Ability

An **Ability** is a game mechanic that provides a passive effect in battle or in the overworld. Individual Pokémon may have only one Ability at a time. An Ability cannot be changed after a Pokémon is obtained except by evolution—where the new Ability is determined by the former Ability—and form change. Not every Ability is entirely beneficial; some of them are hindering.

## Mechanics

Some species of Pokémon have multiple possible Abilities. The most Abilities any species or form has is three: two normal Abilities and one Hidden Ability. In most wild Pokémon encounters, the Pokémon's Ability will be one of its non-Hidden Abilities (each having an even chance of appearing if the species has two). Hidden Abilities are relatively rare and usually require some type of special encounter.

In technical terms, a species' Abilities may be thought of as having separate slots, with an individual Pokémon's non-Hidden slot determined by its personality value. For example, an Eevee—with two non-Hidden Abilities—has Run Away for its first non-Hidden slot, Adaptability for its second, and Anticipation for its Hidden Ability slot. Vaporeon—with only one non-Hidden Ability—can be considered to have Water Absorb for both non-Hidden slots. When a Pokémon evolves, its Ability slot remains the same. This means that a Poochyena with Run Away will evolve into a Mightyena with Intimidate, while a Poochyena with Quick Feet will evolve into a Mightyena with Quick Feet.

Aside from Evolution, there is one way for Pokémon to change Abilities in a permanent manner: the Pokémon has different forms with different Abilities. Aside from this method, during battle, Pokémon may also change their Ability through Mega Evolution or Primal Reversion, and certain moves and Abilities can also change a Pokémon's Ability.

Aside from in-battle effects, some Abilities also have effects outside of battle.

### Hidden Abilities

*Main article: List of Pokémon with Hidden Abilities*

A **Hidden Ability** is an extra Ability an individual Pokémon can have. A Pokémon with a Hidden Ability will retain its Ability slot upon evolution (i.e. its Ability will become its evolved form's Hidden Ability).

Not all species of Pokémon have a Hidden Ability. However, even Pokémon of a species that does not have a Hidden Ability can have the Hidden Ability flag. Some methods for obtaining a Hidden Ability specifically ensure that species without a Hidden Ability cannot receive the Hidden Ability flag, while other methods do not.

A Pokémon without a Hidden Ability having the Hidden Ability flag has a functional significance: Some species of Pokémon do not have a Hidden Ability even though their evolved forms do; upon evolution, the evolved form will only have its Hidden Ability if its pre-evolved form had the Hidden Ability flag (despite this not being visible on the pre-evolved form). For example, Metapod does not have a Hidden Ability, whereas Caterpie and Butterfree do.

#### Methods

* Wild Pokémons have a 5% chance of being met with their Hidden Abilities, if they can have one.
* When breeding a Pokémon with its Hidden Ability, its offspring may have a chance of having their Hidden Ability.
* Certain gift Pokémon may have their Hidden Ability.

### Inheriting Abilities

*Main article: Pokémon breeding → Inheriting Abilities*

A female Pokémon has an 80% (60% for Hidden Ability) chance to pass down its Ability slot, regardless of whether it is bred with a male Pokémon or Ditto.

It is possible for male and gender-unknown Pokémon (such as Magnemite) to pass down their Ability if bred with a Ditto, in which case it has a 60% chance to pass down its Hidden Ability. They cannot pass down a Hidden Ability when bred with any Pokémon other than Ditto. Ditto's Ability is always irrelevant to inheritance.

If an Egg does not inherit its Ability from a parent, it can only be born with one of its non-Hidden Abilities.

### Abilites affecting Abilities

Certain Abilitites can affect the Abilities of themselves, their allies, or their targets.

#### Changing Abilities

A Pokémon's Ability can be changed by one of the following abilities. A changed Ability wears off immediately upon the Pokémon with the changed Ability being switched out, reverting to its original one before the effects of any abilities that activate upon exiting battle occur.

 Receiver | The Pokémon copies the Ability of a defeated ally.

#### Altering Abilities

A Pokémon's Ability can be suppressed, ignored or reversed when any of the following abilities are present on battle.

 Full Metal Body | Prevents other Pokémon's moves or Abilities from lowering the Pokémon's stats.

#### Benefical Abilities

A Pokémon's Ability can activate other Pokémon's Ability to benefit it, or give another specific benefical ways that affect abilitites.

 Plus | Boosts the Sp. Atk stat of the Pokémon if an ally with the Plus or Minus Ability is also in battle.

### Moves

Certain moves that a Pokémon can use can affect the Abilities of themselves, their allies, or their targets.

#### Suppressing Abilities

A Pokémon's Ability can be suppressed when struck by any of the following moves.

 Gastro Acid | Poison | Status | —

#### Changing Abilities

A Pokémon's Ability can be changed when struck by any of the following moves. The effects of these moves wear off immediately upon the target being switched out, reverting the target's Ability to its original one before the effects of any abilities that activate upon exiting battle occur.

#### Ignoring Abilities

A Pokémon's Ability can be ignored when struck by any of the following moves.

## Trivia

* Zygarde is the only Pokémon that has two standard Abilities but does not have a Hidden Ability.