Ability

Abilities (Japanese: とくせい special characteristic) are a game mechanic introduced in Generation III. Individual Pokémon may have only one of these special attributes at a time, which generally serve to assist them in battle. An Ability cannot be changed after a Pokémon is obtained except by evolution, where the Ability it changes into is determined by the former Ability and form change. Not every Ability is beneficial; some will hinder the user.

Mechanics

Some species of Pokémon may have more than one possible Ability. Pokémon caught in the wild will have one of two possible Abilities, and there is a 50% chance of encountering either. In terms of game data, these Abilites may be thought of as being stored in separate slots (i.e. Munna has Forewarn in the first slot and Synchronize in the second).

The only way a Pokémon can change its Ability is upon evolution. The "slot" storage system means that if an unevolved Pokémon has the "first" ability for its species, it will have the "first" ability of its evolved species upon reaching this stage, even if this Ability differs in the evolved species. In other words, a Poochyena with Run Away would evolve into a Mightyena with Intimidate, while a Poochyena with Quick Feet would evolve into a Mightyena with Quick Feet. If the unevolved Pokémon has only one Ability, but its evolution may have one of two Abilities, then it has a 50% chance of acquiring either Ability (dependent on IVs).

When Abilities were introduced in Generation III, some Pokémon only had one possible Ability. A number of these species were given a second Ability in Generation IV; upon transfer forward with Pal Park, a Pokémon affected by this change will keep its Generation III Ability unless it evolves, in which case the Ability will be recalculated.

Hidden Abilities

Main article: List of Pokémon with released Hidden Abilities

Beginning in Generation V, most Pokémon were given access to another Ability, referred to in-game as a Hidden Ability, if obtained under certain circumstances:

• Where possible, all Pokémon obtained from the Pokémon Global Link, either via the Pokémon Dream World or a Global Link promotion, will always have their Hidden Ability.
• Certain event Pokémon may also have their Hidden Ability.
• All Pokémon obtained from the Pokémon Dream Radar will have their respective Hidden Abilities.
• Two incidences of Pokémon found in-game in Black and White (the five Darmanitan in the Resort Desert and the Musharna found every Friday in the Dreamyard) also have their Hidden Ability.
• Pokémon found in Pokémon Black and White 2's Hidden Grottos will always have their Hidden Ability.
• A number of interactable Pokémon in Black 2 and White 2 also have their Hidden Ability.

If a female Pokémon has a Hidden Ability and is bred, it has a 60% chance of giving that Ability to each of its children. Each of the other Abilities has a 20% chance of being passed down. Hidden Abilities cannot be passed down from male or genderless Pokémon, or when breeding with Ditto.

Abilities and breeding

The mechanics of which Ability is acquired upon hatching a Pokémon egg (in instances when a hatched Pokémon may have one of two Abilities) varies from game to game. In all games up to and including Pokémon Black and White, a Pokémon hatched from an Egg has a 50% chance of acquiring either Ability.

However, starting from Pokémon Black and White 2, there is an 80% chance of the resulting offspring having the same "slotted" Ability as its mother and hence a 20% chance of the other Ability being passed down. This might be a reference to Mitochondrial DNA which, in most species, is inherited solely from the mother.

