(Thanks to @Anne for the prompt)
So, A.S. Poseidon dropped, and it’s a cool monster. It seems like it can perform just fine. Granted, it relies on other Abyssoldiers to work properly, but it provides the Stun protection they desperately needed.
Despite that, though, I have a concern with the way they work: despite there being 12 of them, they’re probably the monster “series” that’s less teamwork oriented.
Thlugs are largely useless when used alone.
F.D.s unlock a new move when used together with their kin: despite being more than fine on their own, they’re better when run together.
P.G.s (except Gaiamid) become deadly together, rapidly charging one another.
Spikiestornado is useless without the other porcupines’ support.
Then we have the A.S., which is the only ones arguably better ran alone. The ATK/DEF boost is much more delicious, on average, then their Bond. Hence why, in the rare occasions you’re gonna see them, A.S. Antistan and A.S. Fokus are almost always on their own.
Here comes the hot take: replacing Attack (Dual) with one of their two SOLO moves (without restriction), and replacing that SOLO move with an A.S. support move.
A.S. moves would work like G.F. Heal, so they can only target a friendly Abyssoldier.
I think this would also make sense design-wise:
on one hand, they’d have a SOLO move, which symbolizes their Lone Fish nature.
on the other hand, they’d have a support move for their teammates, which symbolizes their Bond.
Possible moves would be A.S. Purifying Stealth, A.S. Heal, A.S. Pullback, A.S. Shield…