Ability Shift
Metagame premise:
Each ability is replaced by the next ability alphabetically. For example, Darmanitan normally gets the ability Zen Mode, so in Ability Shift, this is shifted to the next ability alphabetically. Since Zen Mode is the last ability alphabetically, this means that Darmanitan gets the first ability, Adaptability. It would use standard OU clauses.
Potential bans:
- Imposter: Imposter is already a decent ability on Ditto, but is potentially broken when given to Snorlax, which can abuse it off of a base 160 HP, and with Gligar, who gets eviolite (albeit with a low HP).
- Water Bubble: Water Bubble is an all around amazing ability, and banned in many metagames for a good reason. It would very likely be broken in Ability Shift due to everything with Water Absorb getting access to it, creating dangerous threats such as Vaporeon and Volcanion, both of which can fire off extremely powerful water moves off of large attacking stats.
Wonder Guard: Self explanatory.
Potential Threats:
Chansey (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Shadow Shield
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Def / 12 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Heal Bell
- Soft-Boiled
Chansey is always amazing, but Ability Shift buffs it even further by giving it access to an even better ability in Shadow Shield which allows it to take virtually no damage from attacks while at full health.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Waterfall
- Spikes
- U-turn
Although it doesn't hit quite as hard as protean, Tough Claws allows Greninja to dish out some significant physical damage while stacking spikes.
Purugly @ Leftovers
Ability: Parental Bond
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Super Fang
- Taunt
- Body Slam
- Foul Play
Purugly gets access to the fantastic combination of Parental Bond + Super Fang. Although it lacks access to Seismic Toss, it can still put Super Fang to good stallbreaking use by using it alongside moves like Taunt and Foul Play.
Questions for the community:
- Should banned abilities be skipped over (for example, if Wonder Guard is banned, anything with Wimp Out would receive Wonder Skin instead), or should Pokemon still receive them, and just be banned from using them?
- Similarly, should abilities that are hard-coded to specific Pokemon be skipped over?