Abilities API

Access ability data including effects, ratings, and generation availability

Overview

The Abilities API provides information about Pokémon abilities including their effects, competitive ratings, and when they were introduced.

Basic Usage

Get an Ability

Retrieve ability information using Dex.abilities.get():

const {Dex} = require('pokemon-showdown');

const overgrow = Dex.abilities.get('Overgrow');
console.log(overgrow.name); // 'Overgrow'
console.log(overgrow.rating); // 2
console.log(overgrow.num); // 65

Ability names are case-insensitive and whitespace is ignored.

// All of these work
Dex.abilities.get('overgrow');
Dex.abilities.get('Overgrow');
Dex.abilities.get('OVERGROW');
Dex.abilities.get('O v e r g r o w');

Ability Properties

Basic Properties

const intimidate = Dex.abilities.get('Intimidate');

console.log(intimidate.name); // 'Intimidate'
console.log(intimidate.num); // Ability dex number
console.log(intimidate.rating); // 3.5
// Rating scale: -1 to 5
// 5 = Essential, 4 = Very useful, 3 = Effective,
// 2 = Useful, 1 = Ineffective, 0 = Useless, -1 = Detrimental

Ability Ratings

Abilities are rated on their competitive viability:

Essential (5)

const imposter = Dex.abilities.get('Imposter');
console.log(imposter.rating); // 5
// Metagame-defining abilities

const shadowTag = Dex.abilities.get('Shadow Tag');
console.log(shadowTag.rating); // 5

Common Ability Types

Type-Boosting Abilities

// Starter abilities
const overgrow = Dex.abilities.get('Overgrow');
const blaze = Dex.abilities.get('Blaze');
const torrent = Dex.abilities.get('Torrent');

console.log(overgrow.name); // 'Overgrow'
console.log(blaze.name); // 'Blaze'
console.log(torrent.name); // 'Torrent'
// All boost type moves at 1/3 HP

// STAB boosters
const adaptability = Dex.abilities.get('Adaptability');
console.log(adaptability.rating); // 4
// Increases STAB from 1.5x to 2x

Weather Abilities

const drought = Dex.abilities.get('Drought');
const drizzle = Dex.abilities.get('Drizzle');
const sandStream = Dex.abilities.get('Sand Stream');
const snowWarning = Dex.abilities.get('Snow Warning');

console.log(drought.rating); // 4
console.log(drizzle.rating); // 4
// Automatically set weather on switch-in

// Weather beneficiaries
const chlorophyll = Dex.abilities.get('Chlorophyll');
const swiftSwim = Dex.abilities.get('Swift Swim');

console.log(chlorophyll.rating); // 3
// Doubles Speed in sun
console.log(swiftSwim.rating); // 3
// Doubles Speed in rain

Defensive Abilities

Immunity

const levitate = Dex.abilities.get('Levitate');
console.log(levitate.rating); // 3.5
// Immune to Ground-type moves

const waterAbsorb = Dex.abilities.get('Water Absorb');
console.log(waterAbsorb.rating); // 3.5
// Immune to Water, heals 1/4 HP

const voltAbsorb = Dex.abilities.get('Volt Absorb');
console.log(voltAbsorb.rating); // 3.5

Offensive Abilities

const sheerForce = Dex.abilities.get('Sheer Force');
console.log(sheerForce.rating); // 3.5
// Removes secondary effects, increases power by 30%

const technician = Dex.abilities.get('Technician');
console.log(technician.rating); // 3.5
// Boosts moves with 60 BP or less by 50%

const skillLink = Dex.abilities.get('Skill Link');
console.log(skillLink.rating); // 3
// Multi-hit moves always hit 5 times

Status Abilities

const synchronize = Dex.abilities.get('Synchronize');
console.log(synchronize.rating); // 2
// Passes status conditions to opponent

const magicGuard = Dex.abilities.get('Magic Guard');
console.log(magicGuard.rating); // 4
// Immune to indirect damage

const naturalCure = Dex.abilities.get('Natural Cure');
console.log(naturalCure.rating); // 2.5
// Cures status on switch-out

Signature Abilities

Legendary Abilities

// Primal abilities
const desolateLand = Dex.abilities.get('Desolate Land');
console.log(desolateLand.rating); // 4.5
// Permanent harsh sunlight

const primoridialSea = Dex.abilities.get('Primordial Sea');
console.log(primoridialSea.rating); // 4.5
// Permanent heavy rain

const deltaStream = Dex.abilities.get('Delta Stream');
console.log(deltaStream.rating); // 4
// Permanent strong winds

