Grounded - Ability ID 298

In-Game Description

"Adds Ground type to itself."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Grounded adds Ground type to the Pokémon upon entry, creating dual or triple typing. Provides Electric immunity and Ground STAB. Exceptional on Flying types like Dodrio, negating their Electric weakness while keeping aerial advantages. Synergizes with Earthbound for boosted Ground moves.

Character count: 288

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Grounded is a type-addition ability that triggers upon the Pokémon entering battle. It adds Ground type to the battler's type combination using the game's third type slot (type3).

Activation Conditions

• Triggers automatically when the Pokémon enters battle
• Only activates if the Pokémon doesn't already have Ground typing
• Cannot be suppressed or negated by most ability-suppressing effects

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability Grounded = {
    .onEntry = +[](ON_ENTRY) -> int { return AddBattlerType(battler, TYPE_GROUND); },
};

static int AddBattlerType(int battler, int type) {
    CHECK_NOT(IS_BATTLER_OF_TYPE(battler, type))
    
    gBattleMons[battler].type3 = type;
    PREPARE_TYPE_BUFFER(gBattleTextBuff2, gBattleMons[battler].type3);
    BattleScriptPushCursorAndCallback(BattleScript_BattlerAddedTheType);
    return TRUE;
}

The ability uses the game's third type slot (type3) to add Ground typing. The type effectiveness system recognizes this additional typing using the IS_BATTLER_OF_TYPE macro, which checks all three type slots.

Type Effectiveness Changes

Gained Immunities:

• Electric-type moves (0x damage)

Gained Resistances:

• Poison-type moves (0.5x damage)
• Rock-type moves (0.5x damage)

Gained Weaknesses:

• Water-type moves (2x damage)
• Grass-type moves (2x damage)
• Ice-type moves (2x damage)

STAB Bonus

Grounded Pokémon gain Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB) on Ground-type moves:

• Ground moves receive 1.5x damage multiplier
• Applies to both physical and special Ground moves

Battle Message

When activated, displays: "[Pokémon] added the [Ground] type!"

Affected Pokémon

Primary Users (Main Ability):

• Turtwig line (Turtwig, Grotle) - Grass → Grass/Ground
• Skorupi - Poison/Bug → Poison/Bug/Ground

Secondary Users (Innate Ability):

• Dodrio line - Normal/Flying → Normal/Flying/Ground
• Archeops - Rock/Flying → Rock/Flying/Ground
• Various Steel-types in legendary forms

Strategic Implications

Synergy with Other Abilities:

• Earthbound: Provides 1.2x boost to Ground moves (1.5x under 1/3 HP), stacking with STAB
• Tectonize: Converts Normal moves to Ground type, gaining STAB from Grounded
• Sand abilities: Ground types are immune to sandstorm damage

Optimal Usage:

1. Flying-type Coverage: Eliminates Electric weakness while maintaining Flying advantages
2. Grass Synergy: Turtwig line gains defensive utility against Electric attacks
3. Offensive Potential: Enables Ground move STAB for coverage moves

Competitive Applications:

• Dodrio: Transforms from Normal/Flying to Normal/Flying/Ground, eliminating Electric weakness
• Turtwig line: Provides early-game Electric immunity and Ground STAB
• Steel types: Adds utility typing without major defensive drawbacks

Interactions with Other Mechanics

Ability Interactions:

• Levitate: Grounded Pokémon with Levitate maintain Ground immunity despite being Ground-type
• Air Balloon: Can still be held to provide Ground immunity
• Magnet Rise: Can still be used to gain temporary Ground immunity

Move Interactions:

• Earthquake/Magnitude: Grounded Pokémon take damage from these moves unless they have Levitate or are airborne
• Spikes: Grounded Pokémon are affected by entry hazards on the ground
• Arena Trap: Can trap Grounded Pokémon that don't have Flying type or Levitate

Counters and Limitations

Ability Counters:

• Mold Breaker: Cannot suppress Grounded as it's not a defensive ability
• Role Play/Skill Swap: Can remove Grounded, but the added typing remains
• Gastro Acid: Can suppress Grounded but doesn't remove already-added typing

Strategic Counters:

• Water-type moves for super effective damage
• Grass-type moves for coverage
• Ice-type moves for neutral/super effective damage

Version History

• Introduced in Elite Redux as part of the expanded ability system
• Functions similarly to other type-adding abilities like Turboblaze (Fire) and Teravolt (Electric)
• Part of the broader type-manipulation ability family

Competitive Usage Notes

Tier Rankings:

• Most effective on Flying-types that lose Electric weakness
• Moderate effectiveness on single-typed Pokémon gaining coverage
• Situational on dual-types that may gain unwanted weaknesses

Common Team Roles:

• Dodrio: Offensive pivot with Electric immunity
• Turtwig: Defensive wall with Ground STAB
• Archeops: Mixed attacker with Ground coverage

Usage Statistics:

• Popular on teams requiring Electric immunity
• Commonly paired with Earthbound for Ground offense
• Effective in formats with prevalent Electric attacks