None replied, which is alright. I wasted no time and tried the helper method. If your character doesn't use too many helpers, sparing some for AfterImages was the best decision. Depending on the palette, the char will use different afterimages. I've simulated the degrading effect with the last value in sinadd, which is a period of time your palfx will be changing from bright to dark at. Pretty simple and reliable. Probably nothing new, but I couldn't find anything 
[Statedef 717]
type=A
movetype=I
physics=N
ctrl=0
[State 0, VarSet]
type = VarSet
trigger1 = !time
var(0) = parent,anim
[State 0, VarSet]
type = VarSet
trigger1 = !time
var(1) = root,animelemno(0)
[State 0, pink]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 0 || root,var(55) = 8 || root,var(55) = 30
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 90,-45,90
mul = 255,255,255
sinadd = 100,100,100,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, light blue]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 1 || root,var(55) = 19 || root,var(55) = 23
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = -65,55,55
mul = 255,255,255
sinadd = 100,100,100,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, dark blue]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 7 || root,var(55) = 18 || root,var(55) = 20 || root,var(55) = 27
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = -45,40,100
mul = 255,255,255
sinadd = 100,100,100,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, light green]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 2 || root,var(55) = 9
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 40,140,-45
mul = 255,255,255
sinadd = 100,100,100,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, dark purple]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 3 || root,var(55) = 17 || root,var(55) = 28
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = -50,-150,0
mul = 255,255,255
sinadd = 100,100,100,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, Darkish red]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 4 || root,var(55) = 11 || root,var(55) = 15 || root,var(55) = 21 || root,var(55) = 25 || root,var(55) = 15
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 111,-40,-40
mul = 255,255,255
sinadd = 100,100,100,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, yellowish green]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 5
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 100,150,-50
mul = 255,255,255
sinadd = 100,100,100,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, blueish green]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 12
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 40,150,90
mul = 256,256,256
sinadd = 100,100,100,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, bright yellow]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 6 || root,var(55) = 13 || root,var(55) = 24 || root,var(55) = 26 || root,var(55) = 29
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 190,130,-100
mul = 255,255,255
sinadd = 100,100,100,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, PalFXWiz]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 14 || root,var(55) = 22 || root,var(55) = 31
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 240,50,0
mul = 250,200,120
sinadd = 110,55,85,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, broly]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 15
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 100,50,0
mul = 256,50,180
sinadd = 50,50,50,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 0, PalFXWiz]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 10
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 100,100,100
mul = 255,255,255
sinadd = 50,50,50,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 6, PalFXWiz]
type = PalFX
triggerall = root,var(55) = 16
trigger1 = time = 0
time = 2000
add = 50,50,50
mul = 256,256,256
sinadd = 120,120,120,35-11*(root,stateno = 1100)
invertall = 0
color = 0
[State 4,ChangeAnim]
type=ChangeAnim
trigger1=1
value=var(0)
elem=var(1)
[State 1,Trans]
type=Trans
trigger1=1
trans=addalpha
[State 2,AssertSpecial]
type=AssertSpecial
trigger1=1
flag=Noshadow
[State 3,NotHitBy]
type=NotHitBy
trigger1=1
value=SCA,NA,SA,HA,NP,SP,HP,NT,ST,HT
time=9999
[State 212,End]
type=Destroyself
triggerall = Ishelper
trigger1=time>=23
[State 711+6, ChangeState]
type = ChangeState
trigger1 = !ishelper
value = 50
ctrl = 1
