Skip to content
✏️

Suggest Improvements

Help improve (ID: ) - Spot errors or suggest better descriptions

Tender Affection (Ability #826)

Quick Description

Cute Charm + Fairy STAB

Extended In-Game Description

For use in Elite Redux extended ability UI (IMPORTANT: exactly 280-300 chars counted WITH spaces) Combines Cute Charm's 50% chance to infatuate attackers on contact with Same Type Attack Bonus for Fairy-type moves. The infatuation effect triggers when hit by physical contact moves from opposite gender Pokemon. Fairy-type moves gain 1.5x damage multiplier regardless of the user's actual type.

Character count: 294

Mechanics

Cute Charm Component

  • Trigger: When hit by a contact move
  • Effect: 50% chance to infatuate the attacker
  • Condition: Attacker must be opposite gender
  • Type: Passive defensive ability

Fairy STAB Component

  • Effect: Grants STAB (1.5x damage) to all Fairy-type moves
  • Condition: Works even if the Pokemon is not Fairy-type
  • Type: Offensive damage modifier

Implementation Details

The ability is implemented in src/abilities.cc as:

cpp
constexpr Ability TenderAffection = {
    ON_EITHER_ABILITY(CuteCharm),
    .onStab = +[](ON_STAB) -> int { return moveType == TYPE_FAIRY; },
};

This implementation:

  1. Inherits the full Cute Charm functionality for the infatuation effect
  2. Adds a custom STAB check that returns true for Fairy-type moves

Strategic Use

Offensive Benefits

  • Allows non-Fairy types to use Fairy moves with STAB damage
  • Particularly useful for Pokemon with good Fairy move coverage
  • Enables effective Fairy-type attackers without the defensive weaknesses

Defensive Benefits

  • Deters physical attackers of the opposite gender
  • Infatuation can disrupt opponent's strategy
  • Works well with bulky Pokemon that can take contact hits

Synergies

  • Pairs well with Pokemon that have diverse movepools including Fairy moves
  • Excellent on Pokemon with high Special Attack for moves like Moonblast
  • Works with physical Fairy moves like Play Rough for mixed attackers

Notable Users

This ability is particularly valuable on Pokemon that:

  • Have access to strong Fairy moves but aren't Fairy-type
  • Need coverage against Dragon, Dark, or Fighting types
  • Can benefit from both offensive and defensive utility

Comparison to Similar Abilities

  • Cute Charm: Only provides the infatuation effect
  • Pixilate: Converts Normal moves to Fairy but doesn't affect contact defense
  • Fairy Aura: Boosts all Fairy moves but lacks defensive utility

Elite Redux Ability Codex