Pokémon Sword and Shield: All Abilities and Hidden Abilities

How-to
By Rebecca Spear
published

N-R

Pokemon Sword and Shield Abilities

Pokemon Sword and Shield Abilities (Image credit: iMore)

In general, Abilities and Hidden Abilities are helpful effects that automatically happen in battle and sometimes in the overworld. However, some Abilities and Hidden Abilities are not useful. Here are all of the Abilities and Hidden Abilitie from N through R.

Natural Cure

Natural Cure heals all status conditions the user might have upon switching out or completing a battle.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Roselia
  • Budew
  • Roserade
  • Phantump
  • Trevenant

No Guard

This Ability makes it so all moves used by or against the Pokémon that knows No Guard will never miss.

Overworld effect: If a Pokémon that knows No Guard is the first one in your party, the chance of encountering a wild Pokémon goes up by 50%.

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Machop
  • Machoke
  • Machamp
  • Honedge
  • Doublade

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Karrablast
  • Golett
  • Golurk

Neutralizing Gas

This Ability negates other Pokémon's Abilities during battles.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Koffing
  • Weezing (Galarian Form)

Oblivious

A Pokémon that knows Oblivious will not be affected by infatuation, Intimidate, and Taunt.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Swinub
  • Piloswine
  • Mamoswine
  • Wailmer
  • Wailord
  • Barboach
  • Whiscash
  • Feebas
  • Bounsweet
  • Steenee

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Salandit
  • Salazzle

Overcoat

If a Pokémon knows Overcoat, it won't be affected by weather conditions, like hailstorm or sandstorm in battle. It also won't be affected by powder and spore moves.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Solosis
  • Duosion
  • Reuniclus
  • Vullaby
  • Mandibuzz

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Shellder
  • Cloyster
  • Escavalier
  • Shelmet
  • Jangmo-o
  • Hakamo-o
  • Kommo-o

Own Tempo

A Pokémon with Own Tempo cannot be confused either by an enemy's attack or a self-inflicted one. This also makes the Pokémon immune to the effects of Intimidate.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Bergmite
  • Avalugg
  • Mudbray
  • Mudsdale
  • Indeedee (Female)

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Lotad
  • Lombre
  • Ludicolo
  • Espurr

Pastel Veil

A Pokémon with Pastel Veil prevents itself and its allies from being poisoned.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Ponyta (Galarian Form)
  • Rapidash (Galarian Form)

Perish Body

If an opponent makes contact with a Pokémon that knows Perish Body, both Pokémon will faint after three turns unless they switch out.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Cursola

Pickpocket

If a Pokémon that knows this Ability is hit by a move that makes contact, the Pokémon that knows Pickpocket will steal the held item from its attacker.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Sneasel
  • Seedot
  • Nuzleaf
  • Shiftry
  • Weavile
  • Binacle
  • Barbaracle
  • Impidimp
  • Morgrem
  • Grimmsnarl

Pickup

A Pokémon that knows Pickup has a 10% chance of creating a held item for itself after your party wins a battle. This Ability works even if the Pokémon has fainted.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Meowth
  • Meowth (Galarian Form)
  • Zigzagoon (Galarian Form)
  • Linoone (Galarian Form)
  • Munchlax
  • Bunnelby
  • Diggersby
  • Pumpkaboo
  • Gourgeist

Pixilate

This Ability causes the Pokémon's Normal-type moves to become Fairy-type moves and gives them a 30% power boost.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Sylveon

Plus

When a Pokémon with Plus enters a battle with an ally that knows Plus or Minus, the Special Attack stat of the Pokémon with Minus is increased by 50%.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Klink
  • Klang
  • Klinklang
  • Toxtricity (Amped Form)

Poison Touch

If a Pokémon with Poison Touch makes contact with its opponent, there's a 30% chance the opponent will be poisoned.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Seismitoad

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Grimer
  • Muk
  • Croagunk
  • Toxicroak

Power Spot

When a Pokémon with Power Spot is in battle, the power of its allies increases by 30%.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Stonjourner

Prankster

This Ability increases the priority of status moves by one.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Cottonee
  • Whimsicott
  • Impidimp
  • Morgrem
  • Grimmsnarl

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Sableye
  • Riolu
  • Purrloin
  • Liepard
  • Meowstic (Male)

Pressure

Pressure makes it so that an additional PP is deducted from a move when a Pokémon attacks a Pokémon with Pressure.

