Meursault vs Superbird

Hmm. I'm not that cool with our situation right now, but we can do something about it, at least.

If Malmö tries to attack you, Ammy, or if her teammates do, throw up a Protect shield immediately; however, if you get the chance to move before you're attacked, finish Malmö off quickly with a Headbutt. If Malmö protects or otherwise makes herself unhittable, and at the same time you're not being attacked from elsewhere, throw out a Hyper Voice focused on Delve to help out Agnes.

Bill and Agnes: our first priority is getting Ammy out of danger, as she's easily the most damaged out of all of us. If she uses Protect, then you two both Round at Malmö and finish her off while she's futilely trying to attack Ammy. If you don't have to use Round, Agnes, use Blizzard on Delve if he's not attacking you or Protect if he is, and Bill, use Drain Punch on Usagi.

On actions 2 and 3, if Malmö is still fighting, our battle plan is the same as the first action. Otherwise, if Malmö has been defeated, Bill, you're gonna keep hammering away with Drain Punch, and Agnes, you're gonna Protect if Delve is trying to attack you and you know you can't take another hit, or Blizzard otherwise. Ammy, if I'm allowed to keep you on the field, keep using Hyper Voice on Delve.

Agnes: Round @ Malmö / Protect / Blizzard x3
Amaterasu: Headbutt / Hyper Voice @ Delve / Protect x3
Bill: Round @ Malmö / Drain Punch x3

okay i finally solved it. Malmö’s gonna open with a Protect to keep Ama open to Delve's Taunt on the first action. (come now, amaterasu, sticks and stones :P) On the second action, Malmö will outspeed and knock out with a Draining Kiss - even if Ama protected for some reason on the first action and tries to do so here, it'll at least have even odds of failing and us hitting her anyway. if she does get a double protect off though, you should see that and try for one yourself, then go for ko on the last action.

delve, obviously you're gonna open with a Taunt on Amaterasu regardless - and I think you oughta re-taunt Agnes as well on the second action before giga draining on the third.

usagi, sadly your opponent will survive because i hadn't considered drain moves and damage cap offset, rip. first action, do a Body Slam, then Hyper Voice at Agnes since you aren't delve, then go for another Double-Edge.

Malmö: Protect ~ Draining Kiss/Protect ~ Draining Kiss
Delve: Taunt @Amaterasu ~ Taunt @Agnes ~ Giga Drain
Usagi: Body Slam ~ Hyper Voice @Agnes ~ Double-Edge

THERE Malmö is going to evolve from this battle, dammit

Meursault (OOO)

Delve (F) Levitate, Trace (Defiant)
Health: 67%
Energy: 66%
Status: Up against Agnes. Still hungry. Grass-type. Att +2, Spd -1.
Commands: Taunt @Amaterasu ~ Taunt @Agnes ~ Giga Drain


Malmö (F) Synchronize
Health: 10%
Energy: 65%
Status: Up against Amaterasu. Planning on putting the pup out of her misery. Badly poisoned (5% this round). Foul Play Mimicked.
Commands: Protect ~ Draining Kiss/Protect ~ Draining Kiss


Usagi (F) Magic Guard
Health: 49%
Energy: 61%
Status: Up against Bill. Caught up in a power rush. Worry Seeded. Leech Seeded (-1% health per action; +1% health to Bill per action). Att +6.
Commands: Body Slam ~ Hyper Voice @Agnes ~ Double-Edge


Superbird (OOO)

Agnes (F) Defiant
Health: 23%
Energy: 65%
Status: Up against Delve. Bent on making her pay. Taunted (1 more action).
Commands: Round @ Malmö / Protect / Blizzard x3


Amaterasu (F) Quick Feet
Signature Attribute: Sun Demigoddess
Health: 5%
Energy: 59%
Status: Up against Malmö. Tired. Quick Feet activated. Badly poisoned (5% this round). Att +6, Spd -1.
Commands: Headbutt / Hyper Voice @ Delve / Protect x3


