This is a complete description of all the abilities in the Ruby and Sapphire games and their effects.
- Air Lock
As long as this Pokémon is in battle, no effects from the weather are applied.
- Arena Trap
An opposing Pokémon can't switch out or run unless it has Levitate or it's a Flying type. Emerald: Doubles the rate of wild battles.
- Battle Armor
Attacks against this Pokémon can't be critical hits.
- Blaze
If this Pokémon's current HP is 1/3 of its maximum HP or less, rounded down, power of Fire-type attacks by this Pokémon is multiplied by 1.5.
- Chlorophyll
During Sunny Day, this Pokémon's Speed is doubled.
- Clear Body
Attacks and abilities by other Pokémon, other than Haze, can't lower this Pokémon's stat stages.
- Cloud Nine
As long as this Pokémon is in battle, no effects from the weather are applied.
- Color Change
Whenever this Pokémon loses HP because of a damaging attack by another Pokémon, if this Pokémon doesn't share a type with that attack's type, this Pokémon types change to that attack's type. (Doesn't affect Shadow attacks.)
- Compoundeyes
Accuracy of attacks by this Pokémon is multiplied by 1.3. Emerald: Rate of encountering wild Pokémon with common items is 60% and of encountering those with rare items is 20%.
- Cute Charm
If this Pokémon loses HP because of a direct attack by another Pokémon, that other Pokémon becomes infatuated (at a 1/3 chance) if its gender is different from this Pokémon and neither is gender-unknown (not considered an additional effect). Emerald: Rate of encountering wild Pokémon of the opposite gender as this Pokémon raises to 2/3.
- Damp
As long as this Pokémon is in battle, Selfdestruct and Explosion will fail for all Pokémon in battle (doesn't cause fainting).
- Drizzle
When this Pokémon enters the battle, the effect of Rain Dance begins and continues indefinitely, even if already in effect, unless the effect is already indefinite.
- Drought
When this Pokémon enters the battle, the effect of Sunny Day begins and continues indefinitely, even if already in effect, unless the effect is already indefinite.
- Early Bird
The sleep count is reduced by 2 instead of 1 in this Pokémon's sleep checks.
- Effect Spore
Whenever this Pokémon loses HP because of a direct attack by another Pokémon, that other Pokémon becomes poisoned, becomes paralyzed, or sleeps, at a combined 10% chance (not considered an additional effect, Safeguard and Substitute don't affect this).
- Flame Body
If this Pokémon loses HP because of a direct attack by another Pokémon, that other Pokémon becomes burned at a 1/3 chance (not considered an additional effect, Safeguard and Substitute don't affect this). Emerald: If this Pokémon is anywhere in the player's party, every 256 steps lowers the "egg counter" of each egg by 2 instead of 1. (This effect is not cumulative with multiple instances of Flame Body, Magma Armor, or both.)
- Flash Fire
Fire-type attacks are ineffective against this Pokémon (even Will-O-Wisp) as long as this Pokémon isn't frozen. When a Fire-type attack that targets this Pokémon is used by another Pokémon and this Pokémon has this ability and isn't frozen, damage from Fire-type attacks by this Pokémon is multiplied by 1.5 (even while this Pokémon doesn't have this ability) until this Pokémon leaves the battle. (Effect is not cumulative.) For Will-O-Wisp, this ability is not activated if this Pokémon has a status problem, is a Fire type, or has a substitute. (Applied after accuracy check and effects that change targets, but before damage calculation.)
- Forecast
When this Pokémon enters the battle, after each Pokémon's attack segment, at the end of each turn, and whenever another Pokémon enters the battle, if this Pokémon's current species is Castform, this Pokémon type becomes Fire during Sunny Day, Water during Ice during Hail, Normal otherwise, and Rain Dance, unless this Pokémon shares a type with that type.
- Guts
This Pokémon's Attack is multiplied by 1.5 if this Pokémon has a status problem. Damage from attacks by this Pokémon is not reduced because of burns.
- Huge Power
This Pokémon's Attack is doubled.
