Primal Maw - Ability ID 420

In-Game Description

"Biting moves hit twice. 2nd hit does 0.4x damage."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Primal Maw causes all biting moves to hit twice in succession. The first hit deals full damage while the second hit deals 40% damage. Works with any move that has the Strong Jaw flag including Bite, Crunch, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Thunder Fang, and Poison Fang.

Character count: 294

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Primal Maw is an offensive ability that converts all biting moves into two-hit attacks. The ability modifies moves that have the Strong Jaw flag, causing them to strike twice with reduced damage on the second hit.

Activation Conditions

• Move requirement: Move must have the Strong Jaw flag (biting moves)
• Damage calculation:
  • First hit: 100% base damage
  • Second hit: 40% base damage (0.4x multiplier)
• Total damage: Approximately 140% of original move damage
• Hit timing: Both hits occur in rapid succession

Technical Implementation

// Primal Maw ability definition
constexpr Ability PrimalMaw = {
    .onParentalBond = +[](ON_PARENTAL_BOND) -> MultihitType {
        CHECK(gBattleMoves[move].flags & FLAG_STRONG_JAW_BOOST)
        return PARENTAL_BOND_PRIMAL_MAW;
    },
};

// Damage multiplier for second hit
case PARENTAL_BOND_PRIMAL_MAW:
    REQUIRE(turn)  // Only applies to second hit
    return UQ_4_12(0.4);  // 40% damage multiplier

Affected Moves

All moves with the Strong Jaw flag are affected by Primal Maw:

Common Biting Moves

• Bite: Dark-type, 60 power, may flinch
• Crunch: Dark-type, 90 power, may lower Defense
• Fire Fang: Fire-type, 80 power, may burn or flinch
• Ice Fang: Ice-type, 80 power, may freeze or flinch
• Thunder Fang: Electric-type, 80 power, may paralyze or flinch
• Poison Fang: Poison-type, 80 power, may badly poison

Elite Redux Exclusive Biting Moves

Various custom moves in Elite Redux also have the Strong Jaw flag and will trigger Primal Maw's double-hit effect.

Important Interactions

• Status chances: Each hit can trigger secondary effects independently
• Contact moves: Both hits make contact if the original move does
• Abilities: Abilities that trigger on contact activate for both hits
• Life Orb/Rocky Helmet: Damage/recoil applies for both hits
• Substitute: Can break substitute with first hit, damage Pokémon with second
• Focus Sash/Band: First hit can trigger Focus Sash, second hit can KO
• King's Rock/Razor Fang: Each hit can trigger flinch chance

Damage Calculation

Total damage output: 140% of original move damage

• Example with 100 base power move:
  • First hit: 100 power
  • Second hit: 40 power
  • Combined: 140 power equivalent

Strategic Implications

• Damage boost: Significant 40% damage increase to all biting moves
• Breaking defenses: Can break through Focus Sash, Disguise, Ice Face
• Status spreading: Double chance for status effects like burn, paralysis
• Substitute breaking: Excellent at destroying substitutes
• Multi-hit synergy: Works well with items that benefit from multiple hits

Common Users

• Physical attackers with access to biting moves
• Pokémon with naturally high Attack stats
• Dragon and Dark types with strong jaw-based movesets
• Pokémon that rely on fang moves for coverage

Competitive Usage Notes

• Meta positioning: Strong against bulky defensive Pokémon
• Item synergy: Life Orb provides damage to both hits
• Coverage moves: Makes weaker coverage fangs more viable
• Breaking point: Can push certain matchups from 2HKO to OHKO
• Consistency: More reliable than single-hit high power moves

Counters

• Physical bulk: High Defense stats reduce both hits
• Intimidate: Lowers Attack, affecting both hits
• Burns: Halves physical damage for both hits
• Rocky Helmet: Punishes contact biting moves heavily
• Rough Skin/Iron Barbs: Double recoil damage
• Mold Breaker abilities: Can disable Primal Maw

Synergies

• Choice Band: Boosts both hits significantly
• Life Orb: Extra damage on both hits with manageable recoil
• Strong Jaw ability: If paired somehow, would boost both hits further
• King's Rock: Increases flinch chances with double hits
• Tough Claws: Boosts contact biting moves further

Ability Interactions

• Does NOT stack with: Strong Jaw (different Pokémon would need both)
• Blocked by: Mold Breaker effects that suppress abilities
• Enhanced by: Items that boost physical attacks
• Countered by: Abilities that punish contact (if biting move makes contact)

Version History

• Elite Redux exclusive ability
• ID 420 in the ability roster
• Uses Parental Bond multihit framework with custom damage multiplier
• Part of the expanded ability system with 800+ total abilities