Blaster's version of Salt Crystals Auto-hit

[Chuckers]

So, I've been playing my new earth/earth blaster. I am currently level 14.  Salt Crystals says it's a auto-hit. I have had several instances where critters are not put to sleep - I assume that's the auto-hit part. Also, I've seen several critters where the crystals hit and they immediately break right out of them. I have not attacked them either. 

Now, I am not sure if Seismic Shockwaves will affect the sleep (I don't think it does), but when I have used salt crystals, I know that shockwaves was not active.