Bill (M) Bulletproof
Health: 32%
Energy: 60%
Status: Up against Usagi. Not cooling off. Att +6, Spd -1.
Commands: Round @ Malmö / Drain Punch x3


Tensions are high, even with the pretty sunrise colors in the sky. So it comes as no surprise when Delve decides to escalate the mood. While her Kirlia teammate tosses up a translucent shield that defies any hope of penetration, the Gastly sneers at Amaterasu about how she won’t last another minute, and that she can’t possibly walk away from this one. Amaterasu snarls, though her legs tremble, and she prepares to attack. It doesn’t matter who, as long as she can just get at someone, so she looks back at Delve, takes a deep breath, and howls so loudly that even those who aren’t targets wince. Delve, though, takes the full force of the sound waves, and she grinds her fangs at the unpleasant noise. Maybe being a plant isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Seeing their teammate’s apparent safety for the moment, Bill and Agnes turn their attention to their own opponents. Agnes spreads her wings wide and focuses on the ancient memories of her ancestors’ old habitats, where the Antarctic sang with snow. The wind here sings, too, dropping dozens of degrees and freezing the moisture in the air into flakes that buffet Delve, who does her best to hunker down and bear the storm amidst shivers. Through ice-crusted eyes, she glares at Agnes, as if to say “You’re next.”

Meanwhile, Bill and Usagi exchange blows, with Bill treating Usagi to another life-sucking punch and Usagi dishing out some damage of her own, slamming into him so hard that . They glare at each other. Bill is wheezing, his health getting closer to a dangerous level; Usagi, though not quite so damaged, is really starting to feel her bruises.

The other battlers are already on each other. Delve, feeling lucky, tosses some more insults in Agnes’s direction, questioning whether she calls that stuff cold - she’s never been warmer in her life, she lies. Agnes, who had just been starting to calm down, feels her temper flare up again - but she’s of sound enough mind to look over to Island Two in alarm, where Malmö is sauntering over toward Amaterasu. Ammy, exhausted, can only watch as Malmö leans in, eyes fluttering with savage sweetness, and kisses her deeply. All of the pup’s remaining strength floats away, and she collapses into a fuzzy heap, embracing unconsciousness.

Bill and Agnes look on in horror. Several drawn-out exclamations of “nooo” are heard. But even as Superbird is recalling the brave Poochyena, they know what they have to do. Agnes strikes up a soprano melody, and Bill, drawn to the power of the music, immediately finds himself adding his menacing bass. The harmony reverberates in the air, magnifying as the two voices interact. Malmö, caught in the middle, kneels as the noise storms over her, and her vision dims as she can no longer endure. With a shudder, she gives in to the blackness.

The music fades. The Kirlia is recalled. Everyone looks at each other. Usagi, not wanting to be left out, throws her hat into the ring with a scream that could shatter glass. Her target, Agnes, winces at the assault; when the sound fades to silence, the Piplup works past the ringing in her ears to give Usagi a bird’s approximation of a thumbs-down. Usagi pouts cutely.


Meursault (OXO)

Delve (F) Levitate, Trace (Defiant)
Health: 40%
Energy: 58%
Status: Up against Agnes. Getting good at her jeering. Grass-type. Att +2, Spd -1.
Actions: Taunt (Amaterasu) ~ Taunt


Malmö (F) Synchronize
Health: 0%
Energy: 61%
Status: Knocked out!
Actions: Protect ~ Draining Kiss


Usagi (F) Magic Guard Insomnia
Health: 41%
Energy: 51%
Status: Up against Bill. Hoping the others liked her singing. Worry Seeded. Leech Seeded (-1% health per action; +1% health to Bill per action). Att +6.
Actions: Body Slam ~ Hyper Voice


Superbird (OXO)

Agnes (F) Defiant
Health: 14%
Energy: 52%
Status: Up against Delve. Fed up with everything. Taunted (2 more actions).
Actions: Blizzard ~ Round (Malmö)


Amaterasu (F) Quick Feet
Signature Attribute: Sun Demigoddess
Health: 0%
Energy: 55%
Status: Knocked out!
Actions: Hyper Voice (Delve) ~ nothing


Bill (M) Bulletproof
Health: 25%
Energy: 50%
Status: Up against Usagi. Singing the song of angry men. Paralyzed (severe, 23% chance of full paralysis). Att +6, Spd -1.
Actions: Drain Punch ~ Round (Malmö)


Arena Notes:
- The sun is shining brightly (2 more actions).
- Delve and Agnes are on Island One.
- Island Two is empty.
- Usagi and Bill are on Island Three; there is a tunnel leading deep into the ground.