List of Abilities

# Name Effect Generation Single Dual Hidden 091 Adaptability Powers up moves of the same type. IV 0 3 3 106 Aftermath Damages the foe landing the finishing hit. IV 0 4 4 076 Air Lock Eliminates the effects of weather. III 1 0 0 148 Analytic Strengthens moves when moving last. V 0 0 12 083 Anger Point Raises Attack upon taking a critical hit. IV 0 3 4 107 Anticipation Senses the foe’s dangerous moves. IV 1 4 1 071 Arena Trap Prevents the foe from fleeing. III 0 3 0 123 Bad Dreams Reduces a sleeping foe’s HP. IV 1 0 0 004 Battle Armor The Pokémon is protected against critical hits. III 2 4 2 145 Big Pecks Protects the Pokémon from Defense-lowering attacks. V 0 7 4 066 Blaze Powers up Fire-type moves in a pinch. III 15 0 2 - Cacophony Avoids sound-based moves. III 0 0 0 034 Chlorophyll Boosts the Pokémon’s Speed in sunshine. III 10 19 6 029 Clear Body Prevents the Pokémon’s stats from being lowered. III 6 2 3 013 Cloud Nine Eliminates the effects of weather. III 0 2 4 016 Color Change Changes the Pokémon’s type to the foe’s move. III 1 0 0 014 Compoundeyes The Pokémon’s accuracy is boosted. III 2 4 1 126 Contrary Inverts stat modifiers. V 0 0 5 130 Cursed Body Has a 30% chance of Disabling any move that hits the Pokémon. V 0 2 3 056 Cute Charm Contact with the Pokémon may cause infatuation. III 3 8 1 006 Damp Prevents combatants from self destructing. III 0 8 10 129 Defeatist Halves Attack and Special Attack below 50% HP. V 2 0 0 128 Defiant Raises Attack two stages upon having any stat lowered. V 0 2 10 088 Download Adjusts power according to the foe’s lowest defensive stat. IV 1 3 0 002 Drizzle The Pokémon makes it rain if it appears in battle. III 1 0 1 070 Drought The Pokémon makes it sunny if it is in battle. III 1 0 2 087 Dry Skin Reduces HP if it is hot. Water restores HP. IV 0 4 1 048 Early Bird The Pokémon awakens quickly from sleep. III 0 13 2 027 Effect Spore Contact may paralyze, poison, or cause sleep. III 2 4 1 111 Filter Powers down super-effective moves. IV 0 2 0 049 Flame Body Contact with the Pokémon may burn the foe. III 5 5 4 138 Flare Boost Increases Special Attack to 1.5× when burned. V 0 0 2 018 Flash Fire Powers up Fire-type moves if hit by a fire move. III 4 10 4 122 Flower Gift Powers up party Pokémon when it is sunny. IV 1 0 0 059 Forecast Transforms with the weather. III 1 0 0 108 Forewarn Determines what moves the foe has. IV 0 6 0 132 Friend Guard Decreases damage inflicted against ally Pokémon. V 0 0 5 119 Frisk The Pokémon can check the foe’s held item. IV 3 3 5 082 Gluttony Encourages the early use of a held Berry. IV 6 4 9 062 Guts Boosts Attack if there is a status problem. III 3 14 4 139 Harvest Restores any held Berry after the turn on which it is used. V 0 0 3 131 Healer Has a 30% chance of curing each adjacent ally of any major status ailment after each turn. V 0 2 3 085 Heatproof Weakens the power of Fire-type moves. IV 0 2 0 134 Heavy Metal Doubles the Pokémon's weight. V 0 0 5 118 Honey Gather The Pokémon may gather Honey from somewhere. IV 1 0 1 037 Huge Power Raises the Pokémon’s Attack stat. III 0 3 0 055 Hustle Boosts the Attack stat, but lowers accuracy. III 3 7 8 093 Hydration Heals status problems if it is raining. IV 2 7 9 052 Hyper Cutter Prevents the Attack stat from being lowered. III 0 9 0 115 Ice Body The Pokémon regains HP in a hailstorm. IV 3 5 4 035 Illuminate Raises the likelihood of meeting wild Pokémon. III 0 6 0 149 Illusion Takes the appearance of the last conscious party Pokémon upon being sent out until hit by a damaging move. V 2 0 0 017 Immunity Prevents the Pokémon from getting poisoned. III 1 1 1 150 Imposter Transforms upon entering battle. V 0 0 1 151 Infiltrator Ignores Light Screen, Reflect, and Safeguard. V 0 2 9 039 Inner Focus The Pokémon is protected from flinching. III 4 16 6 015 Insomnia Prevents the Pokémon from falling asleep. III 0 10 1 022 Intimidate Lowers the foe’s Attack stat. III 5 19 3 160 Iron Barbs Damages attacking Pokémon for 1/8 their max HP on contact. V 2 0 0 089 Iron Fist Boosts the power of punching moves. IV 0 3 7 154 Justified Raises Attack when hit by dark-type moves. V 4 0 5 051 Keen Eye Prevents the Pokémon from losing accuracy. III 5 19 5 103 Klutz The Pokémon can’t use any held items. IV 0 6 1 102 Leaf Guard Prevents status problems in sunny weather. IV 1 6 7 026 Levitate Gives full immunity to all Ground-type moves. III 30 2 0 135 Light Metal Halves the Pokémon's weight. V 0 0 5 031 Lightningrod The Pokémon draws in all Electric-type moves. III 0 9 6 007 Limber The Pokémon is protected from paralysis. III 1 7 2 064 Liquid Ooze Inflicts damage on foes using any draining move. III 0 4 0 156 Magic Bounce Reflects most non-damaging moves back at their user. V 0 0 3 098 Magic Guard The Pokémon only takes damage from attacks. IV 0 7 3 040 Magma Armor Prevents the Pokémon from becoming frozen. III 0 3 0 042 Magnet Pull Prevents Steel-type Pokémon from escaping. III 0 5 0 063 Marvel Scale Boosts Defense if there is a status problem. III 1 0 2 058 Minus Boosts Sp. Atk if another Pokémon has Plus. III 1 3 2 104 Mold Breaker Moves can be used regardless of Abilities. IV 2 4 6 141 Moody Raises a random stat two stages and lowers another one stage after each turn. V 0 0 7 078 Motor Drive Raises Speed if hit by an Electric-type move. IV 1 2 1 153 Moxie Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon. V 0 5 6 136 Multiscale Halves damage taken from full HP. V 0 0 2 121 Multitype Changes type to match the held Plate. IV 1 0 0 152 Mummy Contact with this Pokémon spreads this Ability. V 2 0 0 030 Natural Cure All status problems are healed upon switching out. III 3 10 