Protean (Ability)

Protean

へんげんじざい

Phantasmagoria

Flavor text


Generation VI
Changes the Pokémon's type to the type of the move it's using.


Generation VII
Currently unknown


Generation VIII
Currently unknown


Generation IX
Currently unknown

Protean (Japanese: へんげんじざい Phantasmagoria) is an Ability introduced in Generation VI. Four Pokémon can have this Ability. This Ability is exclusively obtained as a Hidden Ability.

Effect

In battle

Immediately before using any move (except Struggle), a Pokémon with Protean as its Ability will change its type to be the same as the move it is using. Protean always causes the user to become a single-type Pokémon.

If the move used is Hidden Power, the user's type changes to the actual type of Hidden Power the user possesses. Because Protean activates prior to executing a move, the user will receive same-type attack bonus on every move it uses regardless of the move's type (except Struggle) and will always hit with the move Toxic.

The user's new type remains in effect until changed again, or the user is switched out; negating or replacing the Ability does not change the user back to their original type.

Outside of battle

It is unknown if Protean has an effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Protean

#		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0352	Kecleon	Normal		Normal	Color Change	None	Protean
0656	Froakie	Water		Water	Torrent	None	Protean
0657	Frogadier	Water		Water	Torrent	None	Protean
0658	Greninja	Water	Dark	Torrent	None	Protean
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 languages

Language		Title
French		Protéen
German		Wandlungskunst
Italian		Mutatipo
Korean		변환자재 Byeonhwan Jajae
Spanish		Mutatipo

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.