Ability

Pokémon in the Generation III games were given abilities (Japanese: 特性 special characteristic). Abilities serve to give Pokémon a trait that would assist them in battle, such as Rough Skin on Sharpedo, which causes the foe to take damage on direct contact. Abilities can also hinder Pokémon, such as Regigigas with the ability Slow Start, which halves the Attack and the Speed of the Pokémon who possesses the ability. A Pokémon may have one or two abilities, and some gained additional abilities in Generation IV. Like with moves, there are also abilities that are exclusive to one Pokémon or evolutionary line.

All abilities from Generation III remain in Generation IV, except for Cacophony (which was unused, and thus removed), and Air Lock was moved from #77 to #76.

Abilities are very similar to Pokémon Powers from the Trading Card Game. In fact, some abilities, such as Color Change and Battle Armor, originated as Pokémon Powers in the TCG before abilities appeared in the video games.

A

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
091	Adaptability	Powers up moves of the same type.	IV	0	2
106	Aftermath	Damages the foe landing the finishing hit.	IV	0	4
076	Air Lock	Eliminates the effects of weather.	III	1	0
083	Anger Point	Raises Attack upon taking a critical hit.	IV	0	3
107	Anticipation	Senses the foe’s dangerous moves.	IV	1	4
071	Arena Trap	Prevents the foe from fleeing.	III	0	3

B

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
123	Bad Dreams	Reduces a sleeping foe’s HP.	IV	1	0
004	Battle Armor	The Pokémon is protected against critical hits.	III	2	4
066	Blaze	Powers up Fire-type moves in a pinch.	III	12	0

C

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
034	Chlorophyll	Boosts the Pokémon’s Speed in sunshine.	III	10	11
029	Clear Body	Prevents the Pokémon’s stats from being lowered.	III	6	2
013	Cloud Nine	Eliminates the effects of weather.	III	0	2
016	Color Change	Changes the Pokémon’s type to the foe’s move.	III	1	0
014	Compoundeyes	The Pokémon’s accuracy is boosted.	III	2	2
056	Cute Charm	Contact with the Pokémon may cause infatuation.	III	3	6

D

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
006	Damp	Prevents combatants from self destructing.	III	0	8
088	Download	Adjusts power according to the foe’s lowest Defense stat.	IV	0	3
002	Drizzle	The Pokémon makes it rain if it appears in battle.	III	1	0
070	Drought	The Pokémon makes it sunny if it is in battle.	III	1	0
087	Dry Skin	Reduces HP if it is hot. Water restores HP.	IV	0	4

E

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
048	Early Bird	The Pokémon awakens quickly from sleep.	III	0	13
027	Effect Spore	Contact may paralyze, poison, or cause sleep.	III	0	4

F

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
111	Filter	Powers down super- effective moves.	IV	0	2
049	Flame Body	Contact with the Pokémon may burn the foe.	III	3	2
018	Flash Fire	Powers up Fire-type moves if hit by a fire move.	III	4	6
122	Flower Gift	Powers up party Pokémon when it is sunny.	IV	1	0
059	Forecast	Transforms with the weather.	III	1	0
108	Forewarn	Determines what moves the foe has.	IV	0	4
119	Frisk	The Pokémon can check the foe’s held item.	IV	0	3

G

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
082	Gluttony	Encourages the early use of a held Berry.	IV	0	3
062	Guts	Boosts Attack if there is a status problem.	III	3	10

H

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
085	Heatproof	Weakens the power of Fire-type moves.	IV	0	2
118	Honey Gather	The Pokémon may gather Honey from somewhere.	IV	1	0
037	Huge Power	Raises the Pokémon’s Attack stat.	III	0	3
055	Hustle	Boosts the Attack stat, but lowers accuracy.	III	0	6
093	Hydration	Heals status problems if it is raining.	IV	2	2
052	Hyper Cutter	Prevents the Attack stat from being lowered.	III	0	9

I

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
115	Ice Body	The Pokémon regains HP in a hailstorm.	IV	0	5
035	Illuminate	Raises the likelihood of meeting wild Pokémon.	III	0	5
017	Immunity	Prevents the Pokémon from getting poisoned.	III	1	1
039	Inner Focus	The Pokémon is protected from flinching.	III	4	10
015	Insomnia	Prevents the Pokémon from falling asleep.	III	0	10
022	Intimidate	Lowers the foe’s Attack stat.	III	5	14
089	Iron Fist	Boosts the power of punching moves.	IV	0	1

K

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
051	Keen Eye	Prevents the Pokémon from losing accuracy.	III	5	13
103	Klutz	The Pokémon can’t use any held items.	IV	0	2

L

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
102	Leaf Guard	Prevents status problems in sunny weather.	IV	1	5
026	Levitate	Gives full immunity to all Ground-type moves.	III	25	3
031	Lightningrod	The Pokémon draws in all Electric-type moves.	III	0	7
007	Limber	The Pokémon is protected from paralysis.	III	1	4
064	Liquid Ooze	Inflicts damage on foes using any draining move.	III	0	4

M

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
098	Magic Guard	The Pokémon only takes damage from attacks.	IV	0	3
040	Magma Armor	Prevents the Pokémon from becoming frozen.	III	0	3
042	Magnet Pull	Prevents Steel-type Pokémon from escaping.	III	0	5
063	Marvel Scale	Boosts Defense if there is a status problem.	III	1	0
058	Minus	Boosts Sp. Atk if another Pokémon has Plus.	III	1	0
104	Mold Breaker	Moves can be used regardless of abilities.	IV	2	1
078	Motor Drive	Raises Speed if hit by an Electric-type move.	IV	1	0
121	Multitype	Changes type to match the held Plate.	IV	1	0

