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Mastering Critical Hits: A Comprehensive Guide to Moves, Mechanics, and Maximization

Critical hits can be game-changers, turning the tide of battle with a surge of unexpected power. Understanding how to manipulate and maximize critical hits is a crucial element of strategic gameplay, and will give you a cutting-edge advantage. So, what moves boost critical hit, and how can you optimize your strategies around them?

Moves and Abilities That Boost Critical Hit Rate

Several factors influence a Pokémon’s chance to land a critical hit. We can divide these factors into two main categories: moves that guarantee a critical hit under specific conditions and moves with an increased critical hit ratio.

Guaranteed Critical Hits (Conditional):

Storm Throw (Fighting-type): This move always results in a critical hit, ignoring the target’s Defense boosts.
Frost Breath (Ice-type): Similar to Storm Throw, Frost Breath guarantees a critical hit, bypassing typical critical hit checks.
Zippy Zap (Electric-type): Pikachu’s signature move, Zippy Zap always critically hits and always goes first.
Surging Strikes (Water/Fighting-type): Urshifu’s signature move, Surging Strikes always critically hits.
Wicked Blow (Dark/Fighting-type): Urshifu’s other signature move, Wicked Blow always critically hits.
Flower Trick (Grass-type): This move always lands a critical hit and ignores accuracy and evasion modifications.
Moves under Laser Focus: Any move used by a Pokémon under the effect of Laser Focus will always result in a critical hit. Laser Focus raises the user’s critical-hit ratio.

Moves with an Increased Critical Hit Ratio:

These moves have a higher base chance of landing a critical hit compared to standard moves:

Slash (Normal-type)
Stone Edge (Rock-type)
Razor Leaf (Grass-type)
Blaze Kick (Fire-type)
Spacial Rend (Dragon-type)

Items and Abilities that Increase Critical Hit Ratio:

Super Luck (Ability): This ability doubles the holder’s critical hit ratio.
Razor Claw (Held Item): Razor Claw increases the critical-hit ratio of the holder.
Scope Lens (Held Item): The Scope Lens increases the critical-hit ratio of the holder.
Focus Energy (Move): This move raises the user’s critical hit ratio by two stages.

By strategically combining these moves, items, and abilities, trainers can significantly increase their Pokémon’s critical hit rate, giving them a substantial advantage in battle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Critical Hits

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about boosting critical hits, aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics involved.

1. What exactly is a critical hit in Pokémon?

A critical hit in Pokémon is a special type of attack that deals significantly more damage than a regular hit. Historically, critical hits doubled the damage dealt, however, more recent games have changed the modifier to 1.5x, and 2.25x with the ability Sniper. Critical hits also ignore any Attack or Special Attack stat decreases on the attacker and Defense or Special Defense stat increases on the target.

2. How is the critical hit rate calculated in Pokémon?

The base critical hit rate in Pokémon is relatively low. Without any modifications, most moves have a 6.25% (1/16) chance of landing a critical hit. However, this can be increased using moves, abilities, and held items. The critical hit ratio works in stages, with each stage increasing the likelihood of a critical hit.

3. Does the Super Luck ability stack with other critical hit boosts?

Yes, the Super Luck ability stacks with other critical hit boosts. This means that a Pokémon with Super Luck holding a Scope Lens and using a move like Slash has an extremely high chance of landing a critical hit.

4. How does Focus Energy work to increase critical hit rate?

Focus Energy raises the user’s critical-hit ratio by two stages. While it doesn’t guarantee a critical hit, it significantly increases the likelihood, especially when combined with other boosting factors like held items or abilities.

5. Do critical hits bypass stat boosts and reductions?

Yes, a key advantage of critical hits is that they ignore any Attack or Special Attack stat decreases on the attacker and Defense or Special Defense stat increases on the target. This means that even if a Pokémon’s stats have been lowered by moves like Growl or Screech, a critical hit will still deal substantial damage.

6. How does the Razor Claw influence critical hit rate?

The Razor Claw is a held item that increases the Pokémon’s critical hit ratio. While the exact percentage increase isn’t explicitly stated in the game, it provides a noticeable boost, making critical hits more frequent.

7. What’s the difference between Razor Claw and Scope Lens?

Both Razor Claw and Scope Lens increase critical hit rate, but it is generally accepted that Scope Lens gives a bigger boost to the Critical Hit Ratio than the Razor Claw.

8. Can critical hits be prevented?

While rare, critical hits can be prevented by abilities and moves that negate their effect. For example, the ability Battle Armor and the ability Shell Armor prevent critical hits from landing on the Pokémon with the ability. Additionally, moves like Lucky Chant can temporarily protect a team from critical hits.

9. Do moves with guaranteed critical hits still consider abilities like Battle Armor?

No, moves that guarantee a critical hit, such as Storm Throw, Frost Breath, Surging Strikes, Wicked Blow and Flower Trick, and moves like Stone Edge used while under the effect of Laser Focus, bypass abilities like Battle Armor and Shell Armor. This makes them particularly potent against opponents relying on those abilities for defense.

10. How important is critical hit rate compared to other stats like Attack and Speed?

The importance of critical hit rate depends on the trainer’s strategy. While high Attack and Speed are consistently valuable, a focus on critical hits can create unexpected damage spikes, especially against opponents who are defensively strong. A balanced approach is often the most effective.

11. Can held items like Razor Claw and Scope Lens be stacked for a greater effect?

No, a Pokémon can only hold one item at a time. Therefore, you cannot stack Razor Claws or Scope Lenses to further increase the critical hit ratio.

12. How do critical hits affect moves with secondary effects?

Critical hits primarily affect the damage calculation of a move. Secondary effects, such as inflicting status conditions like paralysis or burn, are not directly affected by whether the move is a critical hit. The chance of triggering the secondary effect remains the same.

13. What strategies can I use to build a team around maximizing critical hits?

To build a team around maximizing critical hits, focus on Pokémon with the Super Luck ability or those that can learn moves like Focus Energy. Equip them with items like the Scope Lens and teach them moves with a high critical hit ratio, such as Slash or Stone Edge. This combination can lead to frequent and devastating critical hits.

14. How do critical hits work in double battles?

In double battles, critical hits function similarly to single battles, but strategic considerations become more complex. For example, using a move like Wide Guard can protect your team from moves with high critical hit ratios, while moves like Helping Hand can boost the damage of a critical hit even further.

15. How do I learn more about advanced Pokémon battle strategies and mechanics?

There are various resources available to learn more about advanced Pokémon battle strategies and mechanics. Websites, forums, and online communities dedicated to Pokémon battling can provide valuable insights. A good foundation of understanding the key concepts of learning within games can be found on the Games Learning Society website. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

What moves boost critical hit?