Of the 1,025 species in the National Dex, 856 have a Hidden Ability and 169 do not. Across them, 162 different Abilities are used as a Hidden Ability, and 20 of those are never a regular Ability on any species or form.
This page is the list. For how the slots work, and how Ability Capsules and Patches change them, read Pokémon Abilities explained. The counts below are species, not forms, and come from the pokee.si Pokédex data.
What a Hidden Ability is
Hidden Abilities were introduced in Generation V. Most wild Pokémon don't have theirs, but special encounters can: Hidden Grottoes and the Dream Radar in Generation V, Horde Encounters and the Friend Safari in Generation VI, later Pokémon in SOS Battles in Generation VII, some Max Raid Battles in Generation VIII, and some Tera Raid Battles in Generation IX.
Three rules are worth knowing. A Pokémon keeps its Hidden Ability slot when it evolves. When breeding, offspring of a parent with its Hidden Ability have a chance of getting it. And the Ability Patch (Generation VIII) switches a Pokémon to its Hidden Ability; from Generation IX it can also switch back.
The most common Hidden Abilities
| Hidden Ability | Species | Examples | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telepathy | 22 | Wobbuffet, Ralts | Protects against friendly Pokémon's damaging moves. |
| Sheer Force | 20 | Nidoking, Kingler | Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects. |
| Regenerator | 17 | Slowpoke, Tangela | Heals for 1/3 max HP upon switching out. |
| Unnerve | 17 | Ekans, Meowth | Prevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries. |
| Weak Armor | 17 | Onix, Omanyte | Raises Speed and lowers Defense by one stage each upon being hit by a physical move. |
| Infiltrator | 16 | Zubat, Hoppip | Bypasses Light Screen, Reflect, and Safeguard. |
| Overcoat | 15 | Shellder, Pineco | Protects against damage from weather. |
| Sand Veil | 14 | Geodude, Phanpy | Increases evasion to 1.25× during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage. |
| Pickpocket | 13 | Sneasel, Seedot | Steals attacking Pokémon's held items on contact. |
| Rattled | 13 | Magikarp, Ledyba | Raises Speed one stage upon being hit by a Dark, Ghost, or Bug move. |
| Analytic | 12 | Magnemite, Staryu | Strengthens moves to 1.3× their power when moving last. |
| Damp | 12 | Paras, Horsea | Prevents Self-Destruct, Explosion, and Aftermath from working while the Pokémon is in battle. |
| Swift Swim | 12 | Psyduck, Poliwag | Doubles Speed during rain. |
| Defiant | 11 | Mankey, Purugly | Raises Attack two stages upon having any stat lowered. |
| Gluttony | 11 | Bellsprout, Snorlax | Makes the Pokémon eat any held Berry triggered by low HP below 1/2 its max HP. |
Abilities you can only get as a Hidden Ability
These 20 never appear as a regular Ability. The 12 with more than one species:
| Ability | Species | Some holders |
|---|---|---|
| Analytic | 12 | Magnemite, Staryu, Porygon |
| Harvest | 8 | Exeggcute, Tropius, Trevenant |
| Moody | 8 | Remoraid, Smeargle, Glalie |
| Symbiosis | 4 | Flabébé, Oranguru |
| Gale Wings | 3 | Fletchling, Talonflame |
| Libero | 3 | Scorbunny, Cinderace |
| Liquid Voice | 3 | Popplio, Primarina |
| Long Reach | 3 | Rowlet, Decidueye |
| Flare Boost | 2 | Drifloon, Drifblim |
| Grass Pelt | 2 | Skiddo, Gogoat |
| Ice Scales | 2 | Snom, Frosmoth |
| Propeller Tail | 2 | Arrokuda, Barraskewda |
The other 8 each belong to a single species: Costar (Flamigo), Imposter (Ditto), Mirror Armor (Corviknight), Perish Body (Cursola), Rocky Payload (Bombirdier), Steely Spirit (Perrserker), Toxic Boost (Zangoose) and Zen Mode (Darmanitan).
Every first partner's Hidden Ability
The 27 first-partner lines share a pattern: the regular Ability is always Overgrow for Grass starters, Blaze for Fire and Torrent for Water. The Hidden Ability is where each line differs. The table names the final evolution; each line is the three-stage family. For the full family list see starter Pokémon by generation.
Some Hidden Abilities repeat across lines. Greninja and Meowscarada both have Protean, and Torterra and Samurott both have Shell Armor.
Eevee and its evolutions
"Eeveelution" is a fan word for Eevee's evolutions. Each one has its own Hidden Ability.
| Pokémon | Regular Abilities | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|
| Eevee | Run Away, Adaptability | Anticipation |
| Vaporeon | Water Absorb | Hydration |
| Jolteon | Volt Absorb | Quick Feet |
| Flareon | Flash Fire | Guts |
| Espeon | Synchronize | Magic Bounce |
| Umbreon | Synchronize | Inner Focus |
| Leafeon | Leaf Guard | Chlorophyll |
| Glaceon | Snow Cloak | Ice Body |
| Sylveon | Cute Charm | Pixilate |
Well-known Hidden Abilities
| Pokémon | Hidden Ability | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Politoed | Drizzle | Summons rain for five turns upon entering battle (eight with a Damp Rock). |
| Ninetales | Drought | Summons strong sunlight for five turns upon entering battle (eight with a Heat Rock). |
| Dragonite | Multiscale | Halves damage taken from full HP. |
| Azumarill | Sap Sipper | Absorbs Grass moves, raising Attack one stage. |
| Gyarados | Moxie | Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon. |
| Garchomp | Rough Skin | Damages attacking Pokémon for 1/8 their max HP on contact. |
| Lucario | Justified | Raises Attack one stage upon taking damage from a Dark move. |
| Tyranitar | Unnerve | Prevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries. |
Regional forms with a different Hidden Ability
Some regional forms swap the Hidden Ability their normal form has. A selection:
| Regional form | Hidden Ability | Normal form Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|
| Alolan Rattata | Thick Fat | Hustle |
| Alolan Sandslash | Slush Rush | Sand Rush |
| Alolan Ninetales | Snow Warning | Drought |
| Hisuian Arcanine | Rock Head | Justified |
| Galarian Rapidash | Anticipation | Flame Body |
| Galarian Farfetch'd | Scrappy | Defiant |
| Alolan Marowak | Rock Head | Battle Armor |
| Galarian Mr. Mime | Ice Body | Technician |
Pokémon with no Hidden Ability
169 species have none. 98 of them are Legendary, Mythical, Ultra Beast or Paradox Pokémon. The other 71 include Metapod, Kakuna, Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Unown, Slaking, Shedinja, Castform, Rotom and Zoroark.
Gengar is a notable case. Its Ability is Cursed Body from Generation VII (it was Levitate before), and it has no Hidden Ability.
Hidden Abilities by generation
| Gen | Species | With a Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 151 | 145 |
| 2 | 100 | 96 |
| 3 | 135 | 114 |
| 4 | 107 | 91 |
| 5 | 156 | 132 |
| 6 | 72 | 60 |
| 7 | 88 | 53 |
| 8 | 96 | 80 |
| 9 | 120 | 85 |
Generation 7 has the lowest share, 53 of 88 species.
Practice
The Abilities quiz pack tests Abilities, and the Abilities basics lesson is a Plus lesson that explains how they work. Without Plus, quiz packs are limited to 3 a day.