Pokémon Abilities

An Ability (特性(とくせい), Tokusei), sometimes called Special Ability in the anime, is a game mechanic that was introduced in Generation III. They are various powers or characteristics that each Pokémon possesses and uses passively in a Pokémon battle. They were introduced in Generation III as an all new game mechanic.

Each and every Pokémon has an Ability, and can only have one at a time (with the exception of Calyrex with its As One Ability). Some Abilities are exclusive to certain Pokémon and evolution lines, while others are known by many Pokémon. A Pokémon's Ability can be changed using an Ability Capsule or an Ability Patch, if applicable.

Generation III

76 were introduced.

Ability	Description
Air Lock	Eliminates the effects of weather.
Arena Trap	Prevents non-Flying-type opposing Pokémon from fleeing.
Battle Armor	Protects the Pokémon from critical hits.
Blaze	Powers up Fire-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is low.
Cacophony	The Pokémon is immune to sound-based moves.
Chlorophyll	Boosts the Pokémon's Speed stat in harsh sunlight.
Clear Body	Prevents other Pokémon's moves or Abilities from lowering the Pokémon's stats.
Cloud Nine	Eliminates the effects of weather.
Color Change	The Pokémon's type becomes the type of the move used on it.
Compound Eyes	Boosts the Pokémon's Accuracy stat.
Cute Charm	Contact with the Pokémon may cause infatuation.
Damp	Prevents the use of Explosion and Self-Destruct.
Drizzle	Activates rain when the Pokémon enters battle.
Drought	Activates harsh sunlight when the Pokémon enters battle.
Early Bird	The Pokémon awakens twice as fast from sleep.
Effect Spore	Contact with the Pokémon may inflict poison, sleep, or paralysis on its attacker.
Flame Body	Contact with the Pokémon may inflict burn the attacker.
Flash Fire	Powers up the Pokémon's Fire-type moves if hit by a Fire-type move.
Forecast	The Pokémon transforms with the weather to change its type to Water, Fire, or Ice.
Guts	Boosts the Pokémon's Attack stat when it has a status condition.
Huge Power	Doubles the Pokémon's Attack stat.
Hustle	Boosts the Pokémon's Attack stat but lowers the Pokémon's Accuracy stat.
Hyper Cutter	The Pokémon's Attack stat cannot be lowered by other Pokémon.
Illuminate	Raises the likelihood of meeting wild Pokémon outside of battle.
Immunity	The Pokémon cannot be poisoned.
Inner Focus	The Pokémon cannot flinch.
Insomnia	The Pokémon cannot sleep.
Intimidate	When the Pokémon enters battle, it lowers opposing Pokémon's Attack stats.
Keen Eye	The Pokémon's Accuracy stat cannot be lowered by other Pokémon.
Levitate	The Pokémon is immune to Ground-type moves and Abilities.
Lightning Rod	The Pokémon draws in all Electric-type moves. Instead of receiving damage by Electric-type moves, it boosts the Pokémon's Sp. Atk.
Limber	The Pokémon cannot be paralyzed.
Liquid Ooze	HP draining moves used on the Pokémon damage instead of heal.
Magma Armor	The Pokémon cannot be frozen.
Magnet Pull	Prevents Steel-type opposing Pokémon from fleeing.
Marvel Scale	Boosts the Pokémon's Defense stat when it has a status condition.
Minus	Boosts the Pokémon's Sp. Atk if an ally with the Plus or Minus Ability is also in battle.
Natural Cure	The Pokémon loses any status condition after switching out.
Oblivious	The Pokémon cannot be infatuated or taunted.
Overgrow	Powers up Grass-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is low.
Own Tempo	The Pokémon cannot be confused.
Pickup	The Pokémon may pick up the item an opposing Pokémon used during a battle. The Pokémon may also pick up items outside of battle.
Plus	Boosts the Pokémon's Sp. Atk if an ally with the Plus or Minus Ability is also in battle.
Poison Point	Contact with the Pokémon may poison the attacker.
Pressure	Raises opposing Pokémon's PP usage.
Pure Power	Doubles the Pokémon's Attack stat.
Rain Dish	The Pokémon gradually regains HP in rain.
Rock Head	Protects the Pokémon from recoil damage.
Rough Skin	Contact with the Pokémon will damage the attacker.
Run Away	Enables a sure getaway from wild Pokémon.
Sand Stream	Activates sandstorm when the Pokémon enters battle.
Sand Veil	Boosts the Pokémon's Evasion stat in a sandstorm.
Serene Grace	Boosts the likelihood of additional effects occurring when attacking.
Shadow Tag	Prevents opposing Pokémon from fleeing.
Shed Skin	The Pokémon may heal its status condition.
Shell Armor	Protects the Pokémon from critical hits.
Shield Dust	Protects the Pokémon from additional effects.
Soundproof	The Pokémon is immune to sound-based moves.
Speed Boost	The Pokémon's Speed stat is boosted every turn.
Static	Contact with the Pokémon may paralyze the attacker.
Stench	Lowers the likelihood of meeting wild Pokémon outside of battle. The Pokémon may also cause a Pokémon to flinch after attacking it.
Sticky Hold	The Pokémon's item cannot be removed.
Sturdy	The Pokémon is immune to one-hit KO moves. The Pokémon cannot be knocked out with one hit while at full health either.
Suction Cups	The Pokémon cannot be forced to switch out or flee.
Swarm	Powers up Bug-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is low.
Swift Swim	Boosts the Pokémon's Speed stat in rain.
Synchronize	The attacker will receive the same status condition if it inflicts a burn, poison, or paralysis to the Pokémon.
Thick Fat	The Pokémon receives half damage from Fire and Ice-type moves.
Torrent	Powers up Water-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is low.
Trace	Copies an opposing Pokémon's Ability.
Truant	The Pokémon cannot use a move two turns in a row.
Vital Spirit	The Pokémon cannot sleep.
Volt Absorb	Restores the Pokémon's HP when hit by an Electric-type move, instead of taking damage.
Water Absorb	Restores the Pokémon's HP when hit by a Water-type move, instead of taking damage.
Water Veil	The Pokémon cannot be burned.
White Smoke	Prevents other Pokémon's moves or Abilities from lowering the Pokémon's stats.
Wonder Guard	The Pokémon is immune to damaging moves that are not super effective.