- Hustle
This Pokémon's Attack is multiplied by 1.5. Accuracy of physical attacks (even non-damaging ones) by this Pokémon is multiplied by 4/5. Emerald: Adjusts levels of wild Pokémon differently from usual. (See "Encounters" in the notes.).
- Hyper Cutter
Attacks and abilities by other Pokémon can't lower this Pokémon's Attack stat stage. (Effects that merely change stat stages, such as Haze, are not affected.) Emerald: When this Pokémon appears anywhere in party and uses Cut outside of battle, it removes grass within a 2-tile (instead of 1-tile) range.
- Illuminate
Doubles the rate of wild battles.
- Immunity
This Pokémon can't be poisoned.
- Inner Focus
Effects can't cause this Pokémon to flinch. (Triggers only after an attack that causes flinching is used, and not at the beginning of this Pokémon's attack segment.)
- Insomnia
This Pokémon can't fall asleep.
- Intimidate
When this Pokémon enters the battle, lowers each opposing Pokémon's Attack by 1 stage. Emerald: Halves the rate of battles with wild Pokémon at least 5 levels less than this Pokémon's level.
- Keen Eye
Attacks and abilities by other Pokémon can't lower this Pokémon's accuracy stat stage. (Effects that merely change stat stages, such as Haze, are not affected.) Emerald: Halves the rate of lower-level wild battles.
- Levitate
This Pokémon is immune to damaging Ground-type attacks. (This ability's effect is checked at the same point that the type matchup is checked.)
- Lightningrod
Electric-type attacks (even non-damaging ones) by opposing Pokémon are directed to this Pokémon instead of to any other Pokémon that could be a target of that attack (other than its user), unless that other target has this ability. Considers Hidden Power as Normal. (Applied after Follow Me, but before Magic Coat. If more than one Pokémon in battle on this Pokémon side has this ability, the attack is directed to the one earlier in this turn's priority.) Emerald: Player will receive phone calls more often.
- Limber
This Pokémon can't be paralyzed.
- Liquid Ooze
If Absorb, Giga Drain, Leech Life, Mega Drain, or the effect of Leech Seed (but not Dream Eater), when it drains HP from this Pokémon, would cause another Pokémon to gain HP, that other Pokémon loses that much HP instead.
- Magma Armor
This Pokémon can't be frozen. Emerald: If this Pokémon is anywhere in the player's party, every 256 steps lowers the "egg counter" of each egg by 2 instead of 1. (This effect is not cumulative with multiple instances of Flame Body, Magma Armor, or both.)
- Magnet Pull
An opposing Pokémon can't switch out or run if it's a Steel type. Emerald: Rate of encountering a Steel-type wild Pokémon is 50%.
- Marvel Scale
This Pokémon's Defense is multiplied by 1.5 if it has a status problem.
- Minus
If another Pokémon has the Plus ability, Special Attack of this Pokémon is multiplied by 1.5.
- Natural Cure
If this Pokémon leaves the battle (but not if a battle ends or this Pokémon leaves the battle), this Pokémon is cured of its status problem before that happens. (Checks this Pokémon's current ability.)
- Oblivious
This Pokémon can't be infatuated.
- Overgrow
If this Pokémon's current HP is 1/3 of its maximum HP or less, rounded down, power of Grass-type attacks by this Pokémon is multiplied by 1.5.
- Own Tempo
This Pokémon can't be confused.
- Pickup
If this Pokémon appears anywhere in party and isn't holding an item, this Pokémon picks up an item (at a 10% chance) after a battle other than a link, Battle Pike, Colosseum, or Trainer Hill battle ends, and if the player won the battle.
Detailed Information
The check for Pickup is done using the Pokémon's original species and original ability. The items obtained with Pickup depend on the version:
- Ruby/Sapphire Version; Pokémon Colosseum: The chance is 30% to find a Super Potion, 10% each to find a Full Heal, Full Restore, Nugget, Rare Candy, Revive, or Ultra Ball, 5% to find a Protein, 4% to find a PP Up, and 1% to find a King's Rock.
