Ice Age - Ability ID 309

In-Game Description

"Adds Ice type to itself."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Ice Age grants the Pokémon an additional Ice typing upon entering battle, creating new STAB opportunities and coverage. The added Ice type stacks with existing types, allowing for triple-typed Pokémon with expanded offensive potential and strategic flexibility for coverage moves.

Character count: 280

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Ice Age is a type-adding ability that permanently grants the Ice type to the Pokémon upon entering battle. This creates a triple-typed Pokémon by adding Ice as the third type (stored in type3), which affects:

• STAB Calculation: Ice-type moves receive 1.5x damage multiplier
• Type Effectiveness: The Pokémon gains Ice-type resistances and vulnerabilities
• Move Learning: Access to Ice-type moves that require Ice typing
• Battle Interactions: Affected by abilities and moves that target Ice types

Activation Conditions

• Triggers automatically when the Pokémon enters battle
• Only activates if the Pokémon doesn't already have Ice typing
• Permanent for the duration of the battle (cannot be removed by most effects)
• Shows battle message: "{Pokémon} added the Ice-type!"

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability IceAge = {
    .onEntry = +[](ON_ENTRY) -> int { return AddBattlerType(battler, TYPE_ICE); },
};

static int AddBattlerType(int battler, int type) {
    CHECK_NOT(IS_BATTLER_OF_TYPE(battler, type))
    
    gBattleMons[battler].type3 = type;
    PREPARE_TYPE_BUFFER(gBattleTextBuff2, gBattleMons[battler].type3);
    BattleScriptPushCursorAndCallback(BattleScript_BattlerAddedTheType);
    return TRUE;
}

Ice Type Effectiveness Chart

Ice is Super Effective Against:

• Grass (2x damage)
• Ground (2x damage)
• Flying (2x damage)
• Dragon (2x damage)

Ice is Not Very Effective Against:

• Fire (0.5x damage)
• Water (0.5x damage)
• Ice (0.5x damage)
• Steel (0.5x damage)

Ice Resists:

• Ice (0.5x damage taken)

Ice is Weak To:

• Fire (2x damage taken)
• Fighting (2x damage taken)
• Rock (2x damage taken)
• Steel (2x damage taken)

Strategic Implications

Offensive Benefits

• STAB Ice Moves: Ice-type attacks receive 1.5x damage multiplier
• Coverage Expansion: Provides super-effective hits against Grass, Ground, Flying, and Dragon
• Dragon Counter: Particularly valuable against Dragon-types in competitive play
• Utility Moves: Access to Ice-type status moves like Haze, Aurora Veil

Defensive Considerations

• Ice Resistance: Takes 0.5x damage from Ice-type attacks
• New Vulnerabilities: Gains weaknesses to Fire, Fighting, Rock, and Steel
• Type Stacking: Combined with original types, can create unique resistance profiles

Example: Clawtificer (Fire/Electric + Ice)

Original typing: Fire/Electric With Ice Age: Fire/Electric/Ice

Resistances:

• Electric (0.5x) - from Electric type
• Fire (0.5x) - from Fire type
• Flying (0.5x) - from Electric type
• Steel (0.5x) - from Fire type
• Ice (0.5x) - from Ice type (Ice Age)
• Grass (0.25x) - Fire resists, Ice super effective (net 0.5x)

Weaknesses:

• Ground (2x) - Fire resists but Electric weak (net 2x)
• Water (2x) - Fire weak, Electric resists (net 2x)
• Rock (4x) - Fire weak, Ice weak (net 4x)
• Fighting (2x) - from Ice type (Ice Age)

Common Users

• Clawtificer (Fire/Electric): Currently the only known user
• Potential candidates: Any non-Ice Pokémon that would benefit from Ice coverage

Competitive Usage Notes

• STAB Diversity: Provides three different STAB types for maximum coverage
• Dragon Check: Excellent for checking Dragon-type threats
• Wall Breaking: Ice moves help break through Grass and Ground defensive walls
• Speed Control: Access to Ice-type priority moves and field effects

Counters

• Fire-types: Resist Ice moves and can exploit the new Fire weakness
• Steel-types: Resist Ice moves and can exploit the new Steel weakness
• Rock-types: Can exploit the new Rock weakness
• Multi-hit Moves: Can overwhelm the typically frail Ice typing

Synergies

• Weather Teams: Pairs well with Hail teams for additional synergy
• Coverage Moves: Works with Pokémon that lack natural Ice coverage
• Mixed Attackers: Benefits both physical and special Ice moves
• Entry Hazards: Ice typing helps against Ground-type hazard setters

Version History

• Introduced in Elite Redux as part of the extended ability system
• Currently assigned to Clawtificer as an innate ability
• Part of the type-adding ability family (similar to Half Drake, Aquatic, etc.)

Battle Message

When Ice Age activates:

"{Pokémon} added the Ice-type!"

Notes

• The ability only checks that the Pokémon doesn't already have Ice typing before activating
• Cannot be suppressed by typical ability-negating effects during entry
• Persists through switching (when the Pokémon re-enters battle)
• Does not affect the Pokémon's base typing permanently outside of battle