Move Effects

Move effects in Pokémon Essentials BES are controlled by function codes that determine what happens when a move is used. Each move in PBS/moves.txt has a function code that defines its unique behavior.

Move Data Structure

Each move is defined with the following format in PBS/moves.txt:

ID,InternalName,DisplayName,FunctionCode,Power,Type,Category,Accuracy,TotalPP,EffectChance,Target,Priority,Flags,Description

FunctionCode

hex

Hexadecimal code defining the move’s unique effect (e.g., 000, 0DD, 116)

EffectChance

integer

Percentage chance of secondary effect occurring (0-100)

Common Function Codes

Damage Function Codes

000 - Standard Damage

Function Code: 000Basic damaging move with no special effects.Examples:

1,MEGAHORN,Megacuerno,000,120,BUG,Physical,85,10,0,00,0,abef
4,XSCISSOR,Tijera X,000,80,BUG,Physical,100,15,0,00,0,abef

0DD - HP Drain

Function Code: 0DDRestores user’s HP equal to damage dealt (typically 50%).Examples:

13,LEECHLIFE,Chupavidas,0DD,80,BUG,Physical,100,10,0,00,0,abef
99,DRAINPUNCH,Puño Drenaje,0DD,75,FIGHTING,Physical,100,10,0,00,0,abefj

Implementation:

# Restores half of damage dealt
heal_amount = damage_dealt / 2
user.hp += heal_amount

Status Effect Function Codes

003 - Sleep

Function Code: 003Puts the target to sleep.Examples:

39,DARKVOID,Brecha Negra,003,0,DARK,Status,50,10,0,04,0,bce

007 - Paralysis

Function Code: 007Attempts to paralyze the target.Examples:

59,DRAGONBREATH,Dragoaliento,007,60,DRAGON,Special,100,20,30,00,0,bef
64,BOLTSTRIKE,Ataque Fulgor,007,130,ELECTRIC,Physical,85,5,20,00,0,abef
65,THUNDER,Trueno,008,110,ELECTRIC,Special,70,10,30,00,0,bef
83,THUNDERWAVE,Onda Trueno,007,0,ELECTRIC,Status,90,20,0,00,0,bce

00F - Flinch

Function Code: 00FCauses damage and may make the target flinch.Examples:

25,DARKPULSE,Pulso Umbrío,00F,80,DARK,Special,100,15,20,00,0,bem
28,BITE,Mordisco,00F,60,DARK,Physical,100,25,30,00,0,abei

Stat Modification Function Codes

020 - Raise User's Special Attack

Function Code: 020Damage move that has a chance to raise the user’s Special Attack.Examples:

78,CHARGEBEAM,Rayo Carga,020,50,ELECTRIC,Special,90,10,70,00,0,bef

043 - Lower Target's Defense

Function Code: 043Damage move that may lower the target’s Defense stat.Examples:

24,CRUNCH,Triturar,043,80,DARK,Physical,100,15,20,00,0,abefi

044 - Lower Target's Speed

Function Code: 044Damage move that lowers the target’s Speed stat.Examples:

77,ELECTROWEB,Electrotela,044,55,ELECTRIC,Special,95,15,100,04,0,bef

045 - Lower Target's Special Attack

Function Code: 045Damage move that lowers the target’s Special Attack stat.Examples:

10,STRUGGLEBUG,Estoicismo,045,50,BUG,Special,100,20,100,04,0,bef
30,SNARL,Alarido,045,55,DARK,Special,95,15,100,04,0,befk

Multi-Turn and Special Mechanics

Recoil Moves

0FA - Recoil Damage

Function Code: 0FAUser takes recoil damage after attacking.Examples:

66,VOLTTACKLE,Placaje Eléc.,0FD,120,ELECTRIC,Physical,100,15,10,00,0,abef
70,WILDCHARGE,Voltio Cruel,0FA,90,ELECTRIC,Physical,100,15,0,00,0,abef
97,SUBMISSION,Sumisión,0FA,80,FIGHTING,Physical,80,20,0,00,0,abef

Switch-Out Moves

0EE - Switch After Attack

Function Code: 0EEUser switches out after dealing damage.Examples:

6,UTURN,Ida y Vuelta,0EE,70,BUG,Physical,100,20,0,00,0,abef
73,VOLTSWITCH,Voltiocambio,0EE,70,ELECTRIC,Special,100,20,0,00,0,bef

Implementation concept:

# After damage is dealt
if user_side_has_remaining_pokemon?
  force_switch_menu(user)
end

0EC - Force Target Switch

Function Code: 0ECForces the target to switch out.Examples:

58,DRAGONTAIL,Cola Dragón,0EC,60,DRAGON,Physical,90,10,0,00,-6,abef

Multi-Hit Moves

0BD - Double Hit

Function Code: 0BDHits exactly twice.Examples:

60,DUALCHOP,Golpe Bis,0BD,40,DRAGON,Physical,90,15,0,00,0,abef

0C0 - Multi-Hit (2-5 times)

Function Code: 0C0Hits 2-5 times in one turn.Examples:

14,PINMISSILE,Pin Misil,0C0,25,BUG,Physical,95,20,0,00,0,bef

Self-Targeting Moves

Stat Boost Moves

026 - Dragon Dance

Function Code: 026Raises user’s Attack and Speed.Examples:

63,DRAGONDANCE,Danza Dragón,026,0,DRAGON,Status,0,20,0,10,0,d

029 - Hone Claws

Function Code: 029Raises user’s Attack and Accuracy.Examples:

