Ability Unity!

Approved by ryan and The Immortal. Credit to Jajoken for re-doing the OP.


Ability Unity has one concept, and one concept only: any Pokemon can use any ability, as long as the ability is shared by a Pokemon of the same type.

For example:
  • Because Poliwrath (Water/Fighting) has Swift Swim, Keldeo can have Swift Swim too because it is also Water/Fighting. However, Manaphy cannot have Swift Swim because it is pure Water, not Water/Fighting.
  • Because Dragonite (Dragon/Flying) has Multiscale, Altaria can also have Multiscale because it is also Dragon/Flying. Noivern can also have Multiscale, because despite being Flying/Dragon, it still shares the same two types as Dragonite.
  • Even though Mega Charizard X is Fire/Dragon, Charizard cannot have the same Abilities as Reshiram because normal Charizard is Fire/Flying, not Fire/Dragon.
  • Obviously, abilities cannot pass on via Evolution. So you can have a Color Change Eevee, but not a Color Change Jolteon.
Rules:

Mechanic: Pokemon can use any ability other Pokemon of their type combination can use
Standard OU Bans & Clauses apply
Ability Clause
: Pokemon can only "unite" once with a specific Pokemon
Additional Bans:
Pokemon: Archeops, Chatot, Regigigas, Slaking
Abilities: Aerilate, Arena Trap, Fur Coat, Huge Power, Imposter, Parental Bond, Pure Power, Simple, Speed Boost
(NOTE: Natural users of the above abilities can still use them)
Unbans: None

Strategy:

Like Almost Any Ability, Ability Shift is about augmenting Pokemon with abilities that better suit their playstyle than the ones they were given. Unlike AAA, however, these abilities are locked by typing, so Pokemon with rare typings have fewer options than those with more common typings. Some Pokemon that rely on their great abilities in standard, like Clefable and Talonflame, will see substantial competition from Pokemon of the same type, like Florges and Moltres. Meanwhile, Pokemon that don't care about their abilities like Keldeo and Manaphy, appreciate the added buffs of abilities like Swift Swim and Adaptability without losing any of their existing niche. Even some low tier Pokemon may find some use due to their new abilities!

To help identify which Pokemon have which abilities, follow the resources below.

Q&A:

Nothing yet!

Resources:

Darklatias92 :
Compilation of notable abilities and users by type combination
Mr Spaz :
Compilation of which types can use all abilities in alphabetical order
Jajoken :
Compilation of notable abilities by niche and their types
Mygavolt :
Analysis of pre-Mega abilities
Jajoken :
Another analysis of pre-Mega abilities
 
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Viability Rankings!
Note: For Mega pokemon, the premega ability is the one listed

S Rank
Braviary (Gale Wings)

A+ rank
Charizard-mega-x (Drought)
Manaphy (Primordial Sea, Drizzle, Protean, Sheer Force, Regenerator, Mold Breaker, Lightningrod)
Sceptile-Mega (Contrary)
Staraptor (Gale Wings)
Zapdos (Prankster, Volt Absorb)

A rank
Chansey (Unaware, Regenerator)
Cresselia (Magic Bounce, Magic Guard, Regenerator, Prankster)
Entei (Drought, Sheer Force)
Florges (Unaware)
Hippowdon (Mold Breaker, Sand Stream)

Metagross-mega (Levitate, Heatproof)
Moltres (Gale Wings, Drought)
Raikou (Intimidate, Levitate)
Sableye-mega (Prankster, Magic Bounce)
Sceptile (Contrary)
Scizor-mega (Download)
Skarmory (Sturdy)
Suicune (Marvel Scale, Suction Cup, Regenerator)
Starmie (Regenerator)

A- Rank
Chesnaught (Poison Heal)
Cobalion (Adaptability)
Garchomp (Rough Skin)
Keldeo (Swift Swim)
Manectric-mega (Intimidate)
Metagross (Heatproof, Levitate, Serene Grace, Tough Claws)

Pinsir-Mega (Sturdy)
Porygon2 (Unaware, Regenerator)
Thundurus (Prankster, Lightningrod)
Umbreon (Magic Bounce)
Zygarde (Rough Skin)


B+ Rank
Aromatisse (Unaware, Magic guard)
Clefable (Unaware, Magic Guard)

Landorus-T (Intimidate, Poison heal)
Lucario (Adaptability)
Mandibuzz (Prankster)
Mew (Prankster, Magic Bounce, Magic Guard, Regenerator)

Porygon-Z (Protean, Adaptability)
Shaymin (Contrary, Poison Heal)
Snorlax (Regenerator, Contrary, Unaware)
Virizion (Poison Heal)

B rank
Dusclops (Prankster)
Gliscor (Intimidate, Poison heal)
Heatran (Flash Fire)
Jirachi (Serene Grace, Tough Claws)
Rhydon (Solid Rock, Shed Skin)
Scolipede (Adaptability, Speed Boost)
Slowbro (Anylyctic, Regenerator)

Tentacruel (Intimidate, Adaptability)
Typhlosion (Drought)

B- rank
Dragonite (Multiscale, Delta Stream, Moxie)
Gligar (Intimidate)
Omastar (Regenerator)

Spiritomb (Prankster, Magic Bounce)

C rank
Accelgor (Mold Breaker)
Gogoat (Contrary, Regenerator)
Throh (regenerator, intimidate)
 
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Albacore

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A few things I've spotted :

  • Protean Crawdaunt. This isn't necessarily an improvement since Adaptability is just amazing, but it's still interesting
  • Thick Fat Amoonguss isn't necessarily an improvement over Regenerator, but once again, could be useful
  • Unware/Magic Guard Sylveon/Forges are basically better Clefables
  • In fact, every Water/Ground type has Unaware
  • Sheer Force could be great on Excadrill
  • Every Mono-Water Type has Regenerator
 
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That's quite an interesting meta!
I guess that you should ban Shadow Tag ( Psychics and Gengar(?) can use it )
 
A few things I've spotted :

  • Adaptability Geninja and Protean Crawdaunt. This isn't necessarily an improvement for either Pokemon, since both have amazing abilities in the first place, but it's still interesting
  • Regenerator Mega-Venusaur and Thick Fat Amoonguss. Once again, two very useful abilities shared between two Pokemon
  • Unware/Magic Guard Sylveon/Forges are basically better Clefables
For some reason Adaptability is banned.
 
