Pokémon Abilities 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.
Navigation |
Gen III • Gen IV • Gen V • Gen VI • Gen VII • Gen VIII |
Generation III
76 were introduced.
Ability | Description |
---|---|
Air Lock | Eliminates the effects of weather. |
Arena Trap | Prevents non- | -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 -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 | -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. |