43,HONECLAWS,Afilagarras,029,0,DARK,Status,0,15,0,10,0,d

032 - Nasty Plot

Function Code: 032Sharply raises user’s Special Attack (2 stages).Examples:

45,NASTYPLOT,Maquinación,032,0,DARK,Status,0,20,0,10,0,d

Special Mechanics

Priority-Based Moves

116 - Sucker Punch

Function Code: 116Hits first, but fails if target isn’t using an attack.Examples:

26,SUCKERPUNCH,Golpe Bajo,116,70,DARK,Physical,100,5,0,00,1,abef

Implementation:

# Only works if target is preparing an attacking move
if !target_using_attacking_move?
  move_fails()
else
  deal_damage()
end

115 - Focus Punch

Function Code: 115Charges first, fails if hit during charge.Examples:

84,FOCUSPUNCH,Puño Certero,115,150,FIGHTING,Physical,100,20,0,00,-3,abfj

Item-Based Moves

0F1 - Thief

Function Code: 0F1Steals target’s held item.Examples:

34,THIEF,Ladrón,0F1,60,DARK,Physical,100,25,0,00,0,abef

0F7 - Fling

Function Code: 0F7Throws held item at target.Examples:

37,FLING,Lanzamiento,0F7,1,DARK,Physical,100,10,0,00,0,bef

Power varies by item thrown.

Move Compilation

Moves are compiled from PBS/moves.txt to Data/moves.dat:

def pbCompileMoves
  records=[]
  movenames=[]
  movedescs=[]
  movedata=[]
  maxValue=0
  
  pbCompilerEachPreppedLine("PBS/moves.txt"){|line,lineno|
    record=pbGetCsvRecord(line,lineno,[0,"vnsxueeuuuxiss",
       nil,nil,nil,nil,nil,PBTypes,["Physical","Special","Status"],
       nil,nil,nil,nil,nil,nil,nil
    ])
    
    # Validate function code
    pbCheckWord(record[3],_INTL("Function code"))
    
    # Pack move data
    movedata[record[0]]=[
       record[3],  # Function code
       record[4],  # Damage
       record[5],  # Type
       record[6],  # Category
       record[7],  # Accuracy
       record[8],  # Total PP
       record[9],  # Effect chance
       record[10], # Target
       record[11], # Priority
       flags,      # Flags
       0           # Contest type (unused)
    ].pack("vCCCCCCvCvC")
  }
end

Move Data Access

In battle, move data is read from Data/moves.dat:

class PBMoveData
  attr_reader :function,:basedamage,:type,:accuracy
  attr_reader :totalpp,:addlEffect,:target,:priority
  attr_reader :flags,:category

  def initialize(moveid)
    movedata=pbRgssOpen("Data/moves.dat")
    movedata.pos=moveid*9  # Each move is 9 bytes
    @function=movedata.fgetb    # Function code
    @basedamage=movedata.fgetb  # Base power
    @type=movedata.fgetb        # Type
    @accuracy=movedata.fgetb    # Accuracy
    @totalpp=movedata.fgetb     # PP
    @addlEffect=movedata.fgetb  # Effect chance
    @target=movedata.fgetb      # Target
    @priority=movedata.fgetsb   # Priority (signed)
    @flags=movedata.fgetb       # Flags
    movedata.close
  end
end

Target Types

The Target field determines who can be targeted:

00: Single adjacent opponent
01: No target (user only)
02: Random opponent
04: All opponents
08: All Pokémon except user
10: User’s side

Creating Custom Move Effects

Custom function codes should be implemented in the battle scripts, typically in PokeBattle_Move classes.

Example structure:

class PokeBattle_Move_XXX < PokeBattle_Move
  def pbEffect(attacker,opponent,hitnum=0,alltargets=nil,showanimation=true)
    # Custom effect logic
    damage = pbCalcDamage(attacker,opponent)
    # Apply secondary effects
    return damage
  end
end

Core Classes

Battle System

Data Management

Move Effects

Move Effects

Move Data Structure

Common Function Codes

Damage Function Codes

Status Effect Function Codes

Stat Modification Function Codes

Multi-Turn and Special Mechanics

Recoil Moves

Switch-Out Moves

Multi-Hit Moves

Self-Targeting Moves

Stat Boost Moves

Special Mechanics

Priority-Based Moves

Item-Based Moves

Move Compilation

Move Data Access

Target Types

Creating Custom Move Effects

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Core Classes

Battle System

Data Management

​Move Effects

​Move Data Structure

​Common Function Codes

​Damage Function Codes

​Status Effect Function Codes

​Stat Modification Function Codes

​Multi-Turn and Special Mechanics

​Recoil Moves

​Switch-Out Moves

​Multi-Hit Moves

​Self-Targeting Moves

​Stat Boost Moves

​Special Mechanics

​Priority-Based Moves

​Item-Based Moves

​Move Compilation

​Move Data Access

​Target Types

​Creating Custom Move Effects

​Related Systems

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Move Effects

Move Data Structure

Common Function Codes

Damage Function Codes

Status Effect Function Codes

Stat Modification Function Codes

Multi-Turn and Special Mechanics

Recoil Moves

Switch-Out Moves

Multi-Hit Moves

Self-Targeting Moves

Stat Boost Moves

Special Mechanics

Priority-Based Moves

Item-Based Moves

Move Compilation

Move Data Access

Target Types

Creating Custom Move Effects

Related Systems