Action speed

A Hisuian Typhlosion able to move more frequently than a Bidoof.

Action speed (Japanese: 行動順 action order) is a battle mechanic in Pokémon Legends: Arceus that determines the action order in which Pokémon use moves. The player can view the action order during battle, and can press Y to toggle the menu's visibility, which shows the action order of the next six moves.

Action speed is primarily determined by each Pokémon's Speed stat, but this can be affected by the moves they use. Using a move in agile style allows the user to take its next turn sooner, whereas using a move in strong style makes the user's next turn come later. The expected order of actions, accounting for the currently selected move and its style, is visible on the battle interface.

Mechanics

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Requires a more detailed and technical breakdown of how Action speed is calculated. How much do consecutive agile moves diminish?

In the game, the action order is determined via the participating Pokémon's action time, a value that acts as a wait timer and determines when a Pokémon will have its next turn. Increasing a Pokémon's action speed is equivalent to decreasing its action time, and vice versa.

In battle, every Pokémon's action time counts down at the same rate. When a Pokémon's action time reaches zero, it will be awarded its turn. After completing a turn, action time returns to the default value. If multiple Pokémon's action time reaches zero at the same time, then priority is given in the following order:

• The Pokémon that has gone the longest without a turn (does not apply to initial turn)
• The highest Speed stat
• The player's Pokémon

The default action time is directly based on the Pokémon's Speed stat.

Usually, battles begin with both Pokémon at their default action times. However, hitting a wild Pokémon with a back strike will catch it unaware; this sets the player's Pokémon action time to zero, and the wild Pokémon's to one, automatically awarding the player the first turn regardless of Speed. Conversely, if the player runs away from a battle and reinitiates a battle with the same Pokémon, the wild Pokémon's action time will be zero, and the player's will be one. (If both events occur at the same time, the game will prioritize the back strike and allow the player's Pokémon to move first.)

In Trainer battles, if a Pokémon is knocked out, then the next Pokémon sent out will inherit its elapsed action time. In many cases, this allows the next Pokémon to immediately execute a move, if its Speed is not significantly lower.

Moves that affect action speed do so by adding or subtracting from action time. Strong-style moves always add to the user's timer. Agile-style moves, however, work a bit differently:

• Agile-style moves that target a foe adds to the target's action time
• Agile-style moves that target the user subtracts from the user's action time

This means that in battles against multiple Pokémon, using an agile-style attack on one foe will not push up the user's next turn before the other foes'. In addition, using agile style consecutively has a diminishing effect on action time.

In most circumstances, using items will simply take a turn and not affect the wait timer. However, using items that in any way buff the player's Pokémon will subtract 3 from that Pokémon's action time. These items include:

• Aux Power
• Aux Guard
• Aux Powerguard
• Aux Evasion
• Dire Hit
• Choice Dumpling
• Twice-Spiced Radish
• Swap Snack

List of moves by action time modifier

Moves in Pokémon Legends: Arceus have several action time modifiers, which may be applied to both the user and the target after the move is executed. The following lists all moves in Pokémon Legends: Arceus by their action time modifiers.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 行動順序 Hàhngduhng Seuhnjeuih Mandarin 行動順序 / 行动顺序 Xíngdòng Shùnxù French Ordre d’action German Zugreihenfolge Italian Ordine delle azioni Korean 행동 순서 Haengdong Sunseo Spanish Orden de los turnos

This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.