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Creating Moves

Moves are defined in the PBS/moves.txt file. Each move has properties that determine its type, power, accuracy, effects, and more.

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Move Entry Structure

Each move is defined on a single line with comma-separated values: 
ID,InternalName,Name,FunctionCode,BasePower,Type,Category,Accuracy,TotalPP,EffectChance,Target,Priority,Flags,Description

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Real Example: Megahorn

1,MEGAHORN,Megacuerno,000,120,BUG,Physical,85,10,0,00,0,abef,"Violenta embestida con cuernos imponentes."
Let’s break down each field:

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Field Definitions

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ID
number
required
Unique identifier for the move. Must be sequential starting from 1.
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InternalName
string
required
Internal code name, all uppercase. Used in scripts and PBS files.Example: MEGAHORN, THUNDERBOLT, EARTHQUAKE
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Name
string
required
Display name shown to players.Example: Megacuerno, Rayo, Terremoto
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FunctionCode
string
required
Three-digit code that determines the move’s special effect.
  • 000 - Standard damage move with no special effect
  • 007 - May paralyze target
  • 00A - May burn target
  • 00C - May freeze target
  • 013 - Confuses target
  • See full list in the scripts
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BasePower
number
required
The base damage of the move. Use 0 for status moves.
  • Weak moves: 40-60
  • Medium moves: 70-90
  • Strong moves: 100-120
  • Ultimate moves: 130-150+
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Type
string
required
The move’s type: NORMAL, FIRE, WATER, ELECTRIC, GRASS, ICE, FIGHTING, POISON, GROUND, FLYING, PSYCHIC, BUG, ROCK, GHOST, DRAGON, DARK, STEEL, FAIRY
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Category
string
required
Attack category:
  • Physical - Uses Attack stat
  • Special - Uses Special Attack stat
  • Status - Non-damaging move
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Accuracy
number
required
Hit chance from 0-100. Use 0 for moves that never miss.
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TotalPP
number
required
Base Power Points (number of times the move can be used).Typical values: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40
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EffectChance
number
required
Percentage chance (0-100) for secondary effects to trigger. Use 0 if no secondary effect or effect always triggers.
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Target
string
required
Who the move affects:
  • 00 - Single adjacent enemy
  • 01 - User
  • 02 - Random enemy
  • 04 - All enemies
  • 08 - All allies
  • 10 - User’s side
  • 20 - Both sides
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Priority
number
required
Move speed priority. Higher numbers go first.
  • -6 to -1 - Slower than normal
  • 0 - Normal priority
  • 1 to 5 - Faster than normal (Quick Attack, Extremespeed)
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Flags
string
required
Letter codes indicating move properties:
  • a - Move makes contact
  • b - Affected by Protect
  • c - Affected by Magic Coat
  • d - Affected by Snatch
  • e - Can be used while frozen
  • f - Thaws user if frozen
  • g - High critical hit ratio
  • h - Guaranteed critical hit
  • i - Bite-based move (affected by Strong Jaw)
  • j - Punch-based move (affected by Iron Fist)
  • k - Sound-based move
  • l - Powder-based move
  • m - Pulse move
  • n - Bomb move
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Description
string
required
Move description shown in-game. Enclosed in quotes.

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Move Examples by Type

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Physical Attack Moves

# Standard physical move
4,XSCISSOR,Tijera X,000,80,BUG,Physical,100,15,0,00,0,abef,"Cruza las guadañas o las garras para atacar."

# High critical ratio
57,DRAGONCLAW,Garra Dragón,000,80,DRAGON,Physical,100,15,0,00,0,abef,"Araña al objetivo con garras afiladas."

# Multi-hit move
14,PINMISSILE,Pin Misil,0C0,25,BUG,Physical,95,20,0,00,0,bef,"Lanza finas púas que hieren de dos a cinco veces."

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Special Attack Moves

# May lower Defense
3,BUGBUZZ,Zumbido,046,90,BUG,Special,100,10,10,00,0,befk,"Onda sónica dañina. Puede disminuir la Defensa Especial."

# Never misses
76,SHOCKWAVE,Onda Voltio,0A5,60,ELECTRIC,Special,0,20,0,00,0,bef,"Ataque eléctrico muy rápido e ineludible."

# Charge turn move
195,SOLARBEAM,Rayo Solar,0C4,120,GRASS,Special,100,10,0,00,0,bef,"Primer turno: absorbe luz. Segundo turno: ataca."

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Status Moves

# Stat boost
63,DRAGONDANCE,Danza Dragón,026,0,DRAGON,Status,0,20,0,10,0,d,"Danza mística que sube el Ataque y la Velocidad."

# Paralysis
83,THUNDERWAVE,Onda Trueno,007,0,ELECTRIC,Status,90,20,0,00,0,bce,"Ligera descarga que paraliza al objetivo."

