Puffy - Ability ID 754

In-Game Description

"Takes 1/2 dmg from contact moves but Fire moves hurt it 2x more."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Puffy reduces damage from contact moves by 50%, providing excellent protection against physical attackers. However, Fire-type moves deal double damage to Puffy users, creating a significant vulnerability. The contact protection works against all physical contact moves.

Character count: 296

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Puffy provides a defensive multiplier that affects incoming damage based on move properties and types:

1. Contact Move Reduction: All moves that make contact deal 50% damage (0.5x multiplier)
2. Fire Vulnerability: Fire-type moves deal 200% damage (2.0x resistance value = double damage)

Implementation Details

constexpr Ability Puffy = {
    .onDefensiveMultiplier = Fluffy.onDefensiveMultiplier,
    .breakable = TRUE,
};

// Referenced from Fluffy:
.onDefensiveMultiplier =
    +[](ON_DEFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {
        if (moveType == TYPE_FIRE) RESISTANCE(2.0);  // 2x damage from Fire
        if (IsMoveMakingContact(move, attacker)) MUL(0.5);  // 0.5x from contact
    },

Contact Move Determination

Uses IsMoveMakingContact(move, attacker) which checks:

• Move's natural contact flag in move data
• Abilities that can modify contact (Long Reach negates contact)
• Items that affect contact mechanics

Affected Moves

Contact moves reduced by 50%:

• Most physical moves: Tackle, Body Slam, Thunder Punch, etc.
• Some special moves: Grass Knot, Petal Dance (if contact flagged)
• Multi-hit contact moves: each hit is reduced

Not affected by contact reduction:

• Non-contact physical moves: Earthquake, Rock Slide, Bullet Seed
• All special moves (unless specifically flagged as contact)
• Status moves

Fire moves dealing double damage:

• All Fire-type moves regardless of contact status
• Includes: Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Fire Punch, Flare Blitz, etc.

Interactions with Other Mechanics

Ability Interactions:

• Breakable: Can be suppressed by Mold Breaker, Turboblaze, Teravolt
• Long Reach: Negates the contact reduction component
• Iron Fist/Tough Claws: Contact boosting abilities stack with Puffy's reduction

Item Interactions:

• Protective Pads: Prevents contact effects but Puffy still reduces damage
• Rocky Helmet: Contact attackers still take recoil despite reduced damage

Type Effectiveness Stacking:

• Fire vulnerability stacks with type effectiveness
• Fire vs Grass (Popcorm): 2x (type) × 2x (Puffy) = 4x total damage
• Contact reduction applies after type effectiveness calculation

Damage Calculation Example

Contact Physical Move vs Puffy user:

• Base damage: 100
• Type effectiveness: 1.0x (neutral)
• Puffy reduction: 0.5x
• Final damage: 50

Fire-type move vs Popcorm (Grass/Fire) with Puffy:

• Base damage: 100
• Type effectiveness vs Grass: 2.0x
• Puffy Fire vulnerability: 2.0x
• Final damage: 400 (extremely vulnerable)

Strategic Implications

Strengths:

• Excellent physical wall against contact-based attackers
• Forces opponents to use non-contact moves or special attacks
• Provides reliable damage reduction in physical matchups

Weaknesses:

• Extreme Fire vulnerability makes Fire moves devastating
• Non-contact physical moves bypass the protection entirely
• Special attackers can exploit the lack of special defense boost

Team Building Considerations:

• Pair with Pokemon that resist Fire moves
• Use in teams with good Fire-type switch-ins
• Consider dual screens or other defensive support

Common Users

• Popcorm (Grass/Fire): Ironic typing makes Fire weakness even more severe
• Popcorm-Mega (Grass/Fire): Higher stats but same vulnerabilities

Competitive Usage

Niche Applications:

• Anti-physical specialist in specific matchups
• Situational defensive pivot against contact-heavy teams
• Surprise factor in lower tiers

Major Limitations:

• Fire weakness severely limits viability
• Grass/Fire typing on current users compounds Fire vulnerability
• Better defensive abilities available for most roles

Counters

Direct Counters:

• Any Fire-type attacker (devastating damage)
• Non-contact physical attackers (Earthquake users, etc.)
• Special attackers (bypass protection entirely)
• Mold Breaker users (ignore ability completely)

Indirect Counters:

• Status moves (not affected by damage reduction)
• Entry hazards (bypass ability)
• Weather damage (not affected)

Synergies

Ability Synergies:

• Aerodynamics (innate on Popcorm): Speed boost helps with pivoting
• Levitate (innate on Popcorm): Immunity to Ground moves
• Skill Link (innate on Popcorm): Multi-hit moves all benefit from contact reduction

Item Synergies:

• Leftovers: Reliable recovery to maintain bulk
• Assault Vest: Special bulk to complement physical protection
• Heat Rock/Flash Fire redirect: Team support for Fire weakness

Version History

• Introduced in Elite Redux as ability ID 754
• Shares implementation with Fluffy (original Pokemon ability)
• Currently exclusive to Popcorm line (Grass/Fire types)
• Part of Elite Redux's expanded ability roster

Design Notes

Puffy represents a high-risk, high-reward defensive ability that provides substantial protection against a common attack category while creating a glaring weakness. The Fire vulnerability is particularly punishing on Grass-type users, creating interesting teambuilding challenges and strategic depth.