JackPK vs Eta Carinae

[size=+2]JackPK vs Eta Carinae[/size]

JackPK said:

Format: 2v2 single
Style: Switch unless my battle partner prefers otherwise
DQ: 2 weeks
Damage Cap: 40%
Banned/Restricted Moves: OHKOs, infatuation, direct healing
Additional Rules: As mentioned below, moves requiring an external water source become Poison-type instead of their usual type. If they have an additional effect, it is replaced with a 10% chance to poison the foe. Pokemon submerged in the spill for any sustained period become toxic-poisoned.

The Oil Spill

BP's at it again. There's another massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and we just so happen to be battling on top of a drilling rig in the center of it. For convenience's sake we'll say we managed to find a reasonably large open-air area on the rig where we can battle without having to worry about accidentally falling off. However, intentionally falling off or knocking your foe off is entirely within the rules!

The spill is so big that no Pokemon can reasonably swim past its boundaries in a battle's length, even if the Pokemon were capable of making any motion resembling "swimming" in the thick goop. Falling in it will inflict toxic poisoning on any Pokemon not immune. But luckily, there are convenient ladders on all sides of the platform, so an unlucky Pokemon can get back up to the battlefield.

Now, of course, the poisonous pool of hydrocarbons is displacing all the water around, so a move like Surf that requires an external water source will change its type to Poison as it draws upon the sludge. Any such move will also replace its additional effect (if it has one) with a 10% chance to poison the target.

Click to expand...

JackPK's active squad

Sheena the female Froakie <Torrent> [+1|-1|+1|-1|71]
Reynolds the male Inkay <Contrary> [+1|+1|-2|0|45]
Lancelot the male Honedge <No Guard> [0|+2|-1|-1|28]
Louise the female Budew <Poison Point> [-1|-1|0|+2|55]


Eta Carinae's active squad

Sefer the genderless Golett <Iron Fist> @ Lucky Egg [+1|0|-1|0|35]
Smash Maestro the male Gurdurr <Sheer Force> @ Black Belt [+2|+1|-2|-1|40]
Jink the male Murkrow <Super Luck> @ Dusk Stone [+1|-1|+1|-1|91]
Plattitude the male Ledyba <Swarm> @ Lucky Egg [-2|-1|+1|+2|55]
Lamellibranchiata the female Shellder <Skill Link> @ Water Stone [+1|+2|-1|-2|40]
Django the male Growlithe <Intimidate> @ Fire Stone [+1|-1|+1|-1|60]
Commodus the male Rhyhorn <Rock Head> @ Protector [+1|+1|-1|-1|25]
Miracle Max the male Pidove <Super Luck> @ Razor Claw [+1|+1|-1|-1|43]
Chloris the female Flabébé (White Flower) <Flower Veil> @ Shiny Stone [-1|-1|0|+2|42]
Cordelia the female Chikorita <Overgrow> @ Lucky Egg [-1|+1|-1|+1|45]

JackPK sends out, Eta Carinae sends out and attacks, JackPK attacks.

(Psst... by Eta Carinae's request, could we add direct healing to the banlist?)

Well, since this arena is centered around the poison status condition, let's have some fun and not send out something immune to it quite yet. The more the risk, the more the reward, am I right? So let's send out Reynolds the Inkay!

JackPK said:

(Psst... by Eta Carinae's request, could we add direct healing to the banlist?)

Click to expand...

Oops. I did notice that request, but I got too caught up in calculating base stats to remember to edit the challenge post. Fixed.

Miracle Max, it's your time to shine!



I don't see the need in being particularly fancy. Air Cutter thrice. If you're Tormented, or for some other reason you can't use Air Cutter, switch to Night Slash for an action. Protect against any Hypnosis sent your way

Air Cutter/Night Slash/Protect x3

I do believe we just barely outspeed Max, so start off by stealing his held item, you little thief! Then make sure to let him know how spiteful you are at his repetition, and finish off with a good ol' rock slide to soften him up!