Generation IV

47 Abilities were introduced.

Ability	In-game description
Adaptability	Powers up moves of the same type as the Pokémon.
Aftermath	Damages the attacker if it contacts the Pokémon with a finishing hit.
Anger Point	A critical hit maxes the Pokémon's Attack stat.
Anticipation	The Pokémon can sense an opposing Pokémon's super effective moves.
Bad Dreams	Damages sleeping opposing Pokémon.
Download	Boosts the Pokémon's Attack or Sp. Atk stat based on the opposing Pokémon's Defense and Sp. Def stats.
Dry Skin	Restores the Pokémon's HP in rain, or when hit by a Water-type move. Damages the Pokémon in harsh sunlight, and increases the damage received from Fire-type moves.
Filter	Reduces the damage taken from super effective moves.
Flower Gift	Boosts the Attack and Sp. Def stats of the Pokémon and its allies in harsh sunlight.
Forewarn	The Pokémon can tell one of the moves an opposing Pokémon has.
Frisk	The Pokémon knows opposing Pokémon's held items.
Gluttony	The Pokémon eats its held Berry at half HP or less.
Heatproof	The Pokémon receives half damage from Fire-type moves.
Honey Gather	The Pokémon may gather Honey after a battle.
Hydration	Heals the Pokémon's status condition in the rain.
Ice Body	Restores the Pokémon's HP in a hailstorm.
Iron Fist	Powers up the Pokémon's punching moves.
Klutz	The Pokémon cannot use any held items.
Leaf Guard	Prevents status conditions in sunny weather.
Magic Guard	The Pokémon only takes damage from attacks.
Mold Breaker	Moves can be used on the target regardless of its Abilities.
Motor Drive	Boosts its Speed stat if hit by an Electric-type, instead of taking damage.
Multitype	Changes the Pokémon's type to match the Plate or Z-Crystal it holds.
No Guard	The Pokémon employs no-guard tactics to ensure incoming and outgoing attacks always land.
Normalize	All the Pokémon's moves become Normal-type. The power of those moves is boosted a little.
Poison Heal	Restores HP if the Pokémon is poisoned, instead of losing HP.
Quick Feet	Boosts the Speed stat if the Pokémon has a status condition.
Reckless	Powers up moves that have recoil damage.
Rivalry	Becomes competitive and deals more damage to Pokémon of the same gender, but deals less to Pokémon of the opposite gender.
Scrappy	The Pokémon can hit Ghost-type Pokémon with Normal and Fighting-type moves.
Simple	The stat changes the Pokémon receives are doubled.
Skill Link	Increases the number of times multi-stike moves hit.
Slow Start	For five turns, the Pokémon's Attack and Speed stats are halved.
Sniper	Powers up moves if they become critical hits.
Snow Cloak	Boosts evasion in a hailstorm.
Snow Warning	The Pokémon summons a hailstorm when it enters a battle.
Solar Power	Boosts the Sp. Atk stat in sunny weather, but HP decreases every turn.
Solid Rock	Reduces the power of supereffective attacks taken.
Stall	The Pokémon moves after all other Pokémon do.
Steadfast	The Pokémon's determination boosts the Speed stat each time the Pokémon flinches.
Storm Drain	Draws in all Water-type moves. Instead of being hit by Water-type moves, it boosts its Sp. Atk.
Super Luck	The Pokémon is so lucky that the critical-hit ratios of its moves are boosted.
Tangled Feet	Raises evasion if the Pokémon is confused.
Technician	Powers up the Pokémon's weaker moves.
Tinted Lens	The Pokémon can use "not very effective" moves to deal regular damage.
Unaware	When attacking, the Pokémon ignores the target Pokémon's stat changes.
Unburden	Boosts the Speed stat if the Pokémon's held item is used or lost.

