Gifted Mind - Ability ID 422

In-Game Description

"Nulls Psychic weakness; status moves always hit."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Gifted Mind grants immunity to Dark, Ghost, and Bug-type moves while making all status moves used by this Pokémon never miss. These three types are the primary weaknesses of Psychic-types, providing defensive immunity alongside perfect accuracy for utility moves.

Character count: 286

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Gifted Mind is a dual-function ability that provides both defensive immunity and offensive utility. It completely nullifies damage from Dark, Ghost, and Bug-type moves while ensuring perfect accuracy for all status moves used by the wielder.

Defensive Component - Type Immunity

• Immunity types: Dark, Ghost, and Bug-type moves deal 0 damage
• Coverage: These three types cover the most common weaknesses of Psychic-type Pokémon
• Interaction: Works like type immunity - no damage, no secondary effects
• Priority: Applied during damage calculation phase

Offensive Component - Status Move Accuracy

• Accuracy boost: All status moves have 100% accuracy regardless of base accuracy
• Move types affected: Any move classified as a status move
• Overrides: Bypasses accuracy checks, evasion boosts, and accuracy reductions
• Limitations: Does not affect damaging moves, only pure status moves

Technical Implementation

// Defensive immunity check in battle_util.c (line 7831-7832)
if ((moveType == TYPE_DARK || moveType == TYPE_GHOST || moveType == TYPE_BUG) && 
    (BATTLER_HAS_ABILITY(battlerDef, ABILITY_GIFTED_MIND)))
    modifier = UQ_4_12(0.0);  // Set damage to 0

// Status move accuracy in battle_ai_util.c (line 1174)
if (BattlerHasAbility(battlerAtk, ABILITY_GIFTED_MIND, FALSE) && IS_MOVE_STATUS(move)) 
    return TRUE;  // Always hits

AI Considerations

The AI recognizes both aspects of this ability:

• Defensive AI: Will avoid using Dark, Ghost, or Bug-type moves against Gifted Mind users
• Offensive AI: Factors in guaranteed status move accuracy when predicting outcomes

Important Interactions

• Type immunity: Functions like Wonder Guard but for specific types
• Status moves: Affects moves like Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, Sleep Powder
• Secondary effects: Immunity prevents secondary effects from blocked moves
• Multi-hit moves: Each hit is blocked individually
• Ability bypass: Mold Breaker and similar abilities can overcome the immunity
• Status immunity: Does not grant immunity to status conditions themselves

Strategic Applications

• Psychic-type support: Perfect for Psychic-types weak to Dark/Ghost/Bug
• Utility Pokémon: Excellent for support Pokémon that rely on status moves
• Counter-meta: Hard counters common offensive types
• Team support: Reliable status spreaders and support Pokémon

Counters and Limitations

• Other move types: Still vulnerable to other types like Flying, Electric, etc.
• Damaging moves: Does not affect damaging move accuracy
• Ability suppression: Mold Breaker, Neutralizing Gas bypass immunity
• Status immunity: Targets with status immunity still aren't affected by status moves
• Substitute/Magic Bounce: Can still block status moves through other means

Synergies

• Status moves: Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, Sleep Powder, Toxic
• Psychic-type pairing: Natural fit for Psychic-types' defensive profile
• Support movesets: Works well with utility and support-focused strategies
• Team cores: Excellent on teams needing reliable status support

Common Status Moves Enhanced

• Thunder Wave: Paralysis support with perfect accuracy
• Will-O-Wisp: Burn spreading with no miss chance
• Sleep Powder: Sleep inducement with 100% accuracy
• Toxic: Poison spreading without accuracy concerns
• Hypnosis: Sleep moves become perfectly reliable

Version History

• Elite Redux exclusive ability
• ID 422 in the ability list
• Combines defensive immunity with offensive utility
• Designed to support Psychic-type viability and utility Pokémon

Competitive Usage Notes

• Excellent on support Pokémon that need reliable status moves
• Provides defensive backbone for Psychic-types
• Creates interesting team-building decisions around type coverage
• Particularly strong in formats where Dark/Ghost/Bug moves are common
• Can enable unique strategies combining immunity with status support