The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (2024)

There’s a lot more to Pokemon training than meets the eye. When it comes to the question of the best Pokemon to use on a team, you have many factors to think about. It’s not just the one with the highest stats, the least weaknesses, or the best moves.

RELATED: Every Pokemon Type And What It's Weak To

In truth, it’s a combination of all of these traits and more. Another important thing to consider is the Ability a Pokemon has. This factor alone can make an otherwise great Pokemon almost useless. Slaking’s Truant, for instance, stops it from attacking on consecutive turns. Here, you can check out some of the best Pokemon abilities throughout the franchise.

Updated May 2, 2023 by Jacqueline Zalace: We've added even more Pokemon Abilities to our list, giving you tons of viable options to choose from. Additionally, we've cleaned up the formatting, making it easy to see which Pokemon have each Ability.

20 Flame Body

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (1)

In Battle Effect

Out Of Battle Effect

Contact with this Pokemon will burn the opponent

Halves the number of steps required to hatch an egg

Flame Body is an important Ability to have on at least one Pokemon if you plan on breeding. This move will half the steps needed to hatch eggs and, as the name implies, comes from Fire type Pokemon.

Within battle, this Ability can be quite helpful as well. This competitive value of Flame Body isn't that great, but overall, it's fairly well-rounded and helpful for breeding the perfect Pokemon.

Pokemon With Flame Body:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Ponyta

Rapidash

Magmar

Moltres

Slugma

Magcargo

Magby

Magmortar

Heatran

Litwick

Lampent

Chandelure

Larvesta

Volcarona

Fletchinder

Talonflame

Carkol

Coalossal

Sizzlipede

Centiskorch

Charcadet

read more

19 Ice Scales

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (2)

In Battle Effect

Halves damage from special moves that hit the Pokemon

Ice Scales is available only to Snom and Frosmoth as their Hidden Ability. Because of this, the Ability isn't possible to obtain if you don't have one of these two Pokemon in your party.

This ability reduces the damage of all special attacks Snom/Frosmoth take by half. Frosmoth’s Special Defense is quite solid, so this makes it pretty darn tanky indeed. Its exclusivity is really all that holds it back from rising any higher; imagine Blissey with this Ability! That’s terrifying to even think about.

18 Unaware

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (3)

In Battle Effect

When this Pokemon is targeted by a damaging move, the attacking Pokemon's stats are ignored when calculating damage and accuracy

A lot of the Abilities on this list have so much potential because they allow Pokemon to either deal huge damage outright or buff themselves so that they can. Before we get into that sort of thing, though, here’s an Ability that represents an enormous roadblock for Pokemon looking to set up.

In case you were… unaware, an Unaware Pokemon isn’t affected by its opponent’s stat boosts. If they’ve got boosted offenses, they’ll deal only their usual damage. If the opponent has increased their Defense/Special Defense, they’ll take the usual damage from a Pokemon with Unaware. It’s super handy to have, but it’s also a rare Ability and is quite niche. After all, if there are no boosts currently in play, this Pokemon essentially has no Ability.

Pokemon With Unaware:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Clefable

Wooper (Paldean and Regular Forms)

Quagsire

Bidoof

Bibarel

Woobat

Swoobat

Pyukumuku

Cosmog

Fuecoco

Crocalor

Skeledirge

Dondozo

Clodsire

read more

17 Stance Change

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (4)

In Battle Effect

Changes the Pokemon from Shield Forme to Blade Forme, or vice versa

  • In Shield Forme, the Pokemon has drastically higher Defense and Special Defense.
  • In Blade Forme, the Pokemon has drastically higher Attack and Special Attack.

The Honedge line made its debut in Generation VI, and Aegislash quickly established itself as one of the greatest non-Legendary Pokemon ever. The key to its success? Its exclusive Ability, Stance Change. This Ability sees Aegislash switch from its Shield Forme (its default on being sent out) to its Blade Forme when using an offensive move. In the process, its base defenses switch with its very low base offenses.

When it uses King’s Shield, it switches back to Shield Forme. With its low Speed, then, Aegislash will usually tank a hit with its high defenses before switching its stats and going on the attack with great force. It can’t take a hit at all in Blade Forme, and can be quite predictable as a result, but Stance Change makes Aegislash a force to be reckoned with.

16 Sturdy

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (5)

In Battle Effect

The Pokemon is unaffected by one-hit knockout moves that cause a target to faint instantly regardless of HP, Defense, or Special Defense

Sturdy is a simple yet effective Ability that has seen a lot of use. Essentially, Sturdy Pokemon have a built-in Focus Sash: if their HP is full, when they’re attacked by a move that would take them out in one shot, they’ll withstand it with a single point of health left.

