Armor Tail - Ability ID 567

In-Game Description

"Protects itself and ally from priority moves."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Armor Tail prevents priority moves from targeting the user and their ally. Works against all positive priority moves like Quick Attack, Bullet Punch, and Extreme Speed. The protection applies to both single and double battles. This breakable ability can be bypassed by Mold Breaker effects.

Character count: 297

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Armor Tail provides complete immunity to priority moves for both the user and their ally in double battles. The ability specifically checks for moves with priority greater than 0 and blocks them from targeting protected Pokémon.

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability ArmorTail = {
    .onImmune = QueenlyMajesty.onImmune,
    .onImmuneFor = APPLY_ON_ALLY,
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

The ability uses the same immunity logic as Queenly Majesty:

• Checks if the move has priority > 0
• Verifies attacker and target are on opposite sides
• Prevents the move from connecting and displays protection message

Breakable Ability Mechanics

Since breakable = TRUE, Armor Tail can be bypassed by:

• Mold Breaker and variants (Teravolt, Turboblaze)
• Other abilities that ignore protective abilities
• The ability will still activate but won't prevent the priority move

Priority Move Interactions

Blocked Priority Moves:

• +1 Priority: Quick Attack, Bullet Punch, Mach Punch
• +2 Priority: Extreme Speed, First Impression
• +3 Priority: Fake Out (first turn only)
• Custom priority moves with positive priority

Not Affected:

• Normal priority moves (0)
• Negative priority moves
• Status moves that don't target opponents directly

Competitive Applications

Defensive Utility:

• Counters priority revenge killers like Talonflame and Lucario
• Protects frail setup sweepers from priority interruption
• Valuable in doubles for protecting both team members

Strategic Team Building:

• Pairs well with setup sweepers vulnerable to priority
• Effective on bulky support Pokémon in doubles
• Helps against priority-heavy metagames

Counterplay:

• Mold Breaker users can bypass the protection
• Non-priority moves remain fully effective
• Switching removes the protection for incoming Pokémon