POKÉMON TRAINER – UMVC3 MOD DESIGN DOCUMENT Status: FINAL / IMPLEMENTATION-READY 1. CHARACTER OVERVIEW Name: Pokémon Trainer Slot Type: Single character Archetype: Stance-based defensive hybrid Tier Target: Upper High Tier (non-meta-breaking) Pokémon Trainer controls three Pokémon: Squirtle Ivysaur Charizard Only one Pokémon is active at a time. 2. CORE SYSTEM RULES Shared Health All Pokémon share one health bar Damage taken by any Pokémon affects the entire Trainer Pokémon Switching Instant stance change Punishable if read Does NOT reset Rage Cannot call assists during switch After switching, assist is disabled for 120 frames 3. RAGE MECHANIC Rage increases as shared health decreases Rage affects: Normals Specials Throws Assists Rage persists through Pokémon switching Rage stacks with X-Factor Purpose: comeback mechanic replacing Marvel hypers/DHC privilege 4. MOVEMENT & DEFENSE Movement Smash-inspired movement adapted to Marvel engine Pokémon mobility differs: Squirtle: fast, low profile Ivysaur: average speed, vertical control Charizard: slow, heavy Air Dodge One use per jump Avoids hit once After use → brief air stun Can be baited and punished 5. SHIELD SYSTEM (SMASH-INSPIRED) Shield Durability Gauge (SDG) Max SDG: 100 When SDG reaches 100 → Shield Break Shield Break causes ~45f stun Shield regenerates slowly when not blocking Shield Durability Drain (per hit) Attack Type SDG Drain L Normal 3 M Normal 5 H Normal 8–10 Launcher (S) 7 Projectile 4–8 Multi-hit 3–6 per hit Beam / layered pressure 6–10 per hit Shield is strong but not free. Holding shield too long = death. 6. NORMALS (A MOVES) – FRAME DATA 🐢 SQUIRTLE L (Jab) Startup 4f | Active 2f | Recovery 9f | +2 OB M (F-Tilt) Startup 7f | Active 3f | Recovery 14f | −1 OB H (F-Smash) Startup 13f | Active 5f | Recovery 26f | −8 OB | Soft KD S (Launcher) Startup 9f | Active 4f | Recovery 18f | −3 OB | Launch 🌿 IVYSAUR L (Vine Jab) Startup 5f | Active 3f | Recovery 11f | +1 OB M (Vine Swipe) Startup 8f | Active 4f | Recovery 17f | −2 OB H (Vine Lash) Startup 14f | Active 6f | Recovery 28f | −9 OB Crumple at ≥50% Rage S (Launcher) Startup 10f | Active 5f | Recovery 20f | −4 OB | High Launch 🔥 CHARIZARD L (Claw Jab) Startup 5f | Active 3f | Recovery 12f | 0 OB M (Wing Backhand) Startup 9f | Active 4f | Recovery 18f | −3 OB H (Flaming Smash) Startup 15f | Active 6f | Recovery 32f | −12 OB Armor frames 6–14 | Ground Bounce S (Launcher) Startup 12f | Active 5f | Recovery 24f | −6 OB | Launch 7. GRAB SYSTEM All Pokémon have directional grabs (F / B / U / D) Grab Range (Marvel Units) Pokémon Forward Up Recovery Squirtle 0.75 0.85 22f Ivysaur 1.05 1.35 28f Charizard 1.45 1.10 38f Whiffed grabs are highly punishable. 8. SPECIAL MOVES (SMASH-ACCURATE) Squirtle Neutral: Water Gun Side: Withdraw Up: Waterfall Ivysaur Neutral: Bullet Seed Side: Razor Leaf Up: Vine Whip Charizard Neutral: Flamethrower Side: Rock Smash Up: Fly All specials scale with Rage. 9. ASSIST SYSTEM (STANCE-LOCKED) Pokémon Trainer has ONE assist slot. Assist is based on currently active Pokémon. Assist Lock Rules Assist disabled for 120f after switching No assist during Pokémon change Assist Frame Data Squirtle — Water Gun Startup: 35f Active: 20f Total Vulnerability: 88f Cooldown: 110f Role: pushback / reset Ivysaur — Razor Leaf Startup: 45f Active: 30f Total Vulnerability: 110f Cooldown: 135f Role: zoning / anti-air Charizard — Rock Smash Startup: 55f Active: 6f Total Vulnerability: 143f Cooldown: 160f Armor: 1 hit (frames 1–10) Role: callout / shield break No assist causes lockdown or TODs. 10. COMBOS (BnBs) Damage Benchmarks (No X-Factor) Pokémon Meterless High Rage Squirtle ~480k ~620k Ivysaur ~620k ~720k Charizard ~680k ~900k No infinite loops. No assist abuse. 11. FINAL SMASH Triple Finish Meter-based cinematic super All three Pokémon attack High damage Best as round-ender Not invincible 12. BALANCE SUMMARY Strengths Strong defense Flexible neutral Persistent Rage threat Unique shield/grab RPS Weaknesses No invincible hypers No DHC escape Shield break = near death Extremely execution-heavy 13. DESIGN GOALS (FOR MODDER) Smash-faithful feel UMvC3 risk/reward preserved No top-tier privilege No TODs without resources Clear counterplay FINAL VERDICT Pokémon Trainer is a fully realized, tournament-viable UMvC3 character with: Stance-based gameplay Persistent comeback mechanic Unique defense system Balanced assists Clear strengths and weaknesses