Thick Skin - Ability ID 582

In-Game Description

"Takes 35% less damage from Super-effective moves."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Thick Skin provides excellent defensive utility by reducing damage from super-effective attacks by 35%. When an opponent's move would deal 2x effectiveness damage, this ability cuts that damage down significantly, helping bulky Pokémon survive key hits they otherwise couldn't tank.

Character count: 294

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

• Damage Reduction: Reduces damage by 35% from super-effective moves (moves with 2.0x type effectiveness or higher)
• Activation Condition: Only triggers when typeEffectivenessModifier >= UQ_4_12(2.0) (2.0x effectiveness or greater)
• Multiplier Applied: MUL(.65) - multiplies incoming damage by 0.65 (equivalent to 35% reduction)

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability PermafrostClone = {
    .onDefensiveMultiplier = Permafrost.onDefensiveMultiplier,
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

// Referenced from Permafrost ability:
constexpr Ability Permafrost = {
    .onDefensiveMultiplier =
        +[](ON_DEFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
            if (typeEffectivenessModifier >= UQ_4_12(2.0)) MUL(.65);
        },
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

Affected Moves

• 2x effectiveness moves: Take 35% less damage (effective ~1.3x instead of 2x)
• 4x effectiveness moves: Take 35% less damage (effective ~2.6x instead of 4x)
• Normal/resisted moves: No effect, damage remains unchanged

Example Damage Calculations

• Original 2x damage: 200 HP → With Thick Skin: 130 HP (65% of original)
• Original 4x damage: 400 HP → With Thick Skin: 260 HP (65% of original)
• Original 1x damage: 100 HP → With Thick Skin: 100 HP (no change)

Interactions with Other Abilities/Mechanics

• Breakable: Can be disabled by Mold Breaker, Teravolt, Turboblaze, etc.
• Stacks multiplicatively with other damage reduction effects
• Type effectiveness items (Expert Belt, etc.) are calculated before this ability
• Does not affect status moves or moves with fixed damage
• Weather/terrain effects are calculated separately

Strategic Implications

• Defensive utility: Allows normally frail Pokémon to survive super-effective hits
• Pivot potential: Enables safe switching against predicted super-effective moves
• Coverage punishment: Discourages opponents from relying solely on type advantage
• Bulk enhancement: Effectively increases bulk against super-effective attacks only

Common Users

Based on SpeciesList analysis, Thick Skin appears on:

• Several defensive-oriented Pokémon
• Mixed bulky attackers that benefit from super-effective damage reduction
• Pokémon with multiple other defensive abilities (as innate abilities)

Competitive Usage Notes

• Tier placement: Found on various tier Pokémon including Tier 5 legendaries
• Role compression: Allows offensive Pokémon to check their usual counters
• Prediction rewarded: Most effective when predicting opponent's super-effective moves
• Setup potential: Provides opportunities to set up against predicted coverage moves

Counters

• Mold Breaker family: Completely bypasses the ability
• Neutral damage: Focus on neutral effectiveness moves to avoid the reduction
• Status moves: Thick Skin doesn't affect status conditions or entry hazards
• Multi-hit moves: Each hit gets reduced, but cumulative damage can still overwhelm
• Chip damage: Residual damage from hazards, weather, etc. is unaffected

Synergies

• Assault Vest: Combines well for both physical and special bulk
• Leftovers/Recovery: Maximizes the defensive value gained from damage reduction
• Intimidate: Further reduces physical super-effective damage
• Screen support: Stacks multiplicatively with Light Screen/Reflect
• Resist Berries: Can be used alongside type-resist berries for massive damage reduction

Version History

• Elite Redux: Implemented as ABILITY_PERMAFROST_CLONE (ID 582)
• Internal name: Uses the same mechanics as the original Permafrost ability
• Display name: Shows as "Thick Skin" to players
• Classification: Defensive ability, breakable by standard ability-bypassing effects