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Ability Effects

Abilities in Pokémon Essentials BES are passive effects that activate automatically during battle or in the overworld. Each Pokémon can have up to two regular abilities and up to four hidden abilities.

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Ability Data Structure

Abilities are defined in PBS/abilities.txt with the following format: 
ID,InternalName,DisplayName,Description
Examples from abilities.txt: 
1,STENCH,Hedor,"Debido al mal olor que emana, al atacar al rival puede hacerlo retroceder."
2,DRIZZLE,Llovizna,"Hace que llueva cuando entra en combate."
3,SPEEDBOOST,Impulso,"Aumenta la Velocidad en cada turno."
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ID
integer
Unique identifier for the ability (1-500+)
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InternalName
string
Constant name used in code (e.g., INTIMIDATE, LEVITATE)

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Ability Assignment

Pokémon receive abilities through their species data in PBS/pokemon.txt: 
# From pokemon.txt species definition
Abilities=OVERGROW,CHLOROPHYLL     # First ability, second ability
HiddenAbility=LEAFGUARD,SAPSIPPER  # Hidden abilities 1-4
  • Slot 0: Primary ability (most common)
  • Slot 1: Secondary ability (some Pokémon have two regular abilities)
  • Hidden: Special abilities obtainable through events, Dream World, etc.

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Common Ability Triggers

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On Switch-In Abilities

DRIZZLE (ID: 2)
2,DRIZZLE,Llovizna,"Hace que llueva cuando entra en combate."
DROUGHT (ID: 70)
70,DROUGHT,Sequía,"Cuando el Pokémon entra en combate, el tiempo pasa a ser soleado."
SANDSTREAM (ID: 45)
45,SANDSTREAM,Chorro Arena,"Crea una tormenta de arena al entrar en combate."
These abilities automatically change the weather when the Pokémon enters battle.Implementation pattern:
def pbOnActiveAll
  if ability == PBAbilities::DRIZZLE
    @battle.pbStartWeather(PBWeather::RAIN, true)
  end
end
INTIMIDATE (ID: 22)
22,INTIMIDATE,Intimidación,"Al entrar en combate amilana al rival de tal manera que su Ataque disminuye."
Lowers opposing Pokémon’s Attack by one stage upon entering battle.Implementation:
def pbOnActiveAll
  if ability == PBAbilities::INTIMIDATE
    for target in @battle.opponents
      if !target.hasAbility(:CLEARBODY) && !target.hasAbility(:WHITESMOKE)
        target.pbReduceStat(PBStats::ATTACK, 1, true)
      end
    end
  end
end

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On Contact Abilities

STATIC (ID: 9)
9,STATIC,Elec. Estática,"La electricidad estática que lo envuelve puede paralizar al mínimo contacto."
POISONPOINT (ID: 38)
38,POISONPOINT,Punto Tóxico,"Puede envenenar al mínimo contacto."
FLAMEBODY (ID: 49)
49,FLAMEBODY,Cuerpo Llama,"Puede quemar al mínimo contacto."
These abilities can inflict status conditions when hit by contact moves.Implementation pattern:
def pbOnAfterMoveUse(move, user, target)
  if move.contactMove? && ability == PBAbilities::STATIC
    if rand(100) < 30 && user.canParalyze?
      user.pbParalyze(target)
    end
  end
end
ROUGHSKIN (ID: 24)
24,ROUGHSKIN,Piel Tosca,"Hiere con su piel áspera al rival que lo ataque con un movimiento de contacto."
Deals damage to attackers that make contact.Implementation:
def pbOnAfterMoveUse(move, user, target)
  if move.contactMove? && ability == PBAbilities::ROUGHSKIN
    if !user.isFainted?
      damage = (user.totalhp / 8).floor
      user.pbReduceHP(damage)
    end
  end
end

