Under paralysis and burn conditions, Tyranitar's Attack and Speed were both halved. It had been weakened by far more than just a little.
Mark's Absolute Status Strategy clearly was not limited to Spiritomb. It was even more terrifying when used on Togekiss.
And this was not even Togekiss's classic guaranteed-win tactic...
"Togekiss, Air Slash!"
Here it comes! Sato cried inwardly before swiftly issuing an order to Tyranitar.
Facade!
"Tar!"
Tyranitar let out a fierce roar, its entire body gleaming white. It did not attack, but stared unblinkingly at the incoming Air Slash and endured it head-on.
Facade doubled in power under negative conditions! During preparations, Sato had carefully studied the move and discovered that its principle was to use the effects of negative conditions to forcibly squeeze out its own energy, thereby doubling its attack power.
At the same time, it fought poison with poison, becoming immune to the effects of all negative conditions during that time.
What Sato wanted was precisely that extremely brief state of immunity.
This would prevent it from falling into the "flinching state" caused by Air Slash, while also...
Smack Down!
Dual Skill Release! In an instant, two enormous rocks appeared out of thin air above Togekiss's head and slammed fiercely into its pair of cloud-patterned wings as if they had locked on.
"Kiss!"
A scream rang out. Togekiss's wings were severely injured, and Smack Down's effect took hold, sending it crashing directly to the ground.
For Bird Pokemon, their wings were always the most important part. Once their wings were injured, more than half their combat power was instantly lost.
Togekiss's guaranteed-win Air Slash strategy was thus forcibly sealed by Tyranitar's premeditated move.
The only remaining threat was Aura Sphere, which came with its own tracking ability.
But as Tyranitar first applied Earth Defense