Thief ~ Spite ~ Rock Slide

Standard Asberian tradition dictates that wherever possible, battles should be sited in perfectly orderly and peaceful locales to be routinely destroyed and plunged into chaos in the course of events. In this instance however, the old formula has been reversed somewhat, the site being pretty well ruined already. Well, the oil drilling platform upon which the trainers stood was holding up; it was the barren, sludgy, oil-ridden ocean below it that was the problem. The waters were infested with the foul pollutant as far as the eye could see, beyond the aid of any form of cleanup operation. The three stood wordlessly on the rig, looking out at the appalling sight before them. What could they do in the face of this dire tragedy?

Why, get on with their battle, of course. Turning away from the depressing scene with a shrug, the referee raised a flag, and two Pokéballs hurtled from their trainer's hands into the center of the platform to release their captives. Reynolds the Inkay materialised a mere fraction of a second before his Pidove opponent, giving him just enough time to strike first. Without further ado, he sped across the platform and bowled violently into Miracle Max, shoving him to the floor before he could begin to get his bearings. Turning around, he offered a tentacle down to the bewildered bird and apologetically heaved him to his feet, stealthily feeling through his feathers with another tentacle until he felt it rub up against something hard and pointy. Grinning, Reynolds snared his prize and tugged it away from its oblivious owner, tucking it discreetly into his tendrils and bidding his opponent a good day as he hurried back to his spot.

Just as Reynolds slid out of reach, Miracle Max recovered from his stupor and realised something was amiss, patting himself down uncertainly with his wings. Where was his Razor Claw? He had it when he went into his Pokéball, he was certain. He let out an angered chirp, narrowing his eyes at Reynolds. That creep had stolen it! He wouldn't stand for this. He raised his wings and began beating them furiously, forming pressurised pulses of wind and hurling them angrily at his foe. Reynolds hissed with pain as a blade of air struck him a vicious blow across the carapace, opening up a deep, cruel gash along his forehead. He writhed with pain as each subsequent pulse of wind struck said wound, dealing a much more potent sting than they otherwise would have.

Wincing, Reynolds tried his best to ignore the terrible stinging sensation the cut had inflicted, to little avail. He became immediately convinced he didn't want to be subjected another one of those horrid blades, and he knew just the way to discourage Miracle Max from using them. His eyes closed, and he focused his pain and anger into a curse that he lay on his foe, ready to activate whenever he tried that attack again. Sure enough, Miracle Max's wings started flapping furiously, and Reynolds focused, siphoning energy from the Pidove's body through the curse. Miracle Max gave a bemused coo, his wings suddenly feeling much heavier and harder to flap. With considerable effort, he managed to whip up another gale, sending a storm of blades at Reynolds and grazing him liberally across the face.

Again Reynolds flinched away from the scathing slices left by the attack, tenderly caressing the many cuts across his face with a tentacle. Muttering crossly to himself, he closed his eyes and concentrated again, channeling his psychic energy down through the platform and the vast body of watery oil beneath, right down to the sea bed. All was still for a long moment before a huge boulder suddenly crashed through the surface of the water, hefting itself up and over the rim of the oil rig and plummeting down towards Miracle Max. Right at the last second, the Pidove took wing and darted out of the way, the boulder crashing into the spot where he had stood and crumbling into pebbles. He began to flit around Reynolds in a wide circle, beating his once more suddenly-leaden wings and stirring up a vortex of air. With a purposeful coo he turned to his foe and gave one final, resolute flap, blades of air rocketing in from all directions and scoring angry red slits all over Reynolds' body. The Inkay let out a third cry of anger and misery, Miracle Max glancing back devilishly before flitting back to his own end.



Calculations
Reynolds' health: 100% - 15% (Air Cutter) - 9% (Air Cutter) - 9% (Air Cutter) = 67%
Reynolds' energy: 100% - 2% (Thief) - 4% (Spite) - 5% (Rock Slide) = 89%
Miracle Max's health: 100% - 7% (Thief) = 93%
Miracle Max's energy: 100% - 2% (Air Cutter) - 6% (Air Cutter) - 6% (Air Cuter) = 86%

Referee's notes

• I really need to find some animated sprites of gen 6 mons, Reynolds looks silly completely frozen still while Miracle Max is just kinda bopping away down there
• also Miracle Max's summary looks so squashed up compared to Reynolds', blargh
• the first Air Cutter was a critical hit.
• Rock Slide missed.
• JackPK attacks first next round.

