Fire Emblem Engage: Dealing LESS damage with Sandstorm

Had this idea after discussing with tampakc on Reddit.

The Sandstorm class skill normally boosts damage by using Def x 1.5 in place of Str in the damage calculations. To prevent the user from dealing less damage, Sandstorm will only trigger if Def x 150 is greater than Str x 100.

However, there's one obscure interaction they didn't account for: when Timerra wields Byleth's Vajra-Mushti when Engaged. Because it's an Art, it uses the user's (Str + Mag)/2 for calculating damage rather than Str by itself.

Despite this, the game will continue solely checking for Str to trigger Sandstorm. Ignoring the Mag contribution.

Under extreme circumstances, by rigging Level Ups with random growths to maximise Mag while keeping Def low, you can just about get Sandstorm to inflict lower damage when it triggers than if it hadn't triggered.

For this, Timerra should have max Magic, minimal Def and just enough Str so Sandstorm will trigger. This can be done by Leveling Timerra as a Sage, for example.

The Str versus Def check counts temporary/equipment stat boosts. So you could also cook a Stomach-Churning meal with Alfred or someone else to lower Def by 1, while raising Str and Mag by 2.

In the example, Timerra has 25 Str, 31 Mag and 17 Def.

Sandstorm will trigger since 17 Def x 150 = 2550 is greater than 25 Str x 100 = 2500.

With Vajra-Mushti, she has (25 + 31)/2 + 5 = 33 Might normally.
If Sandstorm triggers, she'd have (17 * 1.5) + 5 = 30 Might.

In other words, she'll do 3 less damage when Sandstorm triggers.

[hues_of_neon]

You may not like it, but this is what peak proc skills looks like