0 099 No Guard Ensures the Pokémon and its foe’s attacks land. IV 0 3 3 096 Normalize All the Pokémon’s moves become the Normal type. IV 0 2 0 012 Oblivious Prevents the Pokémon from becoming infatuated. III 0 16 3 142 Overcoat Protects against damage from weather. V 0 5 12 065 Overgrow Powers up Grass-type moves in a pinch. III 15 0 2 020 Own Tempo Prevents the Pokémon from becoming confused. III 0 13 4 124 Pickpocket Steals attacking Pokémon's held item on contact. V 0 0 5 053 Pickup The Pokémon may pick up items. III 1 9 0 057 Plus Boosts Sp. Atk if another Pokémon has Minus. III 1 3 3 090 Poison Heal Restores HP if the Pokémon is poisoned. IV 0 2 1 038 Poison Point Contact with the Pokémon may poison the foe. III 0 14 0 143 Poison Touch Has a 30% chance of poisoning Pokémon upon contact when attacking. V 0 1 4 158 Prankster Raises non-damaging moves' priority by one stage. V 2 2 7 046 Pressure The Pokémon raises the foe’s PP usage. III 18 3 4 074 Pure Power Boosts the power of physical attacks. III 2 0 0 095 Quick Feet Boosts Speed if there is a status problem. IV 0 5 7 044 Rain Dish The Pokémon gradually recovers HP in rain. III 0 3 8 155 Rattled Raises Speed one stage upon being hit by a Dark, Ghost, or Bug move. V 0 0 11 120 Reckless Powers up moves that have recoil damage. IV 0 3 8 144 Regenerator Heals for 1/3 max HP upon leaving battle. V 0 3 14 079 Rivalry Raises Attack if the foe is of the same gender. IV 0 12 4 069 Rock Head Protects the Pokémon from recoil damage. III 2 16 1 024 Rough Skin Inflicts damage to the foe on contact. III 2 1 3 050 Run Away Enables sure getaway from wild Pokémon. III 0 16 7 159 Sand Force Strengthens Rock, Ground, and Steel moves to 1.3× their power during a sandstorm. V 1 2 11 146 Sand Rush Doubles Speed during a sandstorm. V 0 4 2 045 Sand Stream The Pokémon summons a sandstorm in battle. III 3 0 0 008 Sand Veil Boosts the Pokémon’s evasion in a sandstorm. III 7 4 7 157 Sap Sipper Absorbs Grass moves, raising Attack one stage. V 0 3 8 113 Scrappy Enables moves to hit Ghost-type foes. IV 0 2 7 032 Serene Grace Boosts the likelihood of added effects appearing. III 2 8 2 023 Shadow Tag Prevents the foe from escaping. III 2 0 6 061 Shed Skin The Pokémon may heal its own status problems. III 10 5 0 125 Sheer Force Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects. V 1 6 17 075 Shell Armor The Pokémon is protected against critical hits. III 1 13 7 019 Shield Dust Blocks the added effects of attacks taken. III 4 1 0 086 Simple The Pokémon is prone to wild stat changes. IV 0 3 2 092 Skill Link Increases the frequency of multi-strike moves. IV 0 2 4 112 Slow Start Temporarily halves Attack and Speed. IV 1 0 0 097 Sniper Powers up moves if they become critical hits. IV 0 7 5 081 Snow Cloak Raises evasion in a hailstorm. IV 4 3 1 117 Snow Warning The Pokémon summons a hailstorm in battle. IV 2 0 0 094 Solar Power Boosts Sp. Atk, but lowers HP in sunshine. IV 0 3 3 116 Solid Rock Powers down super-effective moves. IV 0 4 0 043 Soundproof Gives full immunity to all sound-based moves. III 3 6 3 003 Speed Boost The Pokémon’s Speed stat is gradually boosted. III 1 2 5 100 Stall The Pokémon moves after even slower foes. IV 0 1 0 009 Static Contact with the Pokémon may cause paralysis. III 9 5 0 080 Steadfast Raises Speed each time the Pokémon flinches. IV 1 3 5 001 Stench The stench helps keep wild Pokémon away. III 0 6 1 060 Sticky Hold Protects the Pokémon from item theft. III 0 8 0 114 Storm Drain The Pokémon draws in all Water-type moves. IV 0 4 3 005 Sturdy The Pokémon is protected against 1-hit KO attacks. III 8 22 2 021 Suction Cups Negates moves that force switching out. III 2 1 0 105 Super Luck Heightens the critical-hit ratios of moves. IV 0 6 3 068 Swarm Powers up Bug-type moves in a pinch. III 4 16 4 033 Swift Swim Boosts the Pokémon’s Speed in rain. III 8 20 10 028 Synchronize Passes on a burn, poison, or paralysis to the foe. III 3 12 0 077 Tangled Feet Raises evasion if the Pokémon is confused. IV 0 5 2 101 Technician Powers up the Pokémon’s weaker moves. IV 0 9 5 140 Telepathy Protects against damaging moves from friendly Pokémon. V 0 2 12 164 Teravolt Moves can be used regardless of Abilities. V 1 0 0 047 Thick Fat Raises resistance to Fire- and Ice-type moves. III 0 15 5 110 Tinted Lens Powers up “not very effective” moves. IV 0 4 5 067 Torrent Powers up Water-type moves in a pinch. III 15 0 2 137 Toxic Boost Increases Attack to 1.5× when poisoned. V 0 0 1 036 Trace The Pokémon copies a foe's Ability. III 0 5 0 054 Truant The Pokémon can't attack on consecutive turns. III 2 0 1 163 Turboblaze Moves can be used regardless of Abilities. V 1 0 0 109 Unaware Ignores any change in stats by the foe. IV 0 4 3 084 Unburden Raises Speed if a held item is used. IV 0 4 5 127 Unnerve Prevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries. V 0 2 15 162 Victory Star Raises moves' accuracy to 1.1× for friendly Pokémon. V 1 0 0 072 Vital Spirit Prevents the Pokémon from falling asleep. III 1 4 7 010 Volt Absorb Restores HP if hit by an Electric-type move. III 1 2 2 011 Water Absorb Restores HP if hit by a Water-type move. III 1 12 8 041 Water Veil Prevents the Pokémon from getting a burn. III 0 4 7 133 Weak Armor Raises Speed and lowers Defense by one stage each upon being hit by any move. V 0 1 15 073 White Smoke Prevents the Pokémon’s stats from being lowered. III 1 0 1 025 Wonder Guard Only super effective moves will hit. III 1 0 0 147 Wonder Skin Has a 50% chance of protecting against non-damaging moves that inflict major status ailments. V 0 1 3 161 Zen Mode Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is halved. V 0 0 1

