Dream State - Ability ID 709

In-Game Description

"Immune to critical hits. Takes 20% less damage from attacks."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Dream State grants complete immunity to critical hits and reduces all incoming damage by 20%. The damage reduction stacks with resistances and items. Critical immunity blocks all crit sources including abilities and held items, making it excellent against high-crit Pokemon and luck strategies.

Character count: 294

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Dream State is a powerful defensive ability that provides two distinct protective effects: complete critical hit immunity and a flat 20% damage reduction on all incoming attacks. This dual nature makes it one of the strongest purely defensive abilities in the game.

Implementation Details

Dream State uses the same implementation as Battle Armor with additional defensive properties:

constexpr Ability DreamState = {
    .onDefensiveMultiplier = BattleArmor.onDefensiveMultiplier,  // 20% damage reduction
    .onCrit = BattleArmor.onCrit,                               // NEVER_CRIT
    .onCritFor = BattleArmor.onCritFor,                         // APPLY_ON_TARGET
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

Critical Hit Immunity

• Complete immunity: Cannot be critically hit under any circumstances
• All sources: Blocks crits from moves, abilities, and held items
• Crit rate modifiers: Renders Focus Energy, Super Luck, Razor Claw, etc. useless
• Stage-based crits: Even +3 critical hit ratio moves cannot crit

Damage Reduction

• Flat 20% reduction: All incoming damage is multiplied by 0.8
• Universal application: Works on physical, special, and typeless damage
• Stacking: Multiplicatively stacks with type resistances and other defensive modifiers
• Calculation order: Applied after type effectiveness but before other defensive modifiers

Activation Conditions

• Passive ability: Always active when the Pokémon is on the field
• No requirements: Does not require specific weather, status, or field conditions
• Breakable: Can be suppressed by Mold Breaker, Teravolt, Turboblaze
• Target application: Both effects apply to the Pokémon with Dream State

Damage Calculation Example

Base damage: 100
Type effectiveness: ×0.5 (resisted) = 50
Dream State: ×0.8 = 40 final damage

Important Interactions

• Multi-hit moves: Each hit receives damage reduction
• Recoil moves: User still takes full recoil (not affected by target's Dream State)
• Fixed damage: Seismic Toss, Dragon Rage bypass the damage reduction
• Status damage: Burn, poison damage not reduced
• Entry hazards: Stealth Rock, Spikes damage not reduced
• Confusion/recoil: Self-inflicted damage not reduced

Strategic Applications

• Physical tank: Excellent on bulky Pokémon that fear critical hits
• Special tank: Works equally well against special attackers
• Anti-luck: Completely nullifies critical hit luck in competitive play
• Longevity: 20% damage reduction significantly extends staying power
• Setup sweeper protection: Prevents crits from ruining setup attempts

Synergies

• Leftovers/Recovery: Enhanced by improved longevity
• Defensive items: Stacks with Assault Vest, Eviolite, etc.
• Type resistances: Multiplicatively stacks for extreme damage reduction
• Substitute: Sub takes reduced damage, lasting longer
• Rest: Pairs well with recovery moves due to increased bulk

Counters and Limitations

• Mold Breaker family: Completely bypasses both effects
• Status conditions: Doesn't prevent burn, poison, paralysis
• Entry hazards: Stealth Rock still does full damage
• Fixed damage moves: Seismic Toss, Dragon Rage, etc. ignore damage reduction
• Indirect damage: Weather, Leech Seed, etc. not reduced
• Ability suppression: Neutralizing Gas, Simple Beam disable it

Competitive Usage

• Tier placement: Extremely valuable in competitive formats
• Team role: Defensive pivot and special wall
• Meta impact: Forces opponents to rely on consistent damage over luck
• Prediction safe: No timing or prediction required for activation
• Versatile: Works on any Pokémon regardless of typing or role

Notable Users

Pokémon with Dream State as either their primary or innate ability:

• Often found on defensive/bulky Pokémon
• Particularly valuable on mixed walls
• Excellent on Pokémon with recovery moves
• Synergizes with defensive stat spreads

Version History

• Elite Redux exclusive ability
• Part of the expanded ability roster
• Designed to provide consistent defensive utility
• Implements Battle Armor's proven mechanics with enhanced damage reduction

Comparison to Similar Abilities

• Battle Armor: Same effects but typically on different Pokémon
• Shell Armor: Only critical hit immunity, no damage reduction
• Filter/Solid Rock: Only 25% reduction on super-effective moves
• Multiscale: Only works at full HP
• Dream State advantage: Combines best aspects with no conditions