Junshi Sanda - Ability ID 769

In-Game Description

"Punches and Kicks are both Punches and Kicks."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Punching and kicking moves gain each other's properties. Punching moves are also treated as kicking moves, benefiting from Striker-type abilities. Kicking moves are also treated as punching moves, benefiting from Iron Fist-type abilities. This dual classification enables powerful synergies.

Character count: 291

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Junshi Sanda is a unique ability that creates a dual classification system for physical fighting moves. It operates through modifications to the IsIronFistBoosted and IsStrikerBoosted functions in the battle engine.

Core Mechanics:

Punching → Kicking Conversion:

• When a battler has Junshi Sanda, moves with FLAG_IRON_FIST_BOOST (punching moves) also return true for IsStrikerBoosted
• This means punching moves like Mach Punch, Thunder Punch, and Ice Punch gain all benefits that normally only apply to kicking moves

Kicking → Punching Conversion:

• When a battler has Junshi Sanda, moves with FLAG_STRIKER_BOOST (kicking moves) also return true for IsIronFistBoosted
• This means kicking moves like High Jump Kick, Jump Kick, and Low Kick gain all benefits that normally only apply to punching moves

Implementation Details:

The ability is implemented in the battle utility functions:

int IsIronFistBoosted(int battler, MoveEnum move) {
    if (gBattleMoves[move].flags & FLAG_IRON_FIST_BOOST) return TRUE;
    // Other conditions...
    if (gBattleMoves[move].flags & FLAG_STRIKER_BOOST && BattlerHasAbility(battler, ABILITY_JUNSHI_SANDA, FALSE)) return TRUE;
    return FALSE;
}

int IsStrikerBoosted(int battler, MoveEnum move) {
    if (gBattleMoves[move].flags & FLAG_STRIKER_BOOST) return TRUE;
    if (gBattleMoves[move].flags & FLAG_IRON_FIST_BOOST && BattlerHasAbility(battler, ABILITY_JUNSHI_SANDA, FALSE)) return TRUE;
    return FALSE;
}

Ability Synergies:

Punching Move Boosters that now affect kicks:

• Iron Fist: 1.3x damage multiplier
• Power Fists: 1.3x damage + uses Sp. Def for damage calculation
• Magical Fists: 1.3x damage + uses Sp. Atk for damage calculation
• Precise Fist: Guaranteed critical hits + 5x effect chance
• Nika: 1.3x damage multiplier
• Atomic Punch: 1.3x damage + Steel-type move boost
• Vitality Strike: Heals 10% of damage dealt

Kicking Move Boosters that now affect punches:

• Striker: 1.3x damage multiplier
• Roundhouse: Never misses + targets lower defensive stat
• Combat Specialist: Both Iron Fist and Striker effects
• Striker Pixilate: 1.3x damage + converts Normal moves to Fairy

Strategic Applications:

1. Move Pool Expansion: Pokemon with mixed punching/kicking movepools can maximize their ability synergies
2. Team Building: Creates new strategic possibilities for Pokemon that previously couldn't benefit from both types of abilities
3. Ability Stacking: In multi-ability formats, this can create powerful combinations with other physical attack enhancers
4. Type Coverage: Allows for more flexible movesets since both punch and kick categories receive equal treatment

Notable Interactions:

• Works with all current and future abilities that check IsIronFistBoosted or IsStrikerBoosted
• Does not create its own damage multiplier - it enables existing multipliers to apply to both move types
• The ability is "passive" - it has no direct implementation in abilities.cc but works through the battle utility functions
• Compatible with multi-hit moves, status moves, and any other moves that carry the appropriate flags

This makes Junshi Sanda a powerful enabler ability that dramatically expands the potential synergies available to Pokemon with diverse physical movesets.