Cryomancy - Ability ID 456

In-Game Description

"Moves inflict frostbite 5x as often."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Cryomancy multiplies the chance of inflicting frostbite by 5x on all moves that can cause it. Frostbite is a status condition that deals 1/16 max HP damage per turn and halves special attack power like burn affects physical attacks. Works with moves like Ice Fang and Bitter Malice.

Character count: 290

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Cryomancy is an offensive ability that dramatically increases the likelihood of inflicting the frostbite status condition. When a Pokémon with Cryomancy uses a move that has a chance to cause frostbite, that chance is multiplied by 5.

Activation Conditions

• Move requirement: Must use a move that can inflict frostbite
• Effect multiplication: Takes the base frostbite chance and multiplies by 5
• Examples:
  • Ice Fang: 10% base chance becomes 50% with Cryomancy
  • Bitter Malice: 30% base chance becomes 150% (guaranteed frostbite)

Frostbite Status Condition

Frostbite is a status condition similar to burn but affecting special attacks:

• Damage: Deals 1/16 of max HP each turn (same as burn in Gen 7+)
• Special Attack reduction: Halves special attack power
• Cure conditions: Can be cured by moves with FLAG_THAW_USER or berries that cure freeze
• Facade interaction: Frostbite doubles Facade's power
• Visual: Uses the same icon as freeze status

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability Cryomancy = {
    .onModifyEffectChance =
        +[](ON_MODIFY_EFFECT_CHANCE) {
            if (moveEffect == MOVE_EFFECT_FROSTBITE) *effectChance *= 5;
        },
};

Moves That Can Inflict Frostbite

• Ice Fang: Physical Ice move, 10% base chance (50% with Cryomancy)
• Bitter Malice: Special Ghost move, 30% base chance (guaranteed with Cryomancy)

Important Interactions

• Sheer Force: Removes secondary effects, so Cryomancy won't work with Sheer Force
• Kings Rock/Razor Fang: Stacks with Cryomancy for additional flinch chance
• Serene Grace: Would stack multiplicatively (5x from Cryomancy, then 2x from Serene Grace)
• Effect chance cap: Chances above 100% guarantee the effect

Frostbite vs Freeze Comparison

• Freeze: Completely prevents action (25% thaw chance per turn)
• Frostbite: Allows action but reduces special attack and deals damage
• Curing: Both use similar curing mechanisms (thaw moves, fire moves)
• Strategy: Frostbite is more reliable for offense, freeze is better for stall

Strategic Applications

• Special wall breaking: Frostbite halves special attack, making special walls more effective
• Chip damage: Consistent 1/16 HP damage adds up over time
• Status spreading: High frostbite chance allows reliable status spreading
• Anti-special sweeper: Cripples special attackers more than burn affects physical ones

Competitive Viability

• Niche but powerful: High status infliction rate makes it valuable
• Ice-type synergy: Works well with Ice-type moves and Pokémon
• Limited move pool: Only two moves can currently inflict frostbite
• Status immunity: Stopped by status immunity abilities or items

Counters

• Status immunity: Limber, Guts, Natural Cure, etc.
• Substitute: Protects from status infliction
• Heal Bell/Aromatherapy: Team-wide status cure
• Lum Berry/Pecha Berry: Immediate status cure
• Magic Guard: Prevents frostbite damage

Synergies

• Kings Rock/Razor Fang: Additional secondary effect chance
• Wide Lens/Zoom Lens: Improves accuracy of frostbite moves
• Choice items: Allows spamming of frostbite-inducing moves
• Pressure/Scary Face: Pairs well with status spreading strategy

Team Building Considerations

• Ice Fang users: Physical attackers that can learn Ice Fang
• Bitter Malice users: Special Ghost types with access to the move
• Status support: Benefits from team members that can heal status
• Hazard setters: Pairs well with entry hazards for additional pressure

Version History

• Elite Redux exclusive ability
• Designed to make frostbite a more viable status condition
• Part of the expanded status condition system in Elite Redux
• ID 456 in the ability list

Related Abilities

• Flame Body: Similar concept but for burn status
• Static: Similar concept but for paralysis
• Poison Point: Similar concept but for poison
• Effect Spore: Random status infliction on contact