Bulbapedia:Spading

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Spading (from the Bartle Test) is the act of actively trying to learn about all aspects of a game. To that end, this page will contain a list of questions about the games that need to be researched, and will probably contain a list of answers for historical purposes.

There is a template for spading: Template:Spading. It is to be placed on the front page. Unless people start to dislike that, in which case it will belong on the talk page. Usage details are in the template page.

Note: Since it doesn't really matter, this talk page can be used as a less formal way of doing spading.

Multiple generations

Confusion

Status: Answered

How is damage from confusion determined? Attack and defense stats both influence it, but is there a base power like normal attacks?

• Answer: Smogon says that it's a 40-power move.

Mimic/Sketch

Status: Answered

Can you Mimic Sketch?

• Answer: No, you can't. Right since Generation II, it just says that "But it failed!".

Protect

Status: Answered

What is the accuracy of Protect after used once or more times in succession?

• Answer: Reduced by 50%. A detailed version available at the Protect/Detect page.

Ghost

Status: Answered

In Generations I, II, and III, is ghost physical or special? The current page says it is physical, but Shadow Ball lowers special defense in previous generations, so why would it be physical?

• Answer: This is just the effect of the move. It is programmed that Shadow Ball lowers special defense, and this has nothing to do with the nature of the move. Oh, and it is physical by the way.

Transform

Some questions appear on the Talk page for Transform. These three have not been adequately answered:

• What happens when a Transformed Pokémon uses Baton Pass?
• In which generations does Transform fail to copy a foe during the semi-invulnerable turns of Dig, Fly, Bounce, etc?
• What happens when a Transformed Pokémon uses Sketch?

Yenreb 04:50, 19 April 2009 (UTC)

• Same effect as normal. It uses Baton Pass and all stat changes, substitutes, etc. transfer over to the new Pokémon. Transformed state does not transfer over.
• Fails in IV, dunno about I-III.
• It fails.

TTEchidna 23:17, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

Serene Grace

Does Serene Grace work in conjunction with held items such as King's Rock? --Chromehawk 23:00, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Take Down

What happens if both the user and the opponent faint using this move, and it is both Trainers' last Pokémon? Who wins? TheTigerBuddy 19:27, 26 July 2009 (UTC)

I'd assume competitively it would count the same as a self-fainting caused by Destiny Bond or Explosion (the loser is the one who used it), but game coding, I've got no idea.

If it happens in any in-game battles, include Battle Tower/Frontier matches, you lose regardless who used that recoil move. As for Wi-Fi/LAN battles, it probably counts as a draw (same as Selfdestruct or Destiny Bond KO's). ~ Solarys 11:31, 16 September 2009 (UTC)

Generation III

Fossils

Status: Answered

The Root and Claw Fossils are in the coding for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, while the Old Amber and Dome and Helix Fossils are in the coding for Pokémon Emerald. What happens if they are obtained through hacking and taken to the Pokémon Lab on Cinnabar Island or Devon Corporation in Rustboro City? Can you obtain an Anorith in FireRed and LeafGreen? A Kabuto in Emerald?

• Answer: Coding shows that the game does not recognize them as fossils, so they will not be resurrected.

Ok, so what if you trade them over, equipped to a Pokémon, after receiving the National Dex?

• Not possible in Generation III. Fossils are key items in that generation, and key items have never been tradable.

Shadow move

Which stats do Shadow Moves rely on? Attack and Defense or Special Attack and Special Defense? Chosen of Mana 17:52, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

• Answer: Moves that Physically harm the opponent (generally ones that make contact), like Shadow Rush and Shadow Blitz, are Physical moves and therefore rely on the Attack and Defense stats. Shadow moves that don't physically hit the opponent, such as Shadow Fire and Shadow Bolt, are Special and use the Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense stats. So, technically, Shadow moves were the first moves to be split between Physical and Special.

That brings up a new question: Which Shadow Moves rely on Attack and Defense? Which rely on Special Attack and Special Defense? - Chosen of Mana 01:29, 12 March 2009 (UTC)

Shadow Blitz, Shadow Break, Shadow End, and Shadow Rush are all Physical and Shadow Blast, Shadow Bolt, Shadow Chill, Shadow Fire, Shadow Rave, Shadow Storm, and Shadow Wave are Special.—Blazevoir_{Talk/Contribs} 22:41, 13 March 2009 (UTC)

Generation IV

Pokémon breeding

There's some oddity in the number of steps it takes to hatch an egg. The steps between egg hatches when holding multiple eggs is always divisible by 255 (minimum difference of 510), even if the steps between receiving them are not. It happens consistently when

• Magma Armor or Flame Body are on
• while holding multiple eggs from the same parents
• when some eggs are received while others are being held

There's probably a common counter for all eggs in the party, which, when it rolls over, decrements all egg counters by 1. However, this doesn't explain the "divisible by 255" part.

