View source for Ability focus

A character's [[ability focus]] is his or her combat ability "type," as it is commonly known in Sonic series parlance. Here, the concept is not intended to be a box within which to trap characters, but instead just something fun and colorful that shows, at a glance, what the character's primary focus is.

Note the use of the word '''focus'''. This means that these icons are not really a quantifier of a character's ability. A character could theoretically be a Power type, but still be weaker than another, more advanced character who is a Speed type. All this means is that the main strongpoint of the character's abilities in combat is physical strength, even if he or she is not terribly strong compared to other characters.

Though traditionally restricted to Speed, Power, and Flight, we've expanded on the list considerably to encourage and label more diverse abilities. See below.

{{leftcap}}{{speed-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on running speed, agility, etc.'''

{{leftcap}}{{power-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on raw upper-body strength'''

{{leftcap}}{{flight-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on agile flight'''

{{leftcap}}{{swim-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on underwater agility in combat'''

{{leftcap}}{{defense-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on toughness, defense, durability, etc.'''

{{leftcap}}{{special-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on special powers, such as energy manipulation'''

{{leftcap}}{{balance-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on balanced physical abilities'''<ref>"Balance" refers to physical abilities such as the ones we have [[star ratings]] for (speed, agility, strength, stamina, toughness). It '''doesn't''' mean that the character is equally good at all the focus areas, like technical, firepower, stealth, etc.</ref>

{{leftcap}}{{stealth-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on stealth, sneakiness, invisibility, etc. in combat'''

{{leftcap}}{{firepower-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on firepower, usually employing guns, explosives, etc.'''

{{leftcap}}{{technical-full}}{{rightcap}} '''- Focus is on a honed technical skill usable in combat'''



Types can be mixed and matched to better describe characters. For example, Tails is best known for his two-tailed flight, but he's also extremely handy with technology, and often fights using machines (or uses his technological know-how to subvert others' machines). Thus:

{{leftcap}}{{flight-half}}{{technical-half}}{{rightcap}}


----
'''Notes:'''
<small><references/></small>