Stench (Ability)

This article is about the Ability Stench. For the field move Stink, see Field Move (Ranger).
Stench あくしゅう
Stench
Flavor text
Generation III
Helps repel wild Pokémon.RSEFRLG
Repels wild Pokémon.ColoXD
Generation IV
The stench helps keep wild Pokémon away.
Generation V
The stench may cause the target to flinch.
Generation VI
The stench may cause the target to flinch.
Generation VII
By releasing stench when attacking, this Pokémon may cause the target to flinch.
Generation VIII
By releasing stench when attacking, this Pokémon may cause the target to flinch.
Generation IX
By releasing a stench when attacking, the Pokémon may cause the target to flinch.

Stench (Japanese: あくしゅう Stench) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. Prior to Generation IV, it was the signature Ability of Grimer and Muk.

Effect

In battle

Generations III and IV

Stench has no effect in battle.

Generation V onward

Stench has a 10% chance of making the target flinch when hit by a damaging move used by the Pokémon with this Ability. Stench does not stack with King's Rock or Razor Fang, nor does it stack with moves that already have a chance to flinch. Each strike of a multi-strike move has an independent chance of causing the target to flinch.

Outside of battle

If a Pokémon with Stench is in the first place in the party (even if fainted), the chance of encountering a wild Pokémon is decreased by 50%. It shares this effect with Quick Feet, White Smoke and Infiltrator (since Generation VIII).

Generation III

In the Battle Pyramid, the encounter rate is decreased by 25%.

Generation VIII

In Pokémon Sword and Shield only, this Ability instead decreases the chance of hidden encounters by 87.5%.

Generation IX

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet this Ability has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Stench

# Pokémon Types First Ability Second Ability Hidden Ability
0044   Gloom
Grass Poison Chlorophyll None Stench
0088   Grimer
Poison Poison Stench Sticky Hold Poison Touch
0089   Muk
Poison Poison Stench Sticky Hold Poison Touch
0109   Koffing
Poison Poison Levitate Neutralizing GasGen VIII+ StenchGen VIII+
0110   Weezing
Poison Poison Levitate Neutralizing GasGen VIII+ StenchGen VIII+
0434   Stunky
Poison Dark Stench Aftermath Keen Eye
0435   Skuntank
Poison Dark Stench Aftermath Keen Eye
0568   Trubbish
Poison Poison Stench Sticky Hold Aftermath
0569   Garbodor
Poison Poison Stench Weak Armor Aftermath
Please note that abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later.
  • For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

If a Pokémon with Stench is attacked by an adjacent Pokémon, the attacker may become terrified for a short time.

Description

Games Description
MDRB May terrify an attacking foe.
MDTDS May terrify an attacking foe.
BSL こうげきしてきた ポケモンを おびえさせる
MDGtI May inflict the Terrified status condition when the Pokémon is hit by a direct attack.*
When the Pokémon is hit with a direct attack like Tackle or Scratch, the attacker is sometimes afflicted with the Terrified status condition!*
SMD When the Pokémon is hit with a contact move like Tackle or Scratch, it sometimes makes the attacker terrified.
MDRTDX When the Pokémon is attacked by an enemy next to it, it sometimes makes the attacker Terrified.


In the anime

 
Stunky
 
Trubbish
 
Effect
 
Garbodor
The Pokémon releases a horrible smell.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Stunky stands on its two front legs and a purple ball appears at the end of its behind. Stunky then flips around and fires the purple ball at the opponent, causing a purple, foul-smelling fog to appear and spread its stench for twenty-four hours.
Officer Jenny's Stunky A Secret Sphere of Influence! Debut
  Trubbish belches out a small olive-colored cloud from its mouth. When the cloud disappears, it spreads throughout the whole area and causes it to smell.
A wild Trubbish Here Comes the Trubbish Squad! None
  Garbodor belches out a small olive-colored cloud from its mouth. The cloud then expands over throughout the whole area and causes it to smell.
A wild Garbodor Scraggy and the Demanding Gothita! None


In the manga

Pokémon Adventures


Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 惡臭 Okchau
Mandarin 惡臭 / 恶臭 Èchòu
  French Puanteur
  German Duftnote
  Italian Tanfo
  Korean 악취 Akchwi
  Portuguese Fedor
  Spanish Hedor
  Vietnamese Mùi Thối


  This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.