Unique Mechanic Abilities

const disguise = Dex.abilities.get('Disguise');
console.log(disguise.rating); // 3.5
console.log(disguise.flags);
// { failroleplay: 1, noreceiver: 1, ... }
// Blocks first hit, forme changes

const stanceChange = Dex.abilities.get('Stance Change');
console.log(stanceChange.flags.failroleplay); // 1
// Cannot be copied or swapped

const powerConstruct = Dex.abilities.get('Power Construct');
console.log(powerConstruct.flags.cantsuppress); // 1
// Cannot be suppressed

List All Abilities

Retrieve all ability data:

const allAbilities = Dex.abilities.all();

console.log(allAbilities.length); // 300+ abilities
console.log(allAbilities[0].name);

// Filter by rating
const topAbilities = allAbilities.filter(a => 
  a.exists && !a.isNonstandard && a.rating >= 4
);

topAbilities.forEach(a => {
  console.log(`${a.name}: Rating ${a.rating}`);
});

The .all() method includes nonstandard abilities from CAP and past generations. Always check exists and isNonstandard properties.

Generation-Specific Data

Abilities were introduced in Generation 3:

// Gen 1 has no abilities
const gen1Dex = Dex.mod('gen1');
const gen1Abilities = gen1Dex.abilities.all();
console.log(gen1Abilities.length); // 0

// Gen 3 introduced abilities
const gen3Dex = Dex.mod('gen3');
const intimidate = gen3Dex.abilities.get('Intimidate');
console.log(intimidate.exists); // true

// Some abilities were added later
const multiscale = Dex.abilities.get('Multiscale');
// Introduced in Gen 5

const protosynthesis = Dex.abilities.get('Protosynthesis');
// Introduced in Gen 9

Ability Flags

Abilities have various flags indicating restrictions:

Cannot Be Copied

const imposter = Dex.abilities.get('Imposter');
console.log(imposter.flags);
// { failroleplay: 1, noreceiver: 1,
//   noentrain: 1, notrace: 1,
//   failskillswap: 1 }

const disguise = Dex.abilities.get('Disguise');
console.log(disguise.flags.notrace); // 1

Checking Ability Existence

const overgrow = Dex.abilities.get('Overgrow');
console.log(overgrow.exists); // true
console.log(overgrow.isNonstandard); // null (standard)

const rebound = Dex.abilities.get('Rebound');
console.log(rebound.exists); // true
console.log(rebound.isNonstandard); // 'CAP'
// Create-A-Pokémon ability

const fakeAbility = Dex.abilities.get('Not Real');
console.log(fakeAbility.exists); // false

Practical Examples

Find All Weather-Setting Abilities

const weatherSetters = ['Drought', 'Drizzle', 'Sand Stream', 
                        'Snow Warning', 'Desolate Land', 'Primordial Sea'];

weatherSetters.forEach(name => {
  const ability = Dex.abilities.get(name);
  console.log(`${ability.name}: Rating ${ability.rating}`);
});

Get Top-Rated Abilities

const topRated = Dex.abilities.all()
  .filter(a => a.exists && !a.isNonstandard)
  .filter(a => a.rating === 5)
  .map(a => a.name);

console.log('Essential abilities:', topRated);

Find Immunity Abilities

const immunityNames = [
  'Levitate', 'Water Absorb', 'Volt Absorb', 
  'Flash Fire', 'Sap Sipper', 'Lightning Rod',
  'Storm Drain', 'Dry Skin', 'Earth Eater'
];

immunityNames.forEach(name => {
  const ability = Dex.abilities.get(name);
  if (ability.exists) {
    console.log(`${ability.name}: Rating ${ability.rating}`);
  }
});

Check Ability Restrictions

function canBeCopied(abilityName) {
  const ability = Dex.abilities.get(abilityName);
  return !ability.flags?.failroleplay && 
         !ability.flags?.notrace &&
         !ability.flags?.noreceiver;
}

console.log(canBeCopied('Intimidate')); // true
console.log(canBeCopied('Disguise')); // false

Ability Effects

Ability effects are implemented via callback functions. While these aren’t directly usable, they show how abilities work.

const intimidate = Dex.abilities.get('Intimidate');

console.log(intimidate.onStart);
// function(pokemon) {
//   Lowers adjacent opponents' Attack by 1 stage
// }

const speedBoost = Dex.abilities.get('Speed Boost');
console.log(speedBoost.onResidual);
// function(pokemon) {
//   Increases Speed by 1 stage at end of turn
// }

Related APIs

Species API

Query Pokémon that have specific abilities

Moves API

Learn about move interactions with abilities

Items API

Discover Ability Shield and other items

Formats Data

Check format-specific ability restrictions