What battle gimmick would you create for Generation X?

[Sweet Serenity]

Let's say that you were in charge of the creation of Generation X in Pokémon. What would be your idea for the next Pokémon battle mechanic gimmick? Thus far, we've gotten Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, Dynamax/Gigantamax, and now Tera Types. What kind of gimmick would you create?

 

[Devalue]

Maybe some kind of partner assist mechanic? Called for help in Alola. Why not expand on that? Swings battles too much by entering the battle directly, probably, even for a limited time. Could shoot for a less direct implementation.

Designates a 7th Pokemon as a supporter. Cannot switch into this Pokemon normally during a battle. Displays this Pokemon at the start of battle. Visibly stands/sits with you during battles, as a nice cosmetic bonus. Provides your opponent some information to strategize around, also.

Some ideas on assist options:

• Trigger the assist Pokemon's ability (Intimidate, Drought, Neutralizing Gas, Cloud Nine...)
• Use one of the Pokemon's non-damaging moves (Trick Room, Heal Pulse, Soak, Aromatherapy, Skill Swap, Imprison, Tailwind...)
• Type Attack cheer. Boosts moves of that Pokemon's type by 30% for X turns for all allied Pokemon.
• Type Defense cheer. Reduces damage from moves of that Pokemon's type by 30% for X turns for all allied Pokemon.
• Sideboard. Removes your current Pokemon from the battle. Tags in the assist Pokemon. Does not activate abilities like Intimidate. Cannot bring the switched-out Pokemon back into the match.

Likely needs to limit the assist to once per battle. May need workshopping beyond that too. Imagines Spore being a popular supporter move otherwise. (Maybe Pure Power Skill Swap too?) Also seems thematically strange to allow a Pokemon on the sidelines to heal or put opponents to sleep without being in danger.

For competitive purposes: Brings a team of 6 battle Pokemon and 3 supporters. Cannot designate a Pokemon as a battle Pokemon AND a supporter Pokemon.

 

[Sweet Serenity]

Maybe some kind of partner assist mechanic? Called for help in Alola. Why not expand on that? Swings battles too much by entering the battle directly, probably, even for a limited time. Could shoot for a less direct implementation.

Designates a 7th Pokemon as a supporter. Cannot switch into this Pokemon normally during a battle. Displays this Pokemon at the start of battle. Visibly stands/sits with you during battles, as a nice cosmetic bonus. Provides your opponent some information to strategize around, also.

Some ideas on assist options:

• Trigger the assist Pokemon's ability (Intimidate, Drought, Neutralizing Gas, Cloud Nine...)
• Use one of the Pokemon's non-damaging moves (Trick Room, Heal Pulse, Soak, Aromatherapy, Skill Swap, Imprison, Tailwind...)
• Type Attack cheer. Boosts moves of that Pokemon's type by 30% for X turns for all allied Pokemon.
• Type Defense cheer. Reduces damage from moves of that Pokemon's type by 30% for X turns for all allied Pokemon.
• Sideboard. Removes your current Pokemon from the battle. Tags in the assist Pokemon. Does not activate abilities like Intimidate. Cannot bring the switched-out Pokemon back into the match.

Likely needs to limit the assist to once per battle. May need workshopping beyond that too. Imagines Spore being a popular supporter move otherwise. (Maybe Pure Power Skill Swap too?) Also seems thematically strange to allow a Pokemon on the sidelines to heal or put opponents to sleep without being in danger.

For competitive purposes: Brings a team of 6 battle Pokemon and 3 supporters. Cannot designate a Pokemon as a battle Pokemon AND a supporter Pokemon.

I really admire your creativity when it comes to these topics. It's unique and interesting. I like the thought that you put into all of this. However, it sounds extremely op, even if it's done once per battle. Certain Abilities such as Neutralizing Gas for example don't wear off until the Pokémon leaves the field. This would negate every Pokémon's Ability in the battle without an out. Nonetheless, I can see this being more balanced, but if it was used in a different way. I believe it can work if each Pokémon was programmed to a specific "Assist Ability" instead. For example, Pokémon with the ability to set terrain or weather would still have this as an Assist Ability, but other Pokémon could potentially have their way of helping. For example, a Pokémon with extremely high Attack could potentially boost Attack by 30%, similar to what you said and it can be done similar with Defensive stats. In other words, I believe it would be more balanced if these abilities were more limited to certain Pokémon rather than the entire assist mechanic as a whole.

 

[ReKoil]

So far all the gimmicks have been something you and your opponent could do to your own Pokemon. Perhaps flip it around and rather than buffing or changing one of your own Pokemon, a gimmick that let's you hinder one of the opponent's Pokemon (and them you ofc) instead?

