Abilities
Every ability explained
Explore all abilities available in Pokémon Polished Crystal. Abilities are passive effects that activate automatically during battle or in the overworld, providing significant strategic advantages. Each Pokémon can have one of two regular abilities, plus a potential Hidden Ability in some cases.
Understanding abilities is essential for competitive battling and team synergy. Some abilities boost stats, others provide immunities to certain move types or status conditions, while others affect weather, terrain, or turn order. Browse the complete list below to discover which Pokémon have each ability and learn how to leverage them in battle.
Abilities often make or break a Pokémon's viability in competitive play. For example, Drizzle automatically sets up rain, boosting Water moves by 50% and enabling powerful rain-based strategies. Lightning Rod redirects Electric moves to protect teammates while boosting Special Attack, making it invaluable in double battles.
Some abilities create entire team archetypes: weather setters (Drought, Snow Warning), speed control (Trick Room via ability synergies), or immunity-based walls (Water Absorb, Volt Absorb). When team building, consider how abilities synergize with movesets, stats, and your overall strategy. A well-chosen ability can turn a mediocre Pokémon into a team cornerstone.