# Weather
150,SUNNYDAY,Día Soleado,0FF,0,FIRE,Status,0,5,0,20,0,,"Intensifica el sol durante cinco turnos."

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Common Function Codes

000 - Standard damage, no effect
007 - May paralyze (10-30% chance)
00A - May burn (10-30% chance)
00C - May freeze (10% chance)
00D - May freeze + thaw user
00F - May cause flinching (30% chance)
010 - May flinch (30% chance)
013 - Confuses target (100% chance)
Function codes are defined in the game’s scripts. Check PokeBattle_Move and PokeBattle_MoveEffect for the complete list and their implementations.

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Priority Moves

Moves with priority always go before normal moves: 
# Priority +1
78,CHARGEBEAM,Rayo Carga,020,50,ELECTRIC,Special,90,10,70,00,0,bef,"Lanza un rayo eléctrico."

# Priority +1 (Quick Attack)
310,QUICKATTACK,Ataque Rápido,000,40,NORMAL,Physical,100,30,0,00,1,abef,"Ataque rápido."

# Priority +2 (Extremespeed)
278,EXTREMESPEED,Veloc. Extrema,000,80,NORMAL,Physical,100,5,0,00,2,abef,"Ataque muy rápido."

# Priority +3 (Fake Out)
306,FAKEOUT,Sorpresa,012,40,NORMAL,Physical,100,10,100,00,3,abe,"Ataca primero y hace retroceder. Solo funciona en primer turno."

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Multi-Turn and Special Moves

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Recharge Moves

# Hyper Beam - requires recharge
263,HYPERBEAM,Hiperrayo,0C2,150,NORMAL,Special,90,5,0,00,0,bef,"Muy eficaz, pero el atacante deberá descansar en el siguiente turno."

# Giga Impact
262,GIGAIMPACT,Gigaimpacto,0C2,150,NORMAL,Physical,90,5,0,00,0,abef,"Carga usando toda la fuerza. Descansa el turno siguiente."

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Two-Turn Moves

# Fly
156,FLY,Vuelo,0C9,90,FLYING,Physical,95,15,0,00,0,abef,"Primer turno: vuela. Segundo turno: ataca."

# Dig
225,DIG,Excavar,0CA,80,GROUND,Physical,100,10,0,00,0,abef,"Primer turno: cava. Segundo turno: ataca."

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OHKO Moves

One-hit knockout moves have a function code of 070: 
# Fissure
235,FISSURE,Fisura,070,1,GROUND,Physical,30,5,0,00,0,be,"Abre una grieta. Fulmina en un golpe."

# Guillotine  
332,GUILLOTINE,Guillotina,070,1,NORMAL,Physical,30,5,0,00,0,abe,"Ataque con pinzas que debilita de un golpe si acierta."
OHKO moves bypass HP and instantly KO the target if they hit. Always use base power of 1 and low accuracy.

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Weather and Terrain Moves

# Sunny Day
150,SUNNYDAY,Día Soleado,0FF,0,FIRE,Status,0,5,0,20,0,,"Intensifica el sol durante cinco turnos."

# Rain Dance
305,RAINDANCE,Danza Lluvia,101,0,WATER,Status,0,5,0,20,0,,"Genera lluvia que refuerza movimientos de tipo Agua."

# Sandstorm
324,SANDSTORM,Tormenta Arena,100,0,ROCK,Status,0,10,0,20,0,,"Tormenta de arena durante cinco turnos."

# Hail
257,HAIL,Granizo,102,0,ICE,Status,0,10,0,20,0,,"Tormenta de granizo durante cinco turnos."

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Creating a New Move

1
Find the next available ID
2
Look at the last move in moves.txt and use the next number.
3
Choose your function code
4
Decide what effect you want:
5
  • Standard damage: 000
  • Status effect: 007 (paralyze), 00A (burn), etc.
  • Stat changes: 042 (lower Attack), 020 (raise Sp. Atk), etc.
    • 6
    Define the move
    7
    999,CUSTOMMOVE,Custom Move,000,80,FIRE,Special,100,15,20,00,0,bef,"A custom fire move that may burn."
    8
    For status moves, use 0 power
    9
    1000,CUSTOMBOOST,Custom Boost,032,0,PSYCHIC,Status,0,20,0,10,0,d,"Greatly raises Special Attack."

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    Move Flags Reference

    a - Makes contact with target
b - Affected by Protect/Detect
c - Affected by Magic Coat (reflected)
d - Affected by Snatch
e - Can be used while frozen
f - Thaws user if frozen
    When creating moves, always test with multiple Pokémon to ensure the power level is balanced and the effect works as intended.

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    Power Calculation

    Moves calculate damage based on:
    • Base Power - The value in the moves.txt file
    • Attack/Sp. Attack stat - From the user
    • Defense/Sp. Defense stat - From the target
    • STAB - 1.5x if move type matches user type
    • Type effectiveness - 0x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, or 4x
    • Random factor - 0.85x to 1.0x

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    Next Steps

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