Emanate - Ability ID 459

In-Game Description

"Normal-type moves become Psychic and Psychic gains STAB."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Emanate converts all Normal-type moves to Psychic-type with a 1.2x power boost. The Pokémon also gains STAB on all Psychic-type moves, including converted ones. This transforms weak Normal moves into powerful Psychic attacks while enhancing existing Psychic moves through STAB bonus.

Character count: 293

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Emanate is an "-ate" family ability that transforms Normal-type moves into Psychic-type moves while providing offensive benefits. It belongs to the same family as Pixilate, Aerilate, and other type-converting abilities.

Primary Effects

1. Type Conversion: All Normal-type moves become Psychic-type
2. Power Boost: Converted moves receive a 1.2x power multiplier
3. STAB Bonus: Grants STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) on all Psychic-type moves
4. Move Pool Expansion: Effectively gives access to powerful Psychic variants of Normal moves

Activation Conditions

• Move Type: Only affects Normal-type moves for conversion
• STAB Application: Applies to all Psychic-type moves (converted and natural)
• Power Boost: Only applies to converted Normal moves, not natural Psychic moves
• Timing: Conversion happens before damage calculation

Technical Implementation

// Emanate uses the ATE_ABILITY macro with TYPE_PSYCHIC
constexpr Ability Emanate = {
    ATE_ABILITY(TYPE_PSYCHIC),
};

// This expands to:
.onMoveType = +[](ON_MOVE_TYPE) -> int {
    CHECK(moveType == TYPE_NORMAL)    // Only converts Normal moves
    *ateBoost = TRUE;                 // Sets power boost flag
    return TYPE_PSYCHIC + 1;          // Returns new type
},
.onStab = +[](ON_STAB) -> int { 
    return moveType == TYPE_PSYCHIC;  // STAB for Psychic moves
}

Damage Calculation

• Converted Normal moves: Base power × 1.2 (ATE boost) × 1.5 (STAB) = 1.8x total
• Natural Psychic moves: Base power × 1.5 (STAB only)
• Other move types: No modification

Move Interactions

Powerful Normal moves that become Psychic:

• Hyper Beam → Psychic Hyper Beam (150 → 180 BP + STAB)
• Double-Edge → Psychic Double-Edge (120 → 144 BP + STAB)
• Return/Frustration → Psychic Return/Frustration (variable power + boost)
• Boomburst → Psychic Boomburst (140 → 168 BP + STAB)
• Extreme Speed → Psychic Extreme Speed (80 → 96 BP + STAB + priority)

Natural Psychic moves enhanced:

• All existing Psychic moves gain STAB bonus
• No power boost, just the 1.5x STAB multiplier

Type Effectiveness Changes

After conversion, moves hit based on Psychic-type effectiveness:

• Super Effective: Fighting, Poison (2x damage)
• Not Very Effective: Steel, Psychic (0.5x damage)
• No Effect: Dark-type Pokémon (0x damage)

Important Interactions

• Wonder Guard: Converted moves can hit Wonder Guard if Psychic is super effective
• Abilities: Affects interactions with Psychic-immune abilities
• Items: Benefits from Psychic-boosting items (Twisted Spoon, Psychium Z)
• Terrain: Affected by Psychic Terrain when used on grounded Pokémon
• Weather: No direct weather interactions

Strategic Applications

Offensive Versatility:

• Transforms weak Normal coverage into powerful Psychic attacks
• Provides STAB bonus to existing Psychic movepool
• Excellent for mixed attackers with both Normal and Psychic moves

Coverage Considerations:

• Loses Normal's neutral coverage against most types
• Gains super effective coverage against Fighting and Poison
• Becomes walled by Dark-types completely

Team Synergy:

• Works well with Psychic Terrain support
• Benefits from Choice items and life orb
• Pairs with Pokémon that can handle Dark-types

Counters and Limitations

Hard Counters:

• Dark-type Pokémon (complete immunity to converted moves)
• Pokémon with Psychic-type resistances (Steel, Psychic)

Ability Counters:

• Mold Breaker: Ignores the ability entirely
• Wonder Guard: Only affected if Psychic is super effective
• Magic Guard: Prevents recoil damage from converted moves

Strategic Counters:

• Dark-type teammates or coverage
• Steel-type walls with recovery
• Priority moves that outspeed converted Extreme Speed

Optimal Users

Ideal Pokémon characteristics:

• High Attack or Special Attack stats
• Access to powerful Normal moves
• Natural Psychic STAB moves
• Good speed or bulk to utilize the power boost

Common Movesets:

• Physical: Double-Edge, Extreme Speed, Return, Psychic Fangs
• Special: Hyper Beam, Boomburst, Psychic, Psyshock
• Mixed: Combination of both for maximum coverage

Competitive Viability

Strengths:

• Significantly boosts power of common Normal moves
• Provides STAB to both converted and natural Psychic moves
• Excellent for wallbreaking with boosted moves

Weaknesses:

• Complete shutdown by Dark-types
• Reduces neutral coverage compared to Normal typing
• Predictable type conversions

Version History

• Elite Redux custom ability (ID 459)
• Part of the "-ate" ability family
• Follows standard ATE_ABILITY implementation pattern
• Balanced around 1.2x power boost for converted moves

Synergy with Other Abilities

• Can be paired with other abilities in Elite Redux's multi-ability system
• Works well with offensive stat boosters
• Combines with priority-granting abilities for devastating Extreme Speed