Voodoo Power - Ability ID 538

In-Game Description

"30% chance to bleed when hit by special attacks."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Voodoo Power gives the user a 30% chance to inflict bleeding on attackers when hit by special moves. Bleeding deals 1/16 of max HP damage each turn, similar to poison. Only affects special attacks like Thunderbolt, Psychic, and Flamethrower. Cannot affect Pokemon immune to bleeding.

Character count: 294

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

• Trigger: When the Pokemon with Voodoo Power is hit by a special attack
• Activation Rate: 30% chance (Random() % 100 < 30)
• Effect: Inflicts bleeding status on the attacker
• Bleeding Damage: 1/16 of max HP per turn (minimum 1 HP)

Activation Conditions

1. ShouldApplyOnHitAffect(attacker) - Standard contact effect checks
2. IS_MOVE_SPECIAL(move) - Move must be classified as special attack
3. CanBleed(attacker) - Attacker must not be immune to bleeding
4. 30% Random Chance - Uses standard RNG check

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability VoodooPower = {
    .onDefender = +[](ON_DEFENDER) -> int {
        CHECK(ShouldApplyOnHitAffect(attacker))
        CHECK(IS_MOVE_SPECIAL(move))
        CHECK(CanBleed(attacker))
        CHECK(Random() % 100 < 30)

        AbilityStatusEffect(MOVE_EFFECT_AFFECTS_USER | MOVE_EFFECT_BLEED);
        return TRUE;
    },
};

Special Attack Classification

Special moves include all moves that use the Special Attack stat:

• Elemental attacks: Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Energy Ball
• Psychic moves: Psychic, Psybeam, Future Sight
• Dark moves: Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball
• Status moves that deal damage: Hidden Power, Weather Ball (when special)

Bleeding Status Effect

• Damage Formula: BLEED_DAMAGE(maxHP) = maxHP / 16
• Minimum Damage: 1 HP per turn
• Duration: Until cured or Pokemon faints
• Status Type: STATUS1_BLEED
• Interaction with Healing: Bleeding prevents many recovery moves from working

Immunity and Interactions

Pokemon that cannot bleed:

• Pokemon with abilities that grant status immunity
• Steel-type Pokemon (if bleeding follows poison immunity rules)
• Pokemon already affected by bleeding

Ability Interactions:

• Magic Guard: Protects from bleeding damage
• Poison Heal: Does not interact with bleeding
• Blood Stain: Creates pseudo-bleeding effect

Comparison to Similar Abilities

vs. Spike Armor (ID 537):

• Spike Armor: 30% bleed chance on contact moves (physical)
• Voodoo Power: 30% bleed chance on special moves
• Both use same bleeding mechanics but different triggers

vs. Poison Point:

• Poison Point: Contact-based poison infliction
• Voodoo Power: Special move-based bleeding infliction
• Different status effects with different damage calculations

Strategic Implications

Defensive Usage:

• Punishes special attackers for making contact
• Provides passive damage over time
• Forces switches or healing investment
• Particularly effective against special sweepers

Counters:

• Physical attackers bypass the ability entirely
• Pokemon immune to bleeding
• Status moves that don't deal damage
• Magic Guard users ignore bleeding damage
• Rapid switching to avoid turn damage

Competitive Viability

Strengths:

• Passive damage accumulation
• Deters special attackers
• No contact requirement unlike similar abilities
• Stacks with other forms of passive damage

Weaknesses:

• Only 30% activation rate
• No effect against physical moves
• Many Pokemon can cure bleeding easily
• Doesn't affect non-damaging moves

Example Damage Calculations

Against 100 HP Pokemon:

• Bleeding damage per turn: 100 ÷ 16 = 6 HP
• Total potential damage over 5 turns: 30 HP

Against 400 HP Pokemon:

• Bleeding damage per turn: 400 ÷ 16 = 25 HP
• Total potential damage over 5 turns: 125 HP

Common Users

This ability would typically be found on:

• Defensive Ghost/Dark-type Pokemon
• Voodoo/mystic-themed Pokemon
• Pokemon designed to counter special attackers
• Bulky support Pokemon with retaliatory abilities

Version History

• Added in Elite Redux as part of expanded ability system
• Uses established bleeding mechanics from other abilities
• Part of counter-based ability design philosophy