I have a quick question about Encore. (well maybe not so quick-I italicized the actual question because all the crap around it might confuse people)
Now, instead of Encore ending after 4-8 Turns, it ends after 3 Moves.
Before, if you were to Encore on the turn encore ends, it would fail. However, it seems that (at least on PO currently) if you're slower and you Encore on the turn it is supposed to end, then the Encore renews because it ended after the move, and not at the end of turn.
I know it's kind of difficult to explain this with that kind of vague wording, so an example:
Current PO Mechanics, CM Refresh Latias vs Encore Politoed
Turn 1:Latias Calm Minds - Politoed Encores
Turn 2:Latias forced to CM (1st turn of Encore) - Politoed Toxics
Turn 3:Latias forced to CM (2nd turn of Encore) - Politoed does whatever
Turn 4:Latias forced to CM (3rd turn of Encore. Encore ENDS) - Politoed uses Encore, does not fail. End of turn does not give "_____'s Encore ended!" message.
(If this were Gen 4 mechanics, Encore would fail, and it would give "_____'s Encore ended!")
Turn 5:Latias is still locked into CM, and is unable to use refresh. She finally realizes that she is forced to switch or die to Toxic.
Now, is this a PO glitch, or does this work on cartridge too? (I can't find in-game thing that uses Encore -.-)
If this does work on cartridge, the mechanic change wasn't a 100% nerf but more like a mixed bag of 80% nerf and 20% gain. Yeah, I know that the shortened turn count is pretty darn significant. Still, if this works, then a lot of slower Pokemon can use Encore effectively, at least relatively to the past. Encore worked so much better in DPP with speed in your hand. If you're faster, then the opponent is essentially locked into a non-attacking move forever. Now, with this mechanic change, slower pokemon can also indefinitely lock you into a non-attack. If you think that this is 'too situational'... well, Encore itself is pretty darn situational, too.
Thanks!