Seed Sower - Ability ID 543

In-Game Description

"Sets Grassy Terrain when hit. Heals party status when it does."

Extended In-Game Description

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

Activates Grassy Terrain when the Pokémon takes damage from a direct attack, lasting 5/8 turns depending on item. Simultaneously heals all party Pokémon's status conditions including poison, burn, paralysis, sleep, freeze, frostbite, and bleeding, plus nightmare.

Character count: 295

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Seed Sower is a defensive reaction ability that triggers when the Pokémon takes damage from a direct physical or special attack (not indirect damage like weather or status conditions).

Activation Conditions

• Must be hit by a direct damaging move
• Activates even if the Pokémon faints from the hit
• Uses the ShouldApplyOnHitAffect() check, so blocked by abilities like Magic Guard

Terrain Setting Effect

When triggered, Seed Sower attempts to set Grassy Terrain on the battlefield:

• Duration: 5 turns normally, 8 turns if the user holds a Terrain Extender
• Permanent: Terrain can be made permanent by certain field effects
• Priority: Can override existing terrain types
• Airborne Interaction: The ability has allowTerrainIfAirborne = TERRAIN_GRASSY, meaning the user benefits from Grassy Terrain even when airborne (Flying-type, Levitate, etc.)

Party Status Healing Effect

Simultaneously with setting terrain, Seed Sower calls BattleScript_HealAllPartyStatus which heals all party Pokémon of:

Status1 Effects (Major Status Conditions):

• Sleep (all sleep turns)
• Poison (regular)
• Toxic Poison (with counter reset)
• Burn
• Paralysis
• Freeze
• Frostbite
• Bleeding

Status2 Effects (Volatile Status):

• Nightmare

Technical Implementation

constexpr Ability SeedSower = {
    .onDefender = +[](ON_DEFENDER) -> int {
        CHECK(ShouldApplyOnHitAffect(battler))
        CHECK(TryChangeBattleTerrain(battler, STATUS_FIELD_GRASSY_TERRAIN, &gFieldTimers.terrainTimer))

        BattleScriptCall(BattleScript_SeedSower);
        return TRUE;
    },
    .allowTerrainIfAirborne = TERRAIN_GRASSY,
};

The battle script sequence:

1. Prints "The battlefield became grassy!"
2. Plays terrain change animation
3. Calls terrain change effects
4. Heals all party status conditions
5. Displays appropriate healing messages

Grassy Terrain Benefits

Once set, Grassy Terrain provides additional benefits:

• HP Recovery: Grounded Pokémon heal 1/16 of max HP each turn
• Grass Move Boost: Grass-type moves deal 50% more damage
• Earthquake Reduction: Earthquake, Magnitude, and Bulldoze deal 50% less damage to grounded Pokémon
• Duration: 5 turns (8 with Terrain Extender)

Strategic Implications

Defensive Utility:

• Immediate party-wide status cleansing makes it excellent for defensive teams
• Can be used as a sacrifice play to cleanse status and set terrain for the team
• Works well on bulky Pokémon that can survive hits and gain multiple activations

Terrain Control:

• Provides immediate terrain control without needing to use a move slot
• Can override opponent's terrain setups
• Benefits Grass-type teammates with damage boost and healing

Interactions with Other Abilities/Mechanics

Soundproof Interaction: Unlike Heal Bell, the status healing from Seed Sower is NOT blocked by Soundproof, as it uses the Aromatherapy-style healing (affects all party members regardless of sound immunity).

Multi-Hit Moves: Can potentially trigger multiple times if the Pokémon survives multiple hits from moves like Bullet Seed or Double Slap, though terrain won't be reset if already active.

Magic Guard: Blocked by Magic Guard as it uses ShouldApplyOnHitAffect() check.

Substitute: Likely blocked when behind Substitute (needs testing).

Common Users

• Mega Rillaboom: Primary user, makes excellent use as a bulky Grass-type
• Other Grass-type Pokémon in Elite Redux may have this as an innate ability

Competitive Usage Notes

Strengths:

• Provides immediate utility even when taking heavy damage
• Excellent for status-heavy metas
• Gives team-wide support without requiring move slots
• Can disrupt opponent's terrain strategies

Weaknesses:

• Requires taking damage to activate
• One-time healing per activation doesn't prevent re-statusing
• Terrain can be overridden by opponent immediately after

Counters

• Indirect Damage: Doesn't trigger from Stealth Rock, status damage, weather damage
• Magic Guard: Completely prevents activation
• Terrain Override: Opponents can immediately set their own terrain
• Status Immunity: Pokémon with status immunity (Limber, Water Veil, etc.) don't need the healing

Synergies

• Terrain Extender: Extends Grassy Terrain duration to 8 turns
• Grass-type Partners: Benefit from terrain damage boost
• Grounded Partners: Benefit from HP recovery
• Status-Vulnerable Teams: Teams weak to status appreciate the cleansing

Version History

Elite Redux custom ability - Sets Grassy Terrain when hit while simultaneously providing party-wide status healing, combining terrain control with clerical support in a unique defensive reaction ability.