Trace

[IAmCharlyBrown]

The Trace ability is supposed to copy the opponents ability, correct? Now, what about abilities such as:

Wonderguard (only super effective attacks work)
Plus Minus (stats raise depending on whether Plusle/Minun are in battle)
Forecast(Type changes based on weather)
Color Change(Type becomes that of what it was just attacked with)

Will these also apply to the Trace ability? And also, does Trace occur every time a new pokemon is put into battle, or only with the first pokemon which is battled?

[Chris 2.1]

These change everytime a new foe is sent out. I know for a fact colour change can be traced, and I would guess plus/minus would work, too, but I know Wonder Guard and Forecast won't be traceable.

[andyizcool]

I thought Trace would only work for the first Pokemon they send out unless you switch out. You would Trace their Trait and be stuck with that so you can't Trace the next Pokemon's Trait if you get what I'm saying.

[Aarkan]

I thought that you chose who you traced and you could trace your partners ability too?
Hmm.... Must go test that now...
Edit: nope, that didn't work on netbattle... wasn't there a move where you could switch abilities with someone though?

[andyizcool]

wasn't there a move where you could switch abilities with someone though?

That would be Skill Swap.

[IAmCharlyBrown]

yeah. Tracing ColorChange does work. Even made me immune to Psychic attacks after I had been attacked by a Dark one.

But I've also battled a Plusle/Minun team, and I didnt see where Gardevoir got any boosts from tracing either one of their abilities

[P0RYG0N]

But I've also battled a Plusle/Minun team, and I didnt see where Gardevoir got any boosts from tracing either one of their abilities

I think Pokemon with the Plus and Minus ability have to be on your team in order to gain any boost from it. Not sure, but I'd assume...

But, Trace can copy any ability. Even Wonder Gaurd. It all Depends on which Pokemon was out when you sent out your Porygon2/Gardevoir, you'll keep the ability untill you switch out.

I've never been lucky enough to have Wonder Gaurd traced yet, but I've always kept a Porygon2 on my Netbattle team in the case that a Shedinja ever gets sent out.

but I know Wonder Guard and Forecast won't be traceable.

It's been proven that Wonder Guard can be traced, not too sure about Forecast, but I'd assume that if Wonder Guard can be, it could be too.

Skill Swap dosen't allow you to swap Wonder Guard, by what you said I'm guessing Forecast is also the same way. That's probably where you got that from...

[rinku]

I know that Forecast can be Skill Swapped, though it doesn't work properly when done in Sapphire battle tower (the only only place I've done it). What happens is that the target stays the type it was when you swapped the ability, but the recipient does not seem to change type when the weather does. Probably this just means that you have to be both a Castform and have Forecast for the effect to occur.

I'd assume it can be Traced, though I've never tested that, and if Skill Swap is any indication it won't work anyway.

[Aarkan]

Hmm... there's gotta be some good skill swap combos out there...

[P0RYG0N]

Hmm... there's gotta be some good skill swap combos out there...

Skill Swap Keckleon can use combos, such as using Shadow Ball over and over

I've also heard of something for 2-on-2 battles, about skill swaping Medicham and Slaking's abilities.

[Aarkan]

Yeah I was thinking about skill swap with slaking, imagine one of slaking's returns hitting EVERY turn? ...I should test that one on netbattle...

[Don't Run With Scizors]

Yeah, Truant can be Skill Swapped off Slaking.

[Poryhedron]

What's fun is when you Skill Swap Truant off of Slaking, and then Skill Swap it onto one of the enemy pokémon... :badsmile: