Pony Power (Blade's Essence) - Ability ID 513

In-Game Description

"Keen Edge + Mystic Blades."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Blade's Essence combines Keen Edge and Mystic Blades effects. Boosts slicing moves by 30% and allows physical slicing moves to use the higher of Attack or Special Attack. This includes moves like Slash, Leaf Blade, Air Slash, and Night Slash. Perfect for mixed attackers wanting versatility.

Character count: 286

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Pony Power (internally named "Blade's Essence") is a hybrid offensive ability that combines two distinct blade-focused abilities: Keen Edge and Mystic Blades. This creates a powerful synergy for Pokémon that rely on slicing attacks.

Component Abilities Breakdown

Keen Edge Component

• Damage boost: Increases power of slicing moves by 30% (1.3x multiplier)
• Target moves: All moves with FLAG_KEEN_EDGE_BOOST flag
• Activation: Triggers on offensive multiplier calculation

Mystic Blades Component

• Stat swapping: Physical slicing moves can use Special Attack if it's higher
• Split conversion: Allows physical slicing moves to benefit from higher special attack stat
• Flexibility: Enables mixed attackers to optimize damage output

Activation Conditions

• Move requirement: Only affects moves flagged with FLAG_KEEN_EDGE_BOOST
• Move types: Includes approximately 50 different slicing/cutting moves
• No weather/status requirements: Always active when using qualifying moves

Technical Implementation

// Pony Power combines both abilities
constexpr Ability PonyPower = {
    .onOffensiveMultiplier = +[](ON_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
        // Apply Keen Edge 30% boost
        KeenEdge.onOffensiveMultiplier(DELEGATE_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER);
        // Apply Mystic Blades 30% boost (same as Keen Edge)
        MysticBlades.onOffensiveMultiplier(DELEGATE_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER);
    },
    // Enable stat swapping for physical slicing moves
    .onSwapSplit = MysticBlades.onSwapSplit,
};

Eligible Moves (Examples)

Common Slicing Moves:

• Slash, Night Slash, Psycho Cut
• Leaf Blade, Air Slash, Stone Edge
• Fury Cutter, Shadow Claw, X-Scissor
• Sacred Sword, Secret Sword, Razor Shell
• And approximately 40+ other slicing moves

Stat Optimization Logic

1. Physical slicing move used
2. Check: Is Special Attack > Attack?
3. Yes: Use Special Attack for damage calculation + 30% boost
4. No: Use Attack for damage calculation + 30% boost
5. Result: Always uses the better offensive stat with power boost

Exclusive User: Keldeo Resolute Form

• Species: Keldeo (Resolute Form only)
• Base stats: 91/117/70/129/70/123
• Optimal usage: Special Attack (129) > Attack (117), so physical slicing moves use SpA
• Innate abilities: Fighter, Arcane Force, Riptide
• Typing: Water/Fighting

Strategic Implications

• Mixed attacker optimization: Perfect for Pokémon with high Special Attack using physical moves
• Move variety: Can run both physical and special slicing moves effectively
• Unpredictability: Physical moves might use special attack, confusing opponents
• Coverage expansion: Enables access to physical slicing moves without stat penalty

Important Interactions

• Physical moves only: Stat swapping only affects physical slicing moves, not special ones
• Multiplier stacking: 30% boost applies regardless of which stat is used
• Critical hits: Higher stat usage applies to critical hit calculations too
• Ability suppression: Both components disabled if ability is suppressed

Competitive Usage Notes

• Keldeo Resolute exclusive: Only available on one form of one Pokémon
• Sacred Sword synergy: Keldeo's signature move benefits greatly from this ability
• Mixed sets: Enables effective mixed attacking sets with slicing moves
• Stat distribution: Keldeo's 129 SpA vs 117 Atk makes physical slicing moves hit harder

Damage Calculation Example

Base Scenario: Sacred Sword (Physical, 90 BP)
- Normal: 90 BP × Attack stat
- With Pony Power: 90 BP × 1.3 × Special Attack (if SpA > Atk)
- Keldeo Resolute: Uses 129 SpA instead of 117 Atk, plus 30% boost

Synergies

• High Special Attack: Maximizes the stat-swapping benefit
• Physical slicing moves: Sacred Sword, Leaf Blade, Stone Edge
• Mixed movesets: Can run both physical and special attacks effectively
• Coverage moves: Physical slicing moves for coverage become viable

Counters

• Ability suppression: Mold Breaker, Neutralizing Gas, Gastro Acid
• Non-slicing moves: Ability provides no benefit to other move types
• Physical walls: Still need to deal with physical defensive stats
• Burns: Attack drops still affect damage if Attack stat is used

Version History

• Elite Redux exclusive: Custom ability not found in official games
• Hybrid design: Combines mechanics from two separate abilities
• Keldeo signature: Designed specifically for Keldeo's Resolute form
• Mixed attacker support: Part of Elite Redux's expanded battle mechanics

Comparison to Component Abilities

• Keen Edge alone: Only provides 30% boost, no stat flexibility
• Mystic Blades alone: Only provides stat swapping, no damage boost
• Pony Power: Best of both worlds - damage boost AND stat optimization
• Unique value: Only ability that combines offensive boost with stat swapping