Protean (Ability)

Protean	へんげんじざい
	Protean
Generation VI
	Changes the Pokémon's type to the type of the move it's using.
Generation VII
	Changes the Pokémon's type to the type of the move it's about to use.
Generation VIII
	Changes the Pokémon's type to the type of the move it's about to use.
Generation IX
	Changes the Pokémon's type to the type of the move it's about to use. This works only once each time the Pokémon enters battle.
Champions
	Changes the Pokémon's type to the type of the move it's about to use. This works only once per time the Pokémon enters battle.

Protean redirects here. For the item, see Protein.

Protean (Japanese: へんげんじざい Protean) is an Ability introduced in Generation VI. In Generation VIII, it was the signature Ability of Kecleon.

Effect

In battle

Generation VI to VIII

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

Because Protean activates prior to executing a move, the user will receive same-type attack bonus on every move it uses (except Struggle and typeless Revelation Dance) regardless of the move's type, and will always hit with the move Toxic.

When using a move that calls another move (such as Nature Power), the type of the called move will be considered. When using a move that can change type or if the move has been affected by Electrify or Ion Deluge, the type it changes to will be considered. When using a move that changes the user's type, such as Camouflage, first Protean changes the user's type to the type of the move, then the move will either fail or change the user's type again. When using Curse (unless its type is changed by Electrify), if the user is not already Ghost-type prior to the activation of Protean, Protean will change the user to Ghost-type, then the user will use the Ghost-type effect of Curse on itself (regardless of Follow Me, Rage Powder, or Crafty Shield).

Protean will not activate if the execution is interrupted entirely and the move's name isn't announced (such as by the effect of infatuation or confusion), if the move is prevented by Powder, heavy rain, extremely harsh sunlight, Dazzling, or Queenly Majesty, or if the user is already the same single type as the move being used. Protean will activate even if the move misses, has no effect because of the target's type, or is blocked by a protection move. Protean usually will activate if the move fails. However, these moves check for success before Protean activates, so they prevent Protean from activating if they fail.

Counter, Mirror Coat, and Metal Burst (if the user was not hit by an attack)
Explosion, Self-Destruct, Mind Blown, and Misty Explosion (if a Pokémon has Damp)
Rest (if the user has full HP, is asleep, or has Insomnia, Vital Spirit, or Comatose)
Teleport (if the user has no allies or if all allies have fainted)
Protection moves (if the user moