Pokémon Abilities

An **Ability** (Japanese: **特性** *Ability*) is a game mechanic introduced in Generation III that provides a passive effect in battle or in the overworld. Individual Pokémon may have only one Ability at a time. Prior to Generation VI, an Ability could not be changed after a Pokémon was 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.

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 were introduced in Generation V; they 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 are three ways for Pokémon to change Abilities in a permanent manner. One way is if the Pokémon has different forms with different Abilities. Another way is through the Ability Capsule, which was introduced in Generation VI. The Ability Capsule actually changes a Pokémon's non-Hidden Ability slot, but it will not work if the Pokémon has its Hidden Ability or if the species has only one non-Hidden Ability. Third, transferring a Pokémon from one generation of games to a later one in which the Ability in a given slot is different. Aside from these methods, 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.

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 a later generation. If a Pokémon whose species gained an Ability after Generation III is transferred to Generations IV or V, it will initially retain its original Ability; upon evolving, however, its Ability slot will be recalculated and its Ability may change. When a Pokémon is transferred to Generation VI or Generation VII, however, it will be locked into the appropriate slot for its current Ability.

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

## Abilities used in the series

* In "*TBC*", **Kimberly's Sprigatito** (nicknamed **Flora**) used her ability, **Overgrow**, to boost the power of her Grass-type attacks when her energy had run low. In the same episode, **Garry's Quaxly** (nicknamed **Donald**) used his ability, **Torrent**, to boost the power of his Water-type attacks when his energy had ran low.
* In "*TBC*", **Liam's Swampert** (nicknamed **Muddy**) appears to possess the ability, **Torrent**, to boost the power of his Water-type attacks when his energy had ran low.
* In "*TBC*", **Azusa's Meowstic** (nicknamed **Snowbelle**) was revealed to have the ability, **Competitive**. She first used it when her Defense was lowered by a TBC's Steelix who used Screech, which caused her to boost her special attack power.
* In "*TBC*", **Yui's Goodra** (nicknamed **Huggy**) used her ability, **Sap Sipper**, to absorb the power of ???'s Solar Beam, raising her own Attack power in doing so.
* In "*TBC*", **Nodoka Miyazaki's Gardevoir** (nicknamed **Aphrodite**) looked like she had Soundproof as her ability, but the cause of having that ability was the usage of her actual true ability, which was confirmed that she had used **Trace** instead to copy that said ability.
* In "*TBC*", **Percy's Skeledirge** (nicknamed **Elton**) used his ability, **Unaware**, to ignore the effects of a ???'s Claydol who used Cosmic Power.
* In "*TBC*", **Penny's Sylveon** (nicknamed **TBC**) used her ability, **Cute Charm**, to infatuate ???'s male Scafty after she was hit by Poison Jab.
* In "*TBC*", **Percy's Glaceon** (nicknamed **Maria**) used her ability, **Ice Body**, to heal herself during the effects of the snow from Snowscape.
* In "*TBC*", **Madoka Kaname's** **Sylveon** (nicknamed **TBC**) used her ability, **Pixilate**, to make Hyper Voice into a Fairy type.
* In "*TBC*", **Mio's Leavanny** (nicknamed **Nana**) used her ability, **Swarm**, to boost the power of her Bug-type moves when she was low on energy.