Does Burn Make You Do Less Damage? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is yes, a burn significantly reduces the damage output of a Pokémon. Specifically, it halves the damage done by physical moves. This debilitating status condition is a common and strategic element in Pokémon battles, making it crucial for trainers to understand its mechanics fully. Let’s delve deeper into how burn affects damage and answer common questions surrounding this condition.
Understanding How Burn Reduces Damage
Burn is a status ailment that affects a Pokémon, causing several negative effects. Beyond the periodic damage inflicted at the end of each turn, the primary impact on damage output comes from its influence on physical attacks. When a Pokémon is burned, the damage it inflicts with any move classified as a physical attack is cut in half.
This halving effect is a critical factor in battles, often turning the tide in favor of the unburned opponent. It’s important to note that this reduction only affects physical moves. Special attacks and moves that inflict direct damage (not dependent on the Pokémon’s attack stat), are unaffected by the burn penalty. This distinction is vital for strategic play, requiring players to carefully consider move choices when facing a burned opponent or when attempting to inflict a burn.
The Dual Impact of Burn: Damage and Attack Reduction
The strategic value of burn lies in its dual-pronged approach: it inflicts damage over time while simultaneously reducing physical attack damage. The periodic damage, while not as high as some other status ailments, adds up over several turns and can be significant in protracted battles. The halving of physical attack damage, however, is the real game-changer. This forces players to either rely more on special attacks or to actively remove the burn to regain their physical attack potential.
While the standard burn damage used to be based on a fixed number, it now inflicts damage based on a fraction of the burned Pokemon’s maximum HP, generally 1/16 of full HP each turn. This difference might seem subtle, but it adds another layer of complexity for players to consider when battling. The damage per turn from burn is also independent of the type match ups which is different from moves, allowing it to bypass some common defenses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Burn Damage
To provide a more complete understanding of the burn status, let’s explore some common questions:
1. How much does burn reduce Attack?
A burn halves the attack stat of a Pokémon when calculating the damage of physical moves. It is not a stat reduction like an attack debuff; it impacts the damage calculation directly. The actual “attack stat” value remains unchanged, but its influence is diminished in combat.
2. Does burn reduce special attack?
No, burn only affects the damage inflicted by physical attack moves. Moves that rely on the special attack stat are completely unaffected by the burn condition.
3. What is the chance of Burn wearing off?
Unlike other status conditions, burn does not wear off naturally unless healed using items or abilities. It remains until the burn is actively removed, making it a potent tactic in battles.
4. Is burn overpowered in Pokémon?
Many players consider burn to be one of the most powerful status conditions due to its combined effect of inflicting periodic damage and halving physical attack damage. The fact that it is permanent, without intervention, adds to its power.
5. Does burn do more damage than poison?
While both burn and poison inflict damage each turn, their mechanics are different. Traditionally, burn damage is a more substantial fixed damage, whereas poison damage can vary. In modern games, poison damage typically scales with the poisoned Pokémon’s HP and burn also does. However, in terms of damage potential burn will often do more damage than a non-toxic poison. However, toxic poison, which increases in damage each turn, can become more potent than burn over time.
6. What are the best ways to cure a burn?
Several methods exist to cure a burn. Held items like the Ice Berry, Chesto Berry, and Lum Berry can cure burns when used. Moves like Heal Pulse and Aromatherapy from other pokemon can remove a burn as well. Some Pokemon also have an ability like Natural Cure that will remove the burn upon switching.
7. Are there any Pokémon that are immune to burn?
Yes, Fire-type Pokémon are immune to the burn status condition. Additionally, Pokémon with the ability Thick Fat are also immune to burns, and also Freezing.
8. What does the Guts ability do when a Pokémon is burned?
The Guts ability raises the attack stat by 50% when the Pokémon is afflicted by a status condition, including burn. Crucially, Guts also negates the attack reduction of burn, allowing the user to inflict full physical damage while also receiving a boost.
9. How does burn work in the Pokémon TCG?
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), burn typically inflicts a set amount of damage (e.g., 20 damage) between turns, often determined by a coin toss. This makes it somewhat unreliable compared to poison.
10. Does the burn damage affect benched Pokémon?
No, special conditions such as burn only affect the active Pokémon. When a Pokémon is switched to the bench, it is automatically cured of any status ailment.
11. Is a Flame Orb better than a Toxic Orb?
The effectiveness of Flame Orb versus Toxic Orb depends on the Pokémon and strategy. If you have an ability like Guts, Flame Orb is superior as it provides the attack boost and negates the attack reduction from burn, with a less powerful, constant damage. Without guts, the better choice might be a Toxic Orb to do more damage per turn.
12. Can Cinderace be burned?
Normally, no because Cinderace is a fire type. However, if it changes its type via the Terastallizing mechanic or an attack, such as Trick-or-Treat, it could be burned.
13. Why is burn considered a strong stall tactic?
The combined effect of periodic damage and the reduction in physical attack makes burn a powerful tool for stalling an opponent. The burn damage chip away at your opponents health while their physical attacks are made less effective.
14. Can burn affect direct damage moves?
No, burn only affects the damage of moves that scale with attack. It does not have any impact on direct damage moves (fixed damage) such as Night Shade or Seismic Toss.
15. Is burn the best status condition?
While burn is a powerful and strategically relevant status condition, its effectiveness depends on the context of the battle. Paralysis, for example, can immobilize a target. It depends on your strategy and team composition for a status condition to be the “best”.
Conclusion
Burn is more than just a status ailment; it’s a strategic tool that can dictate the flow of a Pokémon battle. The halving of physical attack damage combined with the continuous damage makes it a force to be reckoned with. Understanding the nuances of how burn works, its limitations, and potential counters is crucial for any trainer aiming to achieve victory. By mastering the knowledge of burn, you can use this status condition to your advantage and become a more strategic and effective player.