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Type-Based Immunities

VOLTABSORB (ID: 10)
10,VOLTABSORB,Absorbe Elec.,"Si le alcanza un movimiento de tipo Eléctrico, recupera PS en vez de sufrir daño."
WATERABSORB (ID: 11)
11,WATERABSORB,Absorbe Agua,"Si le alcanza un movimiento de tipo Agua, recupera PS en vez de sufrir daño."
FLASHFIRE (ID: 18)
18,FLASHFIRE,Absorbe Fuego,"Si le alcanza algún movimiento de tipo Fuego, potencia sus propios movimientos de dicho tipo."
Implementation:
def pbOnBeingHit(move, user)
  if ability == PBAbilities::VOLTABSORB && move.type == PBTypes::ELECTRIC
    hp_restored = (@totalhp / 4).floor
    pbRecoverHP(hp_restored)
    return 0  # No damage taken
  end
end
LEVITATE (ID: 26)
26,LEVITATE,Levitación,"Su capacidad de flotar sobre el suelo le proporciona inmunidad frente a los movimientos de tipo Tierra."
Grants immunity to Ground-type moves.Implementation:
def pbTypeImmunityByAbility(type, user, move)
  if ability == PBAbilities::LEVITATE && type == PBTypes::GROUND
    return true  # Immune to Ground moves
  end
  return false
end

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Special Defense Abilities

WONDERGUARD (ID: 25)
25,WONDERGUARD,Superguarda,"Gracias a un poder misterioso, solo le hacen daño los movimientos supereficaces."
Only super-effective moves can damage this Pokémon.Implementation:
def pbOnBeingHit(move, user)
  if ability == PBAbilities::WONDERGUARD
    effectiveness = pbTypeModifier(move.type, user, self)
    if effectiveness < 2  # Not super effective
      return 0  # No damage
    end
  end
end

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Stat Modification Abilities

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Attack Modifiers

HUGEPOWER / PUREPOWER (ID: 37, 74)
37,HUGEPOWER,Potencia,"Duplica la potencia de los ataques físicos."
74,PUREPOWER,Energía Pura,"Duplica la potencia de los ataques físicos."
Double the Pokémon’s Attack stat.IRONFIST (ID: 89)
89,IRONFIST,Puño Férreo,"Aumenta la potencia de los puñetazos."
Boosts punch moves by 20%.Implementation:
def pbModifyAtk(attacker, opponent, move)
  if ability == PBAbilities::HUGEPOWER
    return 2.0  # Double Attack
  elsif ability == PBAbilities::IRONFIST && move.isPunchingMove?
    return 1.2  # 20% boost
  end
  return 1.0
end

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Conditional Stat Boosts

OVERGROW (ID: 65)
65,OVERGROW,Espesura,"Potencia los movimientos de tipo Planta del Pokémon cuando le quedan pocos PS."
BLAZE (ID: 66)
66,BLAZE,Mar Llamas,"Potencia los movimientos de tipo Fuego del Pokémon cuando le quedan pocos PS."
TORRENT (ID: 67)
67,TORRENT,Torrente,"Potencia los movimientos de tipo Agua del Pokémon cuando le quedan pocos PS."
SWARM (ID: 68)
68,SWARM,Enjambre,"Potencia los movimientos de tipo Bicho del Pokémon cuando le quedan pocos PS."
Boost same-type moves by 1.5x when HP is below 1/3.Implementation:
def pbModifyDamage(damageMult, user, target, move)
  if user.hp <= (user.totalhp / 3).floor
    if ability == PBAbilities::OVERGROW && move.type == PBTypes::GRASS
      return (damageMult * 1.5).floor
    end
  end
  return damageMult
end