Go give him a taste of his own medicine with some foul play. If he flies out of range or you otherwise can't get to him, throw him a thunderbolt instead. If for some reason you can't do either of those, fall back on a double team maneuver to throw him off.

Foul Play/Thunderbolt/Double Team x3

Let's get loud, Max. A two-action Uproar to start, then calm him down with a Hypnosis on the last action (pleasedontmissplesedontmisspleasedontmiss).

Uproar x2 ~ Hypnosis

For ease of reffing, you can just call him Max as well, Sang.

Miffed by his rotten aim and Max's constant abuse, Reynolds felt it was time to play dirty. He whistled to draw his foe's attention, favouring him with a rather impolite gesture once he turned around. Max trilled nervously; the nerve of that accursed squid thing! He'd show him what for. He ran at Reynolds, wings held aloft and ready to deliver a sound beating, until suddenly the oil platform seemed to rotate ninety degrees and plough itself into the side of his face. Once he pushed himself back onto his feet, he looked round and saw Reynolds' tentacle stuck out in his path, before the snickering cuttlefish withdrew it with a smirk.

Okay, so direct physical aggression wasn't the way forward. Perhaps voicing his displeasure verbally would yield better results. He took a deep breath and let out a thunderous squawk, ranting on and on about how disrespectful and brutish Reynolds was, getting so into his lecture that his words jumbled into a long, incomprehensible clamour. Reynolds pressed his tentacles over his ears, the sheer volume of the indignant tirade causing him physical pain that he was powerless to block out.

Max got so into his frenzied tongue-lashing that he quite forgot the action was ending, carrying on right through to the next without stopping for breath. As he was oblivious to any sound but that of his own voice, and any epithet he could attempt to yell over it would no doubt be completely drowned out, Reynolds looked around for alternatives and he spied a pebble broken off from the boulder he'd summoned a few minutes prior. Grinning, he scooped it up and tossed it at Max. It bounced off the Pidove's skull, and without missing a single syllable of his rant, he rushed at Reynolds poised to strike before again having his feet swept from beneath him. This time his skull banging against the hard metal floor finally put an end to his diatribe, and he sat up rubbing his sore head with his wing.

Rather getting into this shtick, Reynolds began jeering at Max again, but he had come to know better and took no notice. Frowning, he turned to Reynolds and fixed his gaze on his eyes, channelling psychic suggestion into his mind. The Inkay groaned, rubbing his eyes as intense fatigue suddenly welled up inside him. He longed to look away from Max's glowing eyes, but found himself utterly transfixed, his eyelids growing more and more leaden until they snapped shut and he collapsed to the ground, snoring cacophonously.



Calculations
Reynolds' health: 67% - 20% (Uproar x2) = 47%
Reynolds' energy: 89% - 12% (Foul Play x3) = 77%
Miracle Max's health: 93% - 22% (Foul Play x2) = 71%
Miracle Max's energy: 86% - 8% (Uproar x2) - 2% (Hypnosis) = 76%

Referee's notes

• I had the chance of Max falling for Foul Play's trickery reduce each time it was used in succession, and it failed the third roll.
• Eta Carinae attacks first next round.

Well done so far, Max! Let's go with three Secret Powers. If you manage to get Tormented, use Facade action 2. If you can't hit him for some reason other than a substitute, Lucky Chant.

Secret Power/Lucky Chant ~ Secret Power/Facade/Lucky Chant ~ Secret Power/Lucky Chant

Well, this isn't great, but maybe we can leverage it well. Not much you can do while you're asleep except to sleep talk.

In the unlikely event you're awake on actions 1 or 2 and Secret Power inflicted a status effect on you, respond with facade (if you got poisoned, try to use it in such a way that you can knock Max off the platform into the oil, even if you have to go down with him). If you don't have a status effect, show off your superpower instead on these actions.

If you're awake on action 3, protect. Crits are too unlikely to rely on anyway, and I'd rather him prevent them than let you get hit for three Secret Powers in a row.

