Pokémon ability

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A Pokémon ability is a special attribute that every species of Pokémon has in the Pokémon video games. The use of abilities first started in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire of the Pokémon video games. Every Pokémon has an ability, and several species of Pokémon may have one of two possible abilities.

[edit] Use of abilities

Most Pokémon use their abilities in battle. Abilities can strengthen a Pokémon's own statistics or weaken a foe's, or inflict conditions such as paralysis or poisoning. For instance, an Electrike's Static ability may paralyze a foe that touches it, or a Bulbasaur may use its Overgrow ability to power up its Grass attacks when it is weak. Some Pokémon, like Lotad, can use their Rain Dish ability to restore HP whenever it is raining.

Some abilities render some Pokémon invincible against certain types of attacks. A Lunatone's ability to Levitate will prevent Ground attacks from striking it, and Shedinja's Wonder Guard ability will keep any attack that is not super effective from hitting it. A Steelix's Rock Head ability prevents it from receiving damage from the recoil of certain powerful physical attacks. A Pokémon with the Lightningrod ability, such as Marowak, will keep its partner safe from electric attacks in a double battle by drawing the electricity away from it.

Not all abilities are helpful. Slaking has the Truant ability, which allows it to attack only every other turn. This is intended to hinder Slaking's very high statistics. However, Skill Swap can be used on Slaking to switch abilities with the foe, passing it the preventative ability to the opponent, and receiving a more preferable one in exchange. This is only possible in 2 vs. 2 battles or when the opponent uses it (a good way to trick a foe is putting a Pokémon with a more desirable ability and switch to Slaking when the foe uses Skill Swap), since Slaking can't learn that move.

Some abilities come into effect outside of Pokémon battles. Pokémon with the Pickup ability, like Meowth, will sometimes retrieve rare items off of the ground, such as gold Nuggets, which can be exchanged for money. Also, since Pokémon Emerald, a handful of abilities that were once only used in battle have effects outside of battle as well. Any Pokémon with the Lightningrod ability will double as a cell phone antenna and the player character will receive more phone calls because of it. A Pokémon with the ability to Intimidate, like Arbok, for example, will cause the player to encounter lower-level Pokémon less often. Additionally, a Pokémon with the Flame Body ability will act as an incubator and cause eggs to hatch quicker.