If you've played other Pokémon games, you're probably used to your Pokémon having special abilities. These abilities can be super helpful in battles, so it's a big question if they're in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Here's the short answer: No, Pokémon in Legends: Arceus do not have abilities.

This was a huge surprise to me when I first started playing. I was so used to planning my battles around my Pokémon's abilities, and suddenly that was all gone! It definitely made the game feel different, and I had to come up with new strategies. For example, I couldn't rely on my Gengar's Levitate to avoid ground-type moves anymore. I had to actually think about my typing matchups more carefully.

Why are there no abilities in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?

The game developers haven't given an official reason, but it seems like they wanted to make the game simpler and more focused on the new catching and battling mechanics. Since the game is set in the past, it could also be that Pokémon in that time period hadn't developed abilities yet. Whatever the reason, it definitely changes how you play the game.

I remember one time I was battling a particularly tough Alpha Pokémon and I kept trying to use my usual tricks. It took me a few tries to realize that my old strategies weren't going to work. I had to really focus on dodging attacks and using the right moves at the right time. It was a challenge, but it was also really rewarding when I finally won.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, just like abilities, you also can't breed Pokémon in Legends Arceus. This is another big change from the other games in the series.

Even though your Pokémon don't have abilities, you can still make them stronger by leveling them up and evolving them. And if you want to make some in-app purchases to help you on your journey, you can use Playstorm to redeem Nintendo Store gift cards.