Bench Abilities

Voting begins now! You are allowed to vote for up to 6 abilities: 2 of them can be self-votes.

Omnimorph (SV), Gigawatt Charge (SV), Blazing Will, Overgrowing Will, Torrential Will, Arctic Armor
 
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Another sudden change of plans: Since I have to go somewhere tomorrow, I'll actually be closing voting later tonight, and reserving my time out as a discussion phase of sorts. Here's what it's looking like so far

Omnimorph (3)
Arctic Armor (3)
Blazing Will (3)
Torrential Will (3)
Overgrowing Will (3)
Protective Powder (3)
Sinister Escort (3)
Confidence Boost (3)

Bomb Shelter (2)
Water Wall (2)
Lucky Star (2)
Hand Off (2)

Gigawatt Charge (1)
Costume Party (1)
Open Harvest (1)
Winter’s Wrath (1)
Arctic Assault (1)
High Flyer (1)
Sprinklers (1)
Dragon Focus (1)
Off the Mark (1)

So yeah, vote soon if you haven't already!
 
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Voting's over, and we got not 6, not 7, but 10 winners.

Tied for first place, we have:

Blazing, Torrential and Overgrowing Will
Confidence Boost
Hand Off
each with 4 votes.

For second place, we have:

Omnimorph
Arctic Armor
Protective Powder
Sinister Escort
Bomb Shelter
with 3 votes.

In addition, here's some last minute changes to the winning abilities:

For the Will abilities, if two mons are in the back with Will abilities that would activate the additional effect of a Pledge Move, the effect chosen is of the first one within the initial team order. It isn't random, and the move only receives one power buff. It also doesn't change the type of the move that gets boosted: This one isn't a change but a clarification.

As for my two winners: Omnimorph will no longer provide a power boost, and Bomb Shelter will not be given to Chesnaught since it already has Overgrowing Will.

Discussion phase will begin now. How will the BSS meta be shaped by this first batch of bench abilities?
 
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Yung Dramps said:

Voting's over, and we got not 6, not 7, but 10 winners.

Tied for first place, we have:

Blazing, Torrential and Overgrowing Will
Confidence Boost
Hand Off
each with 4 votes.

For second place, we have:

Omnimorph
Arctic Armor
Protective Powder
Sinister Escort
Bomb Shelter

In addition, here's some last minute changes to the winning abilities:

For the Will abilities, if two mons are in the back with Will abilities that would activate the additional effect of a Pledge Move, the effect chosen is of the first one within the initial team order. It isn't random, and the move only receives one power buff. It also doesn't change the type of the move that gets boosted: This one isn't a change but a clarification.

As for my two winners: Omnimorph will no longer provide a power boost, and Bomb Shelter will not be given to Chesnaught since it already has Overgrowing Will.

Discussion phase will begin now. How will the BSS meta be shaped by this first batch of bench abilities?
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I think the Arctic Armor will promote type diversity by giving Ice-types a role.

Further, it will more specifically help Hail teams take advantage of Aurora Veil, by freeing up an item slot.

Overall, being able to prevent secondary side effects from lowering any stats, such as Intimidate, works to keep momentum on your team, and can be reactivated by sending in a new Ice-Type during the match.

Overall, I see so much potential for Ninetails-Alola, simultaneously setting up 8 turns of Aurora Veil, Hail (if it uses Icy Rock), and 5 turns of Mist - all in one turn.

The Will abilities will ( ;) ) play a role in giving the starters a much need viability boost, and will enable for their tradeoff (if you have 2 starters of the same type, you can surprise your foe with which one will be on the bench or active- say having a Charizard works better in one match if your foe has Ground-Types, while in another you select Infernape because they use Rock types).

Omnimorph is a unique twist on -ate abilities, and highlights a fix to the lack of good moves distributed equally among all types (physical and/or special attacks). This is a good implementation, and unlike most abilities; I could see this implemented on teams universally, since Return is a common learnable Normal move.

The others all have their own unique traits which only adds to the variety that we aim for here!
 
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Blazing Will, Torrential Will, and Overgrowing Will are designed to give the starters a place within the Bench Abilities meta. The unique (and relatively strong) effects of the Pledge moves are almost always inaccessible due to being locked behind using two starters simultaneously in Doubles, and even when it works, it ends up being single target. However, now, the effects can be accessed by using the move in tandem with another starter (or elemental monkey) in the back. This leads to Swamp (which acts as a temporary quartering of the opposing side's Speed), Sea of Fire (which deals 1/8 of the opposing Pokemon's health per turn), and Rainbow (which doubles the chance of secondary effects for your Pokemon) being usable in the meta.