Generation V

41 Abilities were introduced.

Ability	In-game description
Analytic	Boosts move power when the Pokémon moves last.
Big Pecks	Protects the Pokémon from Defense-lowering effects.
Contrary	Makes stat changes have an opposite effect.
Cursed Body	May disable a move used on the Pokémon.
Defeatist	Halves the Pokémon's Attack and Sp. Atk stats when its HP becomes half or less.
Defiant	Boosts the Pokémon's Attack stat sharply when its stats are lowered.
Flare Boost	Powers up special attacks when the Pokémon is burned.
Friend Guard	Reduces damage done to allies.
Harvest	May create another Berry after one is used.
Healer	Sometimes heals an ally's status condition.
Heavy Metal	Doubles the Pokémon's weight.
Illusion	Comes out disguised as the Pokémon in the party's last spot.
Imposter	The Pokémon transforms itself into the Pokémon it's facing.
Infiltrator	Passes through the opposing Pokémon's barrier, substitute, and the like and strikes.
Iron Barbs	Inflicts damage to the attacker on contact with iron barbs.
Justified	Being hit by a Dark-type move boosts the Attack stat of the Pokémon, for justice.
Light Metal	Halves the Pokémon's weight.
Magic Bounce	Reflects status moves, instead of getting hit by them.
Moody	Raises one stat sharply and lowers another every turn.
Moxie	The Pokémon shows moxie, and that boosts the Attack stat after knocking out any Pokémon.
Multiscale	Reduces the amount of damage the Pokémon takes when its HP is full.
Mummy	Contact with the Pokémon changes the attacker's Ability to Mummy.
Overcoat	Protects the Pokémon from things like sand, hail, and powder.
Pickpocket	Steals an item from an attacker that made direct contact.
Poison Touch	May poison a target when the Pokémon makes contact.
Prankster	Gives priority to a status move.
Rattled	Dark, Ghost, and Bug-type moves scare the Pokémon and boost its Speed stat.
Regenerator	Restores a little HP when withdrawn from battle.
Sand Force	Boosts the power of Rock, Ground, and Steel-type moves in a sandstorm.
Sand Rush	Boosts the Pokémon's Speed stat in a sandstorm.
Sap Sipper	Boosts the Attack stat if hit by a Grass-type move, instead of taking damage.
Sheer Force	Removes additional effects to increase the power of moves when attacking.
Telepathy	Anticipates an ally's attack and dodges it.
Teravolt	Moves can be used on the target regardless of its Abilities.
Toxic Boost	Powers up physical attacks when the Pokémon is poisoned.
Turboblaze	Moves can be used on the target regardless of its Abilities.
Unnerve	Opponents cannot eat Berries.
Victory Star	Boosts the accuracy of the Pokémon and its allies.
Weak Armor	Physical attacks lower the Pokémon's Defense stat but raises its Speed stat.
Wonder Skin	Makes status moves more likely to miss.
Zen Mode	The Pokémon changes forme when its HP is half or less.

