These Pokemon Abilities Are Double-Edged Swords

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Most Pokemon abilities make the species that have them strictly better than they would be otherwise. But that's not always the case. Let's take a look at some abilities that have some benefits, but also some drawbacks, and see which ones are worth using.
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[@Detective_L]

If you manage to out speed there team and survive a hit after using Hone Claws, you’ll not only get more attack but you’ll also fix the accuracy drop from Hustle. Easy sweeps without been hit by priority

[@MEPlaysGames]

No fully evolved Pokemon gets both Hustle and Hone Claws though. The only Pokemon with that combination is Rufflet, but it loses Hustle upon evolving into Braviary

[@MEPlaysGames]

Whoops scuse me I just double checked, Durant does as well, my bad

[@Detective_L]

@@MEPlaysGames I should have mentioned i was referring to Durant lol. It’s not the best strategy in the world but it’s fun to pull off on Showdown

[@enoyna1001]

THEIR

[@Bobopoes]

the aura abilities also can be countered by aura break

[@MEPlaysGames]

That’s a pretty specific drawback though, since it’s Zygarde’s signature ability. I thought about including it in the video but decided against it

[@Bobopoes]

@@MEPlaysGames fair enough, no-one uses it over power construct anyway

[@robertlupa8273]

Today I learnt Fairy doesn't resist itself. Also Rivalry supposedly only boosts confusion damage in Gen 4.

[@natnew32]

Back in gen 5, Rivalry Haxorus was used a few times specifically to counter Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus (they're 100% male so there was no guesswork).

[@NotHexaaaa]

Technically Anger Shell can also be considered a "double-edged sword" ability because it lowers yours defenses at half health

[@MEPlaysGames]

Right, this wasn't meant to be a comprehensive list. There's a few others out there that I didn't mention in this video. Moody also comes to mind for example

[@SinNun-tx5jp]

And it has the worst downside of all: an eternal boosting animation

[@SinNun-tx5jp]

"Only flying types could survive no guard fissure" Meanwhile, sturdy mons crying in the corner

[@cheoplays6477]

I was expecting you to mention the ability Moody

[@arcadiawhimsies]

The sheer force ability isn't also kind of a double-edged sword? More damage in Ice Beam is cool but that 10% freeze could also help you a lot when landed

[@MEPlaysGames]

I mean yeah, but there’s a LOT of abilities with drawbacks, so I couldn’t have talked about them all in detail in one video

[@andrewwagner7363]

Sheer force life orb means it's always better

[@philipgelderblom6878]

A wise nidoking once said: _Random nidoking noises_

[@theapexsurvivor9538]

Honestly, I see a 30% burn chance on a move and think "sweet, this'll be great on a sheer force set", like, I'd rather lose the secondaries of a bunch of moves than not have sheer force most of the time (to the point where I'd rather it ate crit rate so I could run sheer force stone edge over rock slide...)

[@SinNun-tx5jp]

They should make an anti sheer power. Attacks with secondary effects lose all damage, but thier effects get a huge chance boost, if not just be a certainty

[@cebollin.dospuntosuve]

4:19 STELLAR?????¡!???1!!!!

[@notshockwavedemon7543]

I like the idea of No Guard. Can't miss but can't dodge.

[@localidiot2777]

12:00 We have to keep genders in mind in Gen 9 thanks to enamorus having to choose between contrary super power sets and cute charm calm mind sets.

[@MEPlaysGames]

That's why I said *almost* no Pokemon will choose Cute Charm

[@localidiot2777]

​@@MEPlaysGamesBut this is the one very rare instance you can play around it existing on this one pokemon making it even worse 💀

[@captainpolar2343]

in some games i've seen that sleep can override the other listed status conditions (para, psn or tox, and burn)

[@NokoTheTaco]

That’s only for Rest.

[@nunyabiznes33]

​@@NokoTheTacomaybe he played a ROM hack where Sleep can be applied on a Pokemon that already have a different status on? I'm playing an Emerald hack and Effect Spore was bugged and applying a status on an attacker that already had one.

[@Camilo10706]

4:19 LMAO, you just predicted the stellar tera blast Serperior set

[@GodzillaFreak]

You can also one shot no guard machamp easily with your own ohko

[@metageek7878]

Might be obvious but comatose also makes them a free meal for anything with dream eater without using hypnosis

[@ccheart8574]

The REAL question this video brings up is: Does having Komala on the team automatically proc the 'only one pokemon asleep on a team' rule?

[@nunyabiznes33]

Does No Guard works on all Pokemon in doubles?

[@aspy23ajpw]

Hustle is kinda the WAY worse huge power

[@juanmanuelgarcia4605]

Most abilities are beneficial and Pokemon are better off with them than if they didn't have them. Regigigas: is this a freakin joke

[@sshadowzlmao]

2:29 also air balloon. its not like pokemon dont use it. you see goldengo using it

[@TaLeng2023]

Isn't there a lens item that boosts accuracy of moves by 20%?

[@merahsuc4750]

It's called zoom lens. It's a good item until you see that the accuracy increase only apply if user moves last. So it's better to use wide lens.

[@TaLeng2023]

@@merahsuc4750 Guess that's the bad part. Can't even bring your slow Hustle Poke in a Trick Room team with that item on.

[@EngineerDJ_Julius]

that's why most people hack pokemon

[@TaLeng2023]

Yeah. I just want Solid Rock on Regirock and Filter on Regice and Registeel.

[@SuperUmizoomi]

6:02 im sorry zweilous is pronounced like what?

[@MEPlaysGames]

The W is pronounced like that because it comes from ZWEIL, the German word for the number 2. Deino and Hydreigon's names include the German words for 1 and 3 as well