Abilities have been a part of Pokemon since Generation III, and that remains the case withPokemon Scarlet and Violet. Every Pokemon will have at least one ability, with two being the most common. In some cases, Pokemon can have a Hidden Ability, although this is uncommon without certain conditions. Abilities will have a passive effect during a battle that can change the environment, stats, other abilities, or moves.
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Sometimes players choose Pokemon based on their abilities and the potential bonuses they will receive from them. There are 31 new abilities inPokemon Scarlet and Violet, and many of them are the signatureability of Generation 9 Pokemon. This guide covers each ability’s effects and what Pokemon may have it.
Stat-Changing Abilities
These abilities will increase or decrease a Pokemon’s base stats once a specific condition is met.
Anger Shell
When an attack causes its HP to drop to half or less,the Pokemon gets angry. This lowers its Defense, and Sp. Def stats but boosts its Attack, Sp. Atk, and Speed stats.
Pokemon with this ability include:
Beads Of Ruin
The power of the Pokemon’s ruinous beads lowers the Sp. Def stats of all Pokemon except itself.
Commander
When the Pokemon enters a battle, it goes inside the mouth of an ally Dondozo if one is on the field. The Pokemon then issues commands from there.
Costar
When the Pokemon enters a battle, it copies an ally’s stat changes.
Guard Dog
Boosts thePokemon’s Attack stat if intimidated. Moves and items that would force the Pokemon to switch out also fail to work.
Opportunist
If an opponent’s stat is boosted, the Pokemon seizes the opportunity to raise the same stat for itself.
Supreme Overlord
When the Pokemon enters a battle, its Attack and Sp. Atk stats are slightly boosted for each ally in its party that has already been defeated.
Sword Of Ruin
The power of the Pokemon’s ruinous sword lowers the Defense stats of all Pokemon except itself.
Tablets Of Ruin
The power of thePokemon’s ruinous wooden tabletslowers the Attack stats of all Pokemon except itself.
Vessel Of Ruin
The power of the Pokemon’s ruinous vessel lowers the Sp. Atk stats of all Pokemon except itself.
Weather Conditions And Terrain Abilities
These abilities affect the battlefield by introducingterrain changes or weather conditions.
Hadron Engine
Turns the ground into Electric Terrain when the Pokemon enters a battle. The futuristic engine within the Pokemon also boosts its Sp. Atk stat on Electric Terrain.
Orichalcum Pulse
Turns the sunlight harsh when the Pokemon enters a battle. The ancient pulse thrumming through the Pokemon also boosts its Attack stat in harsh sunlight.
Protosynthesis
Boosts the Pokemon’s most proficient stat in harsh sunlight or if the Pokemon is holding Booster Energy.
Quark Drive
Boosts the Pokemon’s most proficient stat on Electric Terrain or if the Pokemon is holding Booster Energy.
Seed Sower
Turns the ground into Grassy Terrain for five turns when an attack hits the Pokemon. It is extended to 8 turns if the user holds a Terrain Extender.
Move Effective Abilities
These abilities affect moves by boosting them, making them less effective, or blocking them.
Armor Tail
The mysterioustail covering the Pokemon’s headprevents opponents from using priority moves against the Pokemon or its allies.
Electromorphosis
The Pokemon becomes charged when it takes damage, boosting the power of the next Electric-type move the Pokemon uses.
Good As Gold
A body of pure, solid gold gives the Pokemon complete immunity to other Pokemon’s status moves.
Mycelium Might
The Pokemon will always act more slowly when using status moves, but these moves will be unimpeded by the target’s Ability.
Purifying Salt
The Pokemon’s pure salt protects it from status conditions and halves the damage from Ghost-type moves.
Thermal Exchange
It boosts the Attack stat when a Fire-type move hits the Pokemon. The Pokemon also cannot be burned.
Toxic Debris
Scatters poison spikes at the feet of the opposing team when the Pokemon takes damage from physical moves.
Well-Baked Body
The Pokemon takes no damage when hit by Fire-type moves. Instead, its Defense stat is sharply boosted.
Wind Power
The Pokemon becomes charged when it is hit by a wind move, boosting the power of the next Electric-type move the Pokemon uses.
Other Abilities
These abilities include recovery, held item, or form and ability changes.
Cud Chew
When the Pokemon eats a Berry, it will regurgitate that Berry at the end of the next turn and eat it one more time.
Earth Eater
If hit by a Ground-type move, the Pokemon has its HP restored instead of taking damage.
Lingering Aroma
Contact with the Pokemon changes the attacker’s Ability to Lingering Aroma.