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Status Immunity Abilities

IMMUNITY (ID: 17)
17,IMMUNITY,Inmunidad,"Su sistema inmunitario evita el envenenamiento."
LIMBER (ID: 7)
7,LIMBER,Flexibilidad,"Evita ser paralizado gracias a la flexibilidad de su cuerpo."
INSOMNIA (ID: 15)
15,INSOMNIA,Insomnio,"Su resistencia al sueño le impide quedarse dormido."
MAGMAARMOR (ID: 40)
40,MAGMAARMOR,Escudo Magma,"Gracias al magma candente que lo envuelve, evita la congelación."
WATERVEIL (ID: 41)
41,WATERVEIL,Velo Agua,"Evita las quemaduras gracias a la capa de agua que lo envuelve."
Implementation:
def pbCanInflictStatus?(status, user, showMessages)
  case status
  when PBStatuses::POISON
    if ability == PBAbilities::IMMUNITY
      return false
    end
  when PBStatuses::PARALYSIS
    if ability == PBAbilities::LIMBER
      return false
    end
  when PBStatuses::SLEEP
    if ability == PBAbilities::INSOMNIA
      return false
    end
  end
  return true
end
SWIFTSWIM (ID: 33)
33,SWIFTSWIM,Nado Rápido,"Sube la Velocidad cuando llueve."
CHLOROPHYLL (ID: 34)
34,CHLOROPHYLL,Clorofila,"Sube la Velocidad cuando hace sol."
SANDVEIL (ID: 8)
8,SANDVEIL,Velo arena,"Aumenta la Evasión durante las tormentas de arena."
CLOUDNINE / AIRLOCK (ID: 13, 76)
13,CLOUDNINE,Aclimatación,"Anula todos los efectos del tiempo atmosférico."
76,AIRLOCK,Esclusa de aire,"Neutraliza todos los efectos del tiempo atmosférico."
Implementation:
def pbModifySpe(stat, attacker, opponent)
  if @battle.pbWeather == PBWeather::RAIN && ability == PBAbilities::SWIFTSWIM
    return (stat * 2).floor
  elsif @battle.pbWeather == PBWeather::SUNNYDAY && ability == PBAbilities::CHLOROPHYLL
    return (stat * 2).floor
  end
  return stat
end

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Ability Compilation

Abilities are compiled from PBS/abilities.txt to constants and message data: 
def pbCompileAbilities
  records=[]
  movenames=[]
  movedescs=[]
  maxValue=0
  
  pbCompilerEachPreppedLine("PBS/abilities.txt"){|line,lineno|
    record=pbGetCsvRecord(line,lineno,[0,"vnss"])
    movenames[record[0]]=record[2]
    movedescs[record[0]]=record[3]
    maxValue=[maxValue,record[0]].max
    records.push(record)
  }
  
  MessageTypes.setMessages(MessageTypes::Abilities,movenames)
  MessageTypes.setMessages(MessageTypes::AbilityDescs,movedescs)
  
  code="class PBAbilities\r\n"
  for rec in records
    code+="#{rec[1]}=#{rec[0]}\r\n"
  end
  code+="\r\ndef PBAbilities.getName(id)\r\nreturn pbGetMessage(MessageTypes::Abilities,id)\r\nend"
  code+="\r\ndef PBAbilities.getCount\r\nreturn #{records.length}\r\nend\r\n"
  code+="\r\ndef PBAbilities.maxValue\r\nreturn #{maxValue}\r\nend\r\nend"
  
  eval(code)
  pbAddScript(code,"PBAbilities")
end

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Checking Abilities in Code

Access abilities using these methods: 
# Check if Pokémon has a specific ability
if pokemon.hasAbility?(:INTIMIDATE)
  # Do something
end

# Get ability ID
ability_id = pokemon.ability

# Get ability name
ability_name = PBAbilities.getName(pokemon.ability)

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Creating Custom Abilities

Custom abilities are implemented in the battle engine scripts, not in PBS files.
Steps to create a custom ability:
  1. Add entry to PBS/abilities.txt
  2. Implement trigger logic in battle scripts
  3. Recompile PBS data
Example implementation pattern: 
# In PokeBattle_Battler or PokeBattle_Battle

def pbAbilitiesOnSwitchIn(battler)
  case battler.ability
  when PBAbilities::CUSTOMABILITY
    # Your custom logic here
    battler.pbIncreaseStat(PBStats::ATTACK, 1)
  end
end
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