This guide will show you how to get Hidden Abilities in the game Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for information on how to catch and breed Pokemon with Hidden Abilities, and for a complete list of all Hidden Abilities.

What are Hidden Abilities?

Hidden Abilities are rare abilities available to some Pokemon. Hidden Abilities function the same way as other Abilities, but Pokemon normally caught in the wild will never have them. Hidden abilities were first introduced in the 5th Generation of Pokemon games, namely, Pokemon Black and White.

How to Get Hidden Abilities

There are only three ways as of now to obtain Hidden Abilities, these being Max Raid Battles, trading with other Players, and through Breeding Pokemon.

Max Raid Battles

Sometimes, a Pokemon obtained in a Max Raid Battle will happen to have a Hidden Ability. This is the only way to directly obtain a Pokemon with a Hidden Ability in the game without trading or breeding another Pokemon with a Hidden Ability.

How to Win Max Raid Battles

However, a Pokemon appearing in a Max Raid Battles is not guaranteed to have a Hidden Ability. To know if you've encountered a Pokemon that has a hidden ability, watch out for a notification at the start of the battle, as Abilities which take effect throughout the battle will display on the left side of the screen.

However, other Abilities only trigger upon certain events, so if you're searching for a specific Pokemon with a Hidden Ability, try to trigger its Ability to see if it has the Hidden Ability or not.
If you happen to miss it you can simply press Y on the joycon and check the Max Raid Pokemons ability.

Check a Pokemon's ability

After an Ability has been activated once during a battle, it can be checked any time by pressing Y to see all information revealed about the Pokemon.

Trading

You can get a Pokemon with a Hidden Ability by making an agreement and trading with another player, or getting it from a surprise trade by chance. This is one of the easiest methods of getting a Pokemon with Hidden Pokemon, as you only need to trade with other players and if you have a different Pokemon with a Hidden Ability, many players will be willing to trade with you.

Checking if a Traded Pokemon has a Hidden Ability

Take note that before agreeing to a trade, you can see the stats of the Pokemon which you will receive. Make sure the Pokemon you're receiving has the Hidden Ability you're expecting!
Pokemon Trading Board

Use Ability Patch

Ability Patch can be used to change a Pokemon's Ability to a Hidden Ability, which you can find in The Crown Tundra. Getting the Ability Patch from trading may take some time, as it requires 200 Dynite Ore. So, make sure to use them carefully.

Ability Patch Effect and How to Get It

Breeding

When you already have a Pokemon with Hidden Ability, you can pass the Ability to its offspring by Breeding it.

If the Pokemon with the Hidden Ability is female, its offspring will be the same Pokemon, so it has a chance of inheriting the Hidden Ability. However, if the Pokemon with the Hidden Ability is male, its offspring instead be the same Pokemon as the female partner, so there won't be a chance of it inheriting the Hidden Ability. However, male Pokemon can pass their Hidden Ability by breeding with Ditto.

How to Catch Ditto

Also, strangely enough, if the two parents are both the same Pokemon, there is no chance of the offspring inheriting the Hidden Ability, so be careful of this point.

How to Train & Breed for Competitive Pokemon

List of Pokemon with Added Abilities

Pokemon	Ability
Seaking	Lightning Rod (Hidden Ability) Draws in all Electric-type moves to up Special Attack.
Sudowoodo	Rattled (Hidden Ability) Bug, Ghost or Dark type moves scare it and boost its Speed.
Beheeyem	Analytic (Hidden Ability) Boosts move power when the pokemon moves last.
Noivern	Telepathy (Hidden Ability) Anticipates an ally's attack and dodges it.
Barbaracle	Pickpocket (Hidden Ability) Steals an item when hit by another Pokemon.
Avalugg	Sturdy (Hidden Ability) It cannot be knocked out with one hit.
Swoobat	Simple (Hidden Ability) Doubles all stat chages.
Unfezant	Rivalry (Hidden Ability) Deals more damage to a Pokemon of same gender.
Clefable	Unaware (Hidden Ability) Ignores any stat changes in the Pokemon.
Clefairy	Friend Guard (Hidden Ability) Reduces damage done to allies.
Liepard	Prankster (Hidden Ability) Gives priority to a status move.
Espurr	Own Tempo (Hidden Ability) Prevents the Pokemon from becoming confused.
Meowstic (Female)	Competitive (Hidden Ability) Raises Special Attack when the Pokemon's stats are lowered.
Meowstic (Male)	Prankster (Hidden Ability) Gives priority to a status move.
Torkoal	Shell Armor (Hidden Ability) The Pokemon is protected against critical hits.
Musharna	Telepathy (Hidden Ability) Anticipates an ally's attack and dodges it.
Beartic	Swift Swim (Hidden Ability) Boosts the Pokemon's Speed in rain.
Golurk	No Guard (Hidden Ability) Ensures attacks by or against the Pokemon land.
Whiscash	Hydration (Hidden Ability) Heals status problem if it is raining.
Drapion	Keen Eye (Hidden Ability) Prevents other Pokemon from lowering accuracy.
Manectric	Minus (Hidden Ability) Boosts the Sp. Atk. stat of the Pokemon if an ally with the Plus or Minus Ability is also in battle.
Throh	Mold Breaker (Hidden Ability) Moves can be used regardless of Abilities.
Sawk	Mold Breaker (Hidden Ability) Moves can be used regardless of Abilities.
Drifblim	Flare Boost (Hidden Ability) Powers up special attacks when burned.
Abomasnow	Soundproof (Hidden Ability) Gives immunity to ‘sound-based‘ moves.
Toxicroak	Poison Touch (Hidden Ability) May poison targets when a Pokemon makes contact.'
Pelipper	Rain Dish (Hidden Ability) The Pokemon gradually regains HP in rain.
Bronzong	Heavy Metal (Hidden Ability) Doubles the Pokemon's weight.
Lanturn	Water Absorb (Hidden Ability) Restores HP if hit by an Water-type move.
Nincada	Run Away (Hidden Ability) Enables a sure getaway from wild Pokemon.
Ninjask	Infiltrator (Hidden Ability) Passes through the foe's barrier and strikes.
Basculin	Mold Breaker (Hidden Ability) Moves can be used regardless of Abilities.
Maractus	Storm Drain (Hidden Ability) Draws in all Water-type moves to up Special Attack.
Noctowl	Tinted Lens (Hidden Ability) Powers up "not very effective" moves.

New Pokemon, Abilities, and Moves through Pokemon HOME

Available through Pokemon HOME

Some Pokemon in Max Raid Den doesn't have Hidden Abilities. However, starting February 12th, you can now transfer your Pokemon with Hidden Abilities through Pokemon HOME.

Recommended Pokemon with Hidden Abilities

Clefable

Avalugg

Clefable with the same Hidden Ability as Quagsire

Quagsire is very active in Ranked Battles, and its strength often depends on its Hidden Ability; Unaware. Since this Hidden Ability ignores any stat changes in the Pokemon, you can make Clefable stronger every turn.

Avalugg that can resist any attack

Avalugg already has a high Defense Base Stat, but when you use Sturdy hidden ability, it is possible to create various types of attacks. It is very powerful; it makes Avalugg invulnerable to one hit.

Related Links

Breed & Train Competitive Pokemon

How to Breed & Train for Competitive Pokemon