Omnimorph allows Noivern to have STAB Boomburst, or Lucario to have STAB E-Speed. Which STAB is it? You decide! It also allows any Pokemon with Normal type options for attacking to transform them into STAB. For example, Tapu Koko, which lacked Physical Fairy type moves, can utilize Fairy type Return to work as a physical set (or maybe a mixed set).

Confidence Boost is a great way to punish Intimidate and other forms of stat lowering. You can even use it to do things like power through Sticky Webs.

Hand Off is Symbiosis, but in singles. Restricted to Ambipom or Aipom, but there are plenty of strategies for how to take advantage of it, especially because you don't really have to worry about the item you are giving to Ambipom being limiting for it (unlike with Symbiosis and Florges). For example, Dragonite can use a Weakness Policy, and then be handed Leftovers or Life Orb to become even more of a threat. Or, you could utilize this with Cloyster, and exchange its held White Herb for a King's Rock to potentially cause some flinches. I'm sure there are even more uses possible.

Arctic Armor improves Hail teams by adding Mist to their side (preventing stat drops) and improving Aurora Veil (which was already strong, but was locked behind holding an item and using a Snow Warning mon to set it, now only one of those things remains). Definitely a welcome buff to a weather that isn't often seen.

Protective Powder is self-explanatory. Provides Bugs with a safe switchin against Fire type attacks, and hurts them in the process. Great for Bugs that can take advantage of that safety, like Scolipede. Being locked behind Vivillon and Ribombee isn't terrible, either, since they're both decent Quiver Dancers.

Sinister Escort is... unusual. I suppose I just don't understand why it's a thing. I mean, its uses are undeniable: reflects the first Knock Off, Taunt, Pursuit, Dark Pulse, Crunch, or Night Slash headed your way. But it's just something that I can't really understand the flavor of, I suppose.

Bomb Shelter. Are you tired of Pokemon that would be great to use being made next to irrelevant by one move from your opponent before they even come out? Introducing Bomb Shelter, the great new solution for all your Stealth Rock damage reducing needs! Now, even Volcarona and Charizard can switch in upon these deadly stones without falling to half health! Satisfaction, guaranteed.
 
KeeganSkymin4444 said:
Sinister Escort is... unusual. I suppose I just don't understand why it's a thing. I mean, its uses are undeniable: reflects the first Knock Off, Taunt, Pursuit, Dark Pulse, Crunch, or Night Slash headed your way. But it's just something that I can't really understand the flavor of, I suppose.
Click to expand...

I made this ability with Mawile in mind, to prevent some sucker punch sweeps. It also prevents Knock Off spams and can help some defensive pokemon not to be taunted / pursuit trapped (if psychic or ghost type).

Bomb Shelter seems interesting in this format since stealth rock isn't as usual in BSS than in OU. This ability could mainly help mons holding sash.

Confidence boost transforms Superpower in a better version of Close Combat, cool

Omnimorph was stupid, glad the boost has been removed.

I'm preparing a team that uses a Blazing Will core.
 
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Before I begin the next slate, here's some quick pointers based on how this last one went.

  • It seemed there was a bit of confusion as to the BSS ruleset. Remember, it's a cartridge format rather than a Smogon format, so stuff like the mythicals aren't allowed while stuff like Mega Lucario and Naganadel are. We'll likely have an AG variant of this at some point, but nonetheless be sure to check on the rules before giving Bench Abilities to illegal Pokemon and little/nothing else.
  • Another thing to keep in mind is that we're sticking to only having one Bench Ability for each unique mon. You can't give your Bench Ability to a mon that already has one, and if two winners appear with the same mon getting it, that'll have to be resolved amongst the winners.
Anyways, let's move on. As many who have been in the Pet Mods community for any remotely lengthy period of time can tell you, these kinds of slate-based mods have a tendency to gravitate a little too sharply towards offense (Fusion Evolution is the most extreme example of this). As such, we're gonna address these concerns ASAP by making our second slate a defense slate! Anything that allows mons to tank hits and heal themselves or others better is fair game.

My submissions will come in a separate post. In the meantime, start working on yours!
 
Well, okay.

Ability Name: Shock Absorber
Effect: Multiplies allied defenses by 1.1x. If the ally is Psychic type, multiplies them by 1.2x instead.
Given to: Wobbuffet

Will do more.
 