Calculations:
- Delve’s health: 67% - 11% (Hyper Voice) - 16% (Blizzard) = 40%
- Delve’s energy: 66% - 4% (Taunt) - 4% (Taunt) = 58%
- Malmö’s health: 10% + 3% (Draining Kiss) - 12% (Round) - 12% (Round) - 5% (bad poison) = 0%
- Malmö’s energy: 65% - 2% (Protect) - 2% (Draining Kiss) = 61%
- Usagi’s health: 49% - 10% (Drain Punch) + 2% (Shell Bell) - 1% (Leech Seed) + 2% (Shell Bell) - 1% (Leech Seed) = 41%
- Usagi’s energy: 61% - 5% (Body Slam) - 5% (Hyper Voice) = 51%
- Agnes’s health: 23% - 9% (Hyper Voice) = 14%
- Agnes’s energy: 65% - 7% (Blizzard) - 6% (Round) = 52%
- Amaterasu’s health: 5% - 7% (Draining Kiss) - 5% (bad poison) = 0%
- Amaterasu’s energy: 59% - 4% (Hyper Voice) = 55%
- Bill’s health: 32% + 5% (Drain Punch) - 14% (Body Slam) +1% (Leech Seed) + 1% (Leech Seed) = 25%
- Bill’s energy: 60% - 4% (Drain Punch) - 6% (Round) = 50%


Other Notes:
- Speed order: Delve (70) > Agnes (40) > Usagi (15) > Bill (11).
- Body Slam paralyzed Bill.


Next Round:
- Meursault commands
- Superbird commands

oh bother, i wasn't expecting the knockouts to end the round there. delve, giga drain to finish agnes off, or round into bill if she protects/digs/dives, or sunny day if they both protect/dig/dive, and delay commands appropriately.

usagi, i want you to use gravity. if the battle's still going on the second action, use fire blast if the sun is shining, mega kick if it's not, or hyper voice if bill is behind a sub, hiding underground, or has clones.

Delve: Giga Drain/Round @Bill/Sunny Day x3
Usagi: Gravity ~ Mega Kick/Fire Blast/Hyper Voice x3

Ugh, I was not expecting the round to end there either. That makes things much worse for us, we were relying on that damage cap.

Our only priority this round is to KO Usagi. Two Iron Heads should be able to do that; and by my calculations you can survive one (1) fire blast before going down. Hit away, and do your absolute best. You've done great this battle, I'm proud of you.

Agnes, do your best. If you can, Double Team in order to prolong your life span a little bit, and then Blizzard away in desperation. Good job this battle, you've done great.

Agnes: Double Team ~ Blizzard ~ Blizzard
Bill: Iron Head x3

Meursault (OxO)

Delve (F) Levitate, Trace (Defiant)
Health: 40%
Energy: 58%
Status: Up against Agnes. Getting good at her jeering. Grass-type. Att +2, Spd -1.
Commands: Giga Drain/Round @Bill/Sunny Day x3


Usagi (F) Magic Guard
Health: 41%
Energy: 51%
Status: Up against Bill. Hoping the others liked her singing. Worry Seeded. Leech Seeded (-1% health per action; +1% health to Bill per action). Att +6.
Commands: Gravity ~ Mega Kick/Fire Blast/Hyper Voice x3


Superbird (OxO)

Agnes (F) Defiant
Health: 14%
Energy: 52%
Status: Up against Delve. Fed up with everything. Taunted (2 more actions).
Commands: Double Team ~ Blizzard ~ Blizzard