Partial answer: Egg cycles. Just need to get persimmons from Smogon to adapt that into an article here. TTEchidna 04:45, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Comment : This may deserve a page by itself since there is a whole lot of info. BUT ...

• Step 1.
  • Case A : The HP IV is passed on from either parent (1/6)
  • Case B : The DEF IV is passed on from either parent (1/6)
  • Case C : A Random IV is passed on from either parent (4/6)

• Step 2.
  • Case A1 : The DEF IV is passed on from either parent (1/5)
  • Case A2 : A Random IV is passed on from either parent (4/5)
  • Case B1 : The DEF IV is passed on from either parent (1/5)
  • Case B2 : A Random IV is passed on from either parent (4/5)
  • Case C1 : The DEF IV is passed on from either parent (1/5)
  • Case C2 : The same IV is passed on from either parent (1/5)
  • Case C3 : A Random IV is passed on from either parent (3/5)

• Step 3 :
  • Case A1 : A random IV is passed on from either parent (4/4)
  • Case A2A : The same IV is passed from a parent (1/4)
  • Case A2B : Random IV is passed on from a parent (3/4)
  • Case B1A : A same IV as Step 1 is passed on from either parent (1/4)
  • Case B1B : Random IV is passed on from either parent ( 3/4 )
  • Case B2A : The same IV from step 2 is passed on (1/4)
  • Case B2B : A Random IV is passed on (3/4)
  • Case C1A : The same IV as step one is passed on (1/4)
  • Case C1B : A Random IV is passed on From either parent. (3/4)
  • Case C2A : The same IV is passed on from either parent (1/4)
  • Case C2B : A Random IV is passed on from either parent (3/4)
  • Case C3A : The same IV from step 1 is passed on (1/4)
  • Case C3B : The same IV from step 2 is passed on (1/4)
  • Case C3C : A Random IV is passed on from either parent (2/4)

Okay now we can combine the steps.

• Case A1 - 3 stats (1/6 * 1/5 * 4/4) = 4/120
• Case A2A - 2 Stats (1/6 * 4/5 * 1/4) = 4/120
• Case A2B - 3 stats (1/6 * 4/5 * 3/4) = 12/120
• Case B1A - 1 Stats (1/6 * 1/5 * 1/4) = 1/120
• Case B1B - 2 Stats (1/6 * 1/5 * 3/4) = 3/120
• Case B2A - 2 Stats (1/6 * 4/5 * 1/4) = 4/120
• Case B2B - 3 stats (1/6 * 4/5 * 3/4) = 12/120
• Case C1A - 2 Stats (4/6 * 1/5 * 1/4) = 4/120
• Case C1B - 3 Stats (4/6 * 1/5 * 3/4) = 12/120
• Case C2A - 1 Stats (4/6 * 1/5 * 1/4) = 4/120
• Case C2B - 2 Stats (4/6 * 1/5 * 3/4) = 12/120
• Case C3A - 2 Stats (4/6 * 3/5 * 1/4) = 12/120
• Case C3B - 2 Stats (4/6 * 3/5 * 1/4) = 12/120
• Case C3C - 3 Stats (4/6 * 3/5 * 2/4) = 24/120

A quick check with the calculator and thankfully it adds up to 120/120. Now combining the possibilities ...

• 3 Stats inherited 3 random
  • A1 + A2B + B2B + C1B + C3C =
    • 4+12+12+12+24 =
      • 64/120
• 2 Stats inherited 4 random
  • A2A + B1B + B2A + C1A + C2B + C3A + C3B =
    • 4+3+4+4+12+12+12 =
      • 51/120
• 1 Stat inherited 5 random
  • B1A + C2A =
    • 1+4 =
      • 5/120

That makes an easier chart of

• 3 Stats = 8/15 or 53.333%
• 2 Stats = 17/40 or 42.500%
• 1 Stat = 1/24 or 04.167%

So how do you maximize your total Stats? Do you got two pokemon who can breed with max HP and max DEF? Chromehawk 19:02, 27 April 2009 (UTC) Chrome

Turnback Cave

How does the game determine which kind of room comes next for each entrance? Is there any way to determine if the room the player is entering into will be a pillar room before entering it, or is getting through the cave in three rooms just dumb luck? Each room has four exits, the one the player came from warps them back to the entrance room, while the other three may take the player to several types of rooms filled with rocks or a pillar room.

