Introduction

An Ability is a game mechanic introduced in the third Generation that provides a passive effect in battle or in the Overworld. Individual Pokémon may have only one Ability at a time. Prior to the sixth Generation, 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.

Mechanic

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 the 5th Generation; they are relatively rare and usually require some type of special encounter.

List of Abilities