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Pokémon Abilities (also referred to as "Traits" or "Characteristics") are a new feature that was introduced in the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire games and have reappeared in every main Pokémon game since, including Pokémon Colosseum , Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen , Pokémon Emerald , and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness .
These are not to be confused with personality type ("nature"), which can modify a Pokémon's base statistics , nor with the attack techniques ("moves") a Pokémon can learn. Rather, an Ability can be thought of as an extra, innate trait distinctive of one or more species of Pokémon. For example, the ability Rock Head nullifies the recoil damage from techniques that also damage the user when performed, such as Double Edge and Take Down. Abilities have many diverse effects.
Usually, a single species of Pokémon has only one ability associated with it, but several have two. In the latter case, it appears that one of the two abilities will be randomly assigned upon capture. Many abilities are assigned to certain species of Pokémon according to their Pokédex entries; for example, Grimer and Muk have the Stench ability because they smell absolutely foul, while Meowth has the Pickup ability because it is known to hoard shiny objects.
A list of Pokémon Abilities follows:
A
Ability
Effect
See Also
Adaptability
User's STAB modifier becomes x2.
Technician
Aerilate
Turns all Normal-type moves into Flying-type moves.
Aftermath
Deals 25% damage when KO'ed by direct contact damage.
Air Lock
Eliminates weather effects.
Cloud Nine
Analytic
Increases move power when the user goes last.
Anger Point
Raises Attack stat to maximum if struck by a critical hit.
Anticipation
Alerts the Pokémon of certain dangerous moves.
Forewarn
Arena Trap
Prevents enemy escape.
Magnet Pull, Shadow Tag
Aroma Veil
Protects allies from moves such as Taunt and Torment . Only effective in Triple and Double Battles.
Aura Break
Reverses the effects of Aura abilities.
B
Ability
Effect
See Also
Bad Dreams
Deals 1/8 damage to sleeping opponents per turn.
Battle Armor
Negates critical hits.
Shell Armor
Big Pecks
Prevents opposing team from lowering the user's Defense stat.
Hyper Cutter, White Smoke, Clear Body
Blaze
Ups Fire-type moves when HP is 1/3 or under.
Overgrow, Swarm, Torrent
Bulletproof
Protects the Pokémon from moves such as Mud Bomb
C
Ability
Effect
See Also
Cheek Pouch
Restores HP as additional effect when eating a Berry.
Chlorophyll
Sunny weather doubles speed.
Swift Swim
Clear Body
Prevents stat reduction.
Big Pecks, Hyper Cutter, White Smoke
Cloud Nine
Negates weather effects.
Air Lock
Color Change
Foe's move changes the Pokémon's type.
Forecast
Competitive
Raises the Special Attack stat by 2 when other stats are lowered.
Defiant
Compoundeyes
Boosts accuracy by 30%. Wild Pokémon are more likely to be holding items.
Keen Eye
Contrary
Reverses afflicted stats changes
Cursed Body
May disable one of the enemy's moves if it hits.
Cute Charm
May infatuate enemy if hit by a direct contact attack; Pokémon of opposite gender are more likely to appear.
Effect Spore, Flame Body, Poison Point, Static
D
Ability
Effect
See Also
Damp
Negates effects of Explosion and Self-Destruct .
Dark Aura
Strengthens Dark-type moves. Yveltal's signature ability
Fairy Aura
Defeatist
Decreases stats with HP 1/2 or less.
Defiant
Raises Attack by 2 if other stats are lowers.
Competitive
Download
User receives a stat boost depending on its opponent's stats.
Drizzle
Rains falls when the Pokémon enters a battle. It doesn't wear off.
Drought, Sand Stream
Drought
Sunlight brightens when the Pokémon enters a battle. If doesn't wear off.
Drizzle, Sand Stream
Dry Skin
Restores HP in rain, loses HP in sun. Provides immunity to water and weakness to fire.
