[15] Superbird vs Byrus (ref: Keldeo)

3 vs 3
Style: Set
DQ: 7 days
Damage Cap: 40%
Banned/Restricted Moves: OHKOs, direct healing, Pain Split, Perish Song, Super Fang, moves that KO the user. Trick Room does not affect command order.
Arena: Tower of Mastery

After a long spiraled climb around a humongous Mega Lucario statue, approved trainers will find the topmost location of the Tower of Mastery to be a large semicircular balcony with a lovely view of distant mountains, the sea, and awe-inspiring clear skies. It has been historically the place where chosen trainers are given Mega Rings, designated with the purpose of reminding those trainers to set their sights ever skyward.

For this round of the tournament, Battle Arena (or, as it were, Battle Korrina) rules will apply. Each pair of Pokémon sent out will only battle for up to three rounds before being recalled, at which point the sums of their remaining Health and Energy percentages will be compared to determine the winner of the bout, and the next two Pokémon are sent out thereafter. The first to win two bouts wins the match as a whole. Furthermore, while sending out Pokémon at the beginning of each bout, the trainers will also PM their assigned referee to pick one of the Masteries listed below, and the Masteries chosen that way will be publically announced in the battle thread before commands are issued (however, in the third and final bout, the masteries from the previous bout are applied, and no new ones are chosen). These two Masteries will be the only ones applicable in the current bout, and by fulfilling the conditions that they outline, players can have a score of 20 added to their final Health and Energy sum (up to a maximum of 40). More details are outlined in the tournament round post. The following are the masteries that can be chosen from:

• Movepool Master: Awarded to the Pokémon that used the highest amount of different moves during the bout.
• Elementalist: Awarded to the Pokémon that used moves of the highest amount of different types.
• Skill Striker: Awarded to the Pokémon that used the most moves with 70 or less Base Power (after accounting for effects that change a move's Base Power).
• Efficiency Expert: Awarded to the Pokémon that spent the least energy during the bout (restored energy, such as that gained by Chills or energy-targeting indirect recovery, does not contribute to this Mastery).
• Set-Up Specialist: Awarded to the Pokémon that had the highest net total of stat changes at the end of the bout (e.g., 6+ Attack and 2- Defense makes for a total of 4+).
• Plague Pawner: Awarded to the Pokémon that inflicted the most status conditions on the opponent.
• Daredevil: Awarded to the Pokémon that had the least Health remaining at the end of the bout.
• Own Worst Enemy: Awarded to the Pokémon that took the most self-inflicted damage during the round (only self-inflicted damage from regular sources like recoil and costs are counted; intentionally attacking oneself does not contribute to this Mastery).
• Obstinate Orders: Awarded to the trainer that used the least conditionals in their commands. Only the trainer who is issuing the first commands in the current bout can choose this Mastery.

Superbird's active squad

Firestrike the male Combusken <Blaze> @ King's Rock (4 exp)
Gorouna the female Graveler <Sturdy> @ Eviolite
Dokon the male Toxicroak <Anticipation> @ Black Sludge (4 exp)
Natalie the female Xatu <Synchronize> @ Prism Scale (4 exp)
Koiquen the female Gyarados <Intimidate> @ Weakness Policy
Llara the female Ferrothorn <Iron Barbs> @ Moon Stone (5 exp)
Eldrach the male Galvantula <Compound Eyes> @ Metronome (6 exp)
Quabbel the male Frillish <Cursed Body> @ Leftovers
Meta the genderless Ditto <Limber> @ Metal Powder
Limonde the female Stunfisk <Static>

Byrus's active squad

Christy the female Houndoom <Flash Fire> @ Electirizer (7 exp)
Jonesy the male Skuntank <Stench> @ Black Sludge
Fiver the male Buneary <Run Away> @ Normal Gem
Arundel the male Taillow <Guts> @ Flying Gem
Prospero the male Abra <Synchronize> @ Weakness Policy
Sluagh the male Gastly <Levitate> @ Colbur Berry
Cleasai the male Mr. Mime <Filter> @ Twisted Spoon (6 exp)
The Strand the male Eelektrik <Levitate> @ Thunder Stone
Ruya the female Sableye <Keen Eye> @ Reaper Cloth
Kevin the male Dratini <Shed Skin> @ Eviolite

Up next:
1. Superbird sends out
2. Byrus sends out
3. Keldeo announces the chosen Masteries
4. Byrus issues commands
5. Superbird issues commands

Re: [15] Superbird vs Crazy Linoone (ref: Keldeo)

Let's go, Koiquen.

