Mental Pollution (N) - Ability ID 816

In-Game Description

"Nulls abilities when confused except others with this ability."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Mental Pollution renders all opposing Pokémon's abilities completely inactive while they are confused. Only other Pokémon with Mental Pollution remain unaffected. This creates powerful disruption against ability-reliant teams but requires inflicting confusion first to take effect.

Character count: 297

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

• Ability Nullification: When a Pokémon is confused, all of its abilities become inactive if any opponent has Mental Pollution
• Exception Rule: Pokémon with Mental Pollution are immune to this effect from other Mental Pollution users
• Status Requirement: Only affects confused Pokémon - those without confusion status are unaffected
• Field-Wide Effect: Mental Pollution affects all confused opponents, not just specific targets

Activation Conditions

• At least one Pokémon with Mental Pollution must be active on the field
• Target Pokémon must have the confusion status (STATUS2_CONFUSION)
• The affected Pokémon cannot have Mental Pollution itself

Technical Implementation

Current Status: Partially implemented

• Defined in src/abilities.cc with .breakable = TRUE
• Missing core logic in ability checking functions
• Would require modification to IsSuppressed() or GetBattlerAbility() functions

// Proposed implementation in IsSuppressed function:
if (gBattleMons[battler].status2 & STATUS2_CONFUSION) {
    // Check if any opponent has Mental Pollution
    for (int i = 0; i < gBattlersCount; i++) {
        if (GetBattlerSide(i) != GetBattlerSide(battler) && 
            BattlerHasAbility(i, ABILITY_MENTAL_POLLUTION, FALSE)) {
            // Don't suppress if this battler also has Mental Pollution
            if (!HasAbilityIgnoringSuppression(battler, ABILITY_MENTAL_POLLUTION)) {
                return TRUE; // Suppress the ability
            }
        }
    }
}

Affected Abilities

• All abilities are nullified when confused (except Mental Pollution itself)
• Includes passive abilities, entry abilities, and reactive abilities
• Both changeable and innate abilities are affected

Interactions with Other Mechanics

• Mold Breaker: Mental Pollution is breakable, so Mold Breaker can ignore it
• Gastro Acid: If Mental Pollution is suppressed by Gastro Acid, it won't nullify abilities
• Neutralizing Gas: Takes precedence over Mental Pollution
• Ability Shield: Would protect from Mental Pollution's ability suppression
• Confusion Immunity: Pokémon immune to confusion are unaffected

Strategic Implications

• Synergy with Confusion: Requires reliable confusion-inducing moves or abilities
• Team Support: Benefits teammates by shutting down opposing abilities
• Setup Requirement: Must establish confusion before Mental Pollution takes effect
• Risk/Reward: Powerful disruption but requires status condition setup

Common Users

Note: This is a custom Elite Redux ability - no official Pokémon naturally have it

Competitive Usage Notes

• Priority Target: Pokémon with Mental Pollution become high-priority threats
• Counter Strategy: Focus on preventing confusion or removing Mental Pollution users
• Team Building: Pairs well with confusion-inducing moves and priority moves

Counters

• Confusion Prevention: Lum Berry, Mental Herb, Misty Terrain
• Ability Restoration: Switching out removes confusion and restores abilities
• Mold Breaker: Ignores Mental Pollution entirely
• Fast KO: Eliminate Mental Pollution users before they can capitalize

Synergies

• Confuse Ray: Reliable confusion inducement
• Swagger: Confusion + Attack boost for opponents
• Sweet Kiss: Fast confusion move
• Supersonic: Early-game confusion option
• Priority Moves: Capitalize on disabled defensive abilities

Version History

• Elite Redux: Custom ability introduction with ID 816
• Implementation: Currently has basic definition but lacks functional code
• (N) Designation: Indicates this is an innate ability slot in Elite Redux's 4-ability system