TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Basic AI principles II. AI by fight III. Notes by fight NOTE: Emerald's code has been only partially disassembled, so this guide is based mostly on observations and may not be 100% accurate. ---------------------- I. BASIC AI PRINCIPLES ---------------------- - There are many AI clauses. Which clauses are in effect depends on trainer class, but given our current knowledge, it's easiest to simplify trainers as having "good AI" or "bad AI" - Characteristics of good AI (some exceptions apply): > Always try to OHKO if possible. This overrides most other decisions > Favor stat-increasing or stat-lowering moves when HP is above 70% > Choose most damaging move (e.g., Rock Throw over Tackle) > If multiple moves will kill, select one at random > If faster than the player (you), do not use a Speed-lowering move > "Ignore" fixed-damage moves such as Seismic Toss and Sonicboom (they can be used but are never encouraged or discouraged) > Discourage confusion moves when the player is at low HP (e.g., Supersonic, Confuse Ray) > Dismiss useless moves (e.g., Supersonic if already confused) - Characteristics of bad AI: > Select a move at random > Dismiss useless moves in some cases, but not all > Do not calculate damage - When calculating damage, the AI first "simulates" a roll. This is separate from the actual roll that occurs if the move is chosen. For example, if you have 13 HP and a trainer with good AI has one attacking move that does 12-15 damage, it will always choose that move if the simulated roll is 13, 14 or 15, but not necessarily if the simulated roll is 12. - In double battles, the AI looks at both of your Pokemon before making a decision, unlike Sapphire. So for example, if Pokemon 1 is in kill range and Pokemon 2 isn't, it will always target Pokemon 1 - All wild Pokemon will choose a move at random under all circumstances ---------------------- II. AI BY FIGHT ---------------------- Rival 1 Good Calvin Bad Grunt Bad Josh Bad Tommy Bad Marc Bad Roxanne Good Clark Bad Devan Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Pokefan Bad Pokefan Bad Rival 2 Good Triathlete Bad Psychic Bad Youngster Bad Wally 1 Good Ben Bad Wattson Good Hiker Bad Hiker Bad Aroma Lady Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Tabitha Bad Maxie 1 Good Flannery Good Brawly Good Cooltrainer Good Cooltrainer Good Cooltrainer Good Norman Good Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt double Bad Shelly Good Rival 3 Good Bird double Bad Bird Keeper Good Winona Good Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt double Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt double Bad Tabitha Bad Maxie 2 Bad Grunt double Bad Grunt double Bad Matt Good Swimmer Bad Mossdeep double Bad Psychic Bad Hex Maniac Bad Psychic Bad Tate & Liza Good Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad Grunt Bad True double Good Archie Good Juan Good Wally 2 Good Cooltrainer Good Cooltrainer Good Cooltrainer Good Cooltrainer Good Cooltrainer Good Sidney Good Phoebe Good Glacia Good Drake Good Champion Good ---------------------- III. NOTES BY FIGHT (not updated) ---------------------- These fights follow "good AI" rules unless otherwise noted. RIVAL 1 - Seems to discourage Leer after turn 1, but can still use it - Seems to never use Leer when you're below 70% HP ROXANNE - Favors Rock Tomb if Mudkip is faster; can't be used otherwise - Favors Harden on turn 1 - Greatly favors Block on turn 2+ once your Speed has been lowered - Favors Harden on the turn after you use Growl, Mud-Slap or Tackle (~75% likely if nothing else is favored) POKEFANS (they only have partial "bad AI") - All: 50% Growl, 50% QA RIVAL 2 - Slugma: 50% Yawn, 50% Ember unless in kill range (even when asleep) - Always uses QA if it kills - Discourages Supersonic if your HP is 70% or less; dismisses it at 50% or less WALLY - Generally spams Double Team WATTSON - Voltorb: ~89% Rollout, ~11% Selfdestruct - Favors Howl on turn 1 - Seems to discourage Howl after turn 1, but can still use it - Discourages Supersonic if your HP is 70% or less; dismisses it at 50% or less MAXIE 1 - Discourages Sand-Attack if your HP is 70% or less FLANNERY - Slugma: ~40% Smog, ~30% Light Screen, ~30% Sunny Day - Slugma: Cannot use Light Screen if it has 50% HP or less - Slugma: Cannot use Sunny Day if it has 40% HP or less - Dismisses Overheat unless it can kill - Torkoal: ~60% Body Slam, ~40% Attract RANDALL - 100% Wing Attack PARKER - 33% Focus Punch, 33% Dizzy Punch, 33% Teeter Dance - Does not discourage Teeter Dance when confused JODY - On turn 1: ~80% Swords Dance, ~20% Slash - On turn 2+ ~40% Swords Dance, ~60% Slash MARY - 100% Faint Attack GEORGE - At full HP: 50% Counter, 50% Shadow Ball - Favors Slack Off at low HP BERKE - ~70% Slash, 30% Focus Energy NORMAN - Spinda: 50% Facade, 50% Teeter Dance - Does not discourage Teeter Dance when confused - Never uses Encore - Discourages Belly Drum - Encourages Counter - Discourages Yawn - Does not dismiss Yawn if you are asleep SHELLY - Encourages Swagger if your HP is high - Discourages Swagger if your HP is low RIVAL 3 - Encourages Harden and Amnesia on turn 1 - Pelipper: 100% Protect turn 1 - Discourages Supersonic if your HP is 70% or less; dismisses it at 50% or less WINONA - Swablu: ~50% Mirror Move, 17% Safeguard, 17% Aerial Ace, 17% Perish Song - Always switches out Swablu on the last turn of Perish Song - Pelipper: ~90% Protect, 10% Supersonic turn 1 when you are at half HP - Pelipper: ~100% Protect if your HP is low (somewhere around 30%) - Skarmory: Discourages Sand-Attack if your HP is 70% or less - Favors Dragon Dance on turn 1 MAXIE 2 - Favors Scary Face - Encourages Swagger if your HP is high - Discourages/dismisses Swagger if your HP is low/lower - Dismisses Confuse Ray if your HP is 50% or less TATE & LIZA - Claydol: Always uses EQ if one of your Pokemon dies to it - Xatu: Favors Calm Mind on turn 1 - Dismisses Confuse Ray if your HP is 50% or less TRUE DOUBLE - Favors Scary Face - Encourages Swagger if your HP is high - Discourages/dismisses Swagger if your HP is low/lower - Discourages Taunt - Favors Amnesia on turn 1 - Crobat: Seems to favor Mean Look - Dismisses Confuse Ray if your HP is 50% or less ARCHIE 2 - Favors Scary Face - Encourages Swagger if your HP is high - Discourages/dismisses Swagger if your HP is low/lower - Dismisses Confuse Ray if your HP is 50% or less JUAN - Favors Amnesia on turn 1 WALLY - Favors Dragon Dance on turn 1 SIDNEY - Discourages Sand-Attack if your HP is 70% or less - Absol: Favors Swords Dance on turn 1 PHOEBE - First Dusclops: 100% Protect turn 1 - Dismisses Confuse Ray if your HP is 50% or less GLACIA - Favors Hail DRAKE - Shelgon: 75% Protect, 25% Rock Tomb on turn 1 STEVEN - Wailord: Favors Blizzard - Gyarados: Favors Dragon Dance on turn 1