Re: [15] Superbird vs Crazy Linoone (ref: Keldeo)

DQ warning for Crazy Linoone. You have 48 hours to send out and choose a Mastery.

Re: [15] Superbird vs Crazy Linoone (ref: Keldeo)

Crazy Linoone is disqualified, no one gets anything. I think Byrus takes her place, but I'll wait for Eifie's confirmation of that.

Re: [15] Superbird vs Crazy Linoone (ref: Keldeo)

Keldeo said:

Crazy Linoone is disqualified, no one gets anything. I think Byrus takes her place, but I'll wait for Eifie's confirmation of that.

Click to expand...

Yes, let's go with that. Let him know and give him some time to prep his active squad, then we'll restart this match. (Superbird is, of course, free to change up his active squad during this time as well.)

edit: One other change. It's probably not a good idea for you and Byrus to be reffing each other's matches, so I'll switch some stuff around in the main bracket.

Re: [15] Superbird vs Crazy Linoone (ref: Keldeo)

I'll keep my squad as it's displayed here, I think.

Re: [15] Superbird vs Crazy Linoone (ref: Keldeo)

Superbird said:

I'll keep my squad as it's displayed here, I think.

Click to expand...

Cool, keep your squad that way in the db then so Keldeo can just create another battle when Byrus is ready.

Alright, Byrus has let me know he's ready, so here are the battlers' active squads:

Superbird's active squad

Firestrike the male Combusken <Blaze> @ King's Rock (4 exp)
Gorouna the female Graveler <Sturdy> @ Eviolite
Dokon the male Toxicroak <Anticipation> @ Black Sludge (4 exp)
Natalie the female Xatu <Synchronize> @ Prism Scale (4 exp)
Koiquen the female Gyarados <Intimidate> @ Weakness Policy
Llara the female Ferrothorn <Iron Barbs> @ Moon Stone (5 exp)
Eldrach the male Galvantula <Compound Eyes> @ Metronome (6 exp)
Quabbel the male Frillish <Cursed Body> @ Leftovers
Meta the genderless Ditto <Limber> @ Metal Powder
Limonde the female Stunfisk <Static>

Byrus's active squad (which I did manually because I screwed up copypasting it, so let me know if something's off)

Christy the female Houndoom <Flash Fire> @ Electirizer (7 exp)
Jonesy the male Skuntank <Stench> @ Black Sludge
Fiver the male Buneary <Run Away> @ Normal Gem
Arundel the male Taillow <Guts> @ Flying Gem
Prospero the male Abra <Synchronize> @ Weakness Policy
Sluagh the male Gastly <Levitate> @ Colbur Berry
Cleasai the male Mr. Mime <Filter> @ Twisted Spoon (6 exp)
The Strand the male Eelektrik <Levitate> @ Thunder Stone
Ruya the female Sableye <Keen Eye> @ Reaper Cloth
Kevin the male Dratini <Shed Skin> @ Eviolite

After this, here's what's up next:
1. Superbird sends out
2. Byrus sends out
3. I announce the chosen Masteries
4. Byrus issues commands
5. Superbird issues commands

Let's start with you, Gorouna!

I'll go with Kevin.

And the first round of masteries:

Superbird: Own Worst Enemy - Awarded to the Pokémon that took the most self-inflicted damage during the round (only self-inflicted damage from regular sources like recoil and costs are counted; intentionally attacking oneself does not contribute to this Mastery).

Byrus: Elementalist - Awarded to the Pokémon that used moves of the highest number of different types.

Byrus will be commanding next. Good luck to you both!

Let's lead off with a waterfall, ice beam and iron tail. If Gorouna makes any attempt to counter your physical attacks, switch to water pulse on the first action and dragon pulse on the third. If she's been storing up bide during the first two actions, do not attack on the third action; go for detect.

