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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s launch-era guide listed 298 Abilities, but that November 2022 count is not confirmed as a complete total after downloadable content. A Hidden Ability is an alternate ability for a species: a Pokémon uses it instead of its other ability, not alongside it. You can change a Pokémon from a standard Ability to its Hidden Ability with an Ability Patch, subject to species-specific availability.
How many Abilities are in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
iMore’s guide, published November 18, 2022, lists “298 Abilities” and numbers its entries through 298. That is a dated count for the guide’s list, not a verified census of every Ability available after later downloadable content. Nintendo’s announcement identifies Scarlet and Violet as Nintendo Switch games; its subsequent update history records version changes and fixes, but does not establish a current Ability total.
The final 15 entries in iMore’s numbered list are Vessel of Ruin, Sword of Ruin, Tablets of Ruin, Beads of Ruin, Orichalcum Pulse, Hadron Engine, Opportunist, Cud Chew, Sharpness, Supreme Overlord, Costar, Toxic Debris, Armor Tail, Earth Eater, and Mycelium Might. The available source excerpt supports these names and their numbering as entries 284–298; it does not reproduce the earlier list or provide a complete current roster with effects and eligible species. See iMore’s full Ability guide for its original-launch list.
What is a Hidden Ability?
A Hidden Ability is an alternate ability associated with a Pokémon species. It replaces the Ability that Pokémon would otherwise have; it is not a second effect active at the same time. For example, iMore contrasts Fuecoco’s usual Blaze with its Hidden Ability, Unaware. Because abilities have different effects, whether a Hidden Ability is useful depends on the Pokémon and the battle strategy.
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- New Pokémon to Discover - Learn new details about Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—the three Pokémon from which you’ll choose your first partner—along with other wonderful new Pokémon, including the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon!
- The World of Pokémon Has Evolved - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet offer an open-world experience that only the Pokémon series can deliver—one welcoming even to newcomers to the series.
- You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you’re free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story. You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you. Meet a variety of people and Pokémon, and adventure in the world of Pokémon the way you want to.
- A Deeper Experience with Multiplayer* Gameplay - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet allow multiplayer gameplay with up to four players. Along with series staples, such as trading and battling Pokémon, you will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players. You can discover new Pokémon and explore unfamiliar areas with your friends and family, opening the door to an adventure more precious and fun than ever!
- Meet the characters - As one of the main characters, you’ll set off on your adventure. Your outfit will vary depending on whether you play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Who knows what kind of story awaits you? For the first time in the series, one of two different professors will appear in your game depending on the version you choose to play.
Not every species has a Hidden Ability available to obtain in every game or content release. A Pokémon’s species and the content available in your copy matter, so do not assume that a method that works for one target will work for all Pokémon.
How to get Pokémon with Hidden Abilities
Use an Ability Patch
An Ability Patch can change a Pokémon from a standard Ability to its Hidden Ability. Bulbapedia also documents that a Hidden Ability obtained this way can be passed through breeding. These rules do not establish that every species has an obtainable Hidden Ability in Scarlet and Violet, or that every Patch use will have a valid Hidden Ability to unlock. The Patch is an in-game item, not a physical accessory.
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- If you purchase either the physical or digital double pack, you will receive a 200 Poké Ball bonus via download codes* that can be entered in the Mystery Gift** feature in your game!
- The packaged version of the double pack includes 1 physical Pokémon Scarlet game and 1 physical Pokémon Violet game
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea
Catch or trade a Pokémon that already has one
Some Pokémon caught or received in trades can already have a Hidden Ability. When trading, check that the Pokémon actually has the ability you want; the availability of trading through Poké Portal does not guarantee a particular Ability. iMore discusses these acquisition possibilities, but the available evidence does not establish a comprehensive, current species-by-species guide to raids, breeding, trading, or transfer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the game version for later content
Scarlet and Violet have received version updates, and availability tied to raids, events, or later content can depend on the game’s version and what content is accessible. Consult Nintendo’s update instructions and version record if an event or raid-related route does not match what you see in-game. The update record is useful for version context; it does not by itself provide a current full Ability roster or guarantee a particular raid reward.
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- Don the role of a Pokémon Trainer as you travel through Kanto
- Discover a new species of Pokémon with the Pokémon Lets Go series
- Catch Pokémon in the wild using a gentle throwing motion with either a Joy-Con controller or a Poké Ball Plus accessory, which will light up, vibrate, and make sounds to bring your adventure to life
- See the world in style by customizing Pikachu and your Trainer with a selection of outfits
- Connect to Pokémon GO* to transfer caught Kanto-region Pokémon, including Alolan and Shiny forms, as well as the newly discovered Pokémon, Meltan, from that game to this one
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- On the surface of the glossy white dock, the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon are displayed in their respective version colors. The bottom-left side of the back of the dock has a Poké Ball motif.
- A special illustration featuring the three Pokémon that you can choose as your first partner in the games, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly, adorns the back of the system alongside symbols that appear throughout the games.
- The included Joy-Con controllers have the main colors of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet and are decorated with the respective crests of the schools from the games, Naranja Academy and Uva Academy.
- Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet games sold separately.
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![Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet Expansion Pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Retail Version) Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n-a8y2QXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
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