Looks like GF is finally incorporating some common sense into their abilities lol. This has me thinking about some other seemingly useless abilities:
Illuminate: I don't think it'll be so drastic as to lower SpA, but I could see it giving the opponent -1 accuracy or something like that.
Run Away: Can switch out under all circumstances, and negates Pursuit's priority.
Keen Eye: In addition to preventing accuracy drops, it negates all evasion-based strategies (Snow Cloak, Sand Veil), and boosts accuracy by one stage. A counterpart to illuminate.
Oblivious: The pokemon becomes immune to Taunt, Torment, and attacks through Substitutes (since the discription of Substitute states that the pokemon creates a decoy).
As far as Hydration Vappy is concerned, it may or may not be useful. Setting up Rain for the sake of healing itself requires you to consider the effects on the rest of the team (it screws with the Fire part of the FWG core somewhat), especially when Wish + Protect accomplishes the same thing as Rain Rest, minus healing status. Protect also scouts Choice users and provides Leftovers recovery.
On Rain teams, adding another pure water type isn't exactly the best choice, as it compounds weaknesses. It has to compete with Swampert, who can deal with Tyranitar, as well as other rain setters such as Jirachi and Zapdos who provide key resistances. And it doesn't get CM or Tail Glow like Manaphy...
That said, I'm wondering what alternative abilities the other Eeveelutions get. Here's what I'm thinking will happen:
Flareon - Flame Body. Seems inevitable, IMO.
Jolteon - Static. There is a lack of alternative electric-themed abilities, though Motor Drive would make it ridiculously fast and maintain the Thunder Wave immunity/electricity absorption.
Espeon - Forewarn/Magic Guard. Flavor-wise, Espeon is said to be able to read the opponent movements beforehand with its jewel and forked tail. Forewarn fits perfectly.
Umbreon - Illuminate/Intimidate. The rings light up, which Intimidates foes according to the pokedex. Could really help it when switching in.
Glaceon - Ice Body. Obvious, really, and still provides a Hail-themed ability.
Leafeon - Natural Cure/Chlorophyll. Natural Cure would is a great ability in general, but Chlorophyll retainst the Sun-theme and would give it the ability to pull off an extremely fast Baton Pass in the sun.
Finally, lol at the Sturdy hype. As long as Stealth Rock is around, Sturdy will remain essentially useless, not to mentiont that most of the pokemon that have it (Forry, Skarm) usually switch in expecting to take a hit anyway.
