How To Get Pokemon With Hidden Abilities

How to Get Pokémon with Hidden Abilities: A Comprehensive Guide

Finding Pokémon with Hidden Abilities (HAs) can significantly boost your competitive battling prowess and enhance your overall Pokémon journey. These rare abilities offer unique strategic advantages, making Pokémon with HAs highly sought after by trainers. This comprehensive guide will delve into various methods to obtain Pokémon with Hidden Abilities, catering to players of all experience levels.

Understanding Hidden Abilities

Before we dive into the methods, let's clarify what Hidden Abilities are. Standard Pokémon possess two abilities: their primary ability and a secondary ability, often a slightly altered version of the first. However, many Pokémon also possess a third, less common ability known as their Hidden Ability. This ability often offers a dramatic shift in the Pokémon's gameplay, providing unique strategic advantages not found in its other abilities. For example, a Garchomp with its Hidden Ability, Rough Skin, is drastically different from one with its regular abilities.

Why are Hidden Abilities important?

• Competitive Advantage: Hidden Abilities often provide significant boosts in competitive battles, making Pokémon with these abilities highly valuable in strategic team building.
• Unique Gameplay: They introduce new strategic possibilities and gameplay styles, enriching the overall experience.
• Collector's Value: The rarity of Hidden Abilities adds to their desirability for dedicated Pokémon collectors.

Methods to Obtain Pokémon with Hidden Abilities

Several methods can increase your chances of encountering or breeding Pokémon with their Hidden Abilities. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, making it crucial to understand each before implementing it.

1. Breeding: The Most Common Method

Breeding is arguably the most reliable method for obtaining Pokémon with Hidden Abilities, though it can be time-consuming. Here's a breakdown of the process:

Understanding the mechanics:

• Hidden Ability Inheritance: The chance of a parent passing down its Hidden Ability to its offspring is relatively low, usually around 60%.
• Destiny Knot: This held item significantly increases the chances of inheriting the parents’ abilities, but not to 100%.
• Ability Patch: This item is obtainable in various ways and allows a change of a Pokémon's ability into a random one from its ability pool. This includes its Hidden Ability, and it’s particularly helpful if you have a Pokémon with the desired ability but the wrong nature and IV stats.

Steps to breed for Hidden Abilities:

1. Obtain a Parent with the Hidden Ability: This is the most challenging part. Methods discussed below can help with this initial step.
2. Choose a Breeding Partner: Any Pokémon of the same egg group can be used, but some Pokémon have specific breeding methods and requirements.
3. Use a Destiny Knot (Recommended): Increases the chances of inheriting abilities from both parents.
4. Breed Multiple Generations: It will often take multiple attempts, patience and a bit of luck to successfully breed a Pokémon with the Hidden Ability.
5. Check the Ability: Carefully check the ability of each offspring and keep breeding until you get the one with the desired Hidden Ability.

2. Shiny Hunting: A Chance Encounter

Shiny Pokémon have a higher chance of possessing a Hidden Ability than regular Pokémon. However, shiny hunting itself is a challenge, often requiring substantial effort and time.

Methods for Shiny Hunting:

• Chain Fishing: This method involves catching the same Pokémon repeatedly. The longer the chain, the higher the chance of encountering a shiny Pokémon.
• Masuda Method: Breeding Pokémon from different language versions increases the odds of encountering a shiny Pokémon. Shiny Pokémon bred using this method will still only have a small chance of inheriting the Hidden Ability.
• Shiny Charm: Obtain the Shiny Charm in the game for an increased chance of encountering Shiny Pokémon.

3. Specific Locations & Events

Some Pokémon are more likely to have their Hidden Ability in specific locations or during particular events within the game. These events may be temporary and tied to certain versions. Always stay up-to-date on news and updates to know about these opportunities.

Keeping an eye out for specific event information:

• News and Updates: Keep tabs on official announcements and community forums for information on special events and locations offering Pokémon with Hidden Abilities.
• In-game Events: Participate in in-game events that often provide unique opportunities to obtain rarer Pokémon, potentially with Hidden Abilities.

4. Trading: Relying on the Community

Trading with other players is another excellent method for obtaining Pokémon with Hidden Abilities.

Strategies for successful trading:

• Online Forums: Utilize online forums and communities dedicated to Pokémon trading.
• Friend Codes: Exchange friend codes with other trainers to facilitate trading.
• Offering Valuable Pokémon: Be prepared to offer valuable Pokémon in exchange for Pokémon with Hidden Abilities. This might involve offering rare items, other Pokémon with sought-after abilities, or even shiny Pokémon.

5. Using Tools and Resources

While not a method of directly obtaining the Pokémon, various online resources and tools can assist in your hunt for Hidden Abilities.

Helpful resources:

• Breeding Calculators: These tools can help predict the odds of inheriting abilities and other traits.
• Community Forums & Wikis: Consult online communities and wikis for information on Hidden Ability locations, event details, and specific breeding strategies.

Advanced Strategies & Tips for Success

Here are some advanced strategies to further increase your chances of acquiring Pokémon with Hidden Abilities:

• Nature and IVs: Don't forget about the importance of the Pokémon's nature and IVs. Use tools that can check the natures and IVs of your Pokemon to enhance their effectiveness in battle.
• Multiple Attempts: Be prepared for multiple failed attempts. Breeding for specific abilities, especially Hidden Abilities, takes patience and persistence.
• Ability Capsule: An alternative to the Ability Patch, this capsule is used to change a Pokemon’s ability.
• Specific Locations: In some games, certain locations have a higher chance of producing Pokémon with Hidden Abilities. Research and locate these areas.
• Version Exclusives: Certain versions of the game may have exclusive Pokémon that are more likely to possess a Hidden Ability.

Conclusion: Patience and Persistence are Key

Obtaining Pokémon with Hidden Abilities can be challenging, requiring patience, persistence, and often a bit of luck. By utilizing the methods outlined in this guide, along with careful planning and strategic decision-making, you will significantly increase your chances of adding these powerful Pokémon to your team. Remember to stay updated on game announcements, leverage online resources, and engage with the Pokémon community – all of which contribute to the successful hunt for these elusive and rewarding additions to your Pokémon journey. Remember to always play fair and adhere to the game’s terms of service. Good luck and happy hunting!