Elite Redux Ability Codex

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Aurora Borealis - Ability ID 291 ​

In-Game Description ​

"Ice-type moves gain STAB. Moves always benefit from hail."

Extended In-Game Description ​

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

Aurora Borealis grants STAB to all Ice-type moves regardless of the Pokémon's actual typing. Additionally, the Pokémon is treated as if it's always in hail weather for move effects, enabling Weather Ball to become Ice-type with doubled power, Aurora Veil to work without hail, and Ice moves like Blizzard to never miss.

Character count: 295

Detailed Mechanical Explanation ​

For Discord/reference use

Aurora Borealis is a unique weather-manipulation ability that provides two key benefits:

Core Mechanics ​

  1. Ice-type STAB: All Ice-type moves gain Same Type Attack Bonus (1.5x damage) regardless of the Pokémon's actual typing
  2. Permanent Hail Benefits: The Pokémon is treated as if it's in hail weather for all move calculations and effects

Implementation Details ​

cpp
constexpr Ability AuroraBorealis = {
    .onStab = +[](ON_STAB) -> int { return moveType == TYPE_ICE; },
    .hailImmune = TRUE,
};

The ability makes the Pokémon count as being in hail weather through the HasAuroraBorealis() function, which provides:

  • Weather Ball: Becomes Ice-type with doubled power (120 base power instead of 50)
  • Aurora Veil: Can be used without actual hail weather
  • Blizzard: Never misses (bypasses accuracy check)
  • Sheer Cold: Never misses (bypasses accuracy check)
  • Freeze-Dry: Never misses (bypasses accuracy check)

Battle System Integration ​

cpp
// Weather Ball type change
if (HasAuroraBorealis(battlerAtk)) return TYPE_ICE;

// Accuracy bypass for Ice moves
else if ((IsBattlerWeatherAffected(battlerDef, WEATHER_HAIL_ANY) || HasAuroraBorealis(battlerAtk)) &&
         (gBattleMoves[move].effect == EFFECT_FREEZE_DRY || move == MOVE_SHEER_COLD || move == MOVE_BLIZZARD))
    prio = ACCURACY_HITS_IF_POSSIBLE;

// Aurora Veil setup
if (!(IsBattlerWeatherAffected(gActiveBattler, WEATHER_HAIL_ANY) || HasAuroraBorealis(gActiveBattler))) {
    gMoveResultFlags |= MOVE_RESULT_MISSED;
}

Strategic Implications ​

Offensive Applications:

  • Non-Ice types can effectively use Ice-type moves with STAB
  • Weather Ball becomes a reliable 120 base power Ice move
  • Blizzard becomes a 110 base power move that never misses
  • Enables Ice-type coverage without requiring Ice typing

Defensive Applications:

  • Hail immunity prevents passive damage
  • Can set up Aurora Veil for team support without weather dependency
  • Enables defensive Ice-type strategies on non-Ice Pokémon

Numerical Values ​

  • STAB bonus: 1.5x damage multiplier for Ice moves
  • Weather Ball power: 120 base power (doubled from 50)
  • Accuracy boost: 100% hit rate for Blizzard, Sheer Cold, and Freeze-Dry
  • Hail immunity: No passive damage from hail weather

Interactions with Other Abilities/Mechanics ​

Synergies:

  • Adaptability: Would boost Ice STAB to 2x instead of 1.5x
  • Skill Link: Makes multi-hit Ice moves more reliable
  • Refrigerate/Pixilate: Would not stack (Aurora Borealis only affects naturally Ice-type moves)

Counters:

  • Cloud Nine/Air Lock: Negates the weather benefits but not the STAB
  • Magic Bounce: Can reflect Aurora Veil back to the user
  • Infiltrator: Bypasses Aurora Veil protection

Common Users ​

This is a custom Elite Redux ability, so usage depends on which Pokémon are assigned this ability in the ROM hack's design.

Competitive Usage Notes ​

  • Excellent for providing Ice coverage to non-Ice types
  • Enables reliable Blizzard spam without weather setup
  • Weather Ball becomes a powerful neutral coverage option
  • Aurora Veil support without weather dependency makes it valuable for team support

Example Damage Calculations ​

Assuming 100 Attack/Special Attack stat against 100 Defense/Special Defense:

  • Ice Punch (75 base power): ~56 damage → ~84 damage with Aurora Borealis STAB
  • Weather Ball (50/120 base power): ~37 damage → ~89 damage with Aurora Borealis
  • Blizzard (110 base power): ~82 damage → ~123 damage with Aurora Borealis STAB + guaranteed hit

Version History ​

  • Introduced in Elite Redux as a custom ability
  • ID 291 in the ability enumeration
  • Part of the extended ability system beyond the base game's 267 abilities

Elite Redux Ability Codex

Elite Redux Development Team