Nocturnal - Ability ID 306

In-Game Description

"Boosts own Dark moves by 1.25x. Takes -25% dmg from Dark/Fairy."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Nocturnal enhances the Pokémon's connection to darkness and shadow magic. Dark-type moves receive a 25% power boost, making Night Slash, Crunch, and Dark Pulse significantly stronger. Additionally, the Pokémon gains defensive benefits against Dark and Fairy moves, taking 25% less damage from these types.

Character count: 299

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Nocturnal provides both offensive and defensive benefits centered around Dark-type moves and certain type resistances:

Offensive Component:

• Boosts the power of all Dark-type moves used by the Pokémon by 25% (1.25x multiplier)
• Applies to all Dark-type moves regardless of category (physical, special, or status moves that deal damage)

Defensive Component:

• Reduces incoming damage from Dark-type moves by 25% (0.75x multiplier)
• Reduces incoming damage from Fairy-type moves by 25% (0.75x multiplier)

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability Nocturnal = {
    .onOffensiveMultiplier =
        +[](ON_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
            if (moveType == TYPE_DARK) MUL(1.25);
        },
    .onDefensiveMultiplier =
        +[](ON_DEFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
            if (moveType == TYPE_DARK || moveType == TYPE_FAIRY) RESISTANCE(.75);
        },
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

Activation Conditions

• Offensive boost: Automatically activates when the Pokémon uses any Dark-type move
• Defensive resistance: Automatically activates when the Pokémon is targeted by Dark or Fairy-type moves
• No additional conditions required - passive ability that works continuously

Affected Moves (Dark-type examples)

Physical Dark moves:

• Bite: 60 → 75 BP
• Crunch: 80 → 100 BP
• Night Slash: 70 → 87.5 BP
• Pursuit: 40 → 50 BP
• Sucker Punch: 70 → 87.5 BP
• Knock Off: 65 → 81.25 BP (before item boost)

Special Dark moves:

• Dark Pulse: 80 → 100 BP
• Shadow Ball: 80 → 100 BP
• Snarl: 55 → 68.75 BP
• Hex: 65 → 81.25 BP (before status condition boost)

Damage Calculations

Offensive Boost Example:

• Base Dark Pulse (80 BP) → Boosted Dark Pulse (100 BP)
• With STAB (same-type attack bonus): 80 × 1.5 × 1.25 = 150 effective BP
• Equivalent to a 150 BP Dark move with STAB

Defensive Resistance Example:

• Incoming Dark Pulse (80 BP) → Reduced to 60 effective BP
• Incoming Moonblast (95 BP) → Reduced to 71.25 effective BP

Interactions with Other Abilities/Mechanics

• Stacks multiplicatively with other damage modifiers (STAB, type effectiveness, items, etc.)
• Breakable: Can be suppressed by Mold Breaker, Teravolt, Turboblaze, and similar abilities
• Works with Adaptability (double STAB) for massive Dark-type damage output
• Synergizes with items like Black Glasses or Dread Plate for additional Dark-type boost
• Defensive component stacks with natural type resistances/immunities

Strategic Usage

Offensive Applications:

• Excellent for Dark-type attackers and mixed attackers with strong Dark moves
• Particularly powerful on Pokémon with high Attack/Special Attack stats
• Makes Dark-type coverage moves significantly more threatening

Defensive Applications:

• Provides valuable resistance to common Dark and Fairy-type attacks
• Helps counter Fairy-type threats and opposing Dark-type Pokémon
• Reduces damage from powerful moves like Play Rough, Moonblast, Dark Pulse, Crunch

Common Users

Based on the species list, Nocturnal appears on a diverse range of Pokémon including:

• Dark-type specialists: Sableye line, Absol line, Mightyena line
• Night-themed Pokémon: Noctowl line, Crobat line
• Mixed attackers: Various legendary and pseudo-legendary Pokémon
• Defensive Pokémon: Carbink line, defensive walls that benefit from the resistances

Competitive Viability

Strengths:

• Reliable 25% damage boost to Dark moves without conditions
• Valuable defensive utility against two common offensive types
• No drawbacks or negative effects
• Passive ability that doesn't require setup

Weaknesses:

• Limited to boosting only Dark-type moves (unlike adaptability)
• Breakable by common abilities like Mold Breaker
• Doesn't provide coverage against Fighting, Bug, or Fairy weaknesses that Dark-types often have

Counters and Counterplay

• Mold Breaker variants can ignore both offensive and defensive components
• Fighting and Bug-type moves still deal super effective damage to most Dark-types
• Multi-hit moves can wear down the defensive benefits over time
• Status moves and indirect damage bypass the ability entirely

Synergistic Abilities and Items

Ability Synergies:

• Adaptability: Double STAB + Nocturnal boost = 2.5x Dark move power
• Tough Claws: Contact Dark moves get both boosts
• Strong Jaw: Bite/Crunch get both boosts

Item Synergies:

• Black Glasses: Additional 20% boost to Dark moves
• Dread Plate: Alternative 20% boost
• Life Orb: 30% boost to all moves (including boosted Dark moves)
• Choice items: Higher base power for already-boosted Dark moves

Version History

• Introduced in Elite Redux as ability #306
• Consistently provides 1.25x offensive boost and 0.75x defensive multiplier
• Breakable status maintained throughout development