You can change a Pokémon's ability using held items, moves, and abilities during battle, but permanent ability changes require specific items or breeding

A Pokémon's ability is fixed at the moment you catch or receive it—you cannot straightforward swap it like you would a move. However, you have several ways to work around this. During battle, you can use items and moves that swap, suppress, or copy abilities. Outside of battle, you can use the Ability Capsule to switch between a Pokémon's two standard abilities, or breed for a Pokémon with a hidden ability. The method you choose depends on whether you want a temporary change for one battle or a permanent shift for your team.

Key Takeaways

  • The Ability Capsule is a held item that permanently switches a Pokémon between its two standard abilities, but does not unlock hidden abilities.
  • Moves like Role Play, Skill Swap, and Entrainment can swap or copy abilities during battle, but the change ends when the battle ends.
  • Abilities like Trace and Imposter copy an opponent's ability for the duration of battle only.
  • Hidden abilities can only be obtained through breeding, Pokémon Sword and Shield's Dynamax Adventures, or special distributions—they cannot be unlocked with items.
  • Some Pokémon have only one ability, so the Ability Capsule will not work on them.

Using the Ability Capsule for a Permanent Switch

The Ability Capsule is a one-time-use held item that permanently changes a Pokémon from one of its standard abilities to the other. If your Pokémon has the ability Static and also has the ability Magnet Pull as its second option, using the Capsule will swap it to Magnet Pull. The next time you use the Capsule, it will swap back to Static.

The Ability Capsule does not work on Pokémon with only one standard ability, and it does not unlock or change a Pokémon's hidden ability. For example, if your Pokémon's hidden ability is Lightning Rod, the Capsule cannot give you that ability—you would need to breed or find a Pokémon that already has Lightning Rod as its hidden ability. You can purchase the Ability Capsule in most games' late-game shops or find it as a held item on wild Pokémon in certain areas.

Swapping Abilities During Battle with Moves

Skill Swap is a move that exchanges the user's ability with the target's ability for the rest of the battle. If your Pokémon uses Skill Swap against an opponent with a better ability, both Pokémon will swap what they have. The change lasts only until the battle ends or one Pokémon switches out. This is useful if you want to steal an opponent's beneficial ability like Intimidate or Regenerator, or if you want to give your Pokémon a temporary boost in a specific matchup.

Role Play copies the target's ability onto your Pokémon for the rest of the battle. Unlike Skill Swap, the opponent keeps their original ability—only your Pokémon gains a copy. Entrainment forces the target to change to your Pokémon's ability, which is useful if you want to cripple an opponent's Pokémon by giving it a weaker ability. All three moves revert at the end of battle, so they are tactical choices rather than permanent changes.

Copying Abilities with Pokémon Abilities

Some Pokémon have abilities that automatically copy or suppress an opponent's ability during battle. Trace, the ability of Porygon2 and Porygon-Z, copies the opponent's ability when your Pokémon enters the field. Imposter, the ability of Ditto, copies the opponent's ability and also copies their stat changes. Synchronize, found on Pokémon like Alakazam and Espeon, does not copy abilities but does copy status conditions like paralysis or poison onto the opponent.

These ability-based changes happen automatically and last only while your Pokémon is in battle. They are useful for adapting to an opponent's team without needing to teach your Pokémon a specific move. However, they do not give you control over which ability you end up with—you get whatever your opponent has, which may or may not help you.

Obtaining a Hidden Ability Through Breeding

Hidden abilities cannot be unlocked with items. The only ways to get a Pokémon with a hidden ability are to breed one, encounter one in a special raid or event, or find one in specific locations in newer games. If you breed two Pokémon and the mother has a hidden ability, there is a chance the offspring will inherit it. The exact percentage varies by game, but it is typically 60 percent in recent titles.

To breed for a hidden ability, you need a Pokémon of the same species or compatible egg group that already has the hidden ability you want. Once you have the offspring with the hidden ability, you can use the Ability Capsule to switch between that hidden ability and one of the standard abilities, but only if the Pokémon has two standard abilities to begin with. Some Pokémon have a hidden ability as their only non-standard option, which means you cannot switch away from it once you have it.

Finding Hidden Abilities in Pokémon Sword and Shield

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, you can obtain hidden abilities by completing Dynamax Adventures in the Crown Tundra. When you defeat a Dynamax Pokémon in these raids, you have a chance to catch it with its hidden ability. This is one of the fastest ways to get a hidden ability without breeding, since you do not need to own a parent Pokémon with the ability already.

Other games have different methods. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet allow you to find hidden-ability Pokémon in Tera Raid Battles. Older games sometimes distributed hidden-ability Pokémon through events or made them available in specific areas like Friend Safari in Pokémon X and Y. Check your game's documentation or community resources to find where hidden abilities are available in the version you are playing.

Pokémon That Cannot Have Their Ability Changed

Some Pokémon have only one ability and no hidden ability, which means the Ability Capsule will not work on them. Legendary Pokémon often fall into this category—for example, Lugia has only Air Lock as an option. If you want a different ability on a Pokémon like this, your only option is to use a move like Skill Swap or Role Play during battle, and the change will end when the battle ends.

Additionally, some Pokémon have abilities that are locked to their species or form. Certain Pokémon in their Galar or Paldea forms may have different ability pools than their standard forms. Always check your Pokémon's ability options in your game's Pokédex or a community database before assuming you can change it with the Capsule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Ability Capsule to get a hidden ability?

No. The Ability Capsule only switches between a Pokémon's two standard abilities. To get a hidden ability, you must breed for it, catch it in a raid, or receive it from an event. Once you have a Pokémon with a hidden ability, you can use the Capsule to switch to one of its standard abilities, but you cannot switch back to the hidden ability with the Capsule.

Do ability changes from moves like Skill Swap stay after battle?

No. Moves like Skill Swap, Role Play, and Entrainment only change abilities during the battle they are used in. Once the battle ends or your Pokémon switches out, the ability reverts to its original state. These moves are useful for tactical advantages in a single battle but do not provide permanent changes.

What if my Pokémon has only one ability?

The Ability Capsule will not work. You can only use it on Pokémon with two standard abilities to switch between them. If your Pokémon has only one standard ability and no hidden ability, your only option is to use battle moves or abilities that temporarily change or copy abilities.

Can I breed a Pokémon to change its ability?

Breeding does not change an existing Pokémon's ability, but it can produce offspring with a different ability. If the mother has a hidden ability, the offspring has a chance to inherit it. You can then use the Ability Capsule on the offspring to switch between its standard and hidden abilities if it has both.

Where do I buy the Ability Capsule?

The Ability Capsule is sold in late-game shops in most Pokémon games, typically in the final city or postgame area. In some games, you can also find it as a held item on wild Pokémon or receive it as a reward for completing specific tasks. Check your game's shop inventory or use a community guide for the exact location.