>>52961434Given that we've gone back and forth between a form change gimmick and elemental gimmicks, I get the feeling we're due for another form change gimmick after Terastalization to continue the pattern. As such, I believe our next gimmick will be what I will dub "Aetherfusion".
Much like Dynamaxing and Gigantimaxing, there are two types of Aetherfusion: normal Aetherfusion and Daiaetherfusion. Both can be performed once the player receives their Aether Gauntlet or whatever stupid MacGuffin is needed to activate it. It can only be done once per battle to boost a single Pokemon
>When Aetherfusion is used, the Pokemon will absorb the life energy of another Pokemon on the player's team, rendering that other Pokemon unusable for the rest of the battle. They're not Fainted, but they can't be used>The Pokemon that Aetherfusion is used on receives a variety of effects depending on the Pokemon whose life energy they absorbed. Examples include having their attack stat raised if the other mon is physically powerful like Hitmonlee or Machamp, or being healed if the other mon has high HP like Chansey or Audino>Powerful Pokemon can bestow more powerful buffs on the Aetherfused Pokemon, however these also come with some drawbacks, such as +2 Attack and Sp.Atk at the cost of their defenses being lowered by one stage, being completely healed of all ailments but becoming confused, or being immune to all damage at the cost of fainting within 3 turns and not being able to switch out>Most Legendary/Mythical Pokemon cannot be Aetherfused due to having too much life energy inside of them already (Read: competitive balance), though there are exceptions: Lugia can Aetherfuse with the Legendary Birds to boost its stats by one stage, Eternatus can Aetherfuse with Pokemon described as power sources such as Victini to transform Dynamax Cannon into Eternabeam, and Arceus can be Aetherfused with any mon to become that mon's primary type, regardless of what Plate is held(Cont.)
