Blood Price - Ability ID 536

In-Game Description

"Does 30% more damage but lose 10% HP when attacking."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Blood Price boosts all attacking moves by 30% damage but costs 10% of max HP at turn's end. The HP cost only applies after using damaging moves, not status moves. Magic Guard prevents the HP loss while keeping the damage boost. Risky but rewarding for glass cannon strategies.

Character count: 291

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

• Damage Boost: All offensive moves deal 30% more damage (1.3x multiplier)
• HP Cost: At the end of each turn, lose 10% of max HP (minimum 1 HP damage)
• Activation Timing: Damage boost applies immediately to attacks; HP loss occurs at end of turn

Activation Conditions

• For Damage Boost: Applied to all offensive moves automatically
• For HP Loss: Only triggers if:
  • The last move used was an attacking move (not a status move)
  • The Pokémon is still alive at end of turn
  • The Pokémon is not protected by Magic Guard

Technical Implementation

// Damage multiplier applied to offensive moves
.onOffensiveMultiplier = +[](ON_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) { MUL(1.3); },

// HP loss at end of turn
.onEndTurn = +[](ON_END_TURN) -> int {
    CHECK_NOT(IS_MOVE_STATUS(gLastResultingMoves[battler]))
    CHECK_NOT(IsMagicGuardProtected(battler))
    CHECK(IsBattlerAlive(battler))

    gBattleMoveDamage = gBattleMons[battler].maxHP / 10;
    if (gBattleMoveDamage == 0) gBattleMoveDamage = 1;
    BattleScriptPushCursorAndCallback(BattleScript_AbilitySelfDamage);
    return TRUE;
},

Numerical Values

• Damage Multiplier: 1.3x (30% increase)
• HP Cost: 10% of max HP per turn (minimum 1 HP)
• Example: A Pokémon with 300 max HP loses 30 HP per turn after attacking

Affected Moves

• Boosted: All physical, special, and multi-hit attacking moves
• Not Affected: Status moves (no damage boost or HP cost)
• Multi-Hit Moves: Get the damage boost on each hit, but HP cost only applies once per turn

Interactions with Other Abilities/Mechanics

• Magic Guard: Prevents HP loss but keeps damage boost - essentially makes Blood Price a pure damage boost
• Life Orb: Stacks with Blood Price for 1.69x damage but double HP costs (Life Orb + Blood Price)
• Reckless: Stacks multiplicatively with recoil moves for extreme damage
• Healing Moves: Can offset the HP cost, creating interesting risk/reward gameplay

Strategic Implications

• Glass Cannon Strategy: Maximizes damage output at the cost of longevity
• Sweep Potential: The 30% damage boost can secure KOs that would otherwise fail
• Risk Management: Requires careful HP management and healing support
• Late-Game Power: Can be devastating when you need immediate damage but don't need to survive long

Example Damage Calculations

Base Move Power: 100
With Blood Price: 100 × 1.3 = 130 effective power

Pokémon with 250 Max HP:
- Turn 1: Attack deals 130 power, lose 25 HP at end of turn
- Turn 2: Attack deals 130 power, lose 25 HP at end of turn
- After 10 turns of attacking: Would have lost 250 HP (full health)

Common Users

Based on species analysis, Blood Price appears on:

• Ghost-type attackers with high offensive stats
• Pokémon with innate abilities that support aggressive playstyles
• Mixed attackers that can utilize both physical and special damage boosts
• Pokémon with access to healing moves or support to offset HP costs

Competitive Usage Notes

• Best With: Healing moves, Magic Guard partners, priority moves
• Timing: Most effective in short battles or late-game situations
• Team Support: Benefits from Wish support or healing items
• Risk Assessment: Calculate if the extra damage is worth the HP cost in each situation

Counters

• Residual Damage: Pokémon already taking chip damage become extremely vulnerable
• Status Moves: Forcing status moves removes both benefit and cost
• Stall Tactics: Drawing out battles makes the HP cost unsustainable
• Priority Moves: Can revenge kill weakened Blood Price users

Synergies

• Magic Guard: Perfect synergy - keeps damage boost, removes downside
• Healing Moves: Roost, Recover, Synthesis offset HP costs
• Choice Items: Maximize the damage boost since you're locked into attacking
• Life Orb: Risk/reward stacking for maximum immediate damage

Version History

• Elite Redux custom ability
• Designed as a high-risk, high-reward damage amplifier
• Balances significant offensive power with meaningful drawback