Torrent - Ability ID 67

In-Game Description

"Boosts Water-type moves by 1.2x, or 1.5x when under 1/3 HP."

Extended In-Game Description

For use in Elite Redux extended ability UI (280-300 chars max)

Torrent boosts the power of Water-type moves by 20% normally, increasing to 50% when the Pokémon's HP drops below 1/3 of its maximum. This ability is signature to most Water-type starter Pokémon, providing consistent offensive pressure with a powerful emergency boost when needed.

Character count: 280

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

TORRENT is a type-boosting ability that provides conditional damage increases for Water-type moves based on the user's remaining HP.

Activation Mechanics:

• Trigger: Automatic check during damage calculation for any Water-type move
• Threshold Check: Compares current HP to maxHP / 3 (33.33% or less)
• Type Restriction: Only affects Water-type moves
• Implementation: Uses SWARM_MULTIPLIER(TYPE_WATER) macro

Damage Multipliers:

1. High HP (>33% HP): 1.2x power to Water-type moves
2. Low HP (≤33% HP): 1.5x power to Water-type moves
3. Non-Water moves: No effect

Move Interactions:

• All Water-type moves: Subject to Torrent boost (Surf, Hydro Pump, Water Gun, etc.)
• Hidden Power Water: Receives boost if Hidden Power resolves to Water-type
• Weather Ball in rain: Gets boost since it becomes Water-type
• Multi-type moves: Only boosted if the move's type is Water
• Z-moves/Max moves: Base power is boosted before other calculations

Ability Interactions:

• Stacks with: STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), items like Mystic Water, weather effects
• Overridden by: Abilities that change move type (Normalize, Pixilate, etc.)
• Works with: Abilities that don't interfere with type or power calculation
• Rain synergy: Combines with rain's 1.5x Water boost for massive damage when low on HP

Strategic Applications:

1. Emergency sweeper: Provides comeback potential when near defeat
2. Consistent pressure: 1.2x boost provides reliable damage even at high HP
3. Starter signature: Most Water starter lines have this as their primary ability
4. Calculations: At low HP with STAB in rain: 1.5 (STAB) × 1.5 (Torrent) × 1.5 (Rain) = 3.375x base power

Technical Implementation:

constexpr Ability Torrent = {
    .onOffensiveMultiplier = SWARM_MULTIPLIER(TYPE_WATER),
};

#define SWARM_MULTIPLIER(type)                                               \
    +[](ON_OFFENSIVE_MULTIPLIER) {                                           \
        if (moveType == type) {                                              \
            if (gBattleMons[battler].hp <= (gBattleMons[battler].maxHP / 3)) \
                MUL(1.5);                                                    \
            else                                                             \
                MUL(1.2);                                                    \
        }                                                                    \
    }

Notable Users:

• Starter lines: Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr, Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert, Piplup, Prinplup, Empoleon, Oshawott, Dewott, Samurott, Froakie, Frogadier, Greninja, Popplio, Brionne, Primarina, Sobble, Drizzile, Inteleon
• Other Water-types: Various other Water-type Pokémon as innate abilities

Competitive Notes:

• Core ability for many Water-type sweepers and tanks
• Provides both consistency and clutch factor
• Pairs exceptionally well with rain teams
• Consider HP management to optimize between survival and damage output
• Bluff potential - opponents may be reluctant to leave Torrent users at low HP

Version History:

• Gen 3: Introduced with 1.5x boost only when below 33% HP
• Gen 4+: Maintained same mechanics
• Elite Redux: Enhanced to provide 1.2x boost at all HP levels, 1.5x when low HP
• Elite Redux unique: Part of the "Swarm family" of abilities that provide consistent type boosts