There are some major shortcomings to this, of course. Any kind of priority will immediately take the Pokemon down afterward, especially as most Pokemon with this Ability are slow, defensive Rock or Steel-types. The true potential of Sturdy lies in what that Pokemon does with its ‘free turn.’ There are ample setup opportunities here. Sturdy, Weakness Policy and Rock Polish, in particular, can be a fearsome combination.

Pokemon with Sturdy:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Geodude

Graveler

Golem

Magnemite

Magneton

Onix

Sudowoodo

Pineco

Forretress

Steelix

Shuckle

Skarmony

Donphan

Nosepass

Aron

Lairon

Aggron

Relicanth

Regirock

Shieldon

Bastiodon

Bonsly

Magnezone

Probopass

Roggenrola

Boldore

Gigalith

Sawk

Dwebble

Crustle

Tirtouga

Carracosta

Tyrunt

Carbink

Bergmite

Avalugg (Hisuian and Regular Forms)

Togedamaru

Cosmoem

Nacli

Naclstack

Gargancl

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15 Wonder Guard

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (6)

In Battle Effect

The Pokemon is immune to all damaging moves that are not super effective

Wonder Guard is a unique Ability that is exclusive to Shedinja. At face value, you might wonder just how the heck this Pokemon could be at all usable. It has a grand total of 1 HP, which can’t be increased by any means. Does that sound like a good sign? No? That’s because it isn’t.

Related: Pokemon That Are Basically Evil Incarnate

The one thing Shedinja does have going for it is the aforementioned Ability, which renders it immune to any direct attacks it isn’t weak to. Super effective moves, status, weather damage and hazards all spell doom for it, but if you know that you are going to face a Pokemon that isn't super effective, then Shield Guard is great.

14 Neutralizing Gas

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (7)

In Battle Effect

Abilities of any other Pokemon in the battle can't be used

  • There are a handful of Abilities that can't be suppressed by Neutralizing Gas

Sometimes, an Ability doesn’t need to have a flashy effect in and of itself. Over the course of this list, we’ll see all kinds of absurd ones that are capable of making even the most modest Pokemon overpowered, but there’s more to the equation than that. After all, a critter like Mega Mawile (which was super reliant on Huge Power) is in some major trouble when that Ability is taken away.

Neutralizing Gas is the exclusive Ability of the Koffing family. It prevents or nullifies the effects of all other Pokémon in the battle. While this hasn’t been as dominating as it sounds, it’s an excellent counter to other strategies when played well.

13 Good As Gold

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (8)

In Battle Effect

This Pokemon cannot be affected by status conditions or moves that inflict them

Gholdengo is the 1000th Pokemon, and the good people at Game Freak decided to make it as weird as possible. It's made out of solid gold: actually, 1000 Gimmighoul Coins, all stacked on top of one another. If it looks like a surfer, you're not wrong, because it can make a surfboard out of gold to move around on.

This wild abomination is the only Pokemon with the Good As Gold ability that allows it to ignore all status conditions. Yup, all of them! The Ability description claims that this is thanks to its solid gold body that can't be affected, but we think it's probably just that Gholdengo is too cool to care.

12 Multiscale

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (9)

In Battle Effect

When this Pokemon is at their maximum HP, incoming damage is halved

  • It does not affect the handful of moves which deal direct damage

Multiscale is another Ability that doesn’t have any major direct power itself, but allows the Pokemon the opportunity to boost itself and shoot for a sweep. It’s not just about being aggressive, either: Multiscale is just as useful from a defensive point of view.

This Ability halves the damage taken from direct attacks while the user’s HP is full. It’s available to only two Pokemon; Dragonite and Lugia. The former loves using it to help it accrue Dragon Dances, while it helps the latter with its main game plan: sitting there tanking absolutely everything and being a monumental pain.

Pokemon With Multiscale:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Dragonite

Lugia

11 Gorilla Tactics

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (10)

In Battle Effect

This Pokemon's Attack stat is increased by 50%, but it can only use one move

Gorilla Tactics is a newer Ability introduced in Pokemon Sword and Shield, exclusive to Galarian Darmanitan. What does it do? It immediately makes this ludicrous-looking creature overpowered.

The effect of the Ability is the same as that of a Choice Band: it gives the Pokemon an Attack boost but allows it to use only the first move it picked on being sent out. The truly frightening thing is that you can actually give it a Choice Band on top of that. Considering that this thing already has a base Attack of 140, that’s some astronomical power right there.

