What happened here? (Weird interaction)

[Shandu]

So it was my Teroclaw hatchling vs his crab, I am obviously a flyer and he is an aquatic.

There were no environmental effects going on, no debuffs/buffs of any kind. His crab was using 'surge' because it was going first against my flyer with its racial bonus active, but every one of the 'surges' was hitting as (strong). How in the hell can aquatic attacks hit as (strong) vs a flyer? It wasn't just a visual bug either because each surge was hitting for 400+ dmg.

Cheers.

[Wootzy]

Because Surge is strong against Elemental? Unlucky RNG?

[Gráinne]

Just to be sure: I know you said no buffs, but .... you weren't using Nature's Ward?

Surge from a P/P Emp does 282, or 423 if Nature's Ward is up. Double that for a crit, of course.

[Shandu]

Because Surge is strong against Elemental? Unlucky RNG?

NW wasn't up, the pet was still showing as a flyer.