Sleep Talk/Facade/Superpower x2 ~ Sleep Talk/Protect

There, thought Max. His opponent couldn't possibly cause any more trouble now he was asleep. He smugly observed the slumbering cephalopod for a moment, watching him fidget and mumble to himself docilely. His false sense of security quickly came back to bite him when Reynolds' body suddenly let off a blinding pulse of light, and he turned away with a shrill chirp, immediately shielding his eyes with both wings. As quickly as he blocked the retina-searing luminescence, the split second's exposure he'd been subjected to was enough to severely impact his sight, after-images of the flash now irrevocably superimposed over his field of vision.

Squinting and blinking furiously, Max turned back to where he thought Reynolds lay and attempted to scope him out with his bleary, clouded vision. Noticing a blurry lump a little way ahead of him that could feasibly be an Inkay, he began to focus, summoning an ancient and arcane power within him and using it to draw in latent power from the surroundings. The oil platform was surrounded by a dim white aura as it offered up its energy, the same glow surrounding Max and growing brighter and brighter. He let out a ferocious coo and released his gathered energy, a ray composed of artificial, metallic essence streaking through the air and slamming into Reynolds, dealing an unexpectedly savage blow that knocked him several yards across the platform. He murmured in discomfort as he landed hard on the ground, furrowing his brow and rubbing the especially tender part the beam struck before returning to his peaceful nap.

Max cooed victoriously, fanning his wings in a cocky display of bravado. That strike was even more effective than he anticipated! Perhaps this hideous, rickety, disgustingly polluted old place wasn't so terrible after all. Again he closed his eyes, fanned his wings, and concentrated, appealing to the innate essence of the surroundings to lend him its power. He hurled another beam of the white energy at the faint Inkay-blob in the distance, giving a satisfied smile as he saw it explode on impact, which fell as the glare of the blast dimmed and he just barely made out the form of a glowing green dome protecting his slumbering target.

Roused by all the commotion, Reynolds gave a great yawn and slowly peeked open his eyes. He righted himself and stretched, looking around to see what he'd missed during his shut-eye; nothing seemed too different, save the throbbing pain that lingered from Max's rather well-placed shot a little earlier. He considered this reason enough to bunker down and see just what his opponent was up to, and adopting a defensive pose, his tentacles cocooned around him, he summoned another barrier of impenetrable energy. He found mustering the energy to produce it a greater struggle than he anticipated, the sheet of protective light wavering and almost flickering out of existence before he finally got it under control.

Seeing yet another impenetrable barrier standing between him and brutally smashing Reynolds' face, Max rolled his eyes and went down a different route, abandoning the direct offensive and opting instead to cover his own arse. He bowed his heads and closed his eyes, clasping his wings together and beginning to mutter a quiet prayer requesting protection from the almighty RNG gods. Clearly his faith did not go unnoticed, as his body was enveloped in veil of white light conferring a powerful sensation of good fortune upon him.



Calculations
Reynolds' health: 47% - 14% (Secret Power) = 33%
Reynolds' energy: 77% - 1% (Flash) - 2% (Protect) - 2% (Protect) = 72%
Miracle Max's energy: 76% - 4% (Secret Power) - 4% (Secret Power) - 3% (Lucky Chant) = 65%

Referee's notes

• I'm regarding the arena type as "inside buildings/other" for Secret Power and such.
• the first and second Secret Powers were critical hits. (I realised after I'd started typing up the prose that I forgot to change the random number boundaries from when I was calculating Reynolds' Sleep Talk rolls, and both Secret Powers rolled crits both times. What.)
• JackPK attacks first next round.

Ugh... This isn't going our way at all. Let's try some dirtier tactics; I have a half-baked plan that may or may not help us. Start off by Binding the bird in your tentacles. Then Fling yourself and him both off the platform and into the oil, and finally use Camoflage in the hope that it will make you a Poison-type and put you on more advantageous ground... er, oil.

If at any point you're unable to follow through with the rest of this plan, abort it entirely and use Rock Slide. If he Protects against Rock Slide, put up a Light Screen.

