Metallic Jaws - Ability ID 792

In-Game Description

"Metallic + Primal Maw."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Metallic Jaws grants the Steel type upon switching in and enables jaw-based attacks to hit twice with 60% power on the second strike. The first hit deals full damage while the follow-up strike deals reduced damage, creating devastating combo potential with bite attacks like Crunch and Fang moves.

Character count: 297

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Metallic Jaws is a composite ability that combines two powerful effects from the Metallic and Primal Maw abilities:

Core Mechanics

1. Metallic Component (On Entry Effect):

• Upon switching into battle, the Pokemon gains the Steel type as an additional type
• This effect occurs immediately when the Pokemon enters the field
• The Steel typing provides resistance to Normal, Flying, Rock, Bug, Steel, Grass, Psychic, Ice, Dragon, and Fairy moves
• Grants immunity to poison status conditions while the Steel type is active
• The additional Steel typing stacks with the Pokemon's existing types

2. Primal Maw Component (Parental Bond Effect):

• When using moves with the FLAG_STRONG_JAW_BOOST flag, the attack hits twice
• First hit: 100% damage (full power)
• Second hit: 40% damage (reduced power from PARENTAL_BOND_PRIMAL_MAW multiplier)
• Total damage output: 140% of the original move's power
• This effect only triggers on moves that would normally be boosted by Strong Jaw

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability MetallicJaws = {
    .onEntry = Metallic.onEntry,           // Adds Steel type on switch-in
    .onParentalBond = PrimalMaw.onParentalBond, // Enables double-hit for jaw moves
};

// Metallic component
constexpr Ability Metallic = {
    .onEntry = +[](ON_ENTRY) -> int { 
        return AddBattlerType(battler, TYPE_STEEL); 
    },
};

// Primal Maw component  
constexpr Ability PrimalMaw = {
    .onParentalBond = +[](ON_PARENTAL_BOND) -> MultihitType {
        CHECK(gBattleMoves[move].flags & FLAG_STRONG_JAW_BOOST)
        return PARENTAL_BOND_PRIMAL_MAW;
    },
};

Complete List of Affected Moves

All moves with the strong_jaw: true flag in the protobuf data, including:

Primary Bite/Jaw Moves:

• Bite (60 BP → 84 BP total)
• Crunch (80 BP → 112 BP total)
• Hyper Fang (80 BP → 112 BP total)
• Thunder Fang (65 BP → 91 BP total)
• Ice Fang (65 BP → 91 BP total)
• Fire Fang (65 BP → 91 BP total)
• Poison Fang (50 BP → 70 BP total)

Other Strong Jaw Boosted Moves:

• Leech Life
• Any other moves marked with strong_jaw: true in the move data

Interactions with Other Abilities/Mechanics

Synergistic Interactions:

• Strong Jaw: Would further boost the power of jaw moves by 30% before the double-hit calculation
• Tough Claws: Boosts contact moves, many jaw moves make contact
• Sheer Force: Could boost moves with secondary effects, though removes the secondary effect
• STAB: Steel-type moves gain Same Type Attack Bonus after gaining Steel typing

Potential Conflicts:

• Multitype/RKS System: May override the added Steel typing depending on held item
• Color Change/Protean: Could change typing away from Steel after attacking
• Mold Breaker/Turboblaze/Teravolt: Opponents with these abilities ignore the Steel type resistances

Strategic Implications

Offensive Advantages:

• Massive damage output on jaw-based moves (140% total power)
• Steel typing provides additional STAB for Steel-type moves
• Excellent coverage with combination of original typing + Steel
• Priority moves like Bullet Punch gain STAB if the Pokemon learns them

Defensive Benefits:

• Steel typing grants numerous resistances and poison immunity
• Bulky Steel types can take advantage of the resistances while dealing huge damage
• Entry hazard immunity (Spikes) if already Steel-type

Example Damage Calculations:

Crunch (80 BP) with Metallic Jaws:

• First hit: 80 BP
• Second hit: 32 BP (80 × 0.4)
• Total: 112 BP effective power
• With Strong Jaw: 145.6 BP total (112 × 1.3)

Common Users

This ability would be ideal for:

• Physical attackers with access to jaw-based moves
• Pokemon that benefit from Steel typing defensively
• Mixed attackers that can utilize both the Steel STAB and jaw moves
• Pokemon in need of both offensive presence and defensive utility

Competitive Usage Notes

Tier Implications:

• Extremely powerful ability due to dual benefits
• The 140% damage multiplier on common moves like Crunch makes this very threatening
• Steel typing addition provides significant defensive utility
• Likely restricted to Pokemon with lower stats to maintain balance

Common Sets:

• Physical Choice Band/Choice Scarf sets to maximize jaw move damage
• Bulk offensive sets utilizing Steel resistances
• Mixed sets taking advantage of Steel STAB moves

Counters

Direct Counters:

• Mold Breaker variants: Ignore the Steel typing resistances
• Fire/Fighting/Ground type moves: Deal super-effective damage to Steel typing
• Burn status: Cuts physical attack power in half, reducing jaw move effectiveness
• Physical walls: High Defense Pokemon can tank even the boosted jaw moves

Indirect Counters:

• Will-O-Wisp users: Apply burn status to cripple physical attacks
• Intimidate: Reduces Attack stat, lowering damage output
• Rocky Helmet/Iron Barbs: Punish the double-hit nature of jaw moves
• Contact punishment abilities: Rough Skin, Static, etc. trigger twice

Synergies

Team Support:

• Stealth Rock: Provides entry hazard support while Steel typing resists it
• Thunder Wave/paralysis support: Slows down faster threats
• Screens support: Light Screen/Reflect help with bulk while setting up

Item Synergies:

• Life Orb: Boosts both hits of jaw moves significantly
• Choice Band: Massive power boost to already strong jaw moves
• Leftovers: Provides recovery to take advantage of Steel resistances
• Heavy-Duty Boots: Protects from entry hazards while switching in

Version History

• Initial Implementation: Added as ability ID 792 in Elite Redux
• Current Status: Fully functional composite ability
• Balance Notes: Combines two strong effects but limited to specific move types

This ability represents one of the most powerful offensive/utility combinations in Elite Redux, offering both immediate defensive benefits and devastating offensive potential with the right moveset.