Ability Inheritance

Learn how to pass down regular and Hidden Abilities in Pokémon USUM, with an 80% chance for females and 60% for Hidden Abilities.

In Pokémon USUM, the mother Pokémon has the greatest influence on Ability inheritance during breeding. If you breed a female Pokémon with a specific Ability, there is an 80% chance that Ability will be passed down to the offspring. The male parent's Ability has no influence in this scenario, unless it is bred with a Ditto. If a male or genderless Pokémon is bred with a Ditto, they are treated as the female parent, and their Ability has an 80% chance of being passed down.

When it comes to Hidden Abilities, the chances are slightly lower. A female Pokémon has a 60% chance of passing down her Hidden Ability. The remaining 40% is split between her two regular Abilities (20% each). If a male or genderless Pokémon is bred with a Ditto, they also have a 60% chance of passing down their Hidden Ability.

If both the female and male Pokémon are of the same species and both possess their Hidden Ability, the chance of passing down the Hidden Ability remains at 60%, as it is solely dependent on the mother. The father's Ability is irrelevant in this case, allowing focus on Nature, Egg Moves, and IVs.

To obtain Pokémon with Hidden Abilities initially, you must use S.O.S. Chains or transfer them from previous generations. You can check a Pokémon's Ability in battle using a move like Simple Beam, which forces the HUD (heads-up display — the on-screen icons showing health, ammo and the minimap (the small circular map in the bottom-left corner of your screen)) to reveal the enemy's Ability.

The Curious Case of Dusk Lycanroc

For those who obtained the event distribution Rockruff with the Ability Own Tempo, which evolves into Dusk form Lycanroc, it is possible to breed more Rockruff with this Ability. Own Tempo is treated as a separate Ability set, distinct even from Hidden Abilities.

To breed for Own Tempo Rockruff:

• If you have a female special Rockruff, she can breed with any compatible Pokémon (including a male normal Rockruff or Ditto), and her offspring will always inherit Own Tempo.
• If you have a male special Rockruff, you must breed him with a Ditto. This scenario has a lower chance of producing offspring with Own Tempo compared to breeding a female special Rockruff.

While males have a chance to pass down their Poké Ball, this chance is not very high. Patience is advised. Rockruff with Own Tempo are not shiny locked.