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Ability Name: Giant’s Armor
Effect: Allies that are 150 kg or heavier have their speed halved but have both defenses raised by 1.3x. This ability has no effect if Trick Room is active.
Users: Golurk line, Hariyama line, Tyranitar, Steelix line

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Ability Name: Healing Spa
Effect: Allies with the Regenerator ability heal an extra 7% when switching out.
Users: Comfey, Audino, Bellossom, Roserade line

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Ability Name: Miracle Fluff
Effect: Allies with 100 or more in either Defense or Special Defense take 0.8x damage from moves with secondary effects.
Users: Furfrou, Whimsicott, Altaria line, Ampharos line

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Ability Name: Final Morning
Effect: Allies with Wish will use it upon being KOed.
Users: Clefable line, Espeon, Gardevoir

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Ability Name: Final Evening
Effect: Allies with Memento will use it upon being KOed.
Users: Hypno line, Umbreon, Gallade
 
Gravity Monkey said:
I made this ability with Mawile in mind, to prevent some sucker punch sweeps. It also prevents Knock Off spams and can help some defensive pokemon not to be taunted / pursuit trapped (if psychic or ghost type).

Bomb Shelter seems interesting in this format since stealth rock isn't as usual in BSS than in OU. This ability could mainly help mons holding sash.

Confidence boost transforms Superpower in a better version of Close Combat, cool

Omnimorph was stupid, glad the boost has been removed.

I'm preparing a team that uses a Blazing Will core.
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Um, Clear Body doesn't block self lowering, so I'm assuming Confidence Boost doesn't do that either. Besides, even if it did, Close Combat also would activate it due to lowering both defenses.

Also, I understand what Sinister Escort is useful for, but the reason it confuses me is because I don't understand why it was given to Hydreigon or Mismagius. And how does the name correlate to the effect?
 
Ability Name: Aromatic
Effect: Pokémon with Aromatherapy use it when they switch out, Pokemon with Heal Bell use it when they switch in.
Users: Aromatisse line, Parasect line, Slurpuff line, Chimecho line, Miltank, Wigglytuff line, Grumpig line

Ability Name: Fired Up
Effect: Fire types have a 50% of causing Burn to a foe when the foe hits them below 50% HP, even if they were at exactly 50% HP before being hit. This burn can affect opposing Fire types. This is does stack with other effects like Flame Body.
Users: Flareon, Magmortar line, Magcargo line, Camerupt line, Torkoal, Heatmor, Marowak-Alola

Ability Name: Fried Up
Effect: Electric types have a 50% of causing Paralysis to a foe when the foe hits them below 50% HP, even if they were at exactly 50% HP before being hit. This Paralysis can affect opposing Electric types. This does stack with other effects like Static or Effect Spore.
Users: Jolteon, Electivire line, Electross line, Electrode line, Pachirusu, Stunfisk, Togedamaru, Rotom (Original form)

Ability Name: Priesthood
Effect: Your Fairy-Type allies gain +1 Special Defense after taking their first hit in battle. (Functions like Fake Out, where it can happen again if you switch out and back in).
Users: Clefable line, Mr. Mime line (it rhymes!), Audino line, Granbull line, Togekiss line, Azumarill line, Comfey

Ability Name: Knighthood
Effect: Your Fighting-Type allies gain + 1 Defense after taking their first hit in battle. (Functions like Fake Out, where it can happen again if you switch out and back in).
Users: Hitmonchan, Hitmontop, Hitmonlee, Tyrogue, Throh, Sawk, Riolu
 
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KeeganSkymin4444 said:
Um, Clear Body doesn't block self lowering, so I'm assuming Confidence Boost doesn't do that either. Besides, even if it did, Close Combat also would activate it due to lowering both defenses.

Also, I understand what Sinister Escort is useful for, but the reason it confuses me is because I don't understand why it was given to Hydreigon or Mismagius. And how does the name correlate to the effect?
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You're probably right about Confidence Boost, although if I took Superpower for example it was because confidence boost would negate the attack drop (considering the user is offensively oriented).

For Sinister Escort, I prefered that name to a random "Shadow Guard" or "Dark Mirror" because it felt kind of bland, and I gave it to those pokemon because even though they are usable in BSS they are usually considered as underwhelming (especially for Mismagius). I felt a bench ability with that much utility could help them a little bit.
 
