Telekinetic - Ability ID 511

In-Game Description

"Casts Telekinesis on entry."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Telekinetic automatically casts Telekinesis on entry, lifting the user 3 feet off the ground for 3 turns. While levitating, all attacks targeting the user have perfect accuracy, but the user becomes immune to Ground-type moves and terrain effects. Cannot affect grounded Pokémon.

Character count: 294

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Telekinetic is a unique entry ability that automatically applies the Telekinesis move effect to its user upon switching in. This creates a double-edged effect where the user gains immunity to certain moves but becomes vulnerable to all attacks.

Activation Conditions

• Entry trigger: Activates immediately when the Pokémon enters battle
• Duration: Lasts for 3 turns after activation
• Auto-cast: Uses the Telekinesis move effect without consuming PP
• Species restrictions: Cannot activate on certain grounded species

Telekinesis Effect Details

When Telekinetic activates, the user gains the STATUS3_TELEKINESIS status, which provides:

• Levitation: Pokémon is lifted off the ground
• Perfect accuracy: All moves targeting the user have 100% accuracy
• Ground immunity: Becomes immune to Ground-type moves
• Terrain immunity: Unaffected by terrain effects (Electric, Grassy, Misty, Psychic)

Technical Implementation

// Telekinetic ability activates on entry
constexpr Ability Telekinetic = {
    .onEntry = +[](ON_ENTRY) -> int { 
        return UseEntryMove(battler, ability, MOVE_TELEKINESIS, 0); 
    },
};

// Telekinesis move effect implementation
static void Cmd_settelekinesis(void) {
    if (gStatuses3[gBattlerTarget] & (STATUS3_TELEKINESIS | STATUS3_ROOTED | STATUS3_SMACKED_DOWN) || 
        gFieldStatuses & STATUS_FIELD_GRAVITY ||
        IsTelekinesisBannedSpecies(gBattleMons[gBattlerTarget].species)) {
        gBattlescriptCurrInstr = T1_READ_PTR(gBattlescriptCurrInstr + 1);
    } else {
        gStatuses3[gBattlerTarget] |= STATUS3_TELEKINESIS;
        gVolatileStructs[gBattlerTarget].telekinesisTimer = 3;
        gBattlescriptCurrInstr += 5;
    }
}

Banned Species

Certain grounded Pokémon cannot be affected by Telekinesis and thus cannot have this ability:

• Diglett and Dugtrio (including Alolan forms)
• Gengar-Mega (partially underground)
• Sand Castle Pokémon (Palossand)
• Other species with permanent ground connection

Status Interactions

• Smack Down: Immediately ends the Telekinesis effect
• Gravity: Prevents activation and ends existing effect
• Rooted: Cannot activate if user is rooted to the ground
• Magnet Rise: Does not stack with existing levitation effects

Turn Counter Management

// End of turn check for Telekinesis duration
case ENDTURN_TELEKINESIS:
    if (gStatuses3[gActiveBattler] & STATUS3_TELEKINESIS) {
        if (gVolatileStructs[gActiveBattler].telekinesisTimer == 0 || 
            --gVolatileStructs[gActiveBattler].telekinesisTimer == 0) {
            gStatuses3[gActiveBattler] &= ~(STATUS3_TELEKINESIS);
            BattleScriptExecute(BattleScript_TelekinesisEndTurn);
        }
    }

Strategic Implications

Advantages:

• Entry pressure: Immediate battlefield control upon switching in
• Ground immunity: Complete immunity to Earthquake, Earth Power, etc.
• Terrain immunity: Unaffected by all terrain effects
• Setup protection: Can set up moves while immune to Ground attacks

Disadvantages:

• Perfect accuracy vulnerability: All attacks hit with 100% accuracy
• Limited duration: Only lasts 3 turns
• Gravity vulnerability: Completely negated by Gravity field effect
• Smack Down weakness: Instantly loses all benefits

Competitive Usage

• Anti-Ground: Excellent against Ground-type heavy teams
• Setup sweeper: Allows safe setup against Ground-type attacks
• Terrain denial: Prevents opponent from using beneficial terrain effects
• Entry hazard immunity: Immune to Spikes while levitating
• Risk vs reward: High-risk, high-reward ability requiring careful timing

Common Strategies

1. Setup Abuse: Use the 3-turn immunity window to set up stat boosts
2. Terrain Control: Deny opponent access to terrain-based strategies
3. Anti-Earthquake: Counter common Ground-type coverage moves
4. Pivot Tool: Switch in to absorb Ground attacks, then pivot out

Counters

Direct Counters:

• Gravity: Completely negates the ability and grounds the user
• Smack Down: Instantly removes all benefits
• Weather Ball (in Gravity): Becomes Rock-type and hits grounded targets
• High accuracy moves: Stone Edge, Focus Blast become guaranteed hits

Indirect Counters:

• Status moves: Perfect accuracy makes status moves unavoidable
• Multi-hit moves: Skill Link abilities become more threatening
• OHKO moves: Fissure, Guillotine become 30% accurate instead of failing

Ability Synergies

• Air Balloon: Extends levitation beyond 3 turns if balloon isn't popped
• Levitate: Redundant with Telekinetic's Ground immunity
• Magic Guard: Prevents residual damage while gaining perfect accuracy
• Sturdy: Ensures survival of at least one perfect accuracy attack

Team Synergies

• Gravity teams: Ironically, opposing Gravity can shut down the ability
• Terrain teams: Denies opponent access to terrain while maintaining your own
• Setup sweepers: Partners who can abuse the temporary immunity window
• Pivot cores: Pokémon that can switch in to absorb Ground moves

Version History

• Elite Redux exclusive ability
• Designed as a high-risk, high-reward entry ability
• Balances immunity benefits with perfect accuracy vulnerability
• Part of the expanded ability roster in Elite Redux

Interaction Notes

• Cannot be Skill Swapped while active (status-based, not ability-based after activation)
• Trace cannot copy the entry effect (occurs before Trace activation)
• Role Play copying occurs after the initial Telekinesis application
• Works with entry-based items like Focus Sash for survival strategies