• Partial Answer: Go to Turnback Cave, take a random room in first room/pillar room, look for the odd rock pattern, approx. 70% of the time I get a pillar. --Giratina's Embodiment. 15:52, 1 July 2009 (UTC)

Flash Fire

Status

Answered and added to the article

The current page says that Flash Fire will activate when the user is burned. However, Flash Fire nullifies Fire attacks, and thus the only moves that can possibly burn a Flash Fire user are Will-O-Wisp and Tri Attack. Flame Orb and Flame Body can also cause a burn.

The question: Does a burn really activate Flash Fire, or did the contributor see an interaction between Will-O-Wisp and Flash Fire and interpreted it incorrectly?

Will-O-Wisp is possibly nullified, since it's a Fire move, and Google says that Flame Orb does not get nullified, so the only case is Tri Attack. Does causing a burn with Tri Attack activate Flash Fire?

Burn does not activate Flash Fire. Tri-Attack, Flame Body, and flame orb, and being the victim of Synchronize/Psycho Shift)can cause burns while not being fire moves should the Pokemon with Flash Fire not be a Fire Type.(All legal Flash Fire Pokemon are Fire types, and thus Immune to burn anyways, which is probably why most would think burn activates it. Flash Fire can be put on Non-Fire types via Skill Swap, Role Play, Trace, or hacking). Similarly, Electivire, Jolteon, and Volt-Absorb Lanturn(As well as Ground Types) can still get Paralyzed by Non-Electric moves. Joe T.E. 18:36, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Iron Fist

Status: Answered

Is the list of moves that count as punches complete? Are there any punches which can't usually be learned by Hitmonchan, yet are boosted by Iron Fist?

• The Mystery Dungeon compatible moves are all tested, as shown on talk page. Were any other moves described as a punch missed?
• Answer: Testing shows Iron Fist only boosts punches compatible with Hitmonchan at some point.
  • The above statement is wrong. See talk page for Iron Fist for reasoning to real answer.

Shaymin

Some of my friends have told me that Shaymin's Sky Form isn't usable on wi-fi... we need to find out for sure. And to that end, test Rotom's forms. (Would I not be able to use an adorable specimen like him to fight with my friends online? ;_;)

• Partial answer: When going to Wi-fi, Giratina's Platinum Orb is taken off and Shaymin reverts to Land Forme. It's part of the games coding based from what I read some time ago. _*tc26_* 01:34, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

If this applies to the forms of Shaymin and Giratina,it is probably because the forms aren't programmed into the Diamond and Pearl versions.In order to be able to interact with D/P,this has to be done.Therefore I find it safe to assume that Rotom will also reverse into it's normal form. User:Uxie legend 15:46, 18 December 2008 (UTC)

Shaymin's Sky Forme is allowed on Wi-Fi in some way. On the page for Platinum version, there is an image of a Wi-Fi battle with Shaymin's Sky Forme.

It's most likely a Local Wireless battle. The forme lockout only applies to Wi-Fi as of now. The alternate formes work fine using local wireless, even when playing against D/P users. The forms work in D/P by having Platinum sorta Patch D/P with knowledge of the items and stats(Though the sprites will look like their normal forme on the D/P user's end. This patching also makes Hypnosis have 60% accuracy over D/P's 70%). I've also seen people able to bypass the Wi-Fi forme lockout using cheats as well, so it has nothing to do with D/P incompatibilitiesJoe T.E. 18:15, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Solid Rock

Status: Answered

Different sites give different percentages by which damage is reduced with this ability, and from the talk page, this still isn't resolved. What exactly is the correct factor?

I once did a Damage calculation where Solid Rock was considered to lower Super Effective Damage by 2/3rds(1.33 over 2x, and 2.66 over 4)(It was a Max Special Attack Kyogre in Rain using Water Spout on both Solid Rock Pokemon after having a 2.5 Increase to Special Defenses, and Light Screen up, with Camerupt and Rhyperior having Max HP and some Special Defense EV's as well, so that they would survive with about 1-10 HP left afterwards)and after testing it in actual gameplay, it did just as much damage as my calculator estimated it would. All my other calculations using the 2/3rds modifier usually matched up with gameplay to a T. I believe 2/3rds damage reduction is the accurate modifier. Joe T.E. 18:23, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

If you tested it in-game instead of on an online simulator, then that's good enough for me. ~Toastypk - ^Loom. 16:44, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

Crush Grip and Combusken

Status: Answered

Throughout places related to Pokémon Battle Revolution, there is talk of a Combusken which knows Crush Grip. Which Colosseum is this Combusken found in, and is it really Crush Grip or Crush Claw?