Bill (M) Bulletproof
Health: 25%
Energy: 50%
Status: Up against Usagi. Singing the song of angry men. Paralyzed (severe, 23% chance of full paralysis). Att +6, Spd -1.
Commands: Iron Head x3


Before Agnes can give Delve a piece of her mind - not that she’s thought through how she’s going to do that, exactly - Delve happily draws her mouth together and breathes in deeply. Green life energy seeps out from Agnes’s body, and she squawks in distress at the familiar pain. The more health is sucked away, the faster her flippers flap, and when the last tendril seeps away into Delve’s waiting mouth, she suddenly goes still. Her eyes cross, and a murmured insult sits on the tip of her tongue, but she falls in a feathered heap of penguin before she can say it. Delve beams at the sight of her fainted foe, showing an excited array of fangs.

Bill stares as his second teammate goes down. He parts his lips in a disbelieving snarl, and dramatically he charges at Usagi, as if in slow motion. In fact, it really is slow motion: between his uncomfortably aching muscles and Usagi’s psychic manipulation of the earth’s pull, he is far from the picture of grace. But he doesn’t need grace when he’s slamming his head right in her face, gifting her several hundred newtons of ouch. Usagi squeaks and reels back, shivering from the cold burn of iron. She looks to Delve for support, but the Gastly is currently being recalled by a satisfied Meursault, having no opponent to face at the moment. Delve is rather relieved by this, as the far-reaching effects of Gravity have reduced her to rolling around on the ground like a spooky nature ball. Bill and Usagi both snicker at her indignity, before fixing each other with a glare. Both are wearing down, but neither intends on letting the other walk away from this one.


Meursault (oxO)

Delve (F) Levitate, Trace (Defiant)
Health: 47%
Energy: 55%
Status: Glad to have gotten one last good snack. Grass-type. Att +2, Spd -1.
Actions: Giga Drain

Usagi (F) Magic Guard Insomnia
Health: 19%
Energy: 47%
Status: Making a fist at Bill. Worry Seeded. Leech Seeded (-1% health per action; +1% health to Bill per action). Att +6.
Actions: Gravity


Superbird (XxO)

Agnes (F) Defiant
Health: 0%
Energy: 52%
Status: Knocked out!
Actions: nothing


Bill (M) Bulletproof
Health: 26%
Energy: 45%
Status: Too invested in this to calm down. Paralyzed (severe, 21% chance of full paralysis). Att +6, Spd -1.
Actions: Iron Head


Arena Notes:
- The sun is shining brightly (1 more action).
- Gravity is in effect (4 more actions).
- Islands One and Two are empty.
- Usagi and Bill are on Island Three; there is a tunnel leading deep into the ground.


Calculations:
- Delve’s health: 40% + 7% (Giga Drain) = 47%
- Delve’s energy: 58% - 3% (Giga Drain) = 55%
- Usagi’s health: 41% - 21% (Iron Head) - 1% (Leech Seed) = 19%
- Usagi’s energy: 51% - 4% (Gravity) = 47%
- Agnes’s health: 14% - 14% (Giga Drain) = 0%
- Agnes’s energy: 52%
- Bill’s health: 25% + 1% (Leech Seed) = 26%
- Bill’s energy: 50% - 5% (Iron Head) = 45%


Other Notes:
- Speed order: (Delve (70) >) Usagi (15) > Bill (11).
- Delve’s Giga Drain was just enough to KO Agnes.
- Delve is waiting in the wings to battle Bill.


Next Round:
- Superbird commands
- Meursault commands

You did good, Agnes. Take a nice rest now.

Bill, it's up to you - the least we can do is KO Usagi. She can't do the same to us, at least not in one action, so let's just pray to the Random Number God that this works out.

Bill: Iron Head x3

oh, but i can!

double resort!! if somehow you both survive the first action try REALLY HARD to use your third attack to finish him off

Double-Edge+Last Resort ~ Secret Power

Meursault (oxO)

Delve (F) Levitate, Trace (Defiant)
Health: 47%
Energy: 55%
Status: Glad to have gotten one last good snack. Grass-type. Att +2, Spd -1.


