Sand Veil - Ability ID 8

In-Game Description

"Boosts evasion in a sandstorm. Immune to sandstorm damage."

Extended In-Game Description

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

During sandstorm, this Pokémon gains 25% evasion (foes have 80% accuracy) and immunity to sand damage. Synergizes with Sand Stream setters like Tyranitar. Enables SubVeil strategies with Substitute. Allows non-Rock/Ground/Steel types on sand teams. Bypassed by No Guard/Mold Breaker.

Character count: 283

Detailed Mechanical Explanation

For Discord/reference use

Core Mechanics

Sand Veil provides defensive benefits during sandstorm weather:

1. Evasion Boost

   • Reduces opponent's accuracy to 80% (divides by 1.25)
   • Only active during sandstorm weather
   • Stacks multiplicatively with other accuracy/evasion modifiers
   • Applied after other accuracy calculations

2. Sandstorm Immunity

   • Complete immunity to sandstorm chip damage
   • Normally non-Rock/Ground/Steel types take 1/16 max HP per turn
   • Allows non-immune types to benefit from sandstorm

Technical Implementation

Code Implementation (src/abilities.cc):

constexpr Ability SandVeil = {
    .onAccuracy = +[](ON_ACCURACY) -> AccuracyPriority {
        CHECK(IsBattlerWeatherAffected(target, WEATHER_SANDSTORM_ANY));
        *accuracy /= 1.25;
        return ACCURACY_MULTIPLICATIVE;
    },
    .onAccuracyFor = APPLY_ON_TARGET,
    .breakable = TRUE,
    .sandImmune = TRUE,
};

Numerical Values

• Evasion Multiplier: 1.25x (opponent has 80% normal accuracy)
• Effective Accuracy Reduction: 20%
• Sandstorm Damage Prevented: 6.25% max HP per turn

Accuracy Calculation Example

Base 100% accuracy move in sandstorm:

• 100% ÷ 1.25 = 80% final accuracy

With opponent's Hone Claws (+1 accuracy):

• 133% ÷ 1.25 = 106.4% final accuracy

Interactions with Other Abilities/Mechanics

• Sand Stream: Partner ability to set sandstorm
• Mold Breaker: Bypasses the evasion boost
• No Guard: Ignores evasion entirely
• Compound Eyes: Partially offsets evasion boost
• Weather Ball: Becomes Rock-type in sandstorm

Strategic Implications

1. Defensive Pivot: Harder to hit while taking no sand damage
2. Setup Opportunity: Evasion boost helps survive while setting up
3. Stall Tactics: Combined with Substitute/Protect
4. Weather Synergy: Core member of sand teams
5. Type Coverage: Allows non-immune types on sand teams

Related Abilities

• Sand Rush: Speed boost in sandstorm
• Sand Force: Power boost in sandstorm
• Desert Cloak: Enhanced version with status immunity
• Snow Cloak: Hail equivalent

Common Sand Veil Strategies

SubVeil: Substitute + Sand Veil for multiple evasion chances Double Team: Stack evasion boosts (often banned) BrightPowder: Additional evasion stacking Focus Sash: Survive if evasion fails

Competitive Usage Notes

• B-tier ability due to RNG reliance
• Banned in some competitive formats (evasion clause)
• Excellent for Battle Frontier/Tower
• Requires weather support to function
• Can frustrate opponents with miss streaks

Example Pokémon with Sand Veil

• Garchomp: Fast physical attacker with ground immunity
• Sandslash: Physical wall with sand synergy
• Gliscor: Defensive pivot with recovery
• Cacturne: Mixed attacker with sand immunity
• Krokorok/Krookodile: Offensive sand abusers

Counters

• Weather Change: Remove sandstorm entirely
• No Guard: Bypass evasion boost
• Aerial Ace/Smart Strike: Never-miss moves
• Haze: Reset evasion boosts
• Cloud Nine: Suppress weather effects

Synergies

• Tyranitar/Hippowdon: Auto-set sandstorm
• Sand Rush users: Fast sand team core
• Substitute: Abuse evasion for free turns
• Leftovers: Stack with no sand damage
• Rock Slide: Spread move with flinch chance

Weather Team Role

Sand Veil users typically serve as:

• Secondary sweepers after Sand Rush users
• Defensive pivots that don't take sand damage
• Setup sweepers that abuse evasion
• Substitute stallers

Version History

• All Generations: Consistent 25% evasion boost in sand
• Elite Redux: Functions identically to main series with enhanced integration