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Overview

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

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Basic Usage

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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');

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Ability 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

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Ability Ratings

Abilities are rated on their competitive viability: 
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

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Common Ability Types

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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

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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

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Defensive Abilities

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

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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

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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

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Signature Abilities

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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Ability Flags

Abilities have various flags indicating restrictions: 
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

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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

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Practical Examples

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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}`);
});

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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);

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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}`);
  }
});

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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

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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
// }

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

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