In Pokemon Conquest

Main article: List of Abilities in Pokémon Conquest

Unlike in the main games, Pokémon in Pokémon Conquest have three Abilities that they can access through normal game play. A Pokémon's Ability may also be changed through the use of the Mystery Spring.

In the anime

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

Abilities have been shown in the anime, but are usually only used in battles; however, sometimes they have an effect on the plot, such as Ash's Infernape's Blaze. At one point in Gotta Catch A Roggenrola!, Iris pointed out that Roggenrola had the Ability Sturdy, implying that Roggenrola would receive less damage than a Pokémon normally would.

In the TCG

Abilities under the name of Abilities did not appear in the Trading Card Game until the Black & White expansion kicking off Generation V. However, this was merely a renaming of the longstanding Pokémon Powers. Pokémon Powers were very similar to Abilities, but were introduced much earlier, appearing in the very first Base Set during Generation I. In fact, some Abilities from the games originally appeared as Pokémon Powers.

With the introduction of the Expedition Base Set, Pokémon Powers were split into two groups: Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies. Poké-Powers are special effects that the player must trigger or announce using. A Poké-Body's effect is a passive Ability that is always in effect. When Pokémon Powers became Abilities, these distinctions were done away with.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Plusle and Minun were the first Pokémon to have their Abilities - Plus and Minus - featured in the Pokémon Adventures. Abilities have been featured sometimes after this, mainly during battles.

Trivia

• The unused Ability Cacophony was included in the coding for third-generation games as Ability #076 (Air Lock was #077). From the fourth generation, Cacophony was removed and Air Lock was renumbered as #076, with the new Abilities positioned from #077 onwards.
• As of Generation V, excluding Hidden Abilities, there are 106 Pokémon (almost exactly one-sixth of the total) who have unique Ability combinations.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 特性 Tèxìng European French Capacité spéciale German Fähigkeit Italian Abilità Korean 특성 Teukseong European Spanish Habilidades

See also

• Ability variations
• List of Pokémon by Ability
• List of Abilities in other languages

Pokémon individuality
Level • Stats • Friendship • Gender • Ability (Hidden Ability) • Nature • Characteristic Effort values • Individual values • Go Power • Effort level Condition • Performance • Affection • Memory

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.