Bind/Rock Slide/Light Screen ~ Fling self/Rock Slide/Light Screen ~ Camoflage/Rock Slide/Light Screen

If all goes according to plan, I think this should give us the KO.

Echoed Voice x3

Things were looking bleak for Reynolds. His health was running low, he'd fallen asleep on the job, and now his opponent had invoked the power of the gods themselves against him. His only recourse was to physically restrain Max to prevent his inevitable coup de grace. Tentacles held wide, he threw himself at the Pidove and violently embraced him, tangling more and more appendages around him until despite his feverish struggling, he was held completely still.

Max let out a squawk of protest, his bleary vision leaving him totally unaware of the events that had let to him being bound immobile. He fidgeted this way and that in a bid to free himself, but his movements only made Reynolds grip tighter. Not knowing what else to do, he squawked louder and louder, until his shrieks of protest made the entire platform tremble. The pain pumped into Reynolds' eardrums was unbearable, but he resisted the urge to relinquish his tentacles and clap them over his listening orifices. Instead he coiled them tighter around his captive, silencing him with a single sharp chirp.

Even once the shriek tailed off the rig still trembled in the aftermath of the sound waves, echoes of it ringing in the ears of all in attendance. Reynolds had to catch himself before he relinquished a tentacle and twirled it in his ear in an attempt to dislodge the terrible din. Instead he closed his eyes and focused his telekinetic energies once more, and after a few seconds a cluster of oil-slicked boulders burst out from the surface of the tainted ocean. They hurled themselves up and over the lip of the platform, and it was only as they began their descent that Reynolds began to wonder if he might not have overlooked a downside to his strategy. He became convinced he had once the rocks bore down on him, shattering over both him and his intended target in equal measure. Max squawked out again in protest against the pummelling, his panicked shrieks merging with the lingering echoes of his previous screaming fit and producing a much louder, shriller sound until Reynolds clenched his tentacles in pain around his neck. Max's cries strangled in his throat, but the uproar left a tangible quiver running through the structure beneath them.

By now, Reynolds was losing the will to stay conscious. Agony flowed through every vein of his body, a white-hot sensation of pain burning in his head, and he longed to let go and sink into the numbing embrace of unconsciousness. Yet there remained one job for him to do. He channelled all his will into raising the boulders littered around him back into the air, and with a groan of enormous effort flung them back down, stalwartly grimacing at the blows they delivered to his tender and fragile body. Max was taking just as much of a beating as he, and that was all that mattered to him right now.

His foggy and exhausted mind couldn't sustain such an assault for long, and soon the boulders lay still once more. Now, thought Max, was the time to put an end to this irritating mollusc. He wriggled to loosen the binds around his chest so he could take a deep breath in, then let out a thunderous trill, the sound now positively blaring and shaking the platform like a minor earthquake. One by one Reynolds' tentacles slithered off of his catch and slapped against his ears, but even with every appendage he had pressed to his head he couldn't drown out the cacophony, and at last he gave a weak groan and gave up, collapsing to the ground and laying still. Max gave a delighted chirp, flapping his wings proudly and flying a lap of honour around the platform while Reynolds' limp and unresponsive body returned to its Pokéball.



Calculations
Reynolds' health: 33% - 6% (Echoed Voice) - 5% (Rock Slide) - 12% (Echoed Voice) - 5% (Rock Slide) - 25% (Echoed Voice) = 0%
Reynolds' energy: 72% - 1% (Bind) - 5% (Rock Slide) - 5% (Rock Slide) = 61%
Miracle Max's health: 71% - 1% (Bind) - 1% (Bind) - 8% (Rock Slide) - 1% (Bind) - 8% (Rock Slide) = 52%
Miracle Max's energy: 65% - 1% (Echoed Voice) - 6% (Echoed Voice) - 11% (Echoed Voice) = 47%

Referee's notes

• still waiting on a couple of queries in the Question Box re: this reffing, but Reynolds is going down whether my gut feelings are right or wrong so I decided to go ahead and write up anyway. If I'm overruled Max might end up regaining 4% health and/or 15% energy later on.
• apparently Flinging other Pokémon isn't a thing, sorry. I might have allowed it if Reynolds was much larger than Max, but.
• not sure how a Pokémon would go about Flinging itself, either, so chances are I'd only have had Max end up in the drink.
• being bound to Max, Reynolds couldn't get out of the way of his own Rock Slide and split its damage between himself and Max.
• JackPK sends out, then Eta Carinae attacks first next round.