- FireRed/LeafGreen Version: The chance is 15% to find an Oran Berry, 10% each to find a Aspear, Cheri, Chesto, Pecha, Persim Berry, or Rawst, 5% each to find Nugget, PP Up, Rare Candy, or TM10, and 1% each to find a Belue Berry, Durin, Pamtre, Spelon, or Watmel.
- Emerald Version; Pokémon XD: Let X equal (L minus 1) divided by
10, rounded down, where L is the level of the Pokémon with
Pickup. There are two sets of items, common items and rare items.
- Common items: 0=Potion, 1=Antidote, 2=Super Potion, 3=Great Ball, 4=Repel, 5=Escape Rope, 6=X Attack, 7=Full Heal, 8=Ultra Ball, 9=Hyper Potion, 10=Rare Candy, 11=Protein, 12=Revive, 13=HP Up, 14=Full Restore, 15=Max Revive, 16=PP Up, 17=Max Elixir. The item chances for the item numbered X and the items following it are: 30%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 5%, and 3%.
- Rare items: 0=Hyper Potion, 1=Nugget, 2=King's Rock, 3=Full Restore, 4=Ether, 5=White Herb, 6=TM44, 7=Elixir, 8=TM01, 9=Leftovers, 10=TM26. The item chances for the item numbered X and the item following it are: 1% and 1%.
- 0-6: Fluffy Tail, Cheri Berry, Lum Berry, Brightpowder, Shell Bell, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 7-13: Dire Hit, Pecha Berry, Leppa Berry, Leftovers, Choice Band, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- 14-20: X Attack, Rawst Berry, Lum Berry, Scope Lens, Focus Band, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 21-27: X Defend, Lum Berry, Leppa Berry, Quick Claw, King's Rock, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- 28-34: X Speed, Chesto Berry, Lum Berry, Brightpowder, Shell Bell, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 35-41: X Accuracy, Lum Berry, Leppa Berry, Leftovers, Choice Band, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- 42-48: X Special, Lum Berry, Lum Berry, Scope Lens, Focus Band, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 49-55: Guard Spec., Lum Berry, Leppa Berry, Quick Claw, King's Rock, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- 56-62: Fluffy Tail, Lum Berry, Lum Berry, Brightpowder, Shell Bell, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 63-69: Dire Hit, Lum Berry, Leppa Berry, Leftovers, Choice Band, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- 70-76: X Attack, Lum Berry, Lum Berry, Scope Lens, Focus Band, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 77-83: X Defend, Lum Berry, Leppa Berry, Quick Claw, King's Rock, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- 84-90: X Speed, Lum Berry, Lum Berry, Brightpowder, Shell Bell, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 91-97: X Accuracy, Lum Berry, Leppa Berry, Leftovers, Choice Band, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- 98-104: X Special, Lum Berry, Lum Berry, Scope Lens, Focus Band, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 105-111: Guard Spec., Lum Berry, Leppa Berry, Quick Claw, King's Rock, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- 112-118: Fluffy Tail, Lum Berry, Lum Berry, Brightpowder, Shell Bell, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 119-125: Dire Hit, Lum Berry, Leppa Berry, Leftovers, Choice Band, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- 126-132: X Attack, Lum Berry, Lum Berry, Scope Lens, Focus Band, Max Revive, Sacred Ash
- 133 or more: X Defend, Lum Berry, Leppa Berry, Quick Claw, King's Rock, Full Restore, Max Elixir
- Plus
If another Pokémon has the Minus ability, Special Attack of this Pokémon is multiplied by 1.5.
- Poison Point
If this Pokémon loses HP because of a direct attack by another Pokémon, that other Pokémon becomes poisoned at a 1/3 chance (not considered an additional effect, Safeguard and Substitute don't affect this).
