Buffer

Buffer is a new mechanic and stat within Pokémon Snagem. It provides a form of defense to super effective attacks for a Pokémon and their allies.

Effects

Ordinarily within double or triple battles, Pokémon benefit from flat damage reduction based on the combined total of it's buffer stat and it's ally's buffer stat when damaged by super effective attacks. The damage reduction only applies to the super effective damage multiplier and no other portion of the damage formula. For example, a Metagross has a buffer value of 2%, and a Salamence also has a buffer value of 2%, for a combined total of 4% buffer. .04 is subtracted from the 2X super effective damage constant, which is 2. Therefore, a trainer's Metagross and Salamence will both take 1.96X damage from 2X effective attacks when they are both active and healthy on the same side of the field. When taking 4X super effective damage, the buffer value is doubled, in this case resulting in 3.92X damage.

Shadow Pokémon benefit from their own buffer value and benefit from the buffer values of their non-Shadow allies, but do not provide their buffer to allies. Fatigued Pokémon have their buffer stat lowered to 0 until the status is removed. Suppression prevents a Pokémon from benefiting from their ally's buffer values and from aiding allies with their own.

The buffer stat has no effect in single-format battles. The buffer stat also has no effect against any damage that is not super effective. The combined total of a team's active buffer values is capped at 90%, allowing a team to take a minimum of 1.10X damage from 2X effective attacks and 2.20X damage from 4X effective attacks.

Each Pokémon's buffer stat is fixed and cannot be increased with EVs.

Determination of the Buffer Stat

A Pokémon's buffer value is determined by their trophic level and their temperament. Pokemon with a low trophic level and less violent temperaments will have higher buffer values, though S-level Pokémon have 50% buffer regardless of their temperament.

Violent Guarded Friendly Very Friendly
S 50% 50% 50% 50%
A 2% 4% 6% 8%
B 4% 8% 12% 16%
C 8% 16% 24% 32%
D 16% 32% 48% 64%

The buffer values above are the standard. Modifiers are sometimes given if the Pokémon meets specific criteria:

  • 1.2X multiplier if the Pokémon has only one type.
  • 1.2X multiplier is the Pokémon is Grass type.
  • 1.2X multiplier if the Pokémon benefits from Fairy Ring.
  • 1.2X multiplier if the Pokémon's ability is Insomnia.
  • +25 if the Pokémon's ability is Solid Rock.
  • 0.8X multiplier if the Pokémon is not fully evolved.

These modifiers operate strictly on a meta-level of design, they have nothing to do with how a Buffer stat actually functions within the game.

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