10 Prankster

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (11)

In Battle Effect

Any status moves used by this Pokemon have their priority increased by one

From an offensive point of view, Prankster doesn’t actually have any effect at all. From an irritating, status-spammy point of view, it does absolutely everything.

This Ability’s effect is simple, yet powerful: all status moves used by the Pokemon in question gains priority. Since its introduction, this Ability has brought us the likes of Thunder Wave Thundurus, Recover/Will-O-Wisp Sableye, and all kinds of other things that are absolutely zero fun to deal with.

Pokemon With Prankster:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Murkrow

Sableye

Volbeat

Illumise

Banette (Mega Form)

Riolu

Purrloin

Liepard

Cottonee

Whimsicott

Tornadus (Incarnate Forme)

Thundurus (Incarnate Forme)

Meowstic (Male)

Klefki

Impidimp

Morgrem

Grimmsnarl

Shroodle

Grafaiai

read more

9 Beast Boost

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (12)

In Battle Effect

When this Pokemon causes any other Pokemon in a battle to faint with a damaging move, its highest stat is increased by one stage to a maximum of +6 stages

  • This will not increase HP

Beast Boost is an interesting case. This Ability was introduced in Pokemon Sun and Moon as the signature Ability of the Ultra Beasts. Its effect is very similar to that of Moxie (+1 to Attack when the Pokemon scores a knockout), with one important distinction: it will boost whichever stat is that particular Pokemon's highest.

As a result, it’s got a lot more versatility. Ultra Beasts have some very high base stats to begin with; giving Stakataka more Defense or Kartana even more Attack is a frightening prospect.

Pokemon With Beast Boost:

Pokemon

Nihilego

Buzzwole

Pheromosa

Xurkitree

Celesteela

Kartana

Guzzlord

Poipole

Naganadel

Stakataka

Blacephalon

This is not a Hidden Ability for any Pokemon.

read more

8 Supreme Overlord

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (13)

In Battle Effect

Upon entering battle, this Pokemon gets a 10% increase to their moves' Power for each Pokemon that has fainted in their party

A name like Supreme Overlord speaks for itself. Kingambit gets a signature move in the Scarlet and Violet games that provides a boost to an Attack's Power based on how many of your other Pokemon have fainted.

Taking on a really challenging opponent, like a Gym Leader? Kingambit makes for an excellent last resort to avenge all your other fallen Pokemon!

7 Guts

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (14)

In Battle Effect

While this Pokemon is affected by a non-volatile status condition, its Attack stat is increased by 50%

  • The only exception is the Frozen condition
  • If the Pokemon is Burned, it does not suffer an Attack stat decrease

Simply having very high stats is good enough in and of itself, but some of the best Abilities in the series deal with a different concept entirely: protection from status. After all, what’s the use of a super high Attack stat if you’re just going to get burned?

With Guts, that’s no longer an issue. This Ability raises a Pokemon's Attack when they’re afflicted by a status, making it a perfect way to circumvent one of the biggest threats to physical attackers. Not only that, but with a Flame Orb or Toxic Orb, you can take advantage of this effect while also protecting yourself.

Pokemon With Guts:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Rattata

Raticate

Machop

Machoke

Machamp

Flareon

Heracross

Ursaring

Tyrogue

Larvitar

Taillow

Swellow

Makuhita

Hariyama

Shinx

Luxio

Luxray

Timburr

Gurdurr

Conkeldurr

Throh

Obstagoon

Usraluna

Squawkabilly (Green and Blue Plumage)

read more

6 Drizzle

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (15)

In Battle Effect

When this Pokemon enters a battle, it begins to rain

  • The rain lasts five turns, or eight if the Pokemon has a Damp Rock

While Politoed and Pelipper are both reasonable, viable Pokemon, sporting decent bulk/power and a nice array of supportive moves, there’s really only one reason they’re used competitively — that reason is Drizzle.

This Ability automatically summons rain when the Pokemon is sent out. Needless to say, this is invaluable on rain teams. Additionally, rain can damage certain Pokemon, making them easier to take down.

Pokemon With Drizzle:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Politoed

Pelipper

Kyogre

5 Regenerator

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (16)

In Battle Effect

Regenerate 33% of the Pokemon's maximum HP when switching out of battle

Sometimes, you take quite the beating while participating in a battle. We all know how frustrating it is to swap out a Pokemon with low HP, only to waste a turn healing them. With Regenerator, you can restore some health without lifting a finger.

Related:

Although 33 percent may not sound like much, this small HP boost can be beneficial in close battles, where every attack matters.

