Keen Eye - Ability ID 51

In-Game Description

"Immune to accuracy drops. Grants a 1.2x accuracy boost."

Extended In-Game Description

For use in Elite Redux extended ability UI (280-300 chars max)

Keen Eye prevents accuracy stat reductions from moves like Sand Attack and Smokescreen. Additionally, all moves gain a 1.2x accuracy boost, making normally unreliable moves more consistent. This ability is breakable by Mold Breaker and similar abilities, but provides excellent reliability for accuracy-dependent movesets.

Character count: 288

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

KEEN EYE is a dual-purpose ability that provides both offensive accuracy enhancement and defensive stat protection.

Accuracy Enhancement:

• Boost: All moves gain 1.2x accuracy multiplier
• Application: Multiplicative with base accuracy (100% → 120%, 85% → 102%, 70% → 84%)
• Priority: ACCURACY_MULTIPLICATIVE - applies after base accuracy calculations
• Stacking: Can stack with other accuracy boosts (e.g., X Accuracy items, Compound Eyes)

Stat Protection:

• Immunity: Completely prevents accuracy stat reductions
• Affected Moves: Blocks Sand Attack, Smokescreen, Octazooka, Muddy Water, and any other accuracy-lowering effects
• Mechanism: Checked in battle_script_commands.c during stat modification attempts
• Evasion: Does NOT prevent opponent's evasion increases (Double Team still works against Keen Eye users)

Technical Implementation:

constexpr Ability KeenEye = {
    .onAccuracy = +[](ON_ACCURACY) -> AccuracyPriority {
        *accuracy *= 1.2;
        return ACCURACY_MULTIPLICATIVE;
    },
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

Stat Protection Code (in battle_script_commands.c):

// Line 4057: Prevents accuracy reductions
(BATTLER_HAS_ABILITY(gActiveBattler, ABILITY_KEEN_EYE) && currStat == STAT_ACC)

// Line 9713: Shows ability popup when protection activates
(BATTLER_HAS_ABILITY(battler, ABILITY_KEEN_EYE) && statId == STAT_ACC && 
 (gBattleScripting.abilityPopupOverwrite = ABILITY_KEEN_EYE))

Move Synergies:

1. Thunder (70% → 84% accuracy) - Excellent for rain teams
2. Blizzard (70% → 84% accuracy) - Reliable outside hail
3. Focus Blast (70% → 84% accuracy) - Much more consistent
4. Stone Edge (80% → 96% accuracy) - Near-perfect accuracy
5. High Jump Kick (90% → 108% accuracy) - Cannot miss when boosted

Interaction Rules:

• vs Evasion: Ignores opponent's evasion boosts only if target has higher evasion stage
• vs Accuracy Drops: Completely immune to Sand Attack, Smokescreen, etc.
• vs Mold Breaker: Ability is breakable - Mold Breaker ignores both accuracy boost and stat protection
• vs Minds Eye: Similar stat protection, but Minds Eye also hits Ghost types normally

Counters and Limitations:

1. Mold Breaker family: Turboblaze, Teravolt, Mold Breaker all bypass Keen Eye
2. Evasion boosts: Double Team, Minimize can still reduce hit chance
3. Weather effects: Sand Veil, Snow Cloak still function against Keen Eye users
4. Breakable: Unlike abilities like Clear Body, Keen Eye can be suppressed

Competitive Analysis:

• Tier Placement: Utility ability, excellent on glass cannons needing move reliability
• Common Users: Flying-types (as innate ability), mixed attackers, Pokemon with powerful but inaccurate moves
• Team Synergy: Pairs well with choice items to ensure key moves connect
• Meta Relevance: Valuable in formats where accuracy is crucial (no evasion clause)

Notable Pokemon with Keen Eye:

• Pidgey line: Innate ability, synergizes with Hurricane and Heat Wave
• Tornadus forms: Innate ability, excellent with Focus Blast and Hurricane
• Various Fire/Fighting types: Regular ability, helps with Focus Blast and Fire Blast consistency
• Many Bird Pokemon: Innate ability, commonly paired with Flock ability

Calculation Examples:

• Thunder: 70% × 1.2 = 84% accuracy
• Focus Blast: 70% × 1.2 = 84% accuracy
• Stone Edge: 80% × 1.2 = 96% accuracy
• Fire Blast: 85% × 1.2 = 102% accuracy (effectively 100%)
• Blizzard: 70% × 1.2 = 84% accuracy (outside hail)

Version History:

• Gen 3-4: Only prevented accuracy reductions
• Gen 5+: Added evasion ignoring (implemented differently in Elite Redux)
• Elite Redux: Provides 1.2x accuracy boost instead of evasion ignoring, maintains stat protection

Strategic Usage:

1. Setup Sweepers: Ensures key moves like Focus Blast connect during setup
2. Choice Users: Guarantees important coverage moves hit when locked in
3. Weather Teams: Thunder/Blizzard become much more reliable outside their ideal weather
4. Anti-Evasion: Partially counters evasion strategies through superior accuracy