08: Advanced Combat Mechanics!

This topic covers a few elements of pokemon combat in more depth. The first aspect is STAB. Anyone who has experience with the more tactical aspects of the pokemon video games has encountered STAB, or Same-Type Attack Bonus.

Bulbapedia wrote:

Same-type attack bonus, commonly abbreviated as STAB, is a 50% boost to the power of an attack when the attack is the same type as one of the types of the Pokémon using the attack. This results in a 50% increase in damage (100% if the Pokémon has the Adaptability Ability).

Same-type attack bonus does not apply to moves that do a set amount of damage nor ones that do not use the normal damage formula, such as Dragon Rage and Seismic Toss.

Bulbapedia wrote:

A Blastoise using Surf increases the power of the move by 50%, from 95 to 142, since both Blastoise and Surf are Water-type. However, a Blastoise using Ice Beam does not receive an increase in special attack power of the move, since Blastoise is not an Ice-type Pokémon.
A Lapras, on the other hand, would receive the same-type attack bonus when using either Surf or Ice Beam, since Lapras is both Water-type and Ice-type.

STAB on PokeSaga works exactly the same way. If you would qualify for STAB in the games, you'll qualify for STAB here. the Attack or Special Attack stat depending on the move will double if the move is STAB worthy.

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There are several status effects from Pokemon Canon that exist on PokeSaga. They have been simplified to be easy to follow for the sake of roleplaying. If a status effect isn't listed and you feel it should be, please PM red and state your case as to why we should bring it in.

Burn: The pokemon has been struck with a severe burn. The pain is overwhelming, weakening the focus of the pokemon and as such their ability to land a powerful blow. Attack and SP. Attack are halved. Fades after three post cycles. Burns are inflicted when a fire type move with STAB hits an opponent, or when a move that directly causes burn lands successfully.

Paralysis: A powerful electrical current scrambles the pokemon's nervous system. Their speed is halved and they are unable to use moves with a power above 60 [see popular reference sites like Bulbapedia to see what a move's power is] Fades after Four post cycles. Paralysis is inflicted when a electric type move with STAB hits an opponent, or when a move that directly causes Paralysis lands successfully.

Poison: The pokemon has been infected with a powerful toxin. HP suffers a minus 80 until an antidote is administered. Poison is inflicted when a poison type move with STAB hits an opponent, or when a move that directly causes Poison lands successfully.

Sleep: The pokemon passes out temporarily, and is unable to use any attack but Snore or Sleep Talk while unconscious. Defense is halved for the duration of Sleep. Fades after One post cycle. Sleep is inflicted solely by moves that specifically cause sleep.

Confusion: The pokemon finds it difficult to control their own body, causing them to stagger around awkwardly and find it difficult to follow orders. Speed, defense and SP. Defense are halved while confused. Fades after two post cycles. Confusion is inflicted solely by moves that specifically cause Confusion.

Infatuation: Blows dealt by the Infatuated to the Pokemon they're infatuated with are half strength and cannot be STAB. Fades after three post cycles. Infatuation is inflicted solely by moves that specifically cause Infatuation.

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Certain moves such as Sword Dance or harden modify stats. In the pokemon games they move in two tiers. For example, Sword dance in the games raises attack by "two stages" while growl lowers attack by "one stage" These moves work the same way here, except that a stage is Ten stat points. Active moves cannot increase or decrease a stat more than Sixty stat points. In addition you must keep track of modifiers. For example, if I use swords dance, I need to end my post with this:

(+20 attack from swords dance)

Stat modifying moves are permanent until modified by another element such as a status debuff move.

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Certain effects are lost in translation. Namely moves like the ability Static. A pokemon with static has a chance to paralyse an opponent on physical contact. But how do you determine if it happens or not when it's chance based? Simple. All abilities of this nature now work the same way: If the required condition is met three times, it activates. This means if you touch a pokemon with flame body three times you get burned, while if you touch a pokemon with Static three times you get paralysed.