N

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
030	Natural Cure	All status problems are healed upon switching out.	III	3	10
099	No Guard	Ensures the Pokémon and its foe’s attacks land.	IV	0	3
096	Normalize	All the Pokémon’s moves become the Normal type.	IV	0	2

O

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
012	Oblivious	Prevents the Pokémon from becoming infatuated.	III	0	16
065	Overgrow	Powers up Grass-type moves in a pinch.	III	12	0
020	Own Tempo	Prevents the Pokémon from becoming confused.	III	0	11

P

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
053	Pickup	The Pokémon may pick up items.	III	1	8
057	Plus	Boosts Sp. Atk if another Pokémon has Minus.	III	1	0
090	Poison Heal	Restores HP if the Pokémon is poisoned.	IV	0	2
038	Poison Point	Contact with the Pokémon may poison the foe.	III	0	11
046	Pressure	The Pokémon raises the foe’s PP usage.	III	17	3
074	Pure Power	Boosts the power of physical attacks.	III	2	0

Q

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
095	Quick Feet	Boosts Speed if there is a status problem.	IV	0	5

R

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
044	Rain Dish	The Pokémon gradually recovers HP in rain.	III	0	3
120	Reckless	Powers up moves that have recoil damage.	IV	0	1
079	Rivalry	Raises Attack if the foe is of the same gender.	IV	0	9
069	Rock Head	Protects the Pokémon from recoil damage.	III	2	16
024	Rough Skin	Inflicts damage to the foe on contact.	III	2	0
050	Run Away	Enables sure getaway from wild Pokémon.	III	0	15

S

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
045	Sand Stream	The Pokémon summons a sandstorm in battle.	III	3	0
008	Sand Veil	Boosts the Pokémon’s evasion in a sandstorm.	III	7	4
113	Scrappy	Enables moves to hit Ghost-type foes.	IV	0	2
032	Serene Grace	Boosts the likelihood of added effects appearing.	III	1	7
023	Shadow Tag	Prevents the foe from escaping.	III	2	0
061	Shed Skin	The Pokémon may heal its own status problems.	III	10	2
075	Shell Armor	The Pokémon is protected against critical hits.	III	1	9
019	Shield Dust	Blocks the added effects of attacks taken.	III	4	1
086	Simple	The Pokémon is prone to wild stat changes.	IV	0	3
092	Skill Link	Increases the frequency of multi-strike moves.	IV	0	2
112	Slow Start	Temporarily halves Attack and Speed.	IV	1	0
097	Sniper	Powers up moves if they become critical hits.	IV	0	7
081	Snow Cloak	Raises evasion in a hailstorm.	IV	2	3
117	Snow Warning	The Pokémon summons a hailstorm in battle.	IV	2	0
094	Solar Power	Boosts Sp. Atk, but lowers HP in sunshine.	IV	0	3
116	Solid Rock	Powers down super- effective moves.	IV	0	2
043	Soundproof	Gives full immunity to all sound-based moves.	III	3	4
003	Speed Boost	The Pokémon’s Speed stat is gradually boosted.	III	1	2
100	Stall	The Pokémon moves after even slower foes.	IV	0	1
009	Static	Contact with the Pokémon may cause paralysis.	III	8	4
080	Steadfast	Raises Speed each time the Pokémon flinches.	IV	1	3
001	Stench	The stench helps keep wild Pokémon away.	III	0	4
060	Sticky Hold	Protects the Pokémon from item theft.	III	0	6
114	Storm Drain	The Pokémon draws in all Water-type moves.	IV	0	4
005	Sturdy	The Pokémon is protected against 1-hit KO attacks.	III	5	17
021	Suction Cups	Negates moves that force switching out.	III	2	1
105	Super Luck	Heightens the critical-hit ratios of moves.	IV	0	3
068	Swarm	Powers up Bug-type moves in a pinch.	III	4	8
033	Swift Swim	Boosts the Pokémon’s Speed in rain.	III	8	17
028	Synchronize	Passes on a burn, poison, or paralysis to the foe.	III	3	8

T

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
077	Tangled Feet	Raises evasion if the Pokémon is confused.	IV	0	5
101	Technician	Powers up the Pokémon’s weaker moves.	IV	0	7
047	Thick Fat	Raises resistance to Fire- and Ice-type moves.	III	0	15
110	Tinted Lens	Powers up “not very effective” moves.	IV	0	4
067	Torrent	Powers up Water-type moves in a pinch.	III	12	0
036	Trace	The Pokémon copies the foe’s ability.	III	0	5
054	Truant	The Pokémon can’t attack on consecutive turns.	III	2	0

U

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
109	Unaware	Ignores any change in stats by the foe.	IV	0	2
084	Unburden	Raises Speed if a held item is used.	IV	0	2

V

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
072	Vital Spirit	Prevents the Pokémon from falling asleep.	III	1	3
010	Volt Absorb	Restores HP if hit by an Electric-type move.	III	1	2

W

#	Name	Description	Generation	Single	Dual
011	Water Absorb	Restores HP if hit by a Water-type move.	III	1	9
041	Water Veil	Prevents the Pokémon from getting a burn.	III	0	4
073	White Smoke	Prevents the Pokémon’s stats from being lowered.	III	1	0
025	Wonder Guard	Only super effective moves will hit.	III	1	0

Each ability listed above is linked to an article containing a list of Pokémon that learn that ability. For those lists:

• Pokémon listed under 'Single ability' can only have that ability, for example, Squirtle can only have Torrent. (233 Pokémon)
• Pokémon listed under 'Dual ability' can have that ability or another, for example, Chansey can have either the ability Natural Cure or the ability Serene Grace. (260 Pokémon)

Individual Pokémon can only have one ability - Pokémon that are under a dual ability listing have a 50-50 chance of having either of their two abilities when encountered or hatched by a trainer.