Rain Dish
E
Ability
Effect
See Also
Early Bird
Pokémon wake up in half time, rounded down.
Vital Spirit
Effect Spore
Contact may paralyze, poison, or lull to sleep.
Cute Charm, Flame Body, Poison Point, Static
F
Ability
Effect
See Also
Fairy Aura
Strengthens Fairy-type moves. Xerneas's signature ability
Dark Aura
Filter
Reduces damage takes from supereffective attacks.
Flame Body
33% chance to burn opponent on contact.
Cute Charm, Effect Spore, Static
Flare Boost
Strengthens special attacks when afflicted with a burn.
Toxic Boost
Flash Fire
Damage from Fire-type attacks increase to 1.5x power when Pokémon is hit with a Fire-type move.
Volt Absorb, Water Absorb
Flower Gift
Raises stats of this Pokémon and its partner in sun.
Vital Spirit
Flower Veil
Prevents Grass-type Pokémon's stats from being lowered.
Aroma Veil, Sweet Veil
Forecast
Elemental type changes according to weather.
Color Change
Forewarn
Alerts the Pokémon of the opponent's strongest move.
Anticipation
Friend Guard
Frisk
Reveals Pokémon's held item.
Fur Coat
Halves damage taken from physical moves. Furfrou's signature ability.
G
Ability
Effect
See Also
Gale Wings
Prioritizes Flying-type moves.
Gluttony
Consumes held berry earlier.
Gooey
Reduces attackers's Speed stat by 1 if hit.
Grass Pelt
Increases Defense stat when battling in tall grass.
Guts
Status ailments increase attack by 50%. Burn's attack drop is canceled.
Marvel Scale, Quick Feet
H
Ability
Effect
See Also
Huge Power
Attack stat is doubled in battle.
Pure Power
Hustle
Boosts Attack stat, but lowers accuracy by 20%.
Hyper Cutter
Negates reduction of Attack stat.
Clear Body, White Smoke
I
Ability
Effect
See Also
Ice Body
HP is restored during a hailstorm.
Rain Dish
Illuminate
Wild Pokémon encounters increase.
Stench
Immunity
Negates poisoning.
Inner Focus, Insomnia, Limber, Magma Armor, Oblivious, Own Tempo, Water Veil, Vital Spirit
Inner Focus
Prevents flinching.
Immunity, Insomnia, Limber, Magma Armor, Oblivious, Own Tempo, Water Veil, Vital Spirit
Insomnia
Prevents sleep.
Immunity, Inner Focus, Limber, Magma Armor, Oblivious, Own Tempo, Water Veil, Vital Spirit
Intimidate
Lowers opponents' attack.
Iron Fist
Boosts power of punching moves by 20%
K
Ability
Effect
See Also
Keen Eye
Prevents opponent from lowering the Pokémon's accuracy.
Compoundeyes
L
Ability
Effect
See Also
Levitate
Pokémon cannot be hit by Ground-type moves.
Thick Fat, Wonder Guard
Lightningrod
All Electric-type attacks will hit this Pokémon.
Storm Drain
Limber
Negates paralysis.
Inner Focus, Insomnia, Magma Armor, Oblivious, Own Tempo, Water Veil, Vital Spirit
Liquid Ooze
Draining moves cause damage.
M
Ability
Effect
See Also
Magic Guard
Prevents all passive damage.
Magma Armor
Prevents freezing.
Inner Focus, Insomnia, Immunity, Limber, Oblivious, Own Tempo, Water Veil, Vital Spirit
Magnet Pull
Prevents Steel-types from escaping. Boost chance of steel types appearing.
Arena Trap, Shadow Tag
Marvel Scale
Status ailments increase defense by 50%.
Guts, Quick Feet
Minus
Special Attack stat increases by 50% if a Pokémon with Plus is present.
Plus
N
Ability
Effect
See Also
Natural Cure
Status ailments are healed when switched out.
