Vital Spirit - Ability ID 72

In-Game Description

"Can't fall asleep. Fighting-type moves heal status."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Vital Spirit prevents sleep and provides immunity to Taunt. When the Pokémon uses a Fighting-type move, it heals all status conditions (poison, burn, paralysis, freeze, frostbite, bleed, sleep). This ability cannot be suppressed and automatically removes sleep when gained. Very useful.

Character count: 286

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

VITAL SPIRIT is a defensive ability that provides sleep immunity and status healing through Fighting-type moves.

Core Mechanics:

1. Sleep Immunity: Completely immune to sleep status

   • Prevents Sleep, Yawn-induced sleep, and Rest-induced sleep
   • Automatically removes sleep status if gained through ability changes
   • Works even if ability is gained mid-battle

2. Fighting-Type Healing: Using any Fighting-type move heals all status conditions

   • Triggers on: All direct damage Fighting moves, status Fighting moves, and multi-hit Fighting moves
   • Heals: Poison, Toxic Poison, Burn, Paralysis, Freeze, Frostbite, Bleed, Sleep
   • Also removes: Nightmare status
   • Shows ability popup and status cure message

3. Taunt Immunity: Cannot be affected by Taunt

   • Can use status moves even when opponent uses Taunt
   • Particularly valuable for support Fighting-types

Activation Rules:

• Sleep Prevention: Passive, always active (onStatusImmune hook)
• Status Healing: Only when using Fighting-type moves (onAttacker hook)
• Taunt Immunity: Passive, always active (tauntImmune flag)
• Ability Properties: Breakable by Mold Breaker, but removesStatusOnImmunity = TRUE

Technical Implementation:

constexpr Ability VitalSpirit = {
    .onAttacker = +[](ON_ATTACKER) -> int {
        CHECK(moveType == TYPE_FIGHTING)
        CHECK(AbilityHealMonStatus(battler, ability));
        return TRUE;
    },
    .onStatusImmune = +[](ABILITY_ON_STATUS_IMMUNE) -> int {
        CHECK(status & CHECK_SLEEP)
        return TRUE;
    },
    .breakable = TRUE,
    .removesStatusOnImmunity = TRUE,
    .tauntImmune = TRUE,
};

Strategic Applications:

Offensive Sets:

• Fighting-type attackers can maintain momentum without status interruption
• Taunt immunity allows setup moves like Bulk Up or Swords Dance
• Particularly strong on mixed attackers using status moves

Defensive Sets:

• Sleep immunity prevents rest stalling and sleep powder strategies
• Status healing through Fighting moves creates unique defensive utility
• Taunt immunity preserves access to recovery and support moves

Notable Users:

• Mankey/Primeape: Early game sleep immunity with fighting STAB
• Hitmonlee/Hitmonchan/Hitmontop: All have innate Vital Spirit, can cure status reliably
• Electabuzz/Electivire: Innate ability, synergizes with fighting coverage moves
• Heracross: Mega form has innate Vital Spirit with powerful fighting moves
• Timburr line: Construction workers immune to sleep, fighting STAB for healing
• Blissey Redux: Unusual defensive user with fighting coverage for status cure

Interaction Notes:

• vs Sleep Moves: Completely immune (Sleep Powder, Spore, Hypnosis, Dark Void, etc.)
• vs Yawn: Immune to the delayed sleep effect
• vs Rest: Cannot use Rest (immunity prevents the sleep component)
• vs Status: All major status conditions can be healed through Fighting moves
• vs Mold Breaker: Ability can be suppressed, losing all immunities and healing
• vs Taunt: Completely immune, can still use status moves freely

Competitive Viability:

Strengths:

• Reliable status immunity and healing creates longevity
• Taunt immunity provides utility that many Fighting-types lack
• Works well on both offensive and defensive sets
• Cannot be bypassed by most sleep-inducing strategies

Weaknesses:

• Requires Fighting-type moves to access the healing benefit
• Mold Breaker completely negates the ability
• No direct combat benefits beyond status management
• Fighting-type requirement may limit moveset flexibility

Version Notes:

• Elite Redux enhancement: Added Fighting-type move healing and Taunt immunity
• Original: Only provided sleep immunity (like Insomnia)
• The healing mechanic uses the same function as Shed Skin but triggers on Fighting moves instead of randomly