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Hidden abilities are a very big deal inPokemonand players can get them inPokemon Scarlet & Violetif they know where to look. Unfortunately, as is tradition, the games don’t actually make it obvious how to get Pokemon with a hidden ability.
Hidden abilities were added inPokemon Black & White, adding a new wrinkle to many Pokemon. The trouble is that in some cases, hidden abilities are considerably more powerful than what Pokemon normally have. That trend continues inPokemon Scarlet & Violetwherestarter Pokemon Skeledirge and Quaquavalare considerably more powerful with their hidden ability than their regular ability.
Updated on June 06, 2025 by Renri Seong: Hidden Abilities are, as their name indicates, Abilities that Pokemon don’t normally have when caught. If you’re using Pokemon for competitive gameplay, then you’ll probably want it to have its Hidden Ability. However, not every Pokemon’s Hidden Ability is better than its regular Ability, so it’s up to you to determine which is better. The following guide has been revamped to include updated information regarding Hidden Abilities inPokemon Scarlet & Violet.
Hidden Ability in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Every Way to Get Hidden Abilities in Scarlet & Violet
Getting a Pokemon with its Hidden Abilityisn’t easy, but Gen 9’sScarlet & Violethave made iteasiercompared to past generations. You can get a Pokemon with a Hidden Ability via trading. However, if this is too much work or you don’t want to pay for the Nintendo Online Membership, there are ways to get Hidden Abilities without using the Union Circle. In short, Pokemon with Hidden Abilities can be gained the following ways:
3-Star (or Higher) Tera Raids
Once you havethree gym badges, you’ll start seeing3-star Tera Raidsin Paldea (or Kitakami, if you have the expansion pack). By partaking in 3-star Tera Raids, you may end up battling a Pokemon that has its Hidden Ability. Some Abilities trigger as soon as the raid starts (ex:Eevee’s Anticipation), but others may require you to catch the Pokemon and view its summary.
Pokemon in 4/5/6-star Tera Raids also may have their Hidden Ability. There’s no way to determine a Hidden Ability, so if there’s a Pokemon you want, you’ll just have to keep checking the Tera Dens each day.
Breeding Pokemon with Hidden Abilities
Another way to get a Hidden Ability is to breed your Pokemon. You’ll need to have both parent Pokemon in your party, one of which will have its Hidden Ability. Then, set up a picnic and check the egg basket by your picnic table.
you’re able to increase the chances of Eggs by making a sandwich withthe Egg Power Meal Effect.
Breeding Pokemon to get an offspring with a Hidden Ability is arguably the easiest way to get Hidden Abilities, but there are some things you should keep in mind:
Hidden Abilities are also not 100% confirmed for the offspring Pokemon. You may go through several Eggs before you finally get a Pokemon with the desired Hidden Ability.
Use an Ability Patch
Once you unlock 6-star Tera Raids, which you get after clearing the Academy Ace Tournament (postgame), you have a 4.55% chance of getting anAbility Patchif you manage to defeat/catch the raid Pokemon. 6-star Tera Raids appear on the map as black Type icons with a white outline. In the overworld, they appear as black Tera Crystals/Dens.
Ability Patch is similar to an Ability Capsule, but using it on a Pokemon will teach replace its current Ability with its Hidden Abilityifit has one. You can also use an Ability Patch on a Pokemon with a Hidden Ability to give it a “regular” Ability. For example:Using an Ability Patchon an Eevee with Anticipation will change its Ability to Run Away or Adaptability.
If you have the expansion pack and manage to catch Terapagos, you can return to Blueberry Academy and speak to Amarys. This will unlockKoraidon/Miraidon’s ability to fly. Once you have this, go toTerariumandfly upwards to the giant Tera Orb. On top, you’ll find a Gold Bottle Cap, x50 Stellar Tera Shards, and anAbility Patch.
Are Hidden Abilities Better than Regular Abilities?
Which Hidden Abilities are Worth Getting?
It would be impossible to list every Hidden Ability for each Pokemon inScarlet/Violet. As a general rule, most Pokemon’s Hidden Abilities are better than their regular Abilities. Furthermore,unless you’re doing competitive, there’s not as much pressure to get a Pokemon with a Hidden Ability for theScarlet/Violetcampaign.
Here are some recommended Hidden Abilities for Pokemon you may use inScarlet/Violet:
Hidden Abilities that are arguably worse than a Pokemon’s regular Ability are:
