Monstazoa - Growing & Battling

Growth Stages

Sometimes a single species of Monstazoa will have multiple distinct stages of life, so distinct in both appearance and behavior that they are categorized ecologically speaking as different creatures. Zoa will undergo these dramatic transformations naturally as they grow stronger, when they reach certain milestones in life, or when certain dietary or environmental conditions are met. Some species have split growth paths with more than one potential growth stage, determined by sex or the environment they were raised in. Some can even achieve a new growth stage under mysterious circumstances that have not yet been determined definitively!
A single Monstazoa usually never transforms from one growth stage to another more than twice, for a total of three stages. These stages are:
Juvenile - The very first stage of a Monstazoa's life. Zoa at this stage are often being raised by their parents and can't get by without help.
Mature - The middle or adult stage of a Monstazoa's life. Zoa in this stage are typically at their strongest physically and are able to reproduce. Zoa species that do not have any distinct growth stages are almost always considered a part of this stage.
Senescent - The later stage of life. Zoa in this stage are no longer able to reproduce, and are beginning to grow old. They may still gain new abilities previously unattainable by the middle stage.

Understanding Stats and Power Levels

[Strength] measures how hard a Zoa can hit physically, as well as how much it can carry or push. Its ranking is determined proportionally for each species based on its size and weight. This stat is linked with the consumption of Proteins.
[Hardiness] measures how well a Zoa can withstand physical attacks, as well as other physical challenges like extreme temperatures and illness. This stat may also apply to stamina and the ability to recover from exhaustion. This stat is linked with the consumption of Vitamins & Minerals.
[Intelligence] measures how effectively a Zoa can utilize psychological and emotional attacks, as well as how well it can navigate complex or unfamiliar situations like puzzles. This stat is linked to the consumption of Carbohydrates.
[Nerve] measures how well a Zoa can overcome psychological and emotional pressures. This stat may also apply to its ability to move stealthily without being spotted. This stat is linked with the consumption of Fiber.
[Speed] measures how quickly a Zoa moves during normal action. This stat is linked to the consumption of Sugars.

Rankings for each stat are as follows:

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 Nonexistent
🖤🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 Awful
🖤🖤🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 Bad
🖤🖤🖤🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 Poor
🖤🖤🖤🖤🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 Below Average
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 Average
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🤍🤍🤍🤍 Above Average
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🤍🤍🤍 Good
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🤍🤍 Great
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🤍 Incredible
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 Impossible

A Zoa's Power Level is a summary of all five stat rankings combined and is used as shorthand for determining how powerful it may be in a competetive setting. The number ranges from 0 to 100-- the higher the number, the more powerful the species. This number is used to organize species into various tiers in professional sporting events, but otherwise it does little to reflect on a species' true potential or usefulness. In some scenarios, a higher stat in one or multiple areas may be even be detrimental.

Attributes

Attributes are various passive abilities and skills that a species may possess. Which Attributes an individual has can determine many different things including how it withstands different climates and weather conditions, how well it stands up to different kinds of attacks in battle, the way it navigates its environment while walking with you, and what actions its capable of executing. Many attributes have multiple uses both in and out of a battle setting. Considering a Zoa's attributes will help you as its trainer better understand its capabilities and what it can do for you and the rest of your team.

[Warm-Blooded] - This Zoa's body remains a constant temperature in all climates.
[Cold-Blooded] - This Zoa's body temperature changes to match the environment.
[Antifreeze] - This Zoa cannot be frozen solid or harmed by the cold.
[Fireproof] - This Zoa cannot be incinerated or harmed by heat.
[Grounded] - This Zoa cannot be electrocuted or harmed by electricity.
[Hardy] - This Zoa cannot be poisoned or harmed by toxins.
[Water-Breathing] - This Zoa can breathe underwater.
[Air-Breathing] - This Zoa can breathe above water.
[Non-Breathing] - This Zoa can survive in a vacuum.
[Social] - This Zoa can understand emotional cues and forms bonds easily.
[Language-User] - This Zoa can communicate using a form of language.
[Crushproof] - This Zoa cannot be injured by any weight or crushing force.
[Puncture-Proof] - This Zoa's outer skin cannot be punctured.
[Oblivious] - This Zoa cannot be injured psychologically or emotionally.
[Fragile] - This Zoa is very vulnerable to physical force.
[Sensitive] - This Zoa is very vulnerable to psychological and emotional pressure.
[Super Sniffer] - This Zoa has a strong sense of smell.
[Sharp Eyed] - This Zoa has strong eyesight.
[Keen Eared] - This Zoa has a strong sense of hearing.
[Blind] - This Zoa cannot see.
[Deaf] - This Zoa cannot hear.
[Heat Vision] - This Zoa can sense differences in temperature.
[Multipier] - This Zoa will undergo mitosis under the right conditions.
[Form-Changer] - This Zoa will undergo a transformation under the right conditions.
[Wall-Walker] - This Zoa can traverse smooth verical surfaces.
[Rideable] - This Zoa can carry a Human on its back.
[Soft To The Touch] - This Zoa calms all other Zoa that make physical contact with it.

Special Moves

All Monstazoa posess one Special Move. This move cannot be unlearned, and is unique to each growth stage of each species. The Special Move typically reflects a behavior or adaptation that most allows the species in question to be successful in its natural environment, and often reflects a niche that no other species can fill. Each and every Special Move has a situation where it is useful, sometimes even crucial, even if it does not seem that way at first glance.

Chosen Moves

Monstazoa individuals, in addition to their Special Move, can also learn up to three Chosen Moves. These moves are often simpler and more universal, techniques that are shared among multiple different species, and can all be made stronger or more effective with training. Using them in combination with their Special Move may produce exciting results! You may notice that multiple wild Zoa living together in the same habitat will have similar movesets, but any individual can learn any combination of moves from their species' movepool.
The number of additional move slots that an individual has is both species-dependant and a product of training and age. Zoa with multiple distinct life stages may gain move slots as they grow, while others may never be able to gain more than they are born with. Some Zoa have no additional moveslots at all, only relying on their Special Move to survive.

List of Chosen Moves:
[Pass] - The user takes no action.
[Brace] - The user tenses its body, bracing for a physical attack. This reduces damage taken by varying amounts based on multiple factors.
[Self Soothe] - The user takes deep breaths, reducing its fear.
[Bite] - The user chomps at a chosen foe with its mouth. This does piercing damage.
[Pierce] - The user stabs at a chosen foe with a pointy beak, proboscis, or blade. This does piercing damage.
[Punch] - The user hits a chosen foe with a closed fist or clublike appendage. This does blunt force damage.
[Slash] - The user slices a chosen foe using a sharp appendage.
[Shake Off] - The user shakes its body, throwing off any physically attached debris, moisture, or foes.
[Spin Around] - The user spins in a circle, nauseating itself.
[Throw Ally] - The user picks up a chosen ally and throws it at a chosen target. This move fails if the user is not strong enough to carry the selected ally.
[Throw Item] - The user throws its held item at a chosen target. If the user has a parasite attached to itself, it will throw that first before using its item.
[Throw Up] - The user empties the contents of its stomach. This rids the user of gastric parasites, but also nauseates it and cuts its current HP by half.