[RBY] Critical Hits in RBY

[jumpluff]

idk, I just wrote it, it took me like no time lol, hell, i could've saved time writing up a script to generate the list... suggestions?

Critical Hits in RBY

Contrary to future generations, critical hits in Generation I do not occur at a fixed rate for all Pokémon. While the base rate is 6.25% (1/16) from Generation II onwards, in RBY, critical hit ratio is calculated uniquely for each Pokémon based on its base Speed (it cannot be lowered by paralysis or Speed drops, nor can it be boosted by Focus Energy, which suffers from a debilitating glitch). The formula is x * 100 / 512, where x is the base Speed of the respective Pokémon. For high crit moves (Razor Leaf, Slash, Crabhammer, and Karate Chop), the formula is x * 100 / 64; these moves have a crit ratio 8x higher than normal. The frequency of critical hits is an integral part of gameplay, with Pokémon like Tauros having a critical hit rate greater than 20%. However, critical hits ignore the player's stat drops and boosts as well as the foe's. This means that if a Mewtwo had used Amnesia to reach +6, it would do more damage with a normal hit than a critical hit.

Critical Hit Rates

Please note that results are rounded to the nearest two decimal places, and only fully evolved Pokémon are included.

Pokémon - Base Speed - Crit Rate
Electrode - 140 - 27.34%
Aerodactyl - 130 - 25.39%
Jolteon - 130 - 25.39%
Mewtwo - 130 - 25.39%
Alakazam - 120 - 23.44%
Dugtrio - 120 - 23.44%
Persian - 115 - 22.46%
Starmie - 115 - 22.46%
Gengar - 110 - 21.48%
Tauros - 110 - 21.48%
Electabuzz - 105 - 20.50%
Rapidash - 105 - 20.50%
Scyther - 105 - 20.50%
Charizard - 100 - 19.53%
Dodrio - 100 - 19.53%
Fearow - 100 - 19.53%
Mew - 100 - 19.53%
Ninetales - 100 - 19.53%
Raichu - 100 - 19.53%
Tentacruel - 100 - 19.53%
Zapdos - 100 - 19.53%
Raticate - 97 - 18.95%
Jynx - 95 - 18.55%
Primeape - 95 - 18.55%
Magmar - 93 - 18.16%
Pidgeot - 91 - 17.77%
Golbat - 90 - 17.59%
Kangaskhan - 90 - 17.59%
Moltres - 90 - 17.59%
Mr. Mime - 90 - 17.59%
Venomoth - 90 - 17.59%
Hitmonlee - 87 - 16.99%
Articuno - 85 - 16.60%
Golduck - 85 - 16.60%
Nidoking - 85 - 16.60%
Pinsir - 85 - 16.60%
Seadra - 85 - 16.60%
Gyarados - 81 - 15.82%
Arbok - 80 - 15.63%
Dragonite - 80 - 15.63%
Kabutops - 80 - 15.63%
Venusaur - 80 - 15.63%
Blastoise - 78 - 15.23%
Hitmonchan - 76 - 14.84%
Nidoqueen - 76 - 14.84%
Beedrill - 75 - 14.65%
Kingler - 75 - 14.65%
Butterfree - 70 - 13.67%
Cloyster - 70 - 13.67%
Dewgong - 70 - 13.67%
Magneton - 70 - 13.67%
Onix - 70 - 13.67%
Poliwrath - 70 - 13.67%
Victreebel - 70 - 13.67%
Seaking - 68 - 13.28%
Hypno - 67 - 13.09%
Flareon - 65 - 12.70%
Sandslash - 65 - 12.70%
Vaporeon - 65 - 12.70%
Clefable - 60 - 11.71%
Farfetch'd - 60 - 11.71%
Lapras - 60 - 11.71%
Tangela - 60 - 11.71%
Weezing - 60 - 11.71%
Exeggutor - 55 - 10.74%
Machamp - 55 - 10.74%
Omastar - 55 - 10.74%
Chansey - 50 - 9.77%
Muk - 50 - 9.77%
Vileplume - 50 - 9.77%
Ditto - 48 - 9.38%
Golem - 45 - 8.79%
Marowak - 45 - 8.79%
Wigglytuff - 45 - 8.79%
Porygon - 45 - 7.81%
Rhydon - 45 - 7.81%
Lickitung - 30 - 5.86%
Parasect - 30 - 5.86%
Slowbro - 30 - 5.86%
Snorlax - 30 - 5.86%

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obviously the above should be a table, not a list; i already have it in ascii form and i will just find+replace the html if/when this article is deemed ready for the site

 

[eric the espeon]

Looks good, probably make the RBY Differences guide link to this once it's up, and maybe note that crits ignore all stat boosts/drops, not just foe's boosts/attacker's drops, in RBY?

