Lagging Tail & Prankster: Move Last AND Still Not First? Let’s Unpack This Pokémon Paradox.
Ever wondered if putting a Lagging Tail on a Prankster Pokémon is genius or just lag? You’re not the only one, trainer. Pokémon battles are full of stats, abilities, and items. Things can get a bit convoluted. Let’s clarify Lagging Tail and the Prankster ability.
Lagging Tail: The Item That Makes ‘Last Place’ a Strategy (Sometimes)
First, the Lagging Tail. This item makes the holder move last in its priority bracket. Speed stat? Forget it. It’s like saying, “Hold your horses, Pokémon.” As Bulbapedia explains, “Lagging Tail makes the holder move last in its bracket, ignoring Speed.” Simple enough, right?
Some trainers might think, “Does this lower my Speed?” Nope! The item doesn’t change your Speed stat. It’s all about turn order. It’s like telling your Pokémon, “You’re fast, but today, you’ll be bringing up the rear.”
Now what about Trick Room, where slow Pokémon become fast? Lagging Tail shrugs at Trick Room. Really. “Pokemon with Lagging Tail simply ignore Trick Room,” states battle rules. No matter the flow of time, your Lagging Tail holder goes last in its priority bracket. They’re consistent!
Before thinking Lagging Tail is just a way to lose, consider its niche uses. Trick Room teams can use it sometimes. Moves like Gyro Ball might seem to synergize. But wait! Lagging Tail doesn’t boost Gyro Ball damage. “It doesn’t increase Gyro Ball’s power,” trainers have noted. It’s purely about move order!
Is it all bad for Lagging Tail? Not really. As one trainer said, “Lagging Tail simply frustrates you in the Battle Arcade.” Maybe not a battle strategy, but it can create chaos in some game modes. Plus, sometimes going last can be strategic for fainting, baton passing, or pure mind games.
Prankster: Status Moves with a Spritz of Speed
Enter Prankster, an ability that gives status moves a boost. “Prankster raises the priority of status moves by one,” is the rule. Suddenly, moves like Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp get a speed increase. It’s like espresso for status moves.
But hold on! Not all are affected. Dark-type Pokémon? They’re immune. They can easily shrug off those boosted status moves. As the word is, “Dark-types ignore opponents’ Prankster moves.” Your Whimsicott might hit a wall when trying its Prankster moves.
And it’s not just Dark types that block Prankster’s tricks. Quick Guard became a Prankster-blocking tool in Generation VI. Armor Tail and Psychic Terrain can also prevent priority moves boosted by Prankster. “Positive priority moves fail if affected by Psychic Terrain.” Keep this in mind.
The Grand Question: Lagging Tail + Prankster = Chaos or Calculated?
Now, for the big question: Does Lagging Tail cancel Prankster? Does it make your Prankster Pokémon move *slower*, even with boosted status moves? The answer is complicated but mostly no. Let’s break it down.
Prankster boosts the *priority* of status moves. Lagging Tail forces the holder to move *last in its bracket*. These are two separate mechanics. Priority brackets are like speed tiers for moves. Moves with positive priority go before others.
If you use a status move with Prankster and Lagging Tail, you still get the Prankster boost. You won’t suddenly move *before* moves like Quick Attack. Within that new priority bracket, you *will* move last due to Lagging Tail.
Take Trick Room as an example. It has a base priority of -7. Prankster raises that to -6. As one trainer discussed, “Prankster raises a move’s priority by +1. TR’s priority is -7, so it becomes -6. It only means you get your TR off before another TR, which matters little.” Using Lagging Tail on a Prankster Trick Room user doesn’t speed Trick Room up.
Think of it this way: Prankster puts you in a faster lane (priority bracket), but Lagging Tail puts you in the back. You’re in a quicker lane for status moves but at the very end of it.
Move Priority: The Hidden Engine of Pokémon Battles
To understand this, we must discuss move priority. “Some moves have priority values greater than 0. They go before others, even if the user is slower.” This is the basis for faster attacks in Pokémon.
Positive priority moves are the speedsters. Think moves like Bullet Punch, Aqua Jet, and Quick Attack. These moves, as one trainer pointed out, “always go first, regardless of Speed.” For example, Fake Out has a priority of +1, meaning it’s faster than most attacks.
What determines turn order? It’s a mix of factors:
- Speed stat: The classic factor.
- Move priority: Often trumps speed.
- Trick Room: Flips speed order in brackets.
- Held items: Quick Claw for speed boosts, Lagging Tail for guaranteed slowness.
And like Prankster, priority moves aren’t unstoppable. Psychic Terrain and Quick Guard can block or nullify priority attacks. “Positive priority moves… will fail if the user is in Psychic Terrain,” reminds us that even quick moves can be countered.
Gyro Ball & The Weighty Matters of Speed (and Tails)
Let’s revisit Gyro Ball, a move influenced by speed difference. “Speed values used for calculations take all modifiers into account,” including items like Iron Ball. Everything matters for Gyro Ball’s power.
But here’s the catch: “Effects that only alter movement order without affecting Speed (like Trick Room) don’t impact Gyro Ball.” Lagging Tail fits here too. “Lagging Tail doesn’t affect Gyro Ball’s calculations,” meaning no hidden mega-strategy here.
Weighty Items and Speedy Abilities: A Quick Detour
Let’s quickly cover other items and abilities affecting weight and speed. Heavy Metal doubles a Pokémon’s weight, making them heavier hitters. Float Stone lightens the load, halving weight. Iron Ball has unique effects on Pokémon speed, changing how some moves work.
speed-killer reduces Speed by 50%. Room Service? It triggers Trick Room. This decreases Speed during Trick Room’s effect.
Tails: More Than Just an Item (A Quick Biological Aside)
Here’s a fun fact: tails aren’t just objects in Pokémon! In nature, they are evolutionary wonders. Tails help with balance and communication. Lizards can drop tails for self-defense. Humans lost tails long ago, possibly from changes linked to walking upright. We traded physical tails for metaphorical ones like a Lagging Tail in a Pokémon battle. Just some deep thoughts for this guide.
And don’t forget about Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog. He is officially a boy, just to clarify. He likely wouldn’t gain much from a Lagging Tail. He focuses on speed!
Now, back to the question: Does Lagging Tail impact Prankster? Yes, in a roundabout way. It does not negate Prankster’s priority boost. Yet, your Pokémon will still move last within that priority group. Is this a smart strategy? Not usually. But understanding these details separates casual trainers from true Pokémon masters. Go experiment, and maybe find a unique Lagging Tail Prankster use. Just don’t blame us if you finish last. Literally.
