Pokemorph Health

Pokemorphs, in a general sense, tend to be slightly hardier and more resistant to disease and injury than humans and untrained (wild) Pokémon. They are far from invincible, however, especially when faced with attacks of opposing Types.

Aging

Longevity can vary among Pokemorphs. Freebirths typically have a natural lifespan equivalent to humans, but those who were morphed from Pokemon (i.e., First and Second Gens, Unovans, and Liberated) have a degree of randomness determined by the morphing process. Some live longer than a human lifespan, some shorter: This is due to the nanomachines of Agent Armageddon having a variable effect.

For example, even though Fault was reaching an advanced age as a Sandslash, upon morphing he was returned to the prime of life. However, this variability can mistakenly produce a much younger or even older-appearing morph, particularly in the more unstable First Generation formula. In addition, aging may be slowed down or accelerated by the morphing process. The base Pokémon species appears to have no bearing on lifespan - however, the extension or reduction is never more than a decade or two in either direction.

Injuries and Recovery Moves

While Pokemorphs are slightly more robust than humans or untrained Pokémon, wounds are still wounds, and there is no Pokemorph-specific heightened healing factor. Also, to date, no technology exists to allow instantaneous full healing of Pokemorph’s injuries, as for Pokémon.

Potions and the like can be used on Pokemorphs, but the effects are slower and much less dramatic than when used on Pokémon. Thus Potions are used as on-site first aid rather than a cure-all. Treatment of injuries takes place much as it does for humans: seeking medical care, and allowing for natural healing.

Recovery moves or abilities (such as Recover, Rest, or Wish) are as effective on Pokemorphs as they are on Pokémon. They have dramatic healing capabilities. However, if a Pokemorph is severely injured, such as with broken bones or damaged internals, a recovery move is generally only enough to stabilize a morph (staunch bleeding, ease pain somewhat). It may give them strength to continue fighting temporarily, but not prepare them for extended activity. Even deep cuts that can be fused closed need to be rested off normally after combat if the healer isn’t particularly experienced.

That said, recovery moves magically know where to “put things” - there’s no minute misalignment of muscle fiber, capillaries, et cetera - but large-scale adjustments need to be close enough to prevent mistakes. Thus, being medically trained, and training at healing moves themselves, can dramatically improve their effectiveness, up to even the point of the miraculous reattachment of limbs. By and large though, the moves are for short-term battle situations. In the long term, medical aid is all that will allow a Pokemorph to fully recover from dangerous injury. In fact, using a recovery move multiple times can prove detrimental. For example, if used repeatedly on a broken leg, healing moves can fuse the bone into a bad angle and make it necessary for a doctor to rebreak it and set it properly.

Moves which banish status effects such as Poison or Paralyzation (such as Heal Bell) also work to full effect on Pokemorphs; however, they only heal conditions caused by moves like Toxic or Thunder Wave. Such a move would not work on arsenic poisoning (although many Poison-types may be able to process the poison to little detriment).

Evolution

Evolution, the permanent metamorphosis to another Pokémon species, is possible for morphs, though comes with complications. The human material that comprises a Pokemorph presents friction against rapid transformation, and the process of rapidly changing form can, at worst, tear a Pokemorph apart at a cellular level. While such a result is exceedingly less frequent than it is talked about, evolution is officially advised to be withheld until it can be performed under medical supervision. Specialized “Evolution Clinics” exist on Prism Island, dealing in the sale of evolution items and keeping experienced staff on hand to assist the process.

Because of the difficulty, evolution is typically painful and can take longer than for Pokémon. The process is easiest while under direct supervision and continual usage of Recovery Moves, and can complete in a little under a minute, albeit with a “burning” or “tearing” pain similar to that of The Change though not nearly as intense. Evolution can also take longer, though anything beyond five minutes is seen as a one-off event. Full recovery in fifteen minutes is the average, though advice to sleep off the soreness is always given, and disorientation in the new form can last for days.

The evolved face a challenge in the influence of their new Pokémon species, which can bring alterations to personality, though often not as radically so in Pokemorphs as it is for Pokémon. Every evolution comes with the risk of death, though such a result is now exceedingly rare, and Pokemorphs generally do not need to be hospitalized to overcome any evolution effects.

The common ‘experience’ evolution does create a statistical correlation between years lived and form, but evolution is not caused by normal aging. It isn’t uncommon for a Pokemorph to simply choose to never evolve, either by resisting the process indefinitely or purchasing an Everstone. Some enterprising Morphs have made their careers on crafting stylish jewelry and other accessories incorporating such stones.

Trade Evolutions

Since Pokemorphs are not traded between trainers in same way Pokémon are, a Trade evolution can be triggered by a major change in their life to occur. For example, quitting a faction or making a career change could induce evolution, as would losing a loved one, or even moving to a different location. Clinics also have specialized devices that can attempt to induce such an evolution, though the experimental tools come with no guarantees.

Diseases

When it comes to disease, Pokemorphs are generally quite hardy - many of them seem to show resistance to both human and Pokémon diseases; when they contract an illness, Pokemorphs tend to have milder symptoms. While it is possible for Pokemorph-specific strains of disease to develop, the only Pokemorph-specific illness known to date is the Rage Virus, which was artificially created and is now contained and vaccinated against. Recovery moves will not cure a morph suffering from disease.

Medicine and Medical Care

Medical technology is quite advanced (as compared to modern day real life), and the government of Prism Island, supplemented by Team Plasma, provides socialized health care for all citizens.

Notably, prosthetics are more advanced, and blood transfusions and organ transplants are more efficient. In the case of amputated limbs, medical technology may provide for regrowing and grafting entire limbs - and this option is often more affordable than top-of-the-line prosthetics!

Medical care for Pokemorphs tends to be a bit trickier than that for humans or even Pokémon, though large strides have been made towards research and application of medicine for them in the last several decades. Any care that is available for humans (or Pokémon) is available for Pokemorphs via Prism’s National Health Services.

Death

Unfortunately, Pokemorphs are ultimately as subject to mortality as any other living being - a Pokemorph who dies cannot be brought back to life through even the most advanced technology in the world. Death is inevitable and irreversible.

However, in some cases, a Pokemorph’s spirit may not leave the world of the living, and continue to exist as a Ghost-type morph, just as humans or Pokémon occasionally remain in this realm as Ghost-Type Pokémon.