Overworld effect: If a Pokémon with this Ability is the first one in your party, the chances of encountering a high-leveled wild Pokémon go up by 50%.

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Dusclops
  • Vespiquen
  • Weavile
  • Dusknoir
  • Corviknight
  • Eternatus
  • Eternatus (Eternamax)

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Wailmer
  • Wailord
  • Pawniard
  • Bisharp

Propeller Tail

A Pokémon with Propeller Tail isn't affected by other Pokémon's Abilities or moves that draw in moves.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Arrokuda
  • Barraskewda

Psychic Surge

The ground changes to Psychic Terrain when a Pokémon with Psychic Surge comes out to battle.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Indeedee (Male)
  • Indeedee (Female)

Punk Rock

A Pokémon that knows Punk Rock will have 30% more powerful sound-based moves, and they will take half damage when hit by sound-based moves.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Toxtricity (Amped Form)
  • Toxtricity (Low Key Form)

Queenly Majesty

When a Pokémon knows Queenly Majesty, an opposing Pokémon's priority moves fail while still using PP.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Tsareena

Quick Feet

If a Pokémon with Quick Feet is affected by a status condition, its Speed increases by 50%.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Jolteon
  • Zigzagoon (Galarian Form)
  • Linoone (Galarian Form)

Rain Dish

When it's raining, a Pokémon that knows this Ability regains 1/16 of its maximum HP at the end of each turn.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Lotad
  • Lombre
  • Ludicolo

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Wingull
  • Pelipper
  • Morelull
  • Shiinotic

Rattled

When a Pokémon with this Ability is hit by a Bug-type, Dark-type, or Ghost-type damaging move, its Speed increases by one stage.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Toxel

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Magikarp
  • Bonsly
  • Cubchoo
  • Yamper

Receiver

If an ally Pokémon faints right before the Pokémon that knows Receiver is brought into battle, the Pokémon that knows this Ability will acquire the fainted Pokémon's Ability.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Passimian

Reckless

This Ability increases the base power of moves which cause recoil or crash damage by 20%, except for Struggle. The affected moves are Brave Bird, Double-Edge, Flare Blitz, Head Charge, Head Smash, High Jump Kick, Jump Kick, Light of Ruin, Submission, Take Down, Volt Tackle, Wood Hammer, and Wild Charge.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Hitmonlee
  • Obstagoon
  • Basculin (Red-Striped Form)

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Rhyhorn
  • Rhydon
  • Rhyperior

Regenerator

When a Pokémon with Regenerator is switched out during battle, it receives 1/3 of its maximum HP.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Gossifleur
  • Eldegoss

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Solosis
  • Duosion
  • Reuniclus
  • Mareanie
  • Toxapex

Ripen

A Pokémon with Ripen will receive double the effects from Berries.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Applin
  • Flapple
  • Appletun

Rivalry

When a Pokémon with Rivalry uses an attack against an opponent of the same gender, the attack's power raises by 25%. Inversely, when attacking an opponent of the opposite gender, the attack's power lowers by 25%. If an opponent is genderless, the move's power is unaffected.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Axew
  • Fraxure
  • Haxorus

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Pidove
  • Tranquill
  • Unfezant

RKS System

This Ability changes the Pokémon's type depending on the memory stick it has as a held item.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Silvally

Rock Head

This Ability prevents recoil damage from moves, except Struggle. However, the user can still receive damage from Berries.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Onix
  • Rhyhorn
  • Rhydon
  • Steelix
  • Bonsly
  • Basculin (Blue-Striped Form)

Run Away

A Pokémon with this Ability can always successfully run away from battle.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Oddish
  • Venonat
  • Ponyta (Galarian Form)
  • Rapidash (Galarian Form)
  • Eevee

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Nincada
  • Nickit
  • Thievul
  • Wooloo
Rebecca Spear
Rebecca Spear
Gaming Editor

Gaming aficionado Rebecca Spear is iMore's dedicated gaming editor with a focus on Nintendo Switch and iOS gaming. You’ll never catch her without her Switch or her iPad Air handy. If you’ve got a question about Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, or just about any other Nintendo series check out her guides to help you out. Rebecca has written thousands of articles in the last six years including hundreds of extensive gaming guides, previews, and reviews for both Switch and Apple Arcade. She also loves checking out new gaming accessories like iPhone controllers and has her ear to the ground when it comes to covering the next big trend.