If she's underground, try your best to aim your attack down the tunnel. (If she's underground on the third action, try and aim a dragon pulse down there instead of iron tail.)

If she protects on the first or second actions, go for a curse on the first turn and a 10% sub on the second.

Waterfall/Water pulse/Curse ~ Ice beam/Substitute (10%) ~ Iron tail/Dragon pulse/Detect

All right, Gorouna, we're just gonna Protect against that first hit - Waterfall does not sound like a fun attack to take, and we can deal with that Curse. Second action might be a little rough, but your Eviolite is gonna help you here. Try to guard against that Ice Beam so that you don't get frozen, and while doing so let's use Iron Defense to help against that Iron Tail on the last action. Finish with a Rock Tomb and try to focus on restricting your opponent's mobility - by which I mean, if you can, crush Kevin underneath the rocks so that he can't move away next turn. If you don't think you can get the materials for Rock Tomb, just use Earthquake instead, and try to be as destructive as possible with it around your opponent's side of the field - maybe we can trap him that way.

Protect ~ Iron Defense ~ Rock Tomb / Earthquake

And on a side note, a couple of questions: (1) does Hidden Power count as a normal-type attack for the purposes of Elementalist, or does it count as whatever type it ends up becoming? and (2) If one were to hypothetically combo two moves of different types, would that move count twice towards Elementalist, or only once? If the latter, could a singular move of either type be used and count again?

Hidden Power counts as whatever type it rolls as. As for combos, that depends on how the combo goes off; most combos resolve to just dealing damage of one type, in which case the combo counts as that type only for Elementalist. If the combo is one of those weird ones with elements of both types where the damage for each is calculated separately, it counts for both types.

"The stage is set for another exciting round of Asber's tournament in Kalos, and this time the feature is the Tower of Mastery, and specialized Battle 'Korr-ena' rules!" shouts a very loud announcer through a very red megaphone, and finishes, a little lamely, "We… really can't wait for the next battles!" The obligatory crowd has assembled at the foot of the stairs to the balcony atop which every match will take place, and every person in or near Shalour City is jostling for a place with a good view—apparently they missed the memo regarding the contestants' current status as Kalosian outlaws due to several incidents including some not-very-well-aimed Draco Meteors, the Prism Tower, and [redacted for national security]. Or maybe they just like to watch Pokemon duke it out, who knows?

In the midst of the chaos, Superbird and Byrus face off on the balcony of the Tower of Mastery, having submitted their chosen Masteries for approval. Gorouna the Graveler and Kevin the Dratini stand battle-ready in front of their respective trainers, each slathered in a protective layer of lavender Silph Co. Eviolotion (tm). While Gorouna seems jaded, having seen her teammates participate in many battles like this one before, Kevin is dazzled by the cameras and general hubbub surrounding the match and shies away from the throngs of reporters and spectators, bashful. When the referee finally teleports in and gives a wave of her flags, the Pokemon take their due places before leaping into battle, backed by the cheers of their supporters.

Superbird (Ooo)

Gorouna (f) <Sturdy> @ Eviolite
Status: 100% health / 100% energy / 200% total
Masteries: Own Worst Enemy 0 / Elementalist 0
Currently: Been there, done that. Twice.
Commands: Protect ~ Iron Defense ~ Rock Tomb / Earthquake

Byrus (Ooo)

Kevin (m) <Shed Skin> @ Eviolite
Status: 100% health / 100% energy / 200% total
Masteries: Own Worst Enemy 0, Elementalist 0
Currently: Awestruck.
Commands: Waterfall / Water Pulse / Curse ~ Ice Beam / Substitute (10%) ~ Iron Tail / Dragon Pulse / Detect

Field Notes
-Turn order: Kevin (50) > Gorouna (35).


Gorouna rolls her eyes at her opponent before hunching down, lower pair of arms tucked into her body while her upper ones get to work raising a translucent screen. She smirks at Kevin, knowing that she'll be safe from any harm behind the shield, but the Dratini has different plans. Seeing that the Graveler is protected, Kevin quickly swallows his apprehension and begins to showboat, albeit a little nervously, twisting and coiling to trace a circle around the balcony as a trail of glowing silver runes carves itself into the stone in his wake. Once he's closed the ring, he slithers into the center and begins to chant the words to an arcane hymn, his soft voice seeming to yield eerie echoes even in the open-air balcony, as the circle expands upwards into a glittering, bubblelike dome. When the Dratini reaches his song's climax with a dramatic crescendo, the barrier turns a dazzling silver, shimmering as if to show off its newfound opaqueness. Figuring the danger's passed, Gorouna lets down her own shield, admires her reflection in the newly-mirrorified dome, and flicks a stray twig off her head. Looking good.

