Withdraw

[Flamestrike]

Now that Smogon's alive again, I had an idea for Withdraw. Basically my thought was that if a Pokemon was using a tackling attack or something similar, they could withdraw into their shell, impacting with the hard shell for extra damage. Furthermore, by doing so they would protect themselves from any recoil damage that might occur. I can't do the fancy formatting on my phone but the description would be something like this:

The Pokemon withdraws into its shell, which glows a bright crimson, increasing its Defense by one (1) stage. If combined with a weight-based contact attack, the BAP of the attack is increased by five (5) and any recoil incurred by the move is negated.

Nice and simple, while still giving it a decent use. Torterra in particular could definitely get some use out of combining this with Wood Hammer. The numbers could be played with, I just thought 5 would be a decent starting point; high enough to make a noticeable increase in power without outclassing a combo between two attacking moves. Another idea to consider I suppose.

 

[LouisCyphre]

I can't see people wanting to spend an action on +1 Def and -2 BAP for an action, or some of these other effects. It's just not worth the user's time.

recoil combo stuff

This is a version that might actually see use! Adjust numbers as needed, of course, but this pleases me. I endorse this.

 

[kingmidas]

I would use that kind of defensive move it slows down momentum which might seem bad when you are smashing someone, but then you could finish them and put it away with a strong recoil move. I side with flamestrike, and Lou.

 

[Objection]

OK you guys, this has been inactive for a while now. I would post a slate, except so many options have been suggested that I can't pick a slate right now. Therefore, I would like to see some discussion on which versions of Withdraw you like and which you don't like. Hit it!

 

[Gerard]

I like IAR's Proposal

As I said it's both an original way to boost the move while giving it an interesting niche, also, unlike Harden and co. Withdraw has a worst distribution than any of the others +1 moves, which makes it the perfect candidate for a strong buff in comparison to the other, more common, moves since as I posted before moves with bad distribution should be among the ones with the best effects to at least give some interesting niche to it's otherwise average users.

In addition if Withdraw is just a bad option in comparison to screens, sandstorm, or just plain attacking, then why would you use it at all? all of it's users are slow so you're unlikely to block or reduce the damage of an attack against most other mons on the turn this is used (at least outside of TR but the only mon in that list that gets both is slowbro who could do a lot other things), so either we give it a good niche or then why boost it anyway? it will end up unused unless an effect that the users (all defensive mons with ok offenses) can abuse is given to it, all the smaller boosts that only aim to make it a worst something are gonna fail because a worst something is worst so again why would you use it?

What I'm trying to say here is that a strong effect that only a few users can abuse (Unown Soup be danmed) is hardly something that will break either of these mons and considering the original strategies they could use this move with there can only be a positive effect in their future battles in ASB

 

[Flamestrike]

Naturally I like my own suggestion a fair bit, as it's nice and simple while giving the move a solid niche; a cheaper comboing alternative for weight-based moves with the added upside of helping out with recoil moves. However, my suggestion hasn't seen a whole lot of discussion and/or support, so if I had to go with something else I'd go with Pwnemon's; it's nice and simple while still giving the move a use. While all these extra effects of staying in the shell for extra turns and being able to do certain moves while still in the shell sound cool and awesome, they're also extra complications for what is otherwise a very simple move. I don't feel like it's necessary for every move in ASB that isn't a staple to have a paragraph-long description in order to make it unique and give it a niche; if we really want every single move to have a use we can do it with just a line or two extra. Anyway, as Pwnemon said in a different thread, it's not a submission unless it's in bbcode, so here's mine, all nicely formatted for your viewing pleasure:

[box]Withdraw: The Pokemon withdraws into its shell, which glows a bright crimson, increasing its defense one (1) stage. If combined with a weight-based contact attack, the BAP of the attack is increased by five (5) and any recoil incurred by the move is negated. This move locks its changed stat for the round within which it was used.

Attack Power: -- | Accuracy: -- | Energy Cost: 5 | Attack Type: Other | Effect Chance: -- | Contact: N/A | Typing: Water | Priority: 0 | CT: Passive[/box]
Like I pointed out when I first suggested it, the numbers can be played with, but this seems like as good a starting point as any. Some tweaks to the ability of the combo itself could also be done, but the goal is to keep it simple. We shouldn't need more than a line or two of extra text to give a move a niche use.

 

[Its_A_Random]

Giving this 24/48 hours before I close it. If nothing else changes, our slate will look like...
[BOX]What should we do to Withdraw?
Retain the current Withdraw
Adopt Its_A_Random's proposed Withdraw
Adopt Pwnemon's proposed Withdraw
Adopt ZhengTann's proposed Withdraw
Adopt Deck Knight's proposed Withdraw
Adopt Flamestrike's proposed Withdraw[/BOX]
If you are proposing something, put it in the normal format or else it will not be slated. If anyone else has anything to say, speak now.

 

[Its_A_Random]

We are done here. Voting thread soon.