Terastal Treasure - Ability ID 705

In-Game Description

"Reduces damage taken by 40%, but lowers speed by 20%."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Terastal Treasure reduces incoming damage by 40% while lowering the Pokémon's Speed by 20%. This defensive trade-off allows tanks to survive powerful attacks at the cost of reduced priority. The damage reduction applies to all forms of damage including physical, special, and status-based damage.

Character count: 296

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Terastal Treasure is a defensive ability that provides significant damage reduction at the cost of reduced Speed. The ability creates a powerful tank-oriented trade-off between survivability and priority.

Implementation Details

constexpr Ability TerastalTreasure = {
    .onDefensiveMultiplier = +[](ON_DEFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) { MUL(.6); },
    .onStat =
        +[](ON_STAT) {
            if (statId == STAT_SPEED) *stat *= .8;
        },
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

Damage Reduction Mechanics

• Incoming damage multiplier: 0.6x (reduces damage by 40%)
• Applies to: All forms of incoming damage
  • Physical attacks
  • Special attacks
  • Status-based damage (likely most forms)
• Calculation: Applied as a defensive multiplier in damage calculation

Speed Reduction Mechanics

• Speed stat multiplier: 0.8x (reduces Speed by 20%)
• Applies to: Base Speed stat calculation
• Timing: Calculated during stat determination phase
• Permanent effect: Active as long as ability is present

Important Interactions

• Breakable ability: Can be suppressed by Mold Breaker, Teravolt, Turboblaze, and Neutralizing Gas
• Damage calculation order: Applied during defensive multiplier phase
• Speed priority: Affects move order and priority bracket determination
• Choice items: Speed reduction affects which moves go first with choice items
• Trick Room: Makes the Pokémon faster in Trick Room due to lower effective Speed

Technical Implementation Notes

• Uses onDefensiveMultiplier callback for damage reduction
• Uses onStat callback for Speed modification
• Marked as breakable = TRUE meaning it can be suppressed
• Speed modification applies during stat calculation, not as a temporary boost/drop

Strategic Implications

• Tank role enhancement: Perfect for bulky defensive Pokémon
• Priority trade-off: Sacrifices speed for survivability
• Wall potential: Allows frail Pokémon to function as walls
• Trick Room synergy: Lower speed becomes an advantage
• Setup opportunity: Surviving hits allows more setup chances

Optimal Users

• Naturally bulky Pokémon who can afford the Speed drop
• Pokémon with low Speed that benefit from the defense boost
• Trick Room team members
• Setup sweepers who need time to boost
• Wall Pokémon looking for extra bulk

Counters and Weaknesses

• Ability suppression: Mold Breaker variants remove both benefits
• Status conditions: Still vulnerable to burn, poison, etc.
• Priority moves: Speed reduction makes priority moves more threatening
• Speed control: Becomes more vulnerable to faster opponents
• Multi-hit moves: Each hit is reduced, but still adds up

Synergies

• Trick Room: Lower speed becomes advantageous
• Recovery moves: More opportunities to heal due to survivability
• Setup moves: Can survive hits while boosting stats
• Assault Vest: Stacks with special defensive items
• Eviolite: Combines with defensive items for extreme bulk

Competitive Usage Notes

• Meta impact: Potentially shifts damage calculations significantly
• Team building: Requires team support for speed control or Trick Room
• Move selection: Favors powerful, low-priority moves
• Item synergy: Works well with defensive items and Trick Room support
• Hazard weakness: Still vulnerable to entry hazards

Version History

• Elite Redux exclusive: Custom ability for the romhack
• Design philosophy: High-risk, high-reward defensive ability
• Balance consideration: 40% damage reduction is substantial but Speed penalty is significant

Common Matchups

• Offensive threats: Can tank hits that would normally OHKO
• Priority users: Becomes more vulnerable to priority moves
• Status spreaders: Still needs to worry about status conditions
• Setup sweepers: Can potentially wall setup attempts
• Choice users: Speed reduction affects choice item effectiveness