Gunman - Ability ID 780

In-Game Description

"Mega Launcher + Status moves are Mega Launcher moves."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Boosts the power of pulse, aura, and projectile moves by 30%. Additionally, all status moves are treated as projectile moves, meaning they also receive the 30% damage boost and trigger other projectile-based effects.

Character count: 297

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Gunman is an enhanced version of Mega Launcher that provides the following effects:

Core Mechanics

1. Mega Launcher Boost: All moves with the FLAG_MEGA_LAUNCHER_BOOST flag receive a 1.3x (30%) power multiplier
2. Status Move Enhancement: All status moves are treated as if they have the FLAG_MEGA_LAUNCHER_BOOST flag

Implementation Details

• Uses the exact same onOffensiveMultiplier function as Mega Launcher
• Sets megaLauncherBoost = TRUE to enable the boost flag
• The key difference is in the IsMegaLauncherBoosted function, which returns TRUE for status moves when the user has Gunman

Boosted Move Categories

Traditional Mega Launcher moves include:

• Water Gun (40 BP → 52 BP)
• Hydro Pump (110 BP → 143 BP)
• Aura Sphere (85 BP → 111 BP)
• Steel Beam (140 BP → 182 BP)
• Scale Shot (25 BP per hit → 33 BP per hit)
• Spike Cannon (25 BP per hit → 33 BP per hit)
• Rock Blast (25 BP per hit → 33 BP per hit)
• Anchor Shot (80 BP → 104 BP)
• Rock Wrecker (120 BP → 156 BP)
• Wyrm Wind (25 BP per hit → 33 BP per hit)

Unique to Gunman:

• ALL status moves receive the 30% boost (converted to damaging when applicable)
• Status moves trigger other projectile-based ability effects

Synergies

Gunman works with other abilities that check for Mega Launcher boosted moves:

• Artillery: Makes Mega Launcher moves hit both opponents
• Super Scope: Same targeting effect as Artillery
• Deadeye: Mega Launcher moves gain perfect accuracy
• Dual Wield: Mega Launcher moves hit twice with reduced power
• Pyro Shells: Follows up Mega Launcher moves with Outburst

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability Gunman = {
    .onOffensiveMultiplier = MegaLauncher.onOffensiveMultiplier,
    .megaLauncherBoost = TRUE,
};

The boost check in IsMegaLauncherBoosted:

int IsMegaLauncherBoosted(int battler, MoveEnum move) {
    if (gBattleMoves[move].flags & FLAG_MEGA_LAUNCHER_BOOST) return TRUE;
    if (IS_MOVE_STATUS(move) || BattlerHasAbility(battler, ABILITY_GUNMAN, FALSE)) return TRUE;
    return FALSE;
}

Strategic Applications

• Extremely powerful ability that turns status moves into offensive tools
• Enhances both traditional projectile moves and status moves
• Creates unique strategic opportunities by making status moves interact with projectile-based effects
• Particularly valuable on Pokémon with diverse movepools containing both status and traditional pulse/aura moves