Usagi (F) Magic Guard
Health: 19%
Energy: 47%
Status: Making a fist at Bill. Worry Seeded. Leech Seeded (-1% health per action; +1% health to Bill per action). Att +6.
Commands: Double-Edge+Last Resort ~ Secret Power


Superbird (xxO)

Bill (M) Bulletproof
Health: 26%
Energy: 45%
Status: Too invested in this to calm down. Paralyzed (severe, 21% chance of full paralysis). Att +6, Spd -1.
Commands: Iron Head x3


Usagi takes a deep breath. She knows she has to end this while she can, or else she’ll never prove to anyone that she can do great things. She rubs a cut on her lip, then exhales. Without further ado, she starts focusing on gathering as much power as she can, drawing upon every drop of desperation in her situation. Bill, baring his teeth, twitches his nose as he watches her. Though the heat of the battle remains as intense as ever, his bloodlust has started to abate, to the point that he recognizes that this is probably going to hurt. Indeed, Usagi’s entire body trembles, but only when her little hands start shaking violently does she commence her charge. Bill’s eyes widen, but his sore limbs can’t get out of the way fast enough, and he wheezes impressively as she slams into his chest. Both of them can swear they hear one of his ribs creak. Usagi bounces back, though winded - that ferocious tackle injured both of them, and she isn’t sure how much more she can take.

Then her eyes light up. The cloud of dust around Bill dissipates, revealing that he is lying limply in the grass. He manages one defiant growl before his body is overwhelmed by the pain, and he passes out of unconsciousness completely. Usagi waddles over, pokes him in the head, and then skips back, waiting for another response. No response comes. She trembles again, but this time it’s from excitement. She looks to the ref, waiting until her flag signals the end of the match before bouncing over to her trainer. Though aching from head to toe, she’s quite satisfied with this outcome.

As the brilliant sunlight fades into paleness, Bill dreams of the power that was in his claws. For though he may have lost this day, the primal forces of nature are still in his reach, enticing him with the songs of the deep.


Meursault (oxO)

Delve (F) Levitate, Trace (Defiant)
Health: 47%
Energy: 55%
Status: Glad to have gotten one last good snack. Grass-type. Att +2, Spd -1.


Usagi (F) Magic Guard Insomnia
Health: 10%
Energy: 32%
Status: Sighing in relief. Worry Seeded. Leech Seeded (-1% health per action; +1% health to Bill per action). Att +6.
Actions: Double-Edge + Last Resort


Superbird (xxX)

Bill (M) Bulletproof
Health: 0%
Energy: 45%
Status: Knocked out!
Actions: nothing


Arena Notes:
- Gravity is in effect (3 more actions).
- Islands One and Two are empty.
- Usagi and Bill are on Island Three; there is a tunnel leading deep into the ground.


Calculations:
- Delve’s health: 47%
- Delve’s energy: 55%
- Usagi’s health: 19% - 9% (Double-Edge + Last Resort) = 10%
- Usagi’s energy: 47% - 15% (Double-Edge + Last Resort) = 32%
- Bill’s health: 26% - 26% (Double-Edge + Last Resort) = 0%
- Bill’s energy: 45%


Other Notes:
- Speed order: (Delve (70) >) Usagi (15).
- Double-Edge + Last Resort created a normal-type move dealing 20% damage and costing 15% energy, which can only be used at 33% health or lower and deals 1/3 recoil damage. With Usagi’s attack boost, this was just enough to KO Bill, making Meursault the winner!


Prizes
- Meursault receives $24. Delve gets 2 exp, Malmö gets 3 exp, and Usagi gets 3 happiness.
- Superbird receives $12. Agnes gets 2 exp, Amaterasu gets 1 exp, and Bill gets 2 exp.
- I get $15.

Great game, you guys! Sorry for all the hiccups along the way. It was fun seeing the strategies you came up with! And chaotic, too ... I can only imagine what a triple battle would be like to ref ...

awesooooome

great game, superbird! this was a really fun format.

I'm somewhat disappointed in myself for losing that badly, but I have to say, you did really well. Good game!