Shed Skin
O
Ability
Effect
See Also
Oblivious
Prevents infatuation.
Immunity, Inner Focus, Insomnia, Limber, Magma Armor, Own Tempo, Water Veil, Vital Spirit
Overgrow
Increases Grass-type moves by 50% when health reaches 1/3
Blaze, Swarm, Torrent
Own Tempo
Prevents confusion.
Immunity, Inner Focus, Insomnia, Limber, Magma Armor, Oblivious, Water Veil, Vital Spirit
P
Ability
Effect
See Also
Pickup
May find items. The higher the level, the better.
Plus
Special Attack increases by 50% if a Pokémon with Minus is present.
Minus
Poison Point
Contact may cause poisoning.
Cute Charm, Effect Spore, Flame Body, Static
Pressure
Causes 2 PP to be used by foe.
Pure Power
Attack stat is doubled in battle.
Huge Power
Q
Ability
Effect
See Also
Quick Feet
Status ailments (except for paralysis) increase speed by 50%.
Guts, Marvel Scale
R
Ability
Effect
See Also
Rain Dish
HP is restored during rain.
Dry Skin, Ice Body
Rock Head
Prevents recoil damage.
Rough Skin
Opponents' HP drops if it makes contact.
Run Away
Enables getaway from wild Pokémon.
S
Ability
Effect
See Also
Sand Stream
A sandstorm occurs when this Pokémon enters battle.
Drizzle, Drought
Sand Veil
Evasiveness increases during a sandstorm.
Snow Cloak
Serene Grace
Increases likelihood of additional effects.
Shield Dust
Shadow Tag
Prevents escape.
Arena Trap, Magnet Pull
Shed Skin
The Pokémon has a 33.3% chance of recovering from a status ailment.
Natural Cure
Shell Armor
Negates critical hits.
Battle Armor
Shield Dust
Negates the activation of additional effects.
Serence Grace
Snow Cloak
Evasiveness increases in a hailstorm.
Sand Veil
Soundproof
The Pokémon has an immunity to sound-based moves.
Speed Boost
Speed stat increases after every turn.
Static
Contact may cause paralysis. Electric types appear more commonly.
Cute Charm, Effect Spore, Flame Body, Poison Point
Stench
Chances of encountering wild Pokémon decrease.
Illuminate
Sticky Hold
Held item cannot be taken.
Sturdy
Negates one-hit KOs.
Suction Cups
This Pokémon cannot be forced from battle.
Swarm
Bug-types moves are increased by 50% when HP is 1/3 or lower.
Blaze, Overgrow, Torrent
Swift Swim
Rain doubles Speed. Wares off when rain ends.
Chlorophyll
Synchronize
This Pokémon inflicts its status ailment on the opponent. Pokémon of the same nature are more likely to appear.
T
Ability
Effect
See Also
Technician
Increases power of moves below 60 base power.
Adaptability
Thick Fat
Fire- and Ice-type damage is halved.
Levitate, Wonder Guard
Torrent
Water-type attacks are increased by 50% when HP is 1/3 or lower.
Blaze, Overgrow, Swarm
Trace
Copies the ability of the opponent.
Truant
Makes the Pokémon attack only every other turn.
V
Ability
Effect
See Also
Vital Spirit
Prevents sleep.
Immunity, Inner Focus, Insomnia, Limber, Magma Armor, Oblivious, Own Tempo, Water Veil
Volt Absorb
Electric-type moves heal the Pokémon.
Water Absorb
W
Ability
Effect
See Also
Water Absorb
Water-type moves heal the Pokémon.
Volt Absorb
Water Veil
Prevents burns.
Immunity, Inner Focus, Insomnia, Limber, Magma Armor, Oblivious, Own Tempo, Vital Spirit
White Smoke
Negates stat reduction.
Clear Body, Hyper Cutter
Wonder Guard
Only super-effective moves can hit.
Levitate, Thick Fat