Raw Wood - Ability ID 337

In-Game Description

"Halves dmg taken by Grass moves. Boosts own Grass moves by 1.2x."

Extended In-Game Description

For use in Elite Redux extended ability UI (280-300 chars max)

Reduces damage from Grass-type attacks by 50% while boosting the power of the user's own Grass-type moves by 20%. This dual effect creates excellent synergy for Grass-type Pokemon, providing both offensive prowess and defensive utility against opposing Grass attacks.

Character count: 286

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Raw Wood provides a dual-type interaction with Grass-type moves:

• Defensive: 0.5x damage multiplier (50% damage reduction) against all incoming Grass-type attacks
• Offensive: 1.2x damage multiplier (20% damage boost) for all outgoing Grass-type moves

This creates a unique offensive-defensive synergy that makes the Pokemon both resistant to and empowered by Grass-type moves.

Activation Conditions

Defensive Effect:

• Triggers automatically against any Grass-type move targeting the Pokemon
• Works against both physical and special Grass attacks
• Functions regardless of the attacking Pokemon's ability or move properties

Offensive Effect:

• Triggers automatically when the Pokemon uses any Grass-type move
• Applies to both physical and special Grass attacks
• Stacks with other damage-boosting effects

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability RawWood = {
    .onOffensiveMultiplier =
        +[](ON_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
            if (moveType == TYPE_GRASS) MUL(1.2);
        },
    .onDefensiveMultiplier =
        +[](ON_DEFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
            if (moveType == TYPE_GRASS) RESISTANCE(.5);
        },
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

Location: /Users/joel/Github/eliteredux/eliteredux-source/src/abilities.cc (lines 3563-3573)

Affected Move Types

Grass-type moves (both offensive and defensive effects):

• Energy Ball
• Leaf Storm
• Power Whip
• Seed Bomb
• Solar Beam
• Petal Dance
• Grass Knot
• Leaf Blade
• Giga Drain
• Wood Hammer

Damage Calculation Examples

Defensive (incoming Grass moves):

• 100 BP Grass move → 50% damage (50 BP effective)
• 120 BP Leaf Storm → 60 BP effective damage

Offensive (outgoing Grass moves):

• 100 BP Energy Ball → 120 BP effective power
• 120 BP Leaf Storm → 144 BP effective power

Interactions with Other Mechanics

Can be bypassed by:

• Mold Breaker and similar abilities (marked as breakable = TRUE)
• Abilities that ignore defensive abilities (defensive effect only)

Does NOT affect:

• Status effects from Grass moves (sleep from Sleep Powder, etc.)
• Indirect damage (poison, weather, entry hazards)
• Multi-type moves (only affects pure Grass-type moves)

Stacks with:

• Type advantages/disadvantages (0.5x Fire resistance + 0.5x Raw Wood = 0.25x vs Grass)
• STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) - 1.2x Raw Wood + 1.5x STAB = 1.8x total boost
• Other damage-boosting abilities and items
• Critical hits and other multipliers

Strategic Implications

Dual-Role Synergy:

• Exceptional for Grass-type Pokemon that both dish out and receive Grass attacks
• Creates unique positioning against Grass-heavy teams
• Enables aggressive play while maintaining defensive utility

Offensive Value:

• 20% damage boost makes Grass moves significantly more threatening
• Combines excellently with high-BP Grass moves like Leaf Storm
• Enhances STAB effectiveness for Grass-type users

Defensive Value:

• Strong switch-in potential against Grass attackers
• Reduces effectiveness of opposing Grass-type cores
• Provides insurance against Grass-type revenge killers

Common Users in Elite Redux

Pokemon with Raw Wood as Innate Ability:

• Sudowoodo - Rock-type that gains Grass synergy despite typing
• Bonsly - Pre-evolution with early game defensive utility
• Ogerpon - Grass-type that maximizes both offensive and defensive benefits
• Duelumber - Likely a Grass/Rock or similar dual-type with strong synergy

Notable Users (Regular Ability):

• Several other species have access to Raw Wood as a changeable ability
• Particularly effective on Pokemon with strong Grass-type movepools

Competitive Usage Notes

Tier Impact:

• High value in formats with prevalent Grass-type attackers
• Creates unique niches for Pokemon that wouldn't normally counter Grass types
• Enables hybrid offensive-defensive strategies

Common Strategies:

• Pivot switching against Grass-type special attackers
• Wallbreaking with boosted Grass moves while maintaining defensive presence
• Supporting teams weak to Grass with reliable resistances

Team Synergy:

• Excellent partner for Pokemon weak to Grass attacks
• Provides both offensive and defensive utility in a single ability slot
• Creates unpredictable matchups against Grass-focused teams

Counters and Limitations

Direct Counters:

• Mold Breaker abilities bypass both offensive and defensive effects
• Pokemon with non-Grass coverage moves ignore the defensive utility
• Fire-types resist boosted Grass moves despite the offensive boost

Indirect Limitations:

• Only affects one type (Grass) unlike broader abilities
• Breakable status means common abilities can nullify the effect
• Status effects from Grass moves still apply at full strength

Unique Characteristics

Dual-Effect Design:

• One of the few abilities that provides both offensive and defensive benefits for the same type
• Creates interesting strategic decisions about when to use Grass moves
• Enables Pokemon to both wall and break Grass-type threats

Type Specialist Identity:

• Reinforces Grass-type identity even on non-Grass Pokemon
• Creates pseudo-Grass typing through ability interaction
• Unique thematic design connecting to wood/plant materials

Version History

• New ability created for Elite Redux
• Part of the expanded ability system with unique type interactions
• Designed to create more diverse defensive and offensive options

Synergistic Abilities

Works well with:

• Chlorophyll - Speed boost + Grass move power creates sweep potential
• Overgrow - Stacks with Raw Wood for massive Grass move damage when low HP
• Regenerator - Enhanced longevity with Grass resistance
• Solar Power - Sun teams that benefit from boosted Grass moves

Competitive Combinations:

• Raw Wood + Grass STAB + Choice items = extremely powerful Grass attacks
• Pairs excellently with recovery moves for sustained presence
• Enhances the effectiveness of Grass-type movepool diversity

Calculation Examples

Full Damage Scenarios:

• Grass-type with STAB + Raw Wood: 1.5x × 1.2x = 1.8x total boost
• Critical hit + Raw Wood: 1.5x × 1.2x = 1.8x total boost
• Choice Band + Raw Wood: 1.5x × 1.2x = 1.8x total boost

Defensive Scenarios:

• 2x weakness to Grass + Raw Wood: 2.0x × 0.5x = 1.0x neutral damage
• 0.5x resistance to Grass + Raw Wood: 0.5x × 0.5x = 0.25x total resistance
• Neutral typing + Raw Wood: 1.0x × 0.5x = 0.5x damage taken