinations:

• Solid Rock: Stacks multiplicatively for extreme super effective resistance
• Assault Vest: Provides additional special bulk to complement damage reduction
• Leftovers/Rocky Helmet: Passive recovery/damage while tanking hits

Countered By:

• Mold Breaker/Teravolt/Turboblaze: Ignores Prism Armor completely
• Sunsteel Strike/Moongeist Beam: Bypasses ability effects
• Multi-hit moves: Each hit still deals significant cumulative damage

Ability Interactions:

• Tinted Lens: Opponent's Tinted Lens makes "not very effective" moves neutral, but doesn't affect Prism Armor
• Neuroforce: Opponent's Neuroforce boosts super effective moves by 1.35x, but Prism Armor still reduces by 35%
• Life Orb/Choice Items: User's items don't interfere with defensive ability

Strategic Implications

Defensive Value:

• Converts 2x weakness to ~1.3x damage taken
• Converts 4x weakness to ~2.6x damage taken
• Excellent for defensive pivots and tanks
• Allows risky switch-ins against predicted coverage moves

Team Building Considerations:

• Best on Pokemon with multiple weaknesses (Rock, Ice, Bug types)
• Complements high HP stats and recovery moves
• Valuable on defensive cores and stall teams
• Less useful on frail, offensive Pokemon

Example Damage Calculations

Scenario: Prism Armor Pokemon with 100 HP, 80 Defense vs 120 Attack opponent

Without Prism Armor:

• Super effective move (2x): ~75% HP damage
• Double weakness (4x): OHKO (150% HP damage)

With Prism Armor:

• Super effective move: ~49% HP damage (75% × 0.65)
• Double weakness: ~98% HP damage (150% × 0.65)

Common Users

Notable Pokemon with Prism Armor:

• Necrozma: Legendary with balanced bulk, benefits from weakness coverage
• Silvally: Adaptable Normal-type that can change forms while keeping protection

Ideal Candidates (if distributed):

• Rock/Ice types with 4x weaknesses (Amaura, Aurorus)
• Multi-weakness defensive Pokemon (Cradily, Armaldo)
• Bulky setup sweepers that need to tank coverage moves

Competitive Usage

Tier Placement: High utility defensive ability Usage Patterns:

• Defensive switching and pivoting
• Setup sweeper protection during setup turns
• Stall team anchor ability
• Coverage move insurance for offensive Pokemon

Meta Considerations:

• Excellent in metas with strong coverage moves
• Less valuable when priority moves or status moves dominate
• Complements current Elite Redux defensive options well

Counters and Counterplay

Direct Counters:

• Mold Breaker variants: Completely bypasses the ability
• Sunsteel Strike/Moongeist Beam: Ignores ability effects
• Status moves: Sleep, paralysis, burns bypass damage reduction

Indirect Counters:

• Multi-hit moves: Skill Link + multi-hit can still overwhelm despite reduction
• Setup sweepers: Boosted neutral moves may outdamage reduced super effective moves
• Entry hazards: Stealth Rock and spikes provide residual damage

Counterplay Strategies:

• Use neutral STAB moves instead of coverage
• Set up entry hazards for residual damage
• Apply status conditions before attacking
• Use multi-hit moves to overwhelm reduced damage

Synergies

Best Partners:

• Wish support: Heal Bell + Wish provides recovery for tanking
• Entry hazard control: Rapid Spin/Defog to minimize residual damage
• Screen support: Light Screen/Reflect for additional bulk layers

Core Strategies:

• Defensive core anchor: Central defensive Pokemon with reliable switching
• Setup support: Provides turns for teammates to set up
• Status absorber: Can take status moves meant for frailer teammates

Version History

• Generation VII: Introduced on Necrozma in Sun/Moon
• Elite Redux: Maintains original 25% reduction but enhanced to 35% for improved viability
• Current Meta: Well-positioned defensive ability in Elite Redux's high-power environment

Design Philosophy

Prism Armor represents defensive adaptation against type-based weaknesses. Unlike abilities that provide immunity or absorption, it offers consistent percentage-based protection that scales with the opponent's damage output. The 35% reduction in Elite Redux provides meaningful but not overwhelming defensive value, maintaining the risk-reward balance of type matchups while giving defensive Pokemon better survivability options.