Pokémon Sword and Shield: All Abilities and Hidden Abilities

How-to
By Rebecca Spear
published

S-St

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 S through St.

Sand Force

During sandstorms, Sand Force increases the power of the user's Rock-type, Ground-type, and Steel-type moves by 30%.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Drilbur
  • Excadrill
  • Diglett
  • Dugtrio
  • Shellos (East Sea)
  • Gastrodon (East Sea)
  • Hippopotas
  • Hippowdon
  • Roggenrola
  • Boldore
  • Gigalith

Sand Rush

During a sandstorm, the Speed stat of the user is doubled. Additionally, the Pokémon with the ability takes no damage from sandstorms.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Drilburr
  • Excadrill

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Dracozolt
  • Dracovish

Sand Spit

When a damaging move hits a Pokémon that knows Sand Spit, it summons a sandstorm.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Silicobra
  • Sandaconda

Sand Stream

When a Pokémon that knows Sand Stream enters a battle, a sandstorm whips up.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Tyranitar
  • Hippopotas
  • Hippowdon
  • Gigalith

Sand Veil

During sandstorms, the accuracy of any move used against a Pokémon with this Ability is modified by 4/5, making the Pokémon with Sand Veil more evasive. Additionally, the Pokémon with the ability takes no damage from sandstorms.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Diglett
  • Dugtrio

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Larvitar
  • Helioptile
  • Heliolisk
  • Silicobra
  • Sandaconda

Sap Sipper

When a Grass-type move hits a Pokémon with this Ability, its Attack increases by one stage, and the move does not affect that Pokémon.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Goomy
  • Sliggoo
  • Goodra
  • Drampa

Scrappy

This Ability allows the user's Normal-type and Fighting-type moves to hit Ghost-type Pokémon.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Farfetch'd (Galarian Form)
  • Sirfetch'd
  • Pancham
  • Pangoro

Schooling

As long as this Pokémon is level 20 or higher and its HP is more than 25% it will turn into its School Form. If its HP is below 25%, it changes to Solo Form.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Wishiwashi (Solo Form)
  • Wishiwashi (School Form)

Screen Cleaner

When a Pokémon that knows Screen Cleaner is sent into battle, it undoes the effects of Aurora Veil, Light Screen, and Reflect.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Mr. Mime (Galarian Form)
  • Mr. Rime

Serene Grace

This Ability makes it more likely for added effects to happen upon hitting another Pokémon. For example, a Pokémon is more likely to flinch after getting hit with Razor Fang.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Togepi
  • Togetic
  • Togekiss

Shadow Tag

This Ability prevents Pokémon from fleeing during battle.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Wobbuffet
  • Wynaut

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Gothita
  • Gothorita
  • Gothitelle

Shed Skin

A Pokémon with Shed Skin has a 1/3 chance of curing from status conditions at the end of each turn.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Metapod
  • Pupitar
  • Scraggy
  • Scrafty
  • Karrablast
  • Silicobra
  • Sandaconda

Sheer Force

This Ability prevents any extra effects of an attack (like flinching) from happening but increases the power of the move by 1.3.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Timburr
  • Gurdurr
  • Conkeldurr
  • Rufflet
  • Braviary
  • Cufant
  • Copperajah

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Krabby
  • Kingler
  • Steelix
  • Mawile
  • Trapinch

Shell Armor

This Ability prevents a Pokémon from being attacked with a critical hit.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Shellder
  • Cloyster
  • Krabby
  • Kingler
  • Lapras
  • Corphish
  • Crawdaunt
  • Dwebble
  • Crustle
  • Escavalier
  • Shelmet
  • Turtonator
  • Chewtle
  • Drednaw

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Torkoal

Shield Dust

A Pokémon with Shield Dust won't be affected by additional effects when an opponent causes damage.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Caterpie
  • Cutiefly
  • Ribombee
  • Snom
  • Frosmoth

Simple

Simple doubles the stat changes caused by a move, Ability, or item when in battle.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Woobat
  • Swoobat

Skill Link makes multi-strike moves always land five hits.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Shellder
  • Cloyster

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Minccino
  • Cinccino

Slush Rush

During hailstorms, Slush Rush boosts the user's Speed stat.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Cubchoo
  • Beartic

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Arctozolt
  • Arctovish

Sniper

A Pokémon with Sniper will land critical hits that do 1.5 times the normal damage.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Remoraid
  • Octillery
  • Skorupi
  • Drapion
  • Binacle
  • Barbaracle

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Sobble
  • Drizzile
  • Inteleon

Snow Cloak

Pokémon with this Ability are more likely to evade attacks when it's hailing.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Swinub
  • Piloswine
  • Mamoswine
  • Glaceon
  • Froslass
  • Vanillite
  • Vanillish
  • Cubchoo
  • Beartic

Snow Warning

As soon as a Pokémon with Snow Warning enters a battle, a hailstorm starts.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Snover
  • Abomasnow
  • Vanilluxe

Solar Power

When weather conditions are at harsh sunlight, this Ability raises the user's Special Attack by 1.5. In exchange, the user also loses 1/8 of its maximum HP at the end of each turn.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Chamander
  • Charmeleon
  • Charizard
  • Helioptile
  • Heliolisk

Soundproof

A Pokémon with Soundproof is immune to all sound-based attacks.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Mime Jr.
  • Jangmo-o
  • Hakamo-o
  • Kommo-o

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Snover
  • Abomasnow

Speed Boost

A Pokémon with Speed Boost will have its Speed stat raised at the end of each turn.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Ninjask

Stakeout

When a Pokémon with Stakeout is in battle, any opponents who have switched out during the battle receive double damage from attacks.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Nickit
  • Thievul

Stall

A Pokémon with Stall always goes last in battle.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Sableye

Stalwart

A Pokémon with Stalwart 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:

  • Duraludon

Stamina

A Pokémon with Stamina rises one stage of Defense every time an opponent hits it.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Mudbray
  • Mudsdale

Stance Change

If Aegislash is in Shield Forme and uses a damaging move, it changes to Blade Forme right before using the move. If Aegislash is in Blade Forme and uses King's Shield, it changes back to Shield Forme.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Aegislash (Shield Forme)
  • Aegislash (Blade Forme)

Static

Pokémon with Static have a 30% chance of paralyzing an opponent who makes contact with them.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Pichu
  • Pikachu
  • Raichu
  • Electrike
  • Manectric
  • Toxel
  • Arcotzolt

Steadfast

When a Pokémon with Steadfast flinches, it increases that Pokémon's Speed stat.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Farfetch'd (Galarian Form)
  • Tyrogue
  • Riolu
  • Lucario
  • Gallade
  • Dubwool

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Machop
  • Machoke
  • Machamp
  • Hitmontop
  • Sirfetch'd

Steam Engine

A Pokémon with Steam Engine will increase its Speed stat by six stages if it's hit with a Fire-type or Water-type move.

Overworld effect: If a Pokémon that knows Steam Engine is the first one in your party, it takes half as many cycles for Pokémon eggs to hatch.

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Rolycoly
  • Carkol
  • Coalossal

Steelworker

The Steel-type attacks of a Pokémon with Steelworker will be 50% more powerful.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Dhelmise

Steely Spirit

When a Pokémon that knows Steely Spirit is in battle, it raises the power of its allies' Steel-type moves by 50%.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Perrserker

Stench

If a damaging move hits a Pokémon with Stench, the opponent who inflicted the damage has a 10% chance of flinching.

Overworld effect: If the first Pokémon in your party knows Stench, the chances of encountering a wild Pokémon lower by 50%.

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Grimer
  • Muk
  • Stunky
  • Skuntank
  • Trubbish
  • Garbodor

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Gloom
  • Koffing

Storm Drain

This Ability forces all of your opponent's and allies' single-target Water-type moves to strike the Pokémon that knows Storm Drain.

Overworld effect: If the first Pokémon in your party knows Storm Drain, the chances of encountering a wild Water-type Pokémon increase by 50%.

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Shellos (East Sea)
  • Gastrodon (East Sea)

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Maractus

Sticky Hold

A Pokémon with Sticky Hold cannot have its item stolen from it.

Overworld effect: If a Pokémon with Sticky Hold is the first Pokémon in your party you'll get more bites while fishing.

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Shellos (East Sea)
  • Gastrodon (East Sea)
  • Trubbish
  • Accelgor

Strong Jaw

A Pokémon with Strong Jaw will have 50% more power when using biting moves.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Chewtle
  • Drednaw
  • Boltund
  • Dracovish

Sturdy

A Pokémon with Sturdy cannot be taken out with one-hit knockout moves.

Overworld effect: None

Pokémon that can have this Ability:

  • Onix
  • Steelix
  • Shuckle
  • Roggenrola
  • Boldore
  • Gigalith
  • Sawk
  • Dwebble
  • Crustle

Pokémon that can have this as a Hidden Ability:

  • Bergmite
  • Avalugg
  • Togedemaru
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.