Sand Song - Ability ID 274

In-Game Description

"Sound moves get a 1.2x boost and become Ground if Normal."

Extended In-Game Description

For use in Elite Redux extended ability UI (IMPORTANT: exactly 280-300 chars counted WITH spaces)

Sand Song boosts the power of all sound-based moves by 20% and converts Normal-type sound moves to Ground-type. This includes moves like Hyper Voice, Boomburst, and Uproar becoming powerful Ground attacks. The type change occurs before damage calculation, allowing STAB and type effectiveness.

Character count: 294

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Sand Song is a dual-effect ability that enhances sound-based moves in two ways:

1. Power Boost: All moves with the FLAG_SOUND flag receive a 1.2x damage multiplier
2. Type Conversion: Normal-type sound moves are converted to Ground-type

Activation Conditions

• Must use a move with the FLAG_SOUND flag
• Type conversion only applies to Normal-type sound moves
• Both effects can apply to the same move simultaneously

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability SandSong = {
    .onOffensiveMultiplier = LiquidVoice.onOffensiveMultiplier,  // 1.2x for sound moves
    .onMoveType = +[](ON_MOVE_TYPE) -> int {
        CHECK(moveType == TYPE_NORMAL)
        CHECK(gBattleMoves[move].flags & FLAG_SOUND);
        return TYPE_GROUND + 1;  // Convert to Ground-type
    },
};

Affected Sound Moves

Normal-type sound moves (converted to Ground + boosted):

• Hyper Voice (95 BP → 114 BP, becomes Ground-type)
• Boomburst (140 BP → 168 BP, becomes Ground-type)
• Uproar (90 BP → 108 BP, becomes Ground-type)
• Howl (status move, becomes Ground-type)
• Roar (status move, becomes Ground-type)
• Sing (status move, becomes Ground-type)
• Supersonic (status move, becomes Ground-type)

Non-Normal sound moves (only boosted):

• Bug Buzz (Electric-type, 90 BP → 108 BP)
• Screech (Normal status → remains Normal)
• Chatter (Flying-type, 65 BP → 78 BP)
• Round (Normal-type, 60 BP → 72 BP, becomes Ground-type)

Strategic Implications

Offensive Applications:

• Converts Normal-type sound moves into powerful Ground-type attacks
• Enables STAB bonus for Ground-type Pokémon using converted moves
• Super effective against Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock, and Steel types
• Immune to Flying types and Levitate ability holders

Defensive Considerations:

• Ground-type moves are resisted by Bug, Grass, and Flying types
• Completely ineffective against Flying-types and Levitate users
• Sound moves still bypass Substitute regardless of type

Example Damage Calculations

Hyper Voice with Sand Song (95 BP Normal → Ground):

• Base: 95 BP
• Sand Song boost: 95 × 1.2 = 114 BP
• With STAB (Ground-type user): 114 × 1.5 = 171 effective BP
• Super effective: 171 × 2 = 342 effective BP

Common Users

Sand Song is typically found on:

• Ground-type Pokémon that learn sound moves
• Pokémon with diverse movepools including both Ground and Normal moves
• Defensive Pokémon that can utilize status sound moves

Competitive Usage Notes

Advantages:

• Significant power boost to sound-based movesets
• Type conversion provides better offensive coverage
• Status sound moves gain Ground typing for interactions
• Bypasses Substitute with sound moves

Limitations:

• Limited to sound moves only
• Ground immunity severely limits effectiveness against certain teams
• Depends on movepool containing sound moves
• No defensive benefits

Counters

Direct Counters:

• Flying-type Pokémon (immune to Ground-type moves)
• Pokémon with Levitate ability
• Sound-proof ability users (immune to sound moves entirely)

Situational Counters:

• Bug, Grass, and Flying types (resist Ground)
• Priority moves that outspeed sound attackers
• Choice Scarf users that can revenge kill

Synergies

Ability Synergies:

• Works with other offensive abilities like Adaptability for additional STAB
• Combines with stat-boosting abilities for enhanced damage
• Pairs with abilities that provide additional type coverage

Move Synergies:

• Sound moves that provide utility (Roar for phazing)
• Coverage moves to handle Flying-types and Levitate users
• Priority moves to compensate for sound move speeds

Item Synergies:

• Life Orb for additional damage boost
• Choice items for power or speed enhancement
• Throat Spray for Special Attack boost after sound moves

Version History

• Added in Elite Redux as ability ID 274
• Based on Liquid Voice framework with Ground-type conversion
• Part of the "song" ability family including Snow Song and Power Metal