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As Frisk ventures through the Underground, one consistent aspect stands out, the turn-based combat system employed in every monster encounter.
From the initial encounters with the friendly Froggit or the timid Whimsun to the heart-pounding confrontations against Undyne the Undying and even Asriel, the turn-based mechanics remain a fundamental aspect of every monster encounter.
This strongly suggests that monsters inherently possess the power to impose the rules of turn-based combat in any FIGHTs they initiate,
Now, at first glance, one might wonder, "Isn't all of this simply a product of gameplay mechanics?"
It's a fair point, however, as shown below, we have compelling evidence that unravels this argument.
Acknowledged Mechanics
Basically Sans understands that Frisk's power is overwhelming, and in a regular turn-based encounter, they would inevitably defeat him, so he decides to infinitely extend his turn, making Frisk unable to attack him given it's still not their turn yet.
This statement is pretty important, since it basically confirms that turn-based combat is more than just a gameplay mechanic, but a fundamental aspect of how FIGHTs are conducted and the way it's phrased implies that these rules apply not only to Sans but to all monsters within the Underground.
Additionally, Gerson's inability to be killed can be attributed to the fact that he never enters a FIGHT encounter with Frisk due to Shops making doing so impossible
Gerson's statement reinforces the notion that the turn-based combat rules are not merely gameplay mechanics but actual laws followed in FIGHTs and implies that he is fully aware of the turn-based combat mechanics and the limitations they impose.
If the rules were mere gameplay mechanics, Gerson's response could have been scripted differently or omitted entirely. Instead, his dialogue reinforces the notion that these rules are a genuine aspect of monster encounters.
Supporting Evidence
Encounters with ruthless and animalistic monsters further validate this notion.Whether driven by instinct or hired to kill Frisk, these monsters still adhere to the turn-based system, allowing Frisk to complete their turn even when utilizing time-consuming items like Instant Noodles, which takes over 5 minutes to prepare.
This further supports that the turn-based combat rules aren't simply followed simply due to a code of honor monsters have.
Furthermore, Royal Guard 01 and 02 who were told by Undyne to seek out and destroy you in the Neutral/Pacifist Routes, and definitely had more incentive to do so in the Genocide Route after they realize that you killed Undyne and attempt to avenge her, plus even if you kill RG 01, in which RG 02 reacts by making his attacks much more fierce and displays way more fury in his Flavor Text than RG 01, still has to wait over 5 minutes for you to finish the Noodles
Moreover, there's also these lines
The Biggest Counter
The biggest counter-argument against this is that the turn-based combat rules are specific to the Undertale universe and not necessarily a quality of monsters themselves. And as such, if Frisk were to fight another human, the same rules would apply.However, by examining the unique case of Photoshop Flowey, can provide a compelling rebuttal.
In the Photoshop Flowey battle, we witness a stark departure from the traditional turn-based mechanics that define monster FIGHTs. Unlike every other battle, this fight lacks any turns and is a full-on chaotic thingy, as seen by the boss fight here
This deviation is significant because Photoshop Flowey is the only non-monster character we face in the game.
And despite the fact that Asriel is infinitely stronger than P. Flowey, Asriel adheres to the turn-based rules during his battle.
Even as Asriel destroys the current timeline they are fighting in, he maintains the established turn-based mechanics.
If the turn-based combat were universal rules governing all battles, including those involving humans or non-monsters, we would expect to see consistent application across all confrontations. However, the deviation presented by Photoshop Flowey, as well as the adherence to these rules by even more powerful beings like Asriel, indicates that these mechanics are intricately tied to the nature of monsters
So yeah, here's the page
Monster Physiology (Undertale)
Monsters are one of the races which rules over the Earth alongside Humans in Undertale.[1] Unlike the latter, whose SOULs are independent from their body, and thus can persist after death, the Monsters' SOULs are much weaker given that they're linked to their body, thus when they die their SOUL...
vsbattles.fandom.com
- Law Manipulation: When one encounters a monster they enter a FIGHT, with turn-based combat being its most defining feature. This is acknowledged and demonstrated by various monsters. For instance, Sans is capable of extending his turn indefinitely, effectively stalemating Frisk and preventing their actions by exploiting these rules. Additionally, ruthless monsters, whether hired or driven by instinct, adhere to these rules, allowing Frisk to complete their turn even when consuming the Instant Noodles, which take over 5 minutes to prepare. Gerson's inability to be killed can be attributed to the fact that he never enters a FIGHT encounter with Frisk.
That's it.
