Weather Double Boost (Catastrophe) - Ability Analysis

Basic Information

• Ability ID: 589
• Internal Name: ABILITY_WEATHER_DOUBLE_BOOST
• Display Name: Catastrophe
• Short Description: "Sun boosts Water. Rain boosts Fire."

Extended In-Game Description

For use in Elite Redux extended ability UI (IMPORTANT: exactly 280-300 chars counted WITH spaces) Catastrophe reverses weather's typical effects on Fire and Water moves. In Sun, Water moves gain a 20% boost (permanent) or 50% boost (temporary) instead of the usual reduction. In Rain, Fire moves receive a 20% boost (permanent) or 50% boost (temporary) instead of being weakened by precipitation.

Mechanics Analysis

Core Implementation

The ability is implemented in src/battle_util.c using the CHECK_WEATHER_DOUBLE_BOOST macro:

#define CHECK_WEATHER_DOUBLE_BOOST(boost, drop) (BATTLER_HAS_ABILITY(battlerAtk, ABILITY_WEATHER_DOUBLE_BOOST) ? UQ_4_12(boost) : UQ_4_12(drop))

Weather Interactions

Permanent Rain Weather

• Fire moves: 1.2x boost (normally 0.5x reduction)
• Water moves: Normal 1.2x boost (unchanged)
• Weather Boost moves: 1.44x boost (1.2 * 1.2)

Temporary/Primal Rain Weather

• Fire moves: 1.5x boost (normally 0.5x reduction)
• Water moves: Normal 1.5x boost (unchanged)
• Weather Boost moves: 2.25x boost (1.5 * 1.5)

Permanent Sun Weather

• Fire moves: Normal 1.2x boost (unchanged)
• Water moves: 1.2x boost (normally 0.5x reduction)
• Weather Boost moves: 1.44x boost (1.2 * 1.2)
• Special cases: Nika ability and Steam Eruption move prevent reduction

Temporary/Primal Sun Weather

• Fire moves: Normal 1.5x boost (unchanged)
• Water moves: 1.5x boost (normally 0.5x reduction)
• Weather Boost moves: 2.25x boost (1.5 * 1.5)
• Special cases: Nika ability and Steam Eruption move prevent reduction

Strategic Applications

Offensive Utility

1. Rain Teams: Fire attackers become viable, gaining significant power
2. Sun Teams: Water attackers maintain effectiveness despite harsh sunlight
3. Weather Boost Moves: Receive massive 1.44x-2.25x multipliers regardless of weather
4. Type Coverage: Allows Pokemon to use both Fire and Water moves effectively

Team Synergy

• Pairs excellently with weather setters
• Enables mixed Fire/Water movesets
• Provides unexpected type coverage
• Counters opposing weather strategies

Competitive Considerations

• Transforms weather from hindrance to advantage
• Creates unpredictable damage calculations
• Requires opponents to recalculate threat levels
• Most effective on Pokemon with diverse move pools

Related Abilities

• Nika (469): Prevents Water move reduction in Sun
• Weather setters: Drizzle, Drought, etc.
• Other weather-dependent abilities

Technical Notes

• Only affects the attacking Pokemon
• Does not change weather itself
• Multiplicative with other damage modifiers
• Processed during damage calculation phase
• Weather immunity abilities still apply