Frick. Let's send out Sheena the Froakie.

Well done, Max! Let's keep on rolling.

Toxic, then Night Slash twice. If you're taunted on action 1, use Night Slash instead (wow how creative). If you can't hit her for any reason except a sub, Work Up.

Toxic/Night Slash/Work Up ~ Night Slash/Work Up x2

Set up a 20% Sub to absorb that Toxic and, I hope, both of the Night Slashes with a little bit leftover. Follow it up with two Ice Beams to soften Max up for the KO next turn.

If for some wild, bizarre, out-there reason you get poisoned before you can set up the Sub, don't bother with it and use Facade instead.

Substitute (20%)/Facade ~ Ice Beam ~ Ice Beam

JackPK elected to keep the aquatic creature theme alive, sending out a Froakie for his next choice. Sheena glanced about the oil-spattered arena in revulsion, her bulging eyes growing even wider as they gazed upon the state of the sea. Something had to be done about this vile putrefaction! She immediately set about recycling some of the atrocious goop, using some flat shards of rock to shape a puddle of particularly viscous slime into a heap and glowing white as she imparted her life energy into it. The oil began to quiver and froth, moulding itself into the shape of the one who had given it life and stepping forth with wet, slimy footfalls to defend her.

Despite the situation, Max couldn't help being impressed by her resourcefulness. He took a page out of her book, scooping up a wingful of sludge and quickly hurling it towards Sheena before it could poison him. His vision was still a tad bleary from the earlier Flash, but it nonetheless sailed in the right direction, albeit landing on the wrong target. It slapped down onto the substitute and was harmlessly absorbed into it, leaving Sheena unscathed.

Sheena squeaked in horror. It was one thing recycling the disgusting filth in a creative and practical way like she did, but weaponising it? That was just disgusting and unacceptable. Revolting behaviour such as that could not go unpunished. She raised a webbed foreleg and fired off a supercooled beam of energy from her hand, striking Max in an eruption of frost. Max squawked and reeled back from the blow, wiping the ice off his feathers before swooping forward with his wings poised to strike. With a warlike coo he brought his wing down in a slashing motion, the tips of his feathers cleaving a sizeable gash through the substitute. He withdrew, flicking the drops of sludge off his wings before they got into his system.

Now Sheena's rage burned white-hot. Was this roguish bird's uncouthness ever going to cease? Damaging her beautiful creation was just crossing the line! Perhaps her punishment hadn't quite got its message across. She hurled another scolding blast of ice at him, his reaction to discipline growing no more reasonable as he soared at her substitute again and slashed at it with both wings. Whole limbs were cleaved away from the construct, leaving it barely remaining in one piece. Max grimaced as he flew away, not feeling that much better than the substitute now looked.



Calculations
Sheena's health: 100% - 20% (Substitute) = 80%
Sheena's energy: 100% - 10% (Substitute) - 5% (Ice Beam) - 5% (Ice Beam) = 80%
Sheena's substitute: 20% - 9% (Night Slash) - 9% (Night Slash) = 2%
Miracle Max's health: 52% - 16% (Ice Beam) - 16% (Ice Beam) = 20%
Miracle Max's energy: 47% - 4% (Toxic) - 4% (Night Slash) - 4% (Night Slash) = 35%

Referee's notes

• JackPK attacks first next round.

I don't believe you'll be able to make the KO in one hit even with Blizzard, sadly, so let's go a little slower and try to put ourselves in a better position for the next foe.

Use Power-Up Punch until your Substitute breaks, after which hit the hopefully-final blow with an Ice Beam. If one Ice Beam isn't enough, finish Max off with Power-Up Punches. If he's ever Protecting or out of reach, scatter some Toxic Spikes to discourage him from Protecting or being out of reach.

Power-Up Punch/Ice Beam/Toxic Spikes x3