The Abilities in the Pokémon universe have a great field and battle effects for the titular pocket monsters, but there’s plenty that would be beneficial to pets in real life as well. Abilities are passive skills that usually take effect during battle, although some activate outside of battle. Sometimes, all it takes is a particularly strong Ability to make an average Pokémon incredible, such as Gen 6’s Gale Wings on Talonflame.
It also isn’t uncommon to imagine Pokémon as pets. Even with their powerful Abilities, Pokémon can oftentimes live alongside people simply as companions rather than to battle. Whether they’re animal-like or based on inanimate objects, Pokémon already have a lot in common with real-life pets. It stands to reason, then, that real-life pets would also benefit from having certain Pokémon Abilities.
With so many different effects, many different Abilities have an application for pets, even on a niche basis. More relaxed pet owners may prefer a pet with Truant, while more active owners may appreciate a pet with Early Bird. Some owners may seek out pets with descriptions that fall in line with certain Abilities, too, such as people who prefer pets with Fluffy. Aside from the fact that even the grumpiest of pets already have their own kind of Cute Charm, certain Pokémon Abilities would be especially beneficial to most owners as well as the pets themselves.
Pokémon Abilities Could Help Pets In Areas With Drastic Weather Conditions
Pet owners in areas with drastic weather would really benefit from pets with Air Lock or Cloud Nine. Weather effects would be negated, but the weather itself wouldn’t stop. This is helpful for people who enjoy a nice walk in the rain without the chill or want to set outside on a bright, sunny day without the negative effects of the great heat. Even in places where the weather isn’t consistently rainy or overly sunny, a pet with a Pokémon Ability like Air Lock or Cloud Nine could come in handy when any unexpected weather change happens.
Families who live in cold areas may appreciate a pet with the Pokémon Ability Flame Body. Other Abilities that could be helpful depending on the general weather of the area include Hydration, Rain Dish, and even Ice Body. These Abilities will keep pets healthy even under rain or hail, which is great for when an unexpected downpour happens while out on a walk. And anyone who lives in an area with many thunderstorms will likely appreciate a pet with Lightning Rod since it would draw in all Electric strikes to itself and safely absorb them.
Pokémon Abilities Like Healer Would Be Great For Keeping Pets Healthy
Some Abilities would be great for a pet’s general safety. Regenerator could come in handy if two pets play a little too roughly with each other, as could Natural Cure. Immunity may be one of the best Abilities a pet could have, especially dogs and cats who like to eat things they know they shouldn’t. Immunity prevents Pokémon from being poisoned - even if they hold a Toxic Orb item - which would be wonderful for dogs and cats who may accidentally find their way into their owners’ hidden chocolate stashes, or for stray cats in neighborhoods with gardens full of lilies and other flowers that are incredibly poisonous to them.
Another helpful Ability for pets to have is Healer, which heals an ally’s status condition. They can keep their animal siblings healthy, and even help clear up sicknesses when their owner has fallen ill. These kinds of supportive Abilities have a wide array of applications and would be helpful for any pet to have.
Pokémon Abilities Like Pickup Would Be Great For Pets & Owners Alike
Many pets - and their owners - could benefit from Abilities such as Pickup, Harvest, and Honey Gather. It goes without saying that it’s incredibly valuable for a pet to conveniently come across helpful items and foodstuffs, including useful Pokémon Berries, to give to their owners. A pet with Harvest could make a great team with one who has Ripen, to provide a potentially infinite source of Berries with increased effects. A pet with Magnet Pull could also serve as a living metal detector, and could also ensure the owner never loses their keys.
Some Pokémon Abilities Like Levitate Would Let Pets Have Even More Fun
Levitate is one of the most common Abilities for a Pokémon to have. It grants immunity to Ground-type attacks as if it were part Flying-type, without any of Flying’s usual weaknesses. This immunity may not be very relevant to pets, but it would still be great for pets to have. Levitating pets would provide a whole slew of shenanigans and would make for some amazing video recordings.
Schooling is another Ability that would be great for pets, especially fish like Wishiwashi, to have for the fun factor, even if it may be a bit overwhelming for the owner. A pet with Schooling would be able to call other animals to form a larger “creature” and move around as one unit. It may be somewhat frightening at first, but with the right training, such a conglomeration of pets would be great fun to play with.
There are also other Abilities that would be great for pets whose owners who enjoy spending time with many different animals. With Illuminate, pets would naturally attract others to them when they’re out and about. This may be a downside in some cases, such as when the owner just wants to go on a walk, but it can have its benefits for anyone who likes to meet other animals while outside.
Pets With The Illusion Pokémon Ability Could Make Imagination A Reality
Sillier pets with owners who would rather keep their animal outbreaks like in Pokémon down to one would love to make use of Illusion. In the games, Illusion allows the Pokémon to appear as the last Pokémon in the Trainer’s party, implying that it’s necessary to have the animal already in order to transform into it. This limitation is completely absent outside of battle, however: while extraneous Pokémon media may show Zorua and Zoroark capable of transforming into all sorts of beings, including people, even the games depict Illusion as having additional properties. In Black and White, a Zoroark in Lostlorn Forest uses Illusion to transform herself into a human woman, and also “builds” an RV and additional trees surrounding it.
Outside of the Pokémon party limitations placed on Illusion in battle, it can be used for a variety of purposes. Pet owners with children would find Illusion to be extremely beneficial. Children who enjoy tea parties or playing make-believe as doctors, housekeepers, or anything else would find their playtime elevated by a pet’s Illusion. Older pet owners can use their pet’s Illusion to decorate their homes for themed parties - or to avoid having to pick up any last-minute messes before the guests arrive.
The Water Absorb Pokémon Ability Would Be Perfect For Pets Who Hate Baths
Perhaps the most important day-to-day use Ability a pet could have is Water Absorb, which allows Pokémon to absorb and heal HP from Water-type attacks, potentially removing one of their type weaknesses. One of the most challenging things about raising a pet can often be trying to give them their baths, but a pet with Water Absorb would enjoy taking baths since the water would be highly soothing. It may seem like an unorthodox use of an otherwise powerful Pokémon Ability, but it just goes to show that the world of Pokémon is highly flexible, with characteristics that would be highly beneficial to the real world in a wide variety of ways.