Terminal Velocity - Ability ID 552

In-Game Description

"Special moves use 20% of its Speed stat additionally."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Terminal Velocity adds 20% of the Pokémon's Speed stat to its Special Attack when using special moves. This bonus is calculated after stat stages and applies to the entire damage formula. Works with all special attacks including signature moves and Hidden Power. Particularly devastating on fast special sweepers.

Character count: 298

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Terminal Velocity is a powerful offensive ability that enhances special attacks by incorporating the user's Speed stat into damage calculations.

Core Mechanics

• Activation: Triggers automatically when using any special move (split == SPLIT_SPECIAL)
• Effect: Adds 20% of the user's current Speed stat to the Special Attack stat for damage calculation
• Implementation: Uses the onChooseOffensiveStat hook with secondaryAtkStatToUse[STAT_SPEED] += 20

Technical Implementation

The ability works through Elite Redux's secondary stat system:

constexpr Ability TerminalVelocity = {
    .onChooseOffensiveStat =
        +[](ON_CHOOSE_OFFENSIVE_STAT) {
            if (IS_MOVE_SPECIAL(move)) secondaryAtkStatToUse[STAT_SPEED] += 20;
        },
};

In the damage calculation (CalculateStat function):

// Line 7083: Add 20% of current Speed stat to Special Attack
statBase += CalculateStat(battler, STAT_SPEED, 0, move, isAttack, isCrit, isUnaware, TRUE) * 20 / 100;

Calculation Order

1. Base Special Attack stat is calculated with stages/modifiers
2. Current Speed stat is calculated with stages/modifiers
3. 20% of Speed (Speed × 0.2) is added to Special Attack
4. Final Special Attack value is used in damage formula

Affected Moves

• All Special Moves: Any move with split == SPLIT_SPECIAL
• Status Moves: Not affected (only damaging special moves)
• Physical Moves: Not affected
• Multi-hit Moves: Each hit benefits from the Speed bonus
• Signature Moves: Includes custom Elite Redux special moves

Interactions with Other Mechanics

• Stat Stages: Speed boosts directly increase the damage bonus
• Wonder Room: If Wonder Room swaps Attack/Sp.Attack, Terminal Velocity still adds Speed to the effective attacking stat
• Critical Hits: Speed bonus applies regardless of critical hit status
• Weather: Speed modifiers from weather (Swift Swim, Chlorophyll) enhance the damage bonus
• Items: Choice Scarf and other Speed-boosting items increase the damage bonus
• Abilities: Speed-boosting abilities like Speed Boost multiply the Terminal Velocity effect

Strategic Implications

• Ideal Users: Fast special attackers (130+ Speed, 100+ Sp.Attack)
• Speed Investment: EVs in Speed provide both priority and damage
• Speed Control: Tailwind, Agility, and other speed boosts increase damage output
• Late Game Power: Becomes stronger as Speed is boosted throughout battle

Example Damage Calculations

Base Scenario: Pokémon with 300 Sp.Attack, 400 Speed

• Normal Special Attack: 300
• With Terminal Velocity: 300 + (400 × 0.2) = 380 Special Attack
• Damage Increase: ~26.7%

After Speed Boost: Same Pokémon with +1 Speed (600 Speed)

• With Terminal Velocity: 300 + (600 × 0.2) = 420 Special Attack
• Damage Increase: ~40%

Choice Scarf Scenario: 400 Speed → 600 Speed (1.5× modifier)

• With Terminal Velocity: 300 + (600 × 0.2) = 420 Special Attack
• Total multiplier from Scarf + Terminal Velocity: Significant damage increase

Common Users

Based on SpeciesList.textproto analysis:

• Kilowattrel line: Electric/Flying types with high Speed (125 base)
• Iron Valiant: Psychic/Fairy legendary with 135 Speed
• Various fast special attackers across different tiers
• Often paired with other Speed-boosting abilities as innates

Competitive Usage Notes

• Team Role: Primary special sweeper or speed control abuser
• Setup Requirements: Benefits from speed control moves (Tailwind, Agility)
• Priority Targets: Pokémon that can boost Speed reliably
• Synergy Abilities: Speed Boost, Swift Swim, Chlorophyll as innate abilities

Counters

• Speed Control: Trick Room negates Speed advantage
• Priority Moves: Bypass Speed advantage entirely
• Special Walls: High Sp.Defense still tanks boosted attacks
• Status Effects: Paralysis cuts Speed and damage bonus in half
• Intimidate: While it doesn't affect Sp.Attack directly, it can force switches

Synergies

• Speed Boost: Continuously increases damage output each turn
• Swift Swim/Chlorophyll: Weather-based Speed doubling
• Choice Scarf: 1.5× Speed multiplier enhances damage bonus
• Agility/Rock Polish: Manual Speed boosting for immediate power spike
• Tailwind: Team-wide Speed doubling benefits entire team

Version History

• Added in Elite Redux as part of the expanded ability system
• Part of the advanced stat interaction mechanics unique to Elite Redux
• Designed to reward Speed investment on special attackers