Plus - Ability ID 57

In-Game Description

"Deals double damage if an ally Pokémon has Minus or Plus."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Plus doubles the Pokémon's offensive power when partnered with an ally that has Plus or Minus abilities. In double battles, this creates a powerful synergy effect that multiplies damage by 2.0x. Only activates when both Pokémon are alive on the field. Pairs excellently with Minus ability.

Character count: 292

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

PLUS is a double-battle synergy ability that provides conditional offensive power through partner cooperation.

Activation Mechanics:

• Trigger: Applied during damage calculation (onOffensiveMultiplier hook)
• Condition: Battle partner must be alive and have ABILITY_PLUS or ABILITY_MINUS
• Effect: Multiplies offensive power by 2.0x for all moves
• Battle Format: Only functions in double battles where partner slot exists

Partner Requirements:

• Partner Alive: IsBattlerAlive(partner) must return true
• Partner Ability: Must have exactly ABILITY_PLUS (ID 57) or ABILITY_MINUS (ID 58)
• Position: Uses BATTLE_PARTNER(battler) to identify ally slot
• Real-time Check: Evaluated each time a move is used

Damage Calculation:

1. Base Move Power (from move data)
2. STAB, Type Effectiveness (standard modifiers)
3. Plus Multiplier (×2.0 if partner condition met)
4. Other Ability Effects (applied after Plus)
5. Item Effects (Choice specs, Life Orb, etc.)

Key Interactions:

• vs Choice Items: Plus doubles damage, Choice items multiply by 1.5x. Stack multiplicatively (×3.0 total)
• vs Life Orb: Plus effect applied first, then Life Orb's 1.3x multiplier
• vs Critical Hits: Critical hit multiplier applies after Plus effect
• vs Weather/Terrain: Environmental boosts stack with Plus multiplicatively

Ability Relationships:

• Minus (ID 58): Functionally identical ability with same code implementation
• Shared Implementation: Minus.onOffensiveMultiplier = Plus.onOffensiveMultiplier
• Mutual Activation: Plus activates with Minus partner and vice versa
• Self-Activation: Plus Pokémon activates when partnered with another Plus Pokémon

Technical Implementation:

constexpr Ability Plus = {
    .onOffensiveMultiplier =
        +[](ON_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
            int partner = BATTLE_PARTNER(battler);
            if (!IsBattlerAlive(partner)) return;
            if (BattlerHasAbility(partner, ABILITY_PLUS, FALSE) || 
                BattlerHasAbility(partner, ABILITY_MINUS, FALSE)) MUL(2.0);
        },
};

Move Synergies:

• Gear Up (Move 637): Boosts Attack and Sp. Attack of Plus/Minus Pokémon by 1 stage
• Magnetic Flux (Move 602): Boosts Defense and Sp. Defense of Plus/Minus Pokémon by 1 stage
• AI Recognition: Battle AI specifically checks for Plus/Minus when evaluating these moves

AI Battle Rating:

• Priority Score: 0 (low priority for AI switching decisions)
• Conditional Value: AI recognizes high value when Plus/Minus partners are available
• Team Building: AI considers Plus/Minus pairs when constructing double battle teams

Pokémon Distribution in Elite Redux:

• As Innate Ability: Multiple Electric-type Pokémon including Pichu variants
• Notable Users: Electric-types with high offensive stats
• Partner Pokémon: Several species have Minus as innate, creating natural pairs
• Tier Usage: Found across tiers 2-4, balanced for competitive play

Competitive Analysis:

• Power Level: Extremely high in double battles (×2.0 damage multiplier)
• Team Dependency: Requires specific partner to function, limiting flexibility
• Positioning Risk: Both Pokémon must stay alive for effect to persist
• Setup Potential: Works well with stat-boosting moves like Gear Up

Strategic Applications:

1. Double Battle Dominance: Creates overwhelming offensive pressure with correct partner
2. Support Move Synergy: Gear Up and Magnetic Flux become highly valuable
3. Lead Strategy: Plus/Minus pairs excel as opening leads in doubles
4. Late Game Cleaning: High damage output can secure victories

Counters and Limitations:

• Single Target Removal: Eliminating either partner disables the ability
• Positioning Moves: Moves that force switches or repositioning
• Status Conditions: Sleep, paralysis can prevent effective coordination
• Protect/Detect: Can disrupt synchronized offensive strategies

Common Misconceptions:

• Singles Usage: Completely non-functional in single battles (no partner slot)
• Partner Health: Effect immediately stops when partner faints
• Ability Suppression: Mold Breaker and similar effects can disable Plus
• Move Restrictions: Works with ALL moves, no type or category limitations

Version History:

• Gen 3: Introduced as signature ability of Plusle and Minun
• Elite Redux: Expanded distribution as innate ability on various Electric-types
• Implementation: Uses modern partner detection system with real-time checking

Tactical Considerations:

• Team Composition: Requires building around Plus/Minus pair for maximum effectiveness
• Speed Control: Coordinating turn order crucial for optimal damage output
• Protect Usage: Strategic protection can maintain partner synergy
• Switch Timing: Must consider maintaining both Pokémon on field