OM! said:
Ability Name: Aromatic
Effect: Pokémon with Aromatherapy use it when they switch out, Pokemon with Heal Bell use it when they switch in.
Users: Aromatisse line, Rumbee line, Slurpuff line, Chimecho line, Miltank, Wigglytuff line, Grumpig line

Ability Name: Fired Up
Effect: Fire types have a 50% of causing Burn to a foe when the foe hits them below 50% HP, even if they were at exactly 50% HP before being hit. This burn can affect opposing Fire types. This is does stack with other effects like Flame Body.
Users: Flareon, Magmortar line, Magcargo line, Camerupt line, Torkoal, Heatmor, Marowak-Alola

Ability Name: Fried Up
Effect: Electric types have a 50% of causing Paralysis to a foe when the foe hits them below 50% HP, even if they were at exactly 50% HP before being hit. This Paralysis can affect opposing Electric types. This does stack with other effects like Static or Effect Spore.
Users: Jolteon, Electivire line, Electross line, Electrode line, Pachirusu, Stunfisk, Togedamaru, Rotom (Original form)
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What is a Rumbee? If you meant Ribombee, it already gets Protective Powder, so that's a no-no.
 
Force Field - Upon switching in, your pokemon gain a shield that reduces damage from attacks by 25%, but disappears when they use a move.
Distribution: Mr. Mime Line, Claydol Line, Reuniclus Line, Electrode Line, Ampharos Line

Bench Healer - Upon switching out, your pokmeon heal 10% of their max HP.
Distribution: Audino, Alomomola, Blissey

Juggernaut - Every turn your pokemon are on the field, they take 3% less damage from attacks and deal 2% less damage with their own attacks, up to a maximum of 15 turns
Distribution: Regigigas, Kanto Golem line, Hariyama Line, Celesteela

Plate Vest - Allied Pokemon holding an Assault Vest gain a temporary Steel type upon switching in and a 20% Def boost
Distribution: Aggron Line, Aegislash Line, Bisharp Line,

Crystalize - Allied Rock type pokemon take 40% less damage from Water, Grass, and Fighting type moves
Distribution: Carbink, Gigalith Line, Sableye, Grumpig Line, Nihilego
 
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Pacific
When an ally water-type uses a status move, it is healed by 12%.
Distribution: Manaphy, Phione, Mantine line, Luvdisc, Alomomola, Corsola, Pyukumuku

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Diamond Nexus
Any special move used by an ally rock-type move will summon any field effect move this ally carries (i.e. weather, rooms, screens, Magnet Rise, etc...)
Distribution: Carbink, Diancie, Sableye, Starmie line
(Defensive because of screens and the fact that most utility mons are defensive)

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Tundra Expert
Under hail, any berry eaten by an ally will heal by an additional 50%.
Distribution: Abomasnow line, Stantler, Beartric line, Glalie line, Mamoswine

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Hibernation
Sleep works like Comatose for normal-type allies, but they take twice as much damage from ice-type moves.
Distribution: Ursaring line, Furret line, Alolan Sandslash line, Swinub, Piloswine
(For those wondering why is this defensive, think about Rest)



This team abuses Blazing Will with different pledge users, as well as having some fun with Bomb Shelter. Chary now has a perfectly accurate lethal move in boosted Fire Pledge, helping him to stall break even more efficiently. Blaziken can be used instead to give some speed support to the team while also carrying Blazing Will. Serperior is mandatory to activate our favorite Y mega's pledge and is all around a great option to stallbreak in case Chary is too dangerous to bring. Kommo-o provides the invaluable Bomb Shelter, letting Chary not take 50% from SR. It can also carry its Z-Move without Dragon Dance or Autotomize thanks to Blaziken's support. Mimikyu is a great counter to M-Mence and to other Z-Mimikyus - and just an all-around great pick. Porygon-Z helps the team against Greninja and Landorus-Therian.



Here is a variant proposed by Yung Dramps that abuses a ghost-type Omnimorph. Mimikyu carries Return instead of W-o-w, letting it hit harder than ever before. Silvally here has some moves to go against Lando-T, while also being able to abuse Blazing Will with Grass Pledge.

Assume Serperior has HP Fire instead of Grass Pledge for both teams
 
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Buddy Up
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Allies who share this ability with this Pokemon have their Defense and Special Defense boosted by 1.5

Short Circuit
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Foes cannot use Electric-type attacks for a turn after an ally comes out.

Antivirus
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Every 3 turns, an ally Pokemon is statused, raises their Special Defense by 1. Removes status.

Photokinesis
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User has a 20% chance to summon Light Screen or Reflect at the end of each turn.
 
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