Vengeance - Ability ID 276

In-Game Description

"Boosts Ghost-type moves by 1.2x, or 1.5x when below 1/3 HP."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Vengeance powers up Ghost-type moves, providing a 1.2x damage boost under normal conditions and an enhanced 1.5x boost when the Pokémon's HP drops to 1/3 or below. This ability works similarly to type-specific Swarm abilities, rewarding strategic damage management with increased offensive power.

Character count: 284

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

• Type-Specific Boost: Only affects Ghost-type moves
• Dual Power Levels:
  • Normal: 1.2x damage multiplier (20% boost)
  • Low HP: 1.5x damage multiplier (50% boost)
• HP Threshold: Enhanced boost activates when HP ≤ 33% of maximum HP
• Calculation: HP threshold is calculated as gBattleMons[battler].maxHP / 3

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability Vengeance = {
    .onOffensiveMultiplier = SWARM_MULTIPLIER(TYPE_GHOST),
};

#define SWARM_MULTIPLIER(type)                                               \
    +[](ON_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {                                           \
        if (moveType == type) {                                              \
            if (gBattleMons[battler].hp <= (gBattleMons[battler].maxHP / 3)) \
                MUL(1.5);                                                    \
            else                                                             \
                MUL(1.2);                                                    \
        }                                                                    \
    }

Activation Conditions

• Must use a Ghost-type move
• Works on both physical and special Ghost-type moves
• Activates on direct damage moves and status moves that deal damage
• Does not affect non-damaging Ghost-type moves

Affected Moves (Ghost-type)

All Ghost-type moves that deal damage, including but not limited to:

• Shadow Ball, Shadow Claw, Phantom Force
• Hex, Shadow Punch, Poltergeist
• Astral Barrage, Spectral Thief, Moongeist Beam
• And all other offensive Ghost-type moves

Interactions with Other Mechanics

• STAB: Stacks multiplicatively with Same Type Attack Bonus (1.5x)
• Type Effectiveness: Stacks with super effective damage
• Items: Stacks with damage-boosting items like Spell Tag (+20% Ghost moves)
• Weather/Terrain: No direct interactions
• Critical Hits: Boost applies before critical hit calculation

Strategic Implications

• Risk vs Reward: Higher damage potential at low HP encourages aggressive play
• HP Management: Players may intentionally take damage to reach the threshold
• Late-Game Power: Becomes more threatening as the battle progresses
• Synergy Potential: Works well with recovery moves and defensive strategies

Example Damage Calculations

Scenario: Level 50 Pokémon with 120 Attack using Shadow Claw (70 BP) against neutral target

• Full HP: 70 × 1.2 × 1.5 (STAB) = 126 effective BP
• Low HP: 70 × 1.5 × 1.5 (STAB) = 157.5 effective BP
• Damage Increase: ~25% more damage when threshold is reached

Common Users

Notable Pokémon with Vengeance ability:

• Ghost-type evolution lines (primary ability)
• Several Pokémon as innate ability (always active)
• Mixed offensive/defensive Ghost-types
• Pokémon with access to recovery moves for HP management

Competitive Usage Notes

• Tier Placement: Common on mid-tier Ghost-types
• Team Role: Offensive Ghost-type attackers and revenge killers
• Timing: Most effective in mid-to-late game scenarios
• Prediction: Opponents may avoid bringing user to low HP threshold

Counters

• Type Resistances: Dark-types resist Ghost moves
• Immunities: Normal and Fighting types are immune to Ghost moves
• Abilities: Wonder Guard, Flash Fire (doesn't apply but similar concept)
• Priority: Fast priority moves can KO before threshold benefit
• Status: Sleep, paralysis, and other status conditions limit effectiveness

Synergies

• Recovery Moves: Roost, Recover for HP threshold manipulation
• Substitute: Protects while reaching optimal HP range
• Focus Sash/Sturdy: Guarantees survival to reach low HP threshold
• Spell Tag: Additional Ghost-type move boost
• Life Orb: More damage but also helps reach HP threshold faster

Version History

• Elite Redux: Introduced as ability ID 276
• Implementation: Uses standard SWARM_MULTIPLIER template for consistency
• Balance: Same power levels as other type-specific Swarm abilities