The Eevee General you've got some competition :P In all seriousness this looks very interesting and I feel that regenerator will be huge in this metagame this is one set that I just theorymond about (thanks based amoongus)
thanks based amoongus (Roserade) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 Spd
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Extrasensory
- Hidden Power [Fire]
 
I don't see how Adaptability is a bannable ability at all. For comparison Adaptability boosted attacks are around as strong as Sheer Force boosted attacks. It's not h

Also Toxic Boost being banned but not Guts makes no sense. Guts shouldn't be banned either though, since neither ability is unmanageable.
 

Diana

This isn't even my final form
is a Researcher Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnus
Fur Coat Blissey sounds fun.

Edit: And now it's banned. Sorry Blissey, you'll have to accept one of about 100 other choices.
 
Y u ban Flare/Toxic Boost? Flare Boost is only available on Drifloon and Drifblim anyway. Also, OiawesomeDG had a very, very, very similar idea, but you ninja'd him.
Have you seen Flare Boost +2 Thundurus? I swept with him in AAA XY!
Oh, and sorry OiawesomeDG!
Shadow Tag Alakazam. GG.
Oops! Forgot to add that to the bans list. :P
A few things I've spotted :

  • Adaptability Geninja and Protean Crawdaunt. This isn't necessarily an improvement for either Pokemon, since both have amazing abilities in the first place, but it's still interesting
  • Regenerator Mega-Venusaur and Thick Fat Amoonguss. Once again, two very useful abilities shared between two Pokemon
  • Unware/Magic Guard Sylveon/Forges are basically better Clefables
  • In fact, every Water/Ground type has Unaware
  • Sheer Force could be great on Excadrill
  • Every Mono-Water Type has Regenerator
You didn't read all of the first post :P
Adaptability on Pokemon that normally won't have it is banned... but Protean Crawdaunt sounds good!
Oh, and also Megas can't have Abilities changed... sorry!
Archeops @ Choice Band
Ability: Rock Head
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SpD/252 Spe
-Head Smash
-Earthquake
-U-turn
-Crunch

Click Head Smash. Repeat.
Why did I forget to ban all these things?
That's quite an interesting meta!
I guess that you should ban Shadow Tag ( Psychics and Gengar(?) can use it )
Yup.
What about Guts?
Also speed boost Infernape.
Yup.
The Eevee General you've got some competition :P In all seriousness this looks very interesting and I feel that regenerator will be huge in this metagame this is one set that I just theorymond about (thanks based amoongus)
thanks based amoongus (Roserade) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 Spd
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Extrasensory
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Will add that to the Sets section!

Thanks for all the instant and amzing support! I'm glad you all like it!
 
Also might want to suspect fur coat or something cause furfrou is pure normal one of the most common types in the game
But no fur D: (Porygon2) @ Eviolite
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Spd
Calm Nature
- Recover
- Tri Attack
- Discharge
- Foul Play
Did you think porygon 2 was a bitch to take down before? Well now your close combats tickle the thing.
 
Also might want to suspect fur coat or something cause furfrou is pure normal one of the most common types in the game
But no fur D: (Porygon2) @ Eviolite
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Spd
Calm Nature
- Recover
- Tri Attack
- Discharge
- Foul Play
Did you think porygon 2 was a bitch to take down before? Well now your close combats tickle the thing.
FUR COAT CHANSEY
 
Honestly, Guts, Flare Boost, and Toxic Boost should all be fine. I don't think they're really things to be too worried about.

Up to you if you want to give Archeops the ax, but it might not be a bad idea.
Yeah, I'll make the bans more specific asap, as I'm a bit busy right now.
For example, Rock Head Archeops will be banned in the future but Unnerve Archeops won't etc.
Thanks again for approving this!
Simple Camerupt, Xatu, Sigilyph, pure normals.
Again, I have the worst memory and keep forgetting to ban these stuff.
 
Have you seen Flare Boost +2 Thundurus? I swept with him in AAA XY!
Oh, and sorry OiawesomeDG!

Oops! Forgot to add that to the bans list. :P

You didn't read all of the first post :P
Adaptability on Pokemon that normally won't have it is banned... but Protean Crawdaunt sounds good!
Oh, and also Megas can't have Abilities changed... sorry!

Why did I forget to ban all these things?

Yup.

Yup.

Will add that to the Sets section!

Thanks for all the instant and amzing support! I'm glad you all like it!
Flare Boost can't even be passed and no pure normals other than banned ones would even be that good with TBoost. Protean slowdaunt sounds bad. Adaptability pure normals, tentacruel, greninja, and sharpedo aren't broken. Most guts pokemon (if not all) dont seem broken.
 

Albacore

sludge bomb is better than sludge wave
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Team Rater Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnus
I really don't get why Levitate on an Electric type is banned at all. You hardly need to hit Jolteon super effectively to knock it out.

And why are Adaptability/Flare Boost/Toxic Boost banned when there are arguably more broken abilities, like Protean, Gale Wings, Arena Trap, Drizzle, Drought, Magic Bounce, Sand Stream and Hustle allowed.

I think we should probably discuss things before we start banning abilities
 

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