Protosynthesis (Ability)

Protosynthesis	こだいかっせい
	Ancient Activation
Flavor text Generation IX Boosts the Pokémon's most proficient stat in harsh sunlight or if the Pokémon is holding Booster Energy.

Protosynthesis (Japanese: こだいかっせい Ancient Activation) is an Ability introduced in Generation IX. It is the signature Ability of the ancient Paradox Pokémon with the exception of Koraidon.

Effect

In battle

	This Ability effect may be in need of research. Reason: Check for other moves/Abilities that can or cannot copy/replace/suppress this Ability. Usual suspects: Simple Beam, Power of Alchemy, Mummy, Wandering Spirit. You can discuss this on the talk page.

When a Pokémon with Protosynthesis is in harsh sunlight or is holding Booster Energy, its highest stat (other than HP and taking into account stat stages, but not held items) is increased by 30%, or 50% if Speed is the highest stat. Upon activation, a message tells which stat is increased to all the players. If multiple stats are tied for highest, Protosynthesis breaks the tie by prioritizing Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed, in that order.

Protosynthesis will activate in harsh sunlight even if the Pokémon is holding a Utility Umbrella, but not if a Pokémon with Air Lock or Cloud Nine is on the field. Harsh sunlight will activate Protosynthesis before a held Booster Energy, so the Booster Energy will not be consumed if the Pokémon with Protosynthesis is in harsh sunlight. If activated by weather, the effect of Protosynthesis will end when the field is no longer affected by harsh sunlight.

Skill Swap and Doodle will fail if either Pokémon has Protosynthesis. Gastro Acid and Role Play will fail if the target has Protosynthesis, however Simple Beam and Worry Seed will work. Protosynthesis cannot be copied by Receiver, Trace and Power of Alchemy or replaced by Lingering Aroma. If a Pokémon obtains Protosynthesis with Imposter or Transform, the Ability will not activate regardless of if the Pokémon is in harsh sunlight or holding a Booster Energy.

Outside of battle

Protosynthesis has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Protosynthesis

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0984		Great Tusk	Ground	Fighting	Protosynthesis	None	None
0985		Scream Tail	Fairy	Psychic	Protosynthesis	None	None
0986		Brute Bonnet	Grass	Dark	Protosynthesis	None	None
0987		Flutter Mane	Ghost	Fairy	Protosynthesis	None	None
0988		Slither Wing	Bug	Fighting	Protosynthesis	None	None
0989		Sandy Shocks	Electric	Ground	Protosynthesis	None	None
1005		Roaring Moon	Dragon	Dark	Protosynthesis	None	None
1009		Walking Wake	Water	Dragon	Protosynthesis	None	None
1020		Gouging Fire	Fire	Dragon	Protosynthesis	None	None
1021		Raging Bolt	Electric	Dragon	Protosynthesis	None	None
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

Trivia

• This Ability's name is a pun on photosynthesis.
• The greatest difference between a Pokémon’s individual base stats so that this Ability can activate for any stat without external stat changes is 72 points. This assumes that maximum effort values, 31 individual values and a helpful nature was applied to the lowest stat and 0 effort and individual values with a hindering nature to the highest stat.
• Because of how the stat calculations work due to their base stats, the following Pokémon cannot have Protosynthesis boost the following stat in battle without stat changes taking place, even with negative nature and 0 individual and effort values applied to their highest base stat:
  • Great Tusk cannot increase Special Attack or Special Defense as its Attack and Defense will always be higher.
  • Flutter Mane cannot increase Attack or Defense as the rest of its stats (both Special stats and Speed) will always be higher.
  • Roaring Moon cannot increase Special Attack as its Attack will always be higher.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 古代活性 Gúdoih Wuhtsing Mandarin 古代活性 Gǔdài Huóxìng French Paléosynthèse German Paläosynthese Italian Paleoattivazione Korean 고대활성 Godae Hwalseong Spanish Paleosíntesis

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.