Half Drake - Ability ID 310

In-Game Description

"Adds Dragon type to itself."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Half Drake adds Dragon typing as a third type upon entering battle. This grants STAB to Dragon moves and changes type matchups, adding weaknesses to Ice, Dragon, and Fairy while gaining resistances to Fire, Water, Electric, and Grass. The additional typing persists throughout the entire battle.

Character count: 295

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Half Drake is a type-adding ability that grants the Pokémon an additional Dragon typing upon entering battle. This is implemented through the AddBattlerType function, which assigns Dragon-type to the Pokémon's type3 slot.

Activation Conditions

• Triggers automatically when the Pokémon enters battle
• Only activates if the Pokémon doesn't already have Dragon typing
• Cannot be suppressed by abilities like Mold Breaker
• Persists for the entire duration the Pokémon remains in battle

Technical Implementation

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

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;
}

The ability uses the IS_BATTLER_OF_TYPE macro which checks all three type slots:

#define IS_BATTLER_OF_TYPE(battlerId, type) \
    ((gBattleMons[battlerId].type1 == type || \
      gBattleMons[battlerId].type2 == type || \
      gBattleMons[battlerId].type3 == type))

Type Effectiveness Changes

New Weaknesses (2x damage taken):

• Ice-type moves
• Dragon-type moves
• Fairy-type moves

New Resistances (0.5x damage taken):

• Fire-type moves
• Water-type moves
• Electric-type moves
• Grass-type moves

STAB Benefits

• All Dragon-type moves gain 1.5x power multiplier
• Stacks with other offensive boosts
• Works with moves learned naturally or through TMs/breeding

Strategic Implications

Offensive Benefits:

• Powerful Dragon-type STAB for coverage
• Access to moves like Dragon Pulse, Draco Meteor, Dragon Claw
• Enhanced wallbreaking potential against neutral targets

Defensive Considerations:

• Vulnerable to common Ice-type priority moves (Ice Shard)
• Weak to Fairy-type moves, reducing effectiveness against Fairy teams
• Dragon vs Dragon neutral damage creates prediction battles
• Gains valuable resistances to common attacking types

Example Damage Calculations

STAB Dragon Move:

• Base 90 Dragon Pulse: 90 × 1.5 = 135 effective power
• Base 130 Draco Meteor: 130 × 1.5 = 195 effective power

Defensive Multipliers:

• Fire-type move dealing 100 damage → 50 damage taken
• Ice-type move dealing 100 damage → 200 damage taken

Common Users

Notable Pokémon with Half Drake ability:

• Charizard line (changeable ability)
• Hydreigon line (innate ability)
• Aurorus (innate ability)
• Tyrantrum (innate ability)
• Absol line (changeable ability)
• Various other Dragon and non-Dragon Pokémon

Competitive Usage Notes

Team Synergy:

• Excellent on mixed offensive teams needing Dragon coverage
• Pairs well with Fire/Water/Electric/Grass moves for coverage
• Benefits from entry hazard support to pressure switchins

Positioning:

• Strong lead ability for immediate type advantage
• Good revenge killer with added Dragon STAB
• Effective wallbreaker against balanced teams

Counters

Direct Counters:

• Steel-type Pokémon (resist Dragon moves)
• Fairy-type Pokémon (immune to Dragon, super effective back)
• Ice-type priority moves (exploit new weakness)
• Dedicated Dragon-type walls

Strategic Counters:

• Speed control to prevent setup
• Entry hazards to punish switching
• Status moves to cripple offensive potential

Synergies

Ability Combinations:

• Dragon's Maw (Dragon move power boost)
• Adaptability (double STAB bonus)
• Sheer Force (boosted secondary effect moves)

Move Synergies:

• Dragon Dance (setup sweeping)
• Dragon-type coverage moves
• Fire/Water/Electric/Grass moves (utilize resistances)

Item Synergies:

• Dragonium Z (powerful Z-moves)
• Life Orb (raw power boost)
• Choice items (speed/power emphasis)

Version History

• Added in Elite Redux as part of type-manipulation ability system
• Functions identically to other type-adding abilities (Ice Age, Aquatic, Metallic)
• Consistent with core type-addition mechanics across the game

Related Abilities

• Ice Age (adds Ice typing)
• Aquatic (adds Water typing)
• Metallic (adds Steel typing)
• Phantom (adds Ghost typing)
• Dragonfly (adds Dragon typing + Levitate)