Truant - Ability ID 54

In-Game Description

"Can't use attacking moves twice in a row."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Truant prevents the Pokémon from using attacking moves on consecutive turns. After using any physical or special move, the Pokémon must loaf around on the next turn and cannot attack. Status moves are unaffected and can be used freely. This creates a predictable rhythm where attacking turns alternate with loafing turns, severely limiting offensive pressure.

Character count: 298

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

TRUANT is a severely detrimental ability that enforces a mandatory rest period after using any attacking move.

Activation Mechanics:

• Trigger: onEndTurn hook tracks move usage
• State Tracking: Uses ability state system to remember if Pokémon attacked last turn
• Move Classification: Only affects physical and special moves (not status moves)
• Script: Shows "Pokémon is loafing around!" message when forced to rest

Core Mechanics:

1. Move Restriction:

   • After using any physical or special move, ability state is set to TRUE
   • On turns when ability state is TRUE, attacking moves are blocked
   • Status moves (SPLIT_STATUS) are never blocked and can be used freely

2. State Management:

   • Ability state resets to FALSE after a loafing turn
   • If no attacking move was used, state remains FALSE
   • State persists through switches and other effects

Move Categories:

• Blocked Moves: All physical and special attacks
• Allowed Moves: Status moves (Protect, Toxic, Thunder Wave, etc.)
• Special Cases: Moves like Transform and Sketch follow normal status move rules

Battle Flow:

1. Turn 1: Pokémon uses attacking move → Ability state set to TRUE
2. Turn 2: Pokémon tries to use attacking move → Blocked by Truant → Forced to loaf
3. Turn 3: Ability state reset to FALSE → Can use attacking moves again
4. Repeat: Cycle continues indefinitely

Technical Implementation:

constexpr Ability Truant = {
    .onEndTurn = +[](ON_END_TURN) -> int {
        if (GetAbilityState(battler, ability))
            SetAbilityState(battler, ability, FALSE);
        else if (gChosenMoveByBattler[battler] && !IS_MOVE_STATUS(gChosenMoveByBattler[battler]))
            SetAbilityState(battler, ability, TRUE);
        return FALSE;
    },
};

Battle System Integration:

• Attack Cancellation: Processed in CANCELLER_TRUANT phase
• Message Display: Uses B_MSG_LOAFING string ID
• Move Result: Treated as MOVE_RESULT_MISSED for battle flow
• Multiturn Moves: Cancelled when Truant activates

Interaction Rules:

• Skill Swap/Role Play: Truant can be transferred to opponents as a strategy
• Entrainment: Truant is banned from Entrainment (cannot be forced onto others)
• Simple Beam: Truant is banned from Simple Beam replacement
• Recharge Moves: Truant users get penalized AI scoring for recharge moves like Hyper Beam

AI Behavior:

• Move Selection: AI heavily penalizes attacking moves when Truant state is active (-20 score)
• Skill Swap Usage: AI will try to Skill Swap Truant onto opponents (+5 score)
• Recharge Considerations: AI avoids recharge moves more on Truant users
• Status Strategy: AI prioritizes status moves on predicted loafing turns

Competitive Implications:

Severe Drawbacks:

• Cuts effective attacking frequency in half
• Provides opponent with guaranteed setup opportunities
• Makes sweeping impossible due to forced breaks
• Severely limits late-game pressure

Niche Applications:

• Doubles Strategy: Transfer via Skill Swap to cripple opponents
• Stall Teams: Use status moves during forced rest turns
• Choice Item Synergy: Somewhat mitigates Choice lock by forcing switches anyway

Synergies and Counters:

Synergistic Strategies:

• Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave)
• Protect/Detect to waste opponent's turns
• Entrainment to spread to entire team (if not banned)

Counters to Truant:

• Taunt prevents status move usage during loafing
• Setup moves during guaranteed loafing turns
• Switching to maintain offensive pressure

Version History:

• Gen 3: Introduced on Slakoth line
• Elite Redux: Mechanics unchanged from standard implementation
• Competitive: Considered one of the worst abilities in the game