- Pressure
Whenever an attack by another Pokémon (including Spikes) targets this Pokémon when it's used, the PP of the move that attack's user chose for use this turn is reduced by an additional 1, but not to less than 0. ( Applied after Follow Me and Lightningrod. If the move's user changes, effect applies both to the move's original and new users. Attack won't fail solely because the move's PP can't be reduced this way. This effect also applies to moves used by other moves. If the attack's user was not its original user, this effect applies only if this Pokémon is the first target of the attack. Doesn't trigger for hits of multi-hit attacks after the first. This effect doesn't apply if that other Pokémon "can't take any action" because of an effect such as Outrage or Rollout. Doesn't apply to Bide or to the "non-Ghost" version of Curse.) Emerald: Adjusts levels of wild Pokémon differently from usual. (See "Encounters" in the notes.).
- Pure Power
This Pokémon's Attack is doubled.
- Rain Dish
At the end of each turn, if Rain Dance is in effect, this Pokémon gains 1/16 of its maximum HP.
- Rock Head
This Pokémon doesn't receive recoil damage, except from Struggle.
- Rough Skin
Whenever this Pokémon loses HP because of a direct attack by another Pokémon, that other Pokémon loses 1/16 of its maximum HP (not considered recoil damage).
- Run Away
This Pokémon can always run from a wild battle even if an effect prevents it from running.
- Sand Stream
When this Pokémon enters the battle, the effect of Sandstorm begins and continues indefinitely, even if already in effect, unless the effect is already indefinite.
- Sand Veil
During Sandstorm, accuracy of attacks against this Pokémon is multiplied by 8/10 and this Pokémon doesn't lose HP because of the Sandstorm effect. Emerald: Halves the rate of wild battles during a sandstorm.
- Serene Grace
Chance of additional effects from attacks by this Pokémon is doubled.
- Shadow Tag
Opposing Pokémon can't run or switch.
- Shed Skin
At the end of each turn, this Pokémon is cured of its status problem at a 1/3 chance.
- Shell Armor
Attacks against this Pokémon can't be critical hits.
- Shield Dust
No additional effects of attacks by other Pokémon can occur against this Pokémon. (Additional effects that don't affect this Pokémon are not prevented.)
- Soundproof
This Pokémon doesn't receive the effects of Grasswhistle, Growl, Heal Bell, Hyper Voice, Metal Sound, Perish Song, Roar, Screech, Sing, Snore, Supersonic, or Uproar. (Uproar doesn't affect this Pokémon sleep status; this Pokémon doesn't receive a Perish count when Perish Song is used, but its Perish count will still decline; Heal Bell doesn't affect this Pokémon even if this Pokémon is not a Pokémon in battle)
Detailed Information
In battle, Soundproof's effect also affects the Poke Flute in the FireRed and LeafGreen versions: a Pokémon with Soundproof won't wake up when it's used in battle, even if it isn't a Pokémon in battle. (Outside of battle, however, even a Pokémon with Soundproof will wake up when the Poke Flute is used.)
- Speed Boost
At the end of each turn, raises this Pokémon's Speed by 1 stage unless this Pokémon entered the battle after commands were chosen for this turn.
- Static
Whenever this Pokémon loses HP because of a direct attack by another Pokémon, that other Pokémon becomes paralyzed at a 1/3 chance (not considered an additional effect, Safeguard and Substitute don't affect this). Emerald: Rate of encountering an Electric-type wild Pokémon is 50%.
- Stench
Halves the rate of wild battles.
- Sticky Hold
This Pokémon's held item can't be removed from this Pokémon by other Pokémon. (This includes Knock Off.) (This Pokémon can use Trick normally.) Emerald: The fishing success rate raises.
- Sturdy
One-hit KO attacks against this Pokémon will fail for other Pokémon.
- Suction Cups
Roar and Whirlwind fail against this Pokémon. Emerald: The fishing success rate raises.
- Swarm
If this Pokémon's current HP is 1/3 of its maximum HP or less, rounded down, power of Bug-type attacks by this Pokémon is multiplied by 1.5. Emerald: Pokémon cries are heard more often.
- Swift Swim
During Rain Dance, this Pokémon's Speed is doubled.