Could be something like a negative aura which either hinders your Pokemon's stats or changes it's ability to something bad like Truant or Defeatist. Alternatively the Aura could also be used to either make all attacks land on the targeted Pokemon regardless of ability, or immobilize it for several turns, or perhaps make it's attacks unable to receive STAB, or perhaps lower it's accuracy, or flip it's weaknesses & resistances around etc. etc.

Actually kinda like the idea of a targeted aura that let's you pick 1 enemy Pokemon and when it's on the field inverting it's weaknesses & resistances around the most from those. Might need something additional to make it stand out from 'Inverse battles' more. Could add the 'Unable to receive STAB' to it but that would probably be overkill. Maybe flip STAB types as well instead, giving it STAB in different types?
This gimmick would be used once per battle on a single Pokemon, so during a playthrough you'd have to use it carefully so as not to use it too early in a trainer battle.

 

[Devalue]

I really admire your creativity when it comes to these topics. It's unique and interesting. I like the thought that you put into all of this. However, it sounds extremely op, even if it's done once per battle. Certain Abilities such as Neutralizing Gas for example don't wear off until the Pokémon leaves the field. This would negate every Pokémon's Ability in the battle without an out. Nonetheless, I can see this being more balanced, but if it was used in a different way. I believe it can work if each Pokémon was programmed to a specific "Assist Ability" instead. For example, Pokémon with the ability to set terrain or weather would still have this as an Assist Ability, but other Pokémon could potentially have their way of helping. For example, a Pokémon with extremely high Attack could potentially boost Attack by 30%, similar to what you said and it can be done similar with Defensive stats. In other words, I believe it would be more balanced if these abilities were more limited to certain Pokémon rather than the entire assist mechanic as a whole.

Put less time into it than you might think. Wrote out short bits for two other ideas also. (1. Swap out one move for the match on the fly. 2. Max IVs/all EVs/natures + accuracy boost). Came across as too weak or too boring. Must be a little flashier.

Could place turn amounts on some abilities: 2 turns of Neutralizing Gas, 1 turn of Storm Drain, and so on.

Mainly suggested one-time status move uses as a way to add both uniqueness and uncertainty to each supporter. Wanted to avoid the blandness of Max moves. Doubts Game Freak's ability to create two, unique supporter abilities for the...what, 250 fully evolved Pokemon in Scarlet/Violet? (No idea on the actual number.) Likely winds up creating 20 effects and calling it a day. Seemed best to use existing tools on Pokemon for that reason. (Accepts multiple Pokemon sharing a power, for the record. Needs more effects than 20, though.)

Thought of a few directions, however, piggy-backing off of the moves. Possesses one of these two supporter abilities. Assumes these to trigger at the top of the round, after switches, unless indicated.

• Clefable: Encore (1 turn. Forces all Pokemon to use the same move as last turn.) / Friend Guard (1 turn. Reduces damage to your Pokemon by 30%.)
• Oricorio: Teeter Dance (1 turn. Confuses all Pokemon on the field) / Dancer (1 turn. Causes all dance moves this turn to trigger again at half-effectiveness, rounded down. (Quiver Dance example: Adds an extra +1 to one of the raised stats at random.))
• Exploud: Uproar (3 turns. Prevents all Pokemon on the field from falling asleep.) / Roar (1 use. Switches out one Pokemon at the end of the turn.)
• Tropius: Harvest (1 use. Regains any spent berries for all allied Pokemon.) / Grassy Terrain (1 use. Turns the ground into grassy terrain for five turns.)
• Weavile: Beat Up (1 use. Adds a 40 power typeless attack from Weavile onto the first allied attack that deals damage. Counts as a second hit.) / Pickpocket (Steals the held item of the Pokemon of your choice.)
• Dugtrio: Arena Trap (1 use. Prevents all Pokemon from switching out next turn.) / Bulldoze (1 use. Lowers the speed of all Pokemon on the field by 1 stage.)
• Oranguru: Symbiosis (1 use. Passes its held item to an ally.) / After You (2 uses. Select an allied Pokemon. Acts right after when Oranguru would, based on Oranguru's Speed.)

Undoubtedly needs some kind of balancing pass. Leaves that to anyone so inclined. Merely tossed out ideas on a hypothetical. Tempered them enough to satisfy a glance, but not a hard analysis.

Still likes the sideboard option for all Pokemon too. Imagined replacing a healthy Pokemon, however, not with one on death's door. Perhaps restrict it to Pokemon who have not entered the battle yet?

 

[Empoleon671]

Don't hate me but i rather enjoyed Megas and Z- moves.

assuming they don't come back i'd probably rehash it.