Generation VI

27 Abilities were introduced.

Ability	In-game description
Aerilate	Normal-type moves become Flying-type moves. The power of those moves is boosted a little.
Aroma Veil	Protects the Pokémon and its allies from attacks that limit their move choices.
Aura Break	Reverses the effects of Dark Aura and Fairy Aura.
Bulletproof	Protects the Pokémon from ball and bomb moves.
Cheek Pouch	Restores HP as well when the Pokémon eats a Berry.
Competitive	Boosts the Pokémon's Sp. Atk stat when a stat is lowered.
Dark Aura	Powers up every Pokémon's Dark-type moves.
Delta Stream	The Pokémon starts a mysterious air current when it enters battle.
Desolate Land	The Pokémon starts Extremely Harsh Sunlight when it enters battle.
Fairy Aura	Powers up every Pokémon's Fairy-type moves.
Flower Veil	Ally Grass-type Pokémon are protected from status conditions and the lowering of their stats.
Fur Coat	Halves the damage from physical moves.
Gale Wings	Gives priority to Flying-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is full.
Gooey	Contact with the Pokémon lowers the attacker's Speed stat.
Grass Pelt	Boosts the Pokémon's Defense stat in Grassy Terrain.
Magician	The Pokémon steals the held item of a Pokémon it hits with a move.
Mega Launcher	Powers up aura and pulse moves.
Parental Bond	The Pokémon attacks twice.
Pixilate	Normal-type moves become Fairy-type moves. The power of those moves is boosted a little.
Primordial Sea	The Pokémon starts Heavy Rain when it enters battle.
Protean	Changes the Pokémon's type to the type of the move it's about to use.
Refrigerate	Normal-type moves become Ice-type moves. The power of those moves is boosted a little.
Stance Change	The Pokémon changes its form to Blade Forme when it uses an attack move, and changes to Shield Forme when it uses King's Shield.
Strong Jaw	Boosts the power of The Pokémon's biting moves.
Sweet Veil	Prevents itself and ally Pokémon from falling asleep.
Symbiosis	The Pokémon passes its item to an ally that has used up an item.
Tough Claws	Powers up moves that make direct contact.

Generation VII

42 Abilities were introduced.

Ability	In-Game Description
Battery	Powers up ally Pokémons' special moves.
Battle Bond	Defeating an opposing Pokémon strengthens the Pokémon's bond with its Trainer, and it becomes Ash-Greninja. Water Shuriken gets more powerful.
Beast Boost	The Pokémon boosts its most proficient stat each time it knocks out a Pokémon.
Berserk	Boosts the Pokémon's Sp. Atk stat when it takes a hit that causes its HP to become half or less.
Comatose	It's always drowsing and will never wake up. It can attack without waking up.
Corrosion	The Pokémon can poison the target even if it's a Steel or Poison-type.
Dancer	When another Pokémon uses a dance move, it can use a dance move following it regardless of its Speed.
Dazzling	Surprises the opposing Pokémon, making it unable to attack using priority moves.
Disguise	Once per battle, the shroud that covers the Pokémon can protect it from an attack.
Electric Surge	Turns the ground into Electric Terrain when the Pokémon enters a battle.
Emergency Exit	The Pokémon, sensing danger, switches out when its HP becomes half or less.
Fluffy	Halves the damage taken from moves that make direct contact, but doubles that of Fire-type moves.
Full Metal Body	Prevents other Pokémon's moves or Abilities from lowering the Pokémon's stats.
Galvanize	Normal-type moves become Electric-type moves. The power of those moves is boosted a little.
Grassy Surge	Turns the ground into Grassy Terrain when the Pokémon enters a battle.
Innards Out	Damages the attacker landing the finishing hit by the amount equal to its last HP.
Liquid Voice	All sound-based moves become Water-type moves.
Long Reach	The Pokémon uses its moves without making contact with the target.
Merciless	The Pokémon's attacks become critical hits if the target is poisoned.
Misty Surge	Turns the ground into Misty Terrain when the Pokémon enters a battle.
Neuroforce	Powers up moves that are super effective.
Power Construct	Other Cells gather to aid when its HP becomes half or less. Then the Pokémon changes its form to Complete Forme.
Power of Alchemy	The Pokémon copies the Ability of a defeated ally.
Prism Armor	Reduces the power of supereffective attacks taken.
Psychic Surge	Turns the ground into Psychic Terrain when the Pokémon enters a battle.
Queenly Majesty	Its majesty pressures the opposing Pokémon, making it unable to attack using priority moves.
Receiver	The Pokémon copies the Ability of a defeated ally.
RKS System	Changes the Pokémon's type to match the memory disc it holds.
Schooling	When it has a lot of HP, the Pokémon forms a powerful school. It stops schooling when its HP is low.
Shadow Shield	Reduces the amount of damage the Pokémon takes while its HP is full.
Shields Down	When its HP becomes half or less, the Pokémon's shell breaks and it becomes aggressive.
Slush Rush	Boosts the Pokémon's Speed stat in a hailstorm.
Soul-Heart	Boosts its Sp. Atk stat every time a Pokémon faints.
Stakeout	Doubles the damage dealt to the target's replacement if the target switches out.
Stamina	Boosts the Defense stat when hit by an attack.
Steelworker	Powers up Steel-type moves.
Surge Surfer	Doubles the Pokémon's Speed stat on Electric Terrain.
Tangling Hair	Contact with the Pokémon lowers the attacker's Speed stat.
Triage	Gives priority to a healing move.
Water Bubble	Lowers the power of Fire-type moves done to the Pokémon and prevents the Pokémon from getting a burn.
Water Compaction	Boosts the Pokémon's Defense stat sharply when hit by a Water-type move.
Wimp Out	The Pokémon cowardly switches out when its HP becomes half or less.