- Synchronize
Whenever an attack by another Pokémon or an ability from another Pokémon causes this Pokémon to be poisoned, burned, or paralyzed, that other Pokémon also receives the same status problem. (Safeguard and Substitute don't affect this. If this Pokémon became badly poisoned, that other Pokémon becomes normally poisoned. Resolves at the same time most other ability effects are resolved, not immediately.) Emerald: Rate of encountering wild Pokémon with the same nature as this Pokémon is 50%.
- Thick Fat
Special Attack for Fire-type and Ice-type attacks against this Pokémon is halved.
- Torrent
If this Pokémon's current HP is 1/3 of its maximum HP or less, rounded down, power of Water-type attacks by this Pokémon is multiplied by 1.5.
- Trace
When this Pokémon enters the battle, it adopts the ability of a random opposing Pokémon. (See "notes" below.)
Detailed Information
In the strange case that neither Pokémon has an ability when a Pokémon with Trace enters the battle, it checks after each Pokémon's attack segment and at the end of each turn whether the Pokémon has Trace and at least one opposing Pokémon has an ability. If so, this Pokémon gains the ability of one of the opposing Pokémon and processing ends. It is possible to gain any ability, including Trace and Wonder Guard, using Trace.
- Truant
Every other turn, this Pokémon does nothing instead of using an attack.
Detailed Information
A variable, X, begins at 0 for each Pokémon in battle. At the end of each turn, if the Pokémon has Truant and it was in battle since after commands were chosen during that turn, X is set to 0 if it equals 1, or to 1 if it equals 0. At the Pokémon's attack segment, a "Truant check" is made after the sleep and freeze checks, and before the confusion check. If the Pokémon has Truant and X equals 1, the Pokémon "is loafing around" and skips its attack this turn. (Any attack it could have used is prevented from being used.) A Pokémon's value for X is reset to 0 when it enters the battle, and doesn't change whenever the Pokémon loses or gains Truant.
- Vital Spirit
This Pokémon can't fall asleep. Emerald: Adjusts levels of wild Pokémon differently from usual. (See "Encounters" in the notes.).
- Volt Absorb
Whenever a damaging Electric-type attack by another Pokémon targets this Pokémon, this Pokémon gains 1/4 of its maximum HP and the attack is ineffective against this Pokémon. (Applied after accuracy check and effects that change targets, but before damage calculation. Applies even if attack would otherwise be ineffective against this Pokémon.)
- Water Absorb
Whenever a damaging Water-type attack by another Pokémon targets this Pokémon, this Pokémon gains 1/4 of its maximum HP and the attack is ineffective against this Pokémon. (Applied after accuracy check and effects that change targets, but before damage calculation. Applies even if attack would otherwise be ineffective against this Pokémon.)
- Water Veil
This Pokémon can't be burned.
- White Smoke
Attacks and abilities by other Pokémon, other than Haze, can't lower this Pokémon's stat stages. Emerald: Halves the rate of wild battles.
- Wonder Guard
This Pokémon is immune to damaging attacks whose type is not "super effective" against this Pokémon types. (Affects fixed-damage attacks. Doesn't affect Future Sight, Doom Desire, Beat Up, Struggle, or confusion damage. This ability's effect is checked at the same point that the type matchup is checked.)
Notes
Descriptions in normal text indicate effects that occur only in battle. Unless noted otherwise, such effects apply only if this Pokémon is a Pokémon in battle. Descriptions in italics indicate effects that occur out of battle. Unless noted otherwise, effects occurring out of battle will occur only if the ability's this Pokémon is the first in the player's party and if the first in the party isn't an egg.
The games also define an ability called "CACOPHONY", which goes before Air Lock in the ability order and has no effect, and which no Pokémon can have.
If an ability's effect contains the words "This Pokémon can't...", the affected condition, if the Pokémon has it, is removed if the Pokémon has this ability. This effect triggers after each Pokémon's attack segment and whenever a Pokémon (including this Pokémon) enters the battle (but not when a battle begins). This effect won't remove the affected condition when it leaves the battle or when a battle ends, even if this ability is the Pokémon's original ability.