Introducting Mega Moves and Z - Forms.

Some Pokémon can learn exclusive mega moves. these moves usually consist of a high BP, they are also of a special category meaning the Pokémon you use it on is the only one who can use it on your team. limited distribution. for example, Mega Fire Blast: 180 BP, 100% accuracy. 15% chance to burn. PP: 3. however none of your remaining Pokémon can use a mega move.

Z- Forms: Functionally a weaker version of mega evolutions, but my idea here is that you could go back and forth between base form and z form, at the cost of a turn to devolve into base.

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but if we're going back to actual unique gimmicks.

Multi Battle Swap Mechanic: I don't know what you'd call it, but i'd settle on something like "Tag Out Battles", requiring another person or trainer. like 2v2 in terms of amount of people, but functionally a 1v1.

Your Dragonite is about to die to the opponent's Cetitan's Ice Shard? Tag out and have your partner's Arcanine tank the ice shard instead. Fill the meter throughout the battle and can use it in tough spots. adds alot of dynamics and outplays and mixes up the formula enough imo. Maybe limited to just 3 or so tag outs. Each person would bring 3 Pokémon, and it would swap to the partner when you or your partner runs out of Pokémon.

 

[Zeostar]

I'd like to see Mega Evolution return with more emphasis on giving them to lackluster pokemon. (sorry rayquaza and tyranitar). Sableye and Mawile benefited strongly.

Of course, permanent evolutions would be nice too. However, mega evolution gives new life towards weaker 3 stage lines. (pidgeot, beedrill).

 

[stringzzz]

"Germ" Pokemon. Inspired by the idea of the old "Pokerus", think about this for a second. Pokerus was essentially a virus, which is almost like a living thing. Aside from certain plants, all living things in the Pokemon world are Pokemon. The story here is that the Pokerus mutated into around 2 dozen different forms, these are the "germ" pokemon.

Each germ pokemon can be equipped like a hold item, but it also gains some experience in some way when it's holder gains experience in battle. I'm not sure if this germ pokemon would have IVs and EVs like normal, but something could be worked out to handle that. The whole point of them is that they have effects like hold items that affect the holder in some way, and the germ pokemon's stats and levels affect just how much these effects work on the holder. Of course, some can be rarer than others, with more beneficial effects. Not sure how you would actually acquire them in the game, maybe some kind of mini-game involving a microscope studying some kind of samples you find in the game?

TLDR Version: Germ pokemon are pokemon used as a hold item, and their effects on the holder depend on their level and stats.

 

[Sheep]

Something similar to form changes during certain weather and/or terrain. I don't have details for it other than that, but I think there are some really interesting forms you could create for certain Pokémon by doing this. And maybe for competitive battling they can rotate different kinds of field terrains to influence the battle a bit for each season!

 

[Palamon]

Pokemon Fusion

...Just kidding.

How about something that has you use all six of your Pokemon in a cooperative effort? I've always wanted some sort of sporty gimmick like this in a Pokemon game.

Like a sport game gimmick instead of traditional battles.

 

[Squirtkipfan01]

How bout move combos?

Sorta already exists with the Grass/fire/water pledge, but rather than specific moves the effect can be based on the types

Fire-Ice combo makes steam that lower opponent accuracy, but increases their evasion
Steel-Fighting combo can shoot sharp metal pieces into the opponent, doing damage every turn or if swapped in, so sticky barb and spikes
Ghost-Dark combo can be a mega curse, severly lowering a random stat

Combing 2 of the same type could empower the STAB bonus

Im not sure how this would translate with status moves though, maybe you just get both in one turn. But that ABSOLUTELY would be broken

 

[Lysander]

Random Effects that can occur during battles, possibly on their own or triggered by a trainer, such as moves costing more PP for both teams and Physical or Special attacks temporarily becoming stronger or weaker.

There could be lists of random effects that could happen in different areas with each effect impacting the player's strategy.

 

[KaiserFenrir]

Old post, but…..

I'd settle for something similar to what we got in PL:A, the option of using 'styles' but expand them.

Each Pokémon could have access to two or three different styles; Offensive, Defensive, Status Inducing, Physical Boosting, Special Attack Boosting, etc.
Say you have a Lucario and it's facing a flying type like Staraptor and you know it's going to hit you with Brave Bird, you could have Lucario use Aura Sphere while having Status Style active that then causes Paralysis when it hits at the cost of lowering the damage the move does.
Another example is using Ferrothorn's Iron Defence in Defensive Style, it'll increase its defence stats, but also increases its weight/lowers its speed by a stage.
I think this would give so many Pokémon a wide range of options for threats and you'd more than likely face off against people using different styles for different reasons.