After a solid minute has passed after the creation of Kevin's dome and nothing of note has happened, the audience below the battle starts to become agitated, the faux-whispered conversations reaching an all-time high (though that isn't saying much given it's the first action of the bout.) Some of the spectators glance at their watches in mock impatience and remark to their neighbors about how the wait surely means Kevin's new form, whatever it is, will be extremely stunning—no? Perhaps he will sprout wings, or transform into his Battle Mode (this line said with a slight chuckle.) Only time will tell—no? But when the dome shatters, its pieces flicker into nonexistence, and the newly energized Dratini emerges, he's visibly gained nothing but a few haphazard chunks of rough, craggy armor seemingly melded to his skin. Gorouna lifts her chin, unimpressed that he seems to be imitating her, while the audience lets out a collective sigh at the underwhelming reveal. Not aware of the state of events, Kevin flaunts his new coat, grinning, before realizing it hasn't met the most enthusiastic response and glaring down at his naysayers. That wasn't flashy enough for them? Well, he's gonna show them who's flashy. Here's a hint: It starts with "K", and ends with "-evin, who is the flashiest"! Haha!!

Rearing up into an aggressive S, the Dratini begins to gather energy from the air around him; as the dot on Kevin's forehead begins to glow light blue and an orb of the same color forms in his open mouth, the arena seems to grow noticeably cooler, and a chilly gust out of nowhere rustles the trainers' shirts and jackets. Busy polishing her ankles for maximum good-lookingness, Gorouna doesn't notice what's going on until it's nearly too late. She drops to one knee as quickly as she can, hands outstretched to guard against the (incredibly flashy) jets of pure ice her opponent sends her way, but each stabbing jolt of cold still pierces her rocky skin and makes her cry out in pain. Each hit is less intense than the last, however, and Kevin closes his eyes, straining to continue his assault, but soon his sphere runs out of power and dissipates into thin air.

Gorouna hisses a sigh and picks herself up, brushing some stray ice crystals off her body. Combating a twinge in her lower left hand, which was hit by a few of the more powerful beams, she sets to work making sure an attack like that won't happen again. She clenches all four of her fists and concentrates as a thin layer of shining metal gradually seeps out to cover her coat of Eviolotion. The Graveler taps it a few times to test its strength, smiling as it hardens and gleams flashily in response to her touch. Looking over at Kevin's relatively inadequate armoring, she smirks and waddles over, ready to teach the poser how you're supposed to do rocks. Encumbered by his coating, the Dratini cowers away, unsure of his opponent's objective, but Gorouna continues forward until she has him cornered.

Raising one fist dramatically, she gives a battle cry and smashes it down, releasing a burst of seismic energy as she does so. The ground starts to buckle and crack wildly, pebbles and bricks rising up as if the very earth wants to swallow them. Kevin looks frantically around for an escape route but can find none before Gorouna retreats and the chunks of earth bury him completely. Though his Eviolotion and armor protect him from the sharpest and heaviest bricks, Kevin's still trapped in a loose cage of rocks and rubble when the shaking stops, many of the more obvious cracks and weak points sealed with a heavy helping of dust. Glaring in the general direction he remembers Gorouna being in, he inhales unwittingly and immediately regrets it, coughing and writhing as he tries to get the offending material out of his throat. But when the Dratini recovers, he finds that his prison has been shaken a little, and he gives a hesitant smile. If that worked, then maybe…

Below them, the crowd is getting impatient again, and the murmur level rises with the stillness of Kevin's prison. Two actions of nothing happening this battle? Maybe they should go watch one of the more exciting ones, the average conversation goes—until, in a flurry of pebbles, the triumphant Dratini himself cleaves a line straight through the rocks and emerges from the wreckage and leaps forwards faster than the eye can follow to deal his opponent a stunning blow, tail gleaming white with a metal covering not unlike Gorouna's (poser, she thinks.) Sparks of energy fly as Kevin lashes out at the Graveler with his tail and she parries with her own steel-covered limbs. The Dratini's normally higher mobility is hampered by his heavy armor and breathing problems from the choking soot inside the rock, but Gorouna is a much larger target and Kevin can usually manage to slip away from her counterstrikes or put her on a collision course with the sharpest crags in his imitation boulder armor.

