Pokemon Sword and Shield

How to Get Hidden Abilities

Hidden Abilities

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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Parent Pokemon Ability of Offspring
Pokemon A ♀ with Hidden Ability

Pokemon B ♂ with standard Ability
Hidden Abilty (60% chance)
or
Standard Ability (40% chance)
Pokemon A ♀♂ with Hidden Ability

Ditto
Hidden Abilty (60% chance)
or
Standard Ability (40% chance)
Pokemon A ♀ with Hidden Ability

Pokemon A ♂ with standard Ability
Standard Ability
(no chance of Hidden Ability)

How to Train & Breed for Competitive Pokemon

List of Pokemon with Added Abilities

Pokemon Ability
SeakingSeaking Lightning Rod (Hidden Ability)
Draws in all Electric-type moves to up Special Attack.
SudowoodoSudowoodo Rattled (Hidden Ability)
Bug, Ghost or Dark type moves scare it and boost its Speed.
BeheeyemBeheeyem Analytic (Hidden Ability)
Boosts move power when the pokemon moves last.
NoivernNoivern Telepathy (Hidden Ability)
Anticipates an ally's attack and dodges it.
BarbaracleBarbaracle Pickpocket (Hidden Ability)
Steals an item when hit by another Pokemon.
AvaluggAvalugg Sturdy (Hidden Ability)
It cannot be knocked out with one hit.
SwoobatSwoobat Simple (Hidden Ability)
Doubles all stat chages.
UnfezantUnfezant Rivalry (Hidden Ability)
Deals more damage to a Pokemon of same gender.
ClefableClefable Unaware (Hidden Ability)
Ignores any stat changes in the Pokemon.
ClefairyClefairy Friend Guard (Hidden Ability)
Reduces damage done to allies.
LiepardLiepard Prankster (Hidden Ability)
Gives priority to a status move.
EspurrEspurr Own Tempo (Hidden Ability)
Prevents the Pokemon from becoming confused.
MeowsticMeowstic
(Female)
Competitive (Hidden Ability)
Raises Special Attack when the Pokemon's stats are lowered.
Meowstic (Male).png Meowstic
(Male)
Prankster (Hidden Ability)
Gives priority to a status move.
TorkoalTorkoal Shell Armor (Hidden Ability)
The Pokemon is protected against critical hits.
MusharnaMusharna Telepathy (Hidden Ability)
Anticipates an ally's attack and dodges it.
BearticBeartic Swift Swim (Hidden Ability)
Boosts the Pokemon's Speed in rain.
GolurkGolurk No Guard (Hidden Ability)
Ensures attacks by or against the Pokemon land.
WhiscashWhiscash Hydration (Hidden Ability)
Heals status problem if it is raining.
DrapionDrapion Keen Eye (Hidden Ability)
Prevents other Pokemon from lowering accuracy.
ManectricManectric Minus (Hidden Ability)
Boosts the Sp. Atk. stat of the Pokemon if an ally with the Plus or Minus Ability is also in battle.
ThrohThroh Mold Breaker (Hidden Ability)
Moves can be used regardless of Abilities.
SawkSawk Mold Breaker (Hidden Ability)
Moves can be used regardless of Abilities.
DrifblimDrifblim Flare Boost (Hidden Ability)
Powers up special attacks when burned.
AbomasnowAbomasnow Soundproof (Hidden Ability)
Gives immunity to ‘sound-based‘ moves.
ToxicroakToxicroak Poison Touch (Hidden Ability)
May poison targets when a Pokemon makes contact.'
PelipperPelipper Rain Dish (Hidden Ability)
The Pokemon gradually regains HP in rain.
BronzongBronzong Heavy Metal (Hidden Ability)
Doubles the Pokemon's weight.
LanturnLanturn Water Absorb (Hidden Ability)
Restores HP if hit by an Water-type move.
NincadaNincada Run Away (Hidden Ability)
Enables a sure getaway from wild Pokemon.
NinjaskNinjask Infiltrator (Hidden Ability)
Passes through the foe's barrier and strikes.
BasculinBasculin Mold Breaker (Hidden Ability)
Moves can be used regardless of Abilities.
MaractusMaractus Storm Drain (Hidden Ability)
Draws in all Water-type moves to up Special Attack.
NoctowlNoctowl 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

ClefableClefable AvaluggAvalugg

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

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IVs
How to Check Your Pokemon's IVs How to Increase IVs
Natures & Abilities
How to Change a Pokemon's Nature How to Get Hidden Abilities
Eggs & Breeding
How to Learn Egg Moves How to Breed & Hatch Strong Pokemon
EVs, Pokerus, & Leveling Up
How to EV Train Fast and Reset EVs Pokerus Effects and How to Infect Your Pokemon
How to Level Up Fast
Building Good Teams
How to Build a Defensive Team

How to Breed & Train for Competitive Pokemon

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