Answer: It's in the Sunset Colosseum, and it's Crush Claw. ^Chocolate 20:59, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Fire Fang and Platinum

Can Fire Fang bypass Wonder Guard in Platinum like it can in Diamond and Pearl?

Yes The Placebo Effect 19:31, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Future Sight failing

Sometimes, when Future Sight is used, it goes like "The foe's/wild __________ took the Future Sight Attack! But it failed!" Why does it do this?

• Future Sight has 90% accuracy. "But it failed" triggers when Future Sight misses.

• The same goes for Doom Desire and its 85% accuracy as well.

Reckless

Reckless increases power of moves which cause recoil. Exactly what attacks are affected by Reckless, and does Reckless affect the amount of recoil as well?

See also Talk:Reckless.

The attacks that could be affected by Reckless if Hitmonlee could learn them would be Volt Tackle, Wood Hammer, Brave Bird, Flare Blitz, and Head Smash. The moves that are affected are Struggle, Submission, Jump Kick, Take Down, Double-Edge, and Hi Jump Kick. The amount of recoil is affected. ~Steel Phoenix

Hypnosis

In Diamond and Pearl Hypnosis has a base accuracy of 70%, and in Platinum, 60%. How is the accuracy calculated in a battle between Pearl and Platinum? or it becomes 65%?

• It says above, in the Shaymin section, that Platinum's accuracy takes precedence in a local wireless battle. Dunno about over Wi-Fi, but I'd guess DP rules are used there. — Laoris _(Blah) 19:26, 23 January 2009 (UTC)

Technician

Technician increases the base power of the user's moves that have a base power of 60 and/or below. Since Confusion inflicts a base power 40 typeless attack onto the affected Pokémon, does Technician affect this self-inflicted damage as well?

See also Talk:Technician.

I'm pretty sure it's just talking about moves. ~Toastypk - ^Loom. 17:19, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Magic Guard and Toxic Spikes

Does Magic Guard protect the Pokémon from contracting poison due to Toxic Spikes? See Talk:Magic Guard. Yenreb 05:06, 19 April 2009 (UTC)

• It can get poisoned but won't take any poison damage between turns. ~ Solarys 02:32, 1 July 2009 (UTC)

No Guard

Status: Answered

Does No Guard affect all the Pokemon in a double battle? Or just between the one Pokemon and the one he/she is fighting at the moment? ~Toastypk - ^Loom. 23:46, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

No Guard only affects user and target. Seems last test I did was me getting lucky. Gywall Talk 22:22, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

Micle Berry

How much does the Micle Berry raise accuracy of the next move by? Or will it always hit? ~Toastypk - ^Loom. 23:52, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

• The next selected move always hits; it's like an automatic lock-on. I've tested in game with Sheer Cold and it never missed after using Micle berry. Solarys 20:05, 4 June 2009 (UTC)

Characteristics

What happens when multiple IVs are the highest ones? For example, 28 in Sp.A. and Speed, 30 in Def. and HP? TTEchidna 02:22, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

• It picks a random one to display. ~ Solarys 02:29, 1 July 2009 (UTC)

Pickup and Trace

If a Pokémon traces Pickup, could it have an item it found after battle (assuming it wasn't already holding one? The same goes for Honey Gather. --RiverAura 21:17, 1 September 2009 (UTC)

• No. Trace is only temporary. After battle, it's gone. ^ht14 15:02, 2 September 2009 (UTC)

Evasion and Accuracy in double battles

Let's say I'm in a double battle and I have Vaporeon and Roserade on my side, against a trainer who has Garchomp and Pikachu. A Sandstorm is up (Garchomp gets +1 Evasion due to Sand Veil) and Pikachu used Double Team 3 times before. Vaporeon decides to use Surf, which affects all Pokémon on the field except the user. Does the move succeed or fail for all Pokémon, or could Pikachu (+3 Evasion) evade the attack while Garchomp (+1 Evasion) can't? For that matter, does the accuracy check (not just evasion) get re-done for each target Pokémon, or is it done only once when the move is about to be executed? Looce 23:17, 15 November 2009 (UTC)