After a good minute of brawling, the Pokemon run out of energy and back away from each other, panting hard. Kevin's shining tail-sheath fades and Gorouna folds her arms, glaring at him, as the referee lowers her flags. Clearly pleased with the battle's direction, the audience is cheering wildly, the stamp-stamp-clapping Go-rou-na! camp keeping time with the faster-paced Kevin! Kevin! Gooooo, Kevin! issuing from the other side of the assembled crowd, but everyone is eager to see what the next round will bring them.

Superbird (Ooo)

Gorouna (f) <Sturdy> @ Eviolite
Status: 82% health / 91% energy / 173% total / 193% adjusted
Masteries: Own Worst Enemy 0, Elementalist 3 (Normal, Steel, Rock)
Currently: Wincing and scowling, eager to get Kevin back for his attacks. +2 Defense.
Used: Protect ~ Iron Defense ~ Rock Tomb

Byrus (Ooo)

Kevin (m) <Shed Skin> @ Eviolite
Status: 96% health / 87% energy / 183% total / 203% adjusted
Masteries: Own Worst Enemy 0, Elementalist 3 (Ghost, Ice, Steel)
Currently: Basking in the limelight. +1 Attack, +1 Defense, -2 Speed.
Used: Curse ~ Ice Beam ~ Iron Tail

Field Notes
-Turn order: Gorouna (35) > Kevin (20).
-The incomprehensible runes and concentric rings of Kevin's ritual are still discernible around his location, but in several parts of the circles the ground is cracked too heavily to make them out.
-There is a vaguely U-shaped pile of rubble facing Byrus's side of the arena.

Action Notes
-Like, what is Eviolite supposed to be? It's just this lavender blob, even the games call it "a mysterious evolutionary lump."
-I had to rearrange some of my formatting to fit everything, so let me know if something's not understandable. The adjusted score accounts for masteries and bolded is who's currently in the lead; I'll also bold the Mastery counters once they end up not being ties.
-According to Word of Eifie, only self-inflicted damage to health counts for the Own Worst Enemy mastery, so no one got anything there this round. The Elementalist counts should be pretty self-explanatory, I think.
-Kevin and Gorouna were tied for speed on the second and third actions. Kevin moved first on the second action, while Gorouna moved first on the third.
-Rock Tomb successfully trapped Kevin under a pile of rubble, but he was able to break through at the cost of some of Iron Tail's damage output.
-If you object to any calculations or my handling of anything, please let me know!

Superbird commands next.

Quick question: Any particular reason Rock Tomb executed before Iron Tail on action 3? Kevin should have had the speed advantage at that point, and wasn't ordered to wait.

They were tied for speed due to Curse, since I ref speed changes as 15 per stage.

Ah, right, Curse. Okay, that makes sense then.

Gorouna, your opponent has yet to use a Water-type move. Before he does have that chance, use Sunny Day.

After that, we can slow down just a little and play a bit more reactively. As Kevin's Speed is a bit lower right now, we'll probably be able to outmaneuver him - with that in mind, here are your commands for action 2.

Close in on Kevin - we're gonna want to use a physical attack. Submission sounds nice, and whatever you do, make sure you hit something with that attack - if you miss Kevin, keep going and hit the floor or something - the tiny amount of recoil shouldn't take much of a toll on you, and we need it to win this. But as you're approaching for the attack, watch Kevin carefully. If he's using an attack, see if you can knock him out of it or mess with his aim so that he doesn't hit you with it - more specifically, see if you can knock his aim off if it's a Special attack, and see if you can knock him away from you before he can hit you if it's a Physical attack. In general, Special attacks will be more important to dodge, though. If Kevin looks wary enough to be about to Detect or Protect (the former is more likely, but if the latter you should be able to see it before you make impact with the shield, or else you'll hit him before he gets it off), just stop attacking and glare menacingly at him while using Curse (if it comes to this and it's possible, see if you can leech off the same energy your opponent used for the Curse last round, to make it easier on yourself), and get ready to attack on action 3.