 

[jumpluff]

Good idea, I forgot to mention that. added

 

[eric the espeon]

"only Pokémon outside of the NFE tier are included"
I think it'd be better to say "only fully evolved Pokémon are included", both because NFE is not exactly a "tier" as such, and because it's slightly easier for newer players to know exactly what is meant.

I also slightly prefer crit chance to crit rate (other than for moves with a high crit rate, since they actually use "high critical-hit ratio" ingame), but that's kinda subjective/unimportant so feel free to leave it as is.

Maybe include that the later gen crit rate is always 6.25% or 1/16 in the first sentence?

But, all very minor nitpicks, yay first new RBY article in forever!

 

[jumpluff]

That's not the case, since Kadabra is BL. So is Haunter. :x I originally wrote that, then noticed there were exceptions. Added that though. What needs to be done to get it on-site? I notice a lot of articles stagnate, and I'd like to avoid that.

 

[eric the espeon]

Right. Are Kadabra/Haunter worth including in this? They don't have analyses and are only legal+not outclassed in a ban list tier.

 

[jumpluff]

It was to me more of a thing of completion's sake, but you're right, so I'll take them out and amend my sentence. :P

 

[eric the espeon]

Right, they could stay in if you wanted, it just seemed a little inconsistent with other nfes not being included.

 

[Great Sage]

A long time ago, the critical hit rate for each RBY Pokemon was listed on the page detailing the Pokemon's statistics. Perhaps a job for one of our programmers?

 

[Demoness]

What about saying that Focus Energy is glitched and saying how it's gltiched?

 

[jumpluff]

A long time ago, the critical hit rate for each RBY Pokemon was listed on the page detailing the Pokemon's statistics. Perhaps a job for one of our programmers?

The programmers are way too busy, especially for (sorry, but it's true), a largely dead generation... so an article seems the best solution for the interim. Berserker Lord, noted

 

[waterwizard]

I'd like to see this added to the RBY analysis pages for each pokemon!

 

[Crystal_]

Is not the final CH rate multiplicated x255/256?. I am pretty sure I have for example see a Persian not doing a CH with Slash; doing a non-CH hit (not missing, which can happen too obv).

 

[jumpluff]

Nope, it isn't. Or at least I can't verify this anywhere...

C&C mods: can I put this on-site?

 

[eric the espeon]

Go for it pluff.

 

[Crystal_]

http://www.psypokes.com/lab/criticalhits.php
"However, due to a small quirk in RBY's programming, nothing in Generation I is ever 100%, but rather 99.6%; this means that Persian's Slash will land a Critical Hit 255 out of 256 times."
I am pretty sure as well that once I saw a Persian not doing CH with Slash.

 

[jumpluff]

Crystal_: Thanks, that's pretty intriguing, and it makes sense, but I can't verify it, so I'm just going with the formula given to me by multiple people / the site. =/

This is now on-site.

 

[eric the espeon]

Pluff: Smogon's RBY differences article confirms it (even if it is kinda misworded, it's clear what they mean):

When deciding whether a move that targets the opponent hits, or whether or not a move critically hit, RBY mechanics formulate certainty as a value between 0 and 255, which is capped at 255. For instance, when Persian uses Slash, even though base Speed * 4 = 460 which is well over 255, it's brought back down to 255. The cart then randomly generates a number between 0 and 255 and, and if that number is less than 255, the move hits / critical hits.


Due to this, there is always an extra 1/256 chance that any "100% accuracy" attack will miss, and that any high CH rate attack will miss (+~0.4%). The only exception is Swift which does not perform this check and, thus, cannot possibly miss.

Also, having links from Pokemon names in the table like Speed Tiers would be cool. I'll leave this topic here for a while for suggestions then move to uploaded.