Conditional Attacks

Background

Conditional Attacks are attacks that do not function through conventional means of dealing damage. Instead, they impose a condition on the target — if the target performs a specific action or meets a specific condition, they are harmed; if they perform the required counter-action, they avoid harm. This may bypass traditional forms of defense such as durability, shields, or evasion.

The nature of the condition varies by setting. It may be tied to movement (standing still or moving), status (being human or youkai, master or slave), positioning (being inside or outside a certain area), or any other defined parameter. The attack itself is not necessarily powerful in terms of raw damage; it is dangerous because it forces the target to act in a specific way or suffer unavoidable consequences.

Conditional Attacks are distinct from danmaku patterns or typical projectile attacks because the harm is not determined by whether the attack physically connects with the target, but by whether the target fulfills the condition correctly. The attack may pass through or near the target without connecting, yet still inflict damage if the condition is not met.

Also Called

• Conditional Damage
• Rule-Based Attacks
• Action-Based Effects
• Counter-Condition Attacks
• Triggered Damage

Possible Applications

• Attacks that only harm targets that move
• Attacks that only harm targets that stand still
• Attacks that only harm certain species, types, or classifications
• Attacks that only harm targets in specific positions or states
• Attacks that only harm those who perform a specific action
• Attacks that only harm those who fail to perform a specific action

Practical Uses

• Movement-Based Conditions: The attack only harms targets that are moving, or alternatively, only harms targets that are standing still. This forces the target to either stop or keep moving to avoid damage.

• Status-Based Conditions: The attack only harms targets that meet a specific status criteria — such as being human, youkai, master, slave, aligned with a certain faction, or in a specific state.

• Positional Conditions: The attack only harms targets that are in a specific location, such as inside a marked zone, on a certain type of ground, or within a defined area.

• Action Conditions: The attack only harms targets that perform a specific action, such as attacking, casting a spell, or using a specific ability.

• State Conditions: The attack only harms targets in a specific state, such as airborne, grounded, invincible, or vulnerable.

Example Variations

• Movement-Triggered: The attack only harms moving targets. Standing still allows the target to avoid harm (blue attacks in Undertale).

• Stillness-Triggered: The attack only harms stationary targets. Moving allows the target to avoid harm (orange attacks in Undertale).

• Species-Triggered: The attack only harms specific species, types, or classifications. Being outside that classification allows the target to avoid harm.

• Status-Triggered: The attack only harms targets in a specific status (master/slave, human/youkai, ally/enemy).

• Position-Triggered: The attack only harms targets within a designated area. Leaving the area allows the target to avoid harm.

• Action-Triggered: The attack only harms targets that perform a specific action. Refraining from that action allows the target to avoid harm.