Action 3 is going to go the same way as Action 2, except replace whichever of Submission and Curse you didn't use last action with Thunder Punch. That is, if you've already used Submission on action 2, try to do the same thing with a Thunder Punch, Cursing if your opponent protects, whereas if you didn't use Submission on action 2 place your priority on trying that again and switch to Thunder Punch if he protects again (in which case you have a chance to break through).

Sunny Day ~ Submission / Curse ~ Thunder Punch / Submission / Curse

Alright, now looks like a good time to get a reflect up. That should soften the blow from submission considerably, and hopefully the extra protection will make it more difficult for Gorouna to try disrupting us. Next, go all out with a double-edge to match her recoil damage. Finish with a water pulse. It won't pack as much of a punch in the sun, but she still won't appreciate it.

Reflect ~ Double-edge ~ Water pulse

Superbird (Ooo)

Gorouna (f) <Sturdy> @ Eviolite
Status: 82% health / 91% energy / 173% total / 193% adjusted
Masteries: Own Worst Enemy 0, Elementalist 3 (Normal, Steel, Rock)
Currently: Wincing and scowling, eager to get Kevin back for his attacks. +2 Defense.
Commands: Sunny Day ~ Submission / Curse ~ Thunder Punch / Submission / Curse

Byrus (Ooo)

Kevin (m) <Shed Skin> @ Eviolite
Status: 96% health / 87% energy / 183% total / 203% adjusted
Masteries: Own Worst Enemy 0, Elementalist 3 (Ghost, Ice, Steel)
Currently: Basking in the limelight. +1 Attack, +1 Defense, -2 Speed.
Commands: Reflect ~ Double-Edge ~ Water Pulse

Field Notes
-Turn order: Gorouna (35) > Kevin (20).
-The incomprehensible runes and concentric rings of Kevin's ritual are still discernible around his location, but in several parts of the circles the ground is cracked too heavily to make them out.
-There is a vaguely U-shaped pile of rubble facing Byrus's side of the arena.


Soon, the trainers have given their Pokemon orders, and the battle resumes, to the wild cheers of the waiting spectators. With a flourish, Gorouna strides boldly into Byrus's side of the field, face stretched into a wide grin, as the howls from both sides of the audience grow ever louder and Kevin slinks backwards a few steps, afraid to be trapped in another Rock Tomb. Despite her outward confidence, Gorouna's just hoping that Kevin doesn't copy her again. It's getting pretty annoying, but this attack should be the perfect way for her to let off some steam. The Graveler smirks at her private monologue (it's funny because Sunny Day is a Fire move and steam comes from water!) and starts to gather energy, glowing a faint light green.

Kevin somehow shrinks further back in sheer apprehension, the applause of the audience forgotten as they wait beneath with bated breath. Everything is still for a few seconds, the curled-up Dratini and the focusing Graveler a lesson in form and lighting for the aspiring Pokemon artist—and then Gorouna starts shuddering with the intensity of her built-up energy, before shrieking a battle cry at the top of her lungs and releasing a brilliant golden flash. Kevin squeals and covers his eyes before seeming to realize the light isn't harmful. It's dampened into a soft glow that's barely visible in broad daylight, gently warm and comforting, and he takes the time to relax into it for a spell.

For her part, Gorouna parades around, limbs still shining, and smiles as her adoring audience cheers and throws rotten Pecha berries at the both of them, in rather unsportsmanlike spirit. But then the Dratini copies her unimpressed glance routine (to the adoring cheers of his part of the audience) and starts to glow just like she did, but lavender instead of yellow-green. As if this wasn't already enough, a protective layer of hard light seeps over his body to cover every scale and rock-armor plate on his body as the light fades, and he slithers around the balcony to let the rotten-Pecha-throwers admire his shield glinting when it touches the ground. Across the balcony, Gorouna gasps in mock horror and presses a glowing hand to her glowing chest. He's done it! He's copied her! This is simply not acceptable! She backs away, still clutching her chest, and Kevin advances with a cocky grin, a white aura surrounding his shielded body—but as he leaps, so does she.