Pokemon with Regenerator:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Slowpoke

Slowbro

Tangela

Slowking

Corsola

Ho-Oh

Tangrowth

Audino

Solosis

Duosion

Reuniclus

Foongus

Amoonguss

Alomomola

Mienfoo

Mienshao

Tornadus (Therian Form)

Mareanie

Toxapex

Gossifleur

Eldegoss

Klawf

Cyclizar

read more

4 Tinted Lens

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (17)

In Battle Effect

Doubles the damage of "not very effective" moves

It's always best to think of type matchups when in battle. Doing so will make it go by smoother, especially if you are super effective to the opposing Pokemon.

This isn't always the outcome though. At times, you may be facing a Pokemon that seems to have the upper hand. This is where Tinted Lens comes in handy. This move will double the damage of "not very effective" moves. If you just need to do a sliver of damage to defeat a Pokemon, this Ability can give you the edge.

Pokemon With Tinted Lens:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Butterfree

Venonat

Venomoth

Hoothoot

Noctowl

Illumise

Mothim

Yanmega

Sigilyph

Braviary (Hisuian only)

Nymble

Lokix

read more

3 Huge Power/Pure Power

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (18)

In Battle Effect

This Pokemon's Attack stat is doubled

Stats don’t tell the whole story when it comes to a Pokemon's viability. After all, it doesn’t matter if Shedinja has a single point of HP if you haven’t got a darn thing to hit it with, does it? By the same token, Pokemon with our next Ability are going to hit a whole lot harder than you might think.

Huge Power (or Pure Power, as they’re identical) has the simple effect of doubling your Attack. This is exactly what made Mega Mawile the malevolent menace it was, as it effectively had a base Attack of 210. Pokemon with this Ability tend to have moves with high base power, too, which only adds to the threat.

Pokemon With Pure Power:

Pokemon

Meditite

Medicham

This is not a Hidden Ability for any of the above Pokemon.

Pokemon With Huge Power:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Marill

Azumarill

Azurill

Mawile (Mega Form)

Bunnelby

Diggersby

read more

2 Protean/Libero

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (19)

In Battle Effect

Before using a move, this Pokemon will change its Type to the Type of the move it is using

  • It only activates once per switch in

It’s interesting to think that a lot of Pokemon fans looked down on Froakie prior to Pokemon X and Y’s launch. The poor little thing became a meme, but it soon got the last laugh. Armed with its Hidden Ability, Protean, the vicious frogsassin known as Greninja was claiming souls and crushing dreams left and right.

The Ability Protean allows the Pokemon to change its typing to the type of the move it’s about to use, before using it. Essentially, then, it has STAB on everything, which is a much more powerful tool than you may think. Interestingly, Cinderace’s Hidden Ability is Libero, which has exactly the same effect. It’s going to be a powerhouse once that hits the meta.

Pokemon With Libero:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Scorbunny

Raboot

Cinderace

Pokemon With Protean:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Kecleon

Froakie

Frogadier

Greninja

Sprigatito

Floragato

Meowscarada

read more

1 Intimidate

The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (20)

In Battle Effect

Out Of Battle Effect

When this Pokemon is in battle, all adjacent opponents have their Attack stat lowered by one stage

If this Pokemon is first in the party, it has a 50% chance to prevent an encounter with a wild Pokemon

With so many great Pokemon Abilities, it’s hard to pick out just one as the best. However, in terms of overall utility, Intimidate has always been one of the most prized of all.

Intimidate works by reducing the Attack stat of the opposing Pokemon whenever the user switches in. As experienced Pokemon players will know, this can be a real lifesaver, supporting both the user and their allies. This passive effect that can really bolster tankiness is invaluable, especially considering that some excellent Pokemon like Gyarados, Arcanine and Salamence have it.

Pokemon With Intimidate:

Pokemon

Hidden Ability?

Ekans

Arbok

Growlithe

Arcanine

Tauros

Gyarados

Snubbull

Granbull

Quilfish

Stantler

Hitmontop

Mightyena

Masquerain

Mawile

Manectric (Mega Form)

Salamence

Staravia

Staraptor

Shinx

Luxio

Luxray

Herdier

Stoutland

Sandile

Krokorok

Krookodile

Scraggy

Scrafty

Landorus (Therian Forme)

Litten

Torracat

Incineroar

Wyrdeer

Overqwil

Squawkabilly (Green, Yellow, and White Plumage)

Maschiff

Mabosstiff

read more

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The 21 Best Pokemon Abilities, Ranked (2024)

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