Fatal Precision (Ability #340)

Overview

Fatal Precision is an Elite Redux-exclusive ability that ensures super-effective damaging moves never miss and always score critical hits. This ability transforms Pokémon with diverse move coverage into highly reliable offensive threats, eliminating the risk-reward balance typically associated with powerful but less accurate moves.

Mechanics

Core Functionality

The ability provides two distinct effects when using super-effective damaging moves:

1. Guaranteed Accuracy: Super-effective moves automatically hit, bypassing all accuracy checks
2. Guaranteed Critical Hits: Super-effective moves always land critical hits

Technical Implementation

The ability is implemented through two callback functions in src/abilities.cc:

Accuracy Component (Lines 3600-3604)

.onAccuracy = +[](ON_ACCURACY) -> AccuracyPriority {
    CHECK_NOT(IS_MOVE_STATUS(move))
    CHECK(CalcTypeEffectivenessMultiplier(move, moveType, battler, target, TRUE) >= UQ_4_12(2.0))
    return ACCURACY_HITS_IF_POSSIBLE;
},

Critical Hit Component (Lines 3605-3608)

.onCrit = +[](ON_CRIT) -> int {
    CHECK(typeEffectiveness >= UQ_4_12(2.0))
    return ALWAYS_CRIT;
},

Super-Effective Determination

The ability uses CalcTypeEffectivenessMultiplier() to determine if a move is super-effective. The threshold is UQ_4_12(2.0), which represents a 2.0x type effectiveness multiplier (standard super-effective damage).

Restrictions

• Status Move Exclusion: The ability explicitly checks IS_MOVE_STATUS(move) and does not activate for status moves
• Type Effectiveness Requirement: Must achieve at least 2.0x type effectiveness to trigger
• Damage Moves Only: Only affects moves that deal damage

Strategic Applications

Offensive Versatility

Fatal Precision rewards Pokémon with diverse move coverage, making them extremely reliable against their intended targets. This is particularly valuable for:

• Mixed Attackers: Pokémon that can threaten both physical and special walls
• Coverage Specialists: Pokémon with moves covering many different types
• Revenge Killers: Ensuring key KOs against faster threats

Synergy Opportunities

The ability works excellently with:

• Choice Items: Guaranteeing the selected move hits and crits when super-effective
• High Base Power Moves: Critical hits on powerful moves create massive damage output
• Multi-hit Moves: Each hit that's super-effective will crit individually

Competitive Applications

In competitive play, Fatal Precision provides:

• Reliability: Eliminates the frustration of missing crucial super-effective moves
• Pressure: Forces opponents to avoid type disadvantages entirely
• Breaking Power: Critical hits help break through defensive investment

Pokémon with Fatal Precision

Based on the species data, Fatal Precision appears on a diverse range of Pokémon, including:

Notable Users

• Genesect Forms: Multiple Genesect variants have this as a regular ability
• Fighting-type Specialists: Several Fighting-types use this for coverage moves
• Mixed Attackers: Various dual-typed Pokémon that benefit from coverage reliability
• Legendary/Mythical Pokémon: Some powerful Pokémon have this as an innate ability

Distribution Pattern

The ability appears both as:

• Regular Abilities: Changeable through normal ability mechanics
• Innate Abilities: Permanent passive abilities that cannot be changed

Interactions and Edge Cases

Multi-Type Effectiveness

For moves that hit multiple types (such as against dual-typed Pokémon), the ability triggers if the combined effectiveness reaches 2.0x or higher.

Ability Suppression

Fatal Precision can be suppressed by abilities like:

• Mold Breaker: Ignores the ability entirely
• Neutralizing Gas: Temporarily disables the ability

Move Interaction Examples

• Hidden Power: Can trigger if super-effective against the target
• Weather Ball: Effectiveness depends on the weather-modified type
• Flying Press: Calculated against both Fighting and Flying type effectiveness

Related Abilities

Final Blow (Ability #425)

Final Blow combines Fatal Precision's effects with Unseen Fist, as seen in the code:

constexpr Ability FinalBlow = {
    .onAccuracy = FatalPrecision.onAccuracy,
    .onCrit = FatalPrecision.onCrit,
};

Synergistic Abilities

• Sniper: Multiplies the damage of Fatal Precision's guaranteed critical hits
• Tough Claws: Boosts contact moves that benefit from guaranteed crits
• Sheer Force: Can work alongside if the move doesn't have secondary effects

Competitive Impact

Tier Considerations

Fatal Precision significantly raises the competitive viability of Pokémon that possess it, particularly those with:

• Good offensive stats
• Access to diverse move coverage
• Strategic positioning in team compositions

Counterplay

Opponents facing Fatal Precision users must:

• Avoid unfavorable type matchups entirely
• Use Pokémon that resist the user's coverage moves
• Employ priority moves or speed control
• Consider abilities that can suppress or bypass Fatal Precision

Conclusion

Fatal Precision represents a powerful offensive ability that rewards strategic team building and move selection. By guaranteeing both accuracy and critical hits on super-effective moves, it transforms reliable coverage into devastating offensive pressure. The ability's implementation in Elite Redux showcases sophisticated battle mechanics that maintain competitive depth while providing exciting new tactical options.

The ability's code implementation is clean and efficient, with clear checks for move type and effectiveness that ensure it only activates under the intended conditions. Its distribution across various Pokémon types and roles makes it a versatile tool in both casual and competitive play.