Snarling and screeching, all pretenses of enacting drama forgotten, the two Pokemon leap at each other, both trying to do as much damage as possible and not bothering to dodge their opponent's parries and counters. Gorouna claws at her opponent, trying to catch him off guard, but he slithers past most of her hits and the ones that do make contact bounce off his reinforced body with depressing tinks. Kevin's reckless maneuvers with no care for form seem to be doing him more favors, but the parts of Gorouna he's aiming for are the craggiest, and he gashes his skin more than once on her metallic armor.

Finding no real opportunity to hit her opponent, the Graveler growls and backs into a defensive position for a few seconds, building up Fighting energy between her knuckles, but Kevin keeps going, jamming his head and tailtip and side into every chink in her coat of metal, trying to find a weak point. Her aura comes dangerously close to fizzling out before she's able to deliver a glancing blow to the Dratini's underside; upon contact, the dull amber sphere she's formed explodes with an earsplitting CRACK that belies its size, and the Pokemon are thrown away from each other, the wind knocked out of them when they land.

Though huffing and puffing with exertion, the Dratini's back up in a heartbeat, forming an orb of water in his mouth and imbuing it with the rhythm of his song in the previous round. Gorouna approaches again and dials up her heat aura, dealing her opponent a blow charged with static while he's still recovering from the shock, but the electricity ripples off her opponent's shielded skin somewhat anticlimactically. Kevin winces less at the blow than at the billowing clouds of steam the heated water's sending into the roof of his mouth with an ominously sizzling sound, and he spits it out at Gorouna before backing off to cough and splutter in his corner.

Not ready for her strategy to be turned against her, the Graveler shrieks and pats desperately at the point of contact, which soon turns raw and red. She approaches Kevin with a raised fist, but a short whistle-blow from the referee makes her back off with a scowl, more than ready for revenge next round. Below the battle, both sides of the audience are hopeful that their chosen supportee will win, but many of the gathered crowd are certain that it's too soon to decide which Pokemon will emerge victorious.

Superbird (Ooo)

Gorouna (f) <Sturdy> @ Eviolite
Status: 66% health / 78% energy / 144% total / 154% adjusted
Masteries: Own Worst Enemy 1, Elementalist 6 (Normal, Steel, Rock, Fire, Fighting, Electric)
Currently: Determined not to give up. +2 Defense.
Used: Sunny Day ~ Submission ~ Thunder Punch

Byrus (Ooo)

Kevin (m) <Shed Skin> @ Eviolite
Status: 86% health / 74% energy / 160% total / 190% adjusted
Masteries: Own Worst Enemy 4, Elementalist 6 (Ghost, Ice, Steel, Psychic, Normal, Water)
Currently: Not sure what to think yet. +1 Attack, +1 Defense, -2 Speed. Surrounded by a Reflect (3 more actions.)
Used: Reflect ~ Double-Edge ~ Water Pulse

Field Notes
-The sun Gorouna is shining brightly (6 more actions, it'll still persist after she's recalled.)
-Turn order: Gorouna (35) > Kevin (20).
-The ground is cracked so heavily that the incomprehensible runes and concentric rings of Kevin's ritual aren't discernible around his location any more.
-There is a vaguely U-shaped pile of rubble facing Byrus's side of the arena.

Action Notes
-A lot of the calculations this round had a ton of factors affecting them so definitely poke me if you think something's wrong! Also note that the next round will be the last in the bout.
-Own Worst Enemy is being measured in % of recoil taken.
-Double-Edge and Thunder Punch were both critical hits.
-Both Double-Edge and Submission are about just going at the opponent as quickly and brutally as you can, pretty much, and the former was a critical hit and Kevin was being protected by Reflect, but Graveler is much larger than Dratini (3'3" to around 1 foot, since Dratini's "height" is its length) so Submission was able to throw Kevin off enough to lower its final damage by 3%.
-I don't think using a contact attack like Thunder Punch would be able to throw off a special attack's aim very well, and Kevin was still protected by Reflect, so that didn't impact Kevin's damage with Water Pulse.

Byrus commands next.