Flame Shield - Ability ID 712

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)

Flame Shield reduces damage from super-effective moves by 35%, helping Pokémon survive type disadvantages. Works against all attacks with 2x or greater effectiveness. The damage reduction applies before other calculations, making it valuable for frail Pokémon facing coverage moves.

Character count: 282

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Flame Shield is a defensive ability that reduces incoming damage from super-effective moves. The ability provides significant damage reduction against type disadvantageous attacks, helping Pokémon survive otherwise lethal coverage moves.

Activation Conditions

• Type effectiveness requirement: Move must have 2x or greater type effectiveness
• Damage reduction: Reduces damage by 35% (multiplies damage by 0.65)
• Timing: Applied during damage calculation phase
• Move types affected: All offensive moves that would be super-effective

Technical Implementation

// Flame Shield implementation in abilities.cc
constexpr Ability FlameShield = {
    .onDefensiveMultiplier =
        +[](ON_DEFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
            if (typeEffectivenessModifier >= UQ_4_12(2.0)) MUL(.65);
        },
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

Important Interactions

• Multiple effectiveness: Works against 4x super-effective moves as well
• STAB interaction: Reduces damage from STAB super-effective moves
• Critical hits: Damage reduction applies after critical hit calculation
• Multi-hit moves: Each hit gets damage reduction if super-effective
• Ability suppression: Can be bypassed by Mold Breaker and similar abilities
• Breakable: This ability can be broken by certain effects

Damage Calculation Order

1. Base damage calculated
2. Type effectiveness applied (2x, 4x, etc.)
3. Flame Shield reduction applied (×0.65)
4. Other defensive modifiers applied
5. Final damage dealt

Strategic Implications

• Coverage survival: Helps survive super-effective coverage moves
• Switch safety: Provides more switching opportunities against coverage
• Frail Pokémon support: Especially valuable on glass cannon attackers
• Fire-type synergy: Helps Fire types survive Water/Rock/Ground attacks
• Prediction reward: Rewards staying in against expected super-effective moves

Type-Specific Benefits

• Fire types: Survive Water, Ground, Rock attacks better
• Grass types: Better survival against Fire, Ice, Flying, Poison, Bug attacks
• Electric types: Survive Ground-type moves (if they somehow hit)
• Flying types: Better survival against Electric, Ice, Rock attacks

Common Users

• Frail offensive Pokémon that need survival utility
• Pokémon with multiple common weaknesses
• Mixed attackers that need to stay in longer
• Pokémon in speed tiers where they need to survive one hit

Competitive Usage Notes

• Excellent on frail sweepers that fear revenge killing
• Helps pivot Pokémon survive coverage on predicted switches
• Valuable in formats with high offensive power
• Can turn 2HKOs into 3HKOs against super-effective moves
• Pairs well with recovery moves for increased longevity

Counters

• Neutral effectiveness moves: No damage reduction against neutral hits
• Mold Breaker: Ignores the ability entirely
• Neutralizing Gas: Suppresses the ability while active
• Multi-hit moves: Still dangerous even with reduction
• Status moves: Doesn't protect against status conditions
• Entry hazards: No protection from Stealth Rock, spikes, etc.

Synergies

• Recovery moves: Extended longevity with Roost, Recover, etc.
• Substitute: Can set up behind reduced damage
• Focus Sash: Better guarantee of Sash activation survival
• Leftovers/Life Orb: More turns to benefit from items
• Priority moves: Survive to use priority revenge moves

Similar Abilities

• Filter: Identical effect and implementation
• Solid Rock: Same damage reduction for super-effective moves
• Prism Armor: Similar concept but different reduction rate in some games

Version History

• Added in Elite Redux as ID 712
• Shares implementation with Filter ability
• Part of the defensive utility ability category
• Designed to help frail Pokémon survive in high-power metagames