Generation VIII

Generation VIII introduced 33 new Abilities, 2 of which take the same name (As One).

Ability	In-Game Description
As One	This Ability combines the effects of both Calyrex's Unnerve Ability and Glastrier's Chilling Neigh Ability.
	This Ability combines the effects of both Calyrex's Unnerve Ability and Spectrier's Grim Neigh Ability.
Ball Fetch	If the Pokémon is not holding an item, it will fetch the Poké Ball from the first failed throw of the battle.
Chilling Neigh	When the Pokémon knocks out a target, it utters a chilling neigh, which boosts its Attack stat.
Cotton Down	When the Pokémon is hit by an attack, it scatters cotton fluff around and lowers the Speed stat of all Pokémon except itself.
Curious Medicine	When the Pokémon enters a battle, it scatters medicine from its shell, which removes all stat changes from allies.
Dauntless Shield	Boosts the Pokémon's Defense stat when the Pokémon enters a battle.
Dragon's Maw	Powers up Dragon-type moves.
Gorilla Tactics	Boosts the Pokémon's Attack stat but only allows the use of the first selected move.
Grim Neigh	When the Pokémon knocks out a target, it utters a terrifying neigh, which boosts its Sp. Atk stat.
Gulp Missile	When the Pokémon uses Surf or Dive, it will come back with prey. When it takes damage, it will spit out the prey to attack.
Hunger Switch	The Pokémon changes its form, alternating between its Full Belly Mode and Hangry Mode after the end of each turn.
Ice Face	The Pokémon's ice head can take a physical attack as a substitute, but the attack also changes the Pokémon's appearance. The ice will be restored when it hails.
Ice Scales	The Pokémon is protected by ice scales, which halve the damage taken from special moves.
Intrepid Sword	Boosts the Pokémon's Attack stat when the Pokémon enters a battle.
Libero	Changes the Pokémon's type to the type of the move it's about to use.
Mimicry	Changes the Pokémon's type depending on the terrain.
Mirror Armor	Bounces back only the stat-lowering effects that the Pokémon receives.
Neutralizing Gas	If the Pokémon with Neutralizing Gas is in the battle, the effects of all Pokémon's Abilities will be nullified or will not be triggered.
Pastel Veil	Protects the Pokémon and its ally Pokémon from being poisoned.
Perish Body	When hit by a move that makes direct contact, the Pokémon and the attacker will faint after three turns unless they switch out of battle.
Power Spot	Just being next to the Pokémon powers up moves.
Propeller Tail	Ignores the effects of opposing Pokémon's Abilities and moves that draw in moves.
Punk Rock	Boosts the power of sound-based moves. The Pokémon also takes half the damage from these kinds of moves.
Quick Draw	Enables the Pokémon to move first occasionally.
Ripen	Ripens Berries and doubles their effect.
Sand Spit	The Pokémon creates a sandstorm when it's hit by an attack.
Screen Cleaner	When the Pokémon enters a battle, the effects of Light Screen, Reflect, and Aurora Veil are nullified for both opposing and ally Pokémon.
Stalwart	Ignores the effects of opposing Pokémon's Abilities and moves that draw in moves.
Steam Engine	Boosts the Pokémon's Speed stat drastically if hit by a Fire- or Water-type move.
Steely Spirit	Powers up ally Pokémon's Steel-type moves.
Transistor	Powers up Electric-type moves.
Unseen Fist	If the Pokémon uses moves that make direct contact, it can attack the target even if the target protects itself.
Wandering Spirit	The Pokémon exchanges Abilities with a Pokémon that hits it with a move that makes direct contact.