What it does
Torrent activates under exactly the same condition as Blaze: HP at or below 1/3 of maximum. While active, Water-type moves deal ×1.5 damage. It doesn't affect other types, it doesn't add defense, and switching out resets it.
One pairing worth noting: Water Spout has base 150 power at full HP but drops linearly as HP decreases. By the time you're in Torrent range, Water Spout's base power has already fallen significantly — Torrent's ×1.5 only partially compensates for the loss. If you're running Water Spout specifically, Torrent is a diminishing return at low HP, not a recovery.
Aqua Jet benefits cleanly: priority + ×1.5 at low HP is a legitimate threat against chip-damaged opponents.
Who runs it
Simipour (86%) is by far the highest Torrent adopter here and leans on it most. Its baseline Special Attack is modest, so Torrent gives it an end-game burst option it wouldn't otherwise have. Blastoise (41%) has serviceable bulk — it can sometimes actually reach Torrent range and still function offensively. Greninja (13%) in Champions usually prefers Protean, so Torrent is the fallback. Primarina (1%), Empoleon (1%), and Quaquaval (1%) almost never take Torrent — better ability options are available for each.
How to use it
At low HP with Torrent active, pick your best-power Water move and go. If you're faster than the opponent, you likely get that attack off. If you're slower, the question is survival: can you take a hit and respond, or is this a forced switch situation?
Aqua Jet in Torrent range is the most reliable play — priority means you almost always move first, and ×1.5 on a chip-damaged foe can secure a KO that nothing else could.
Tips & strategy
Like Blaze and Overgrow, Torrent rewards situational awareness more than pre-battle planning. Watch the HP and know when the threshold is near — when it activates, commit to the Water move rather than pivoting defensively. The window is usually just one or two turns.
For Simipour, which has lower overall stats, Torrent is actually the most meaningful ability option it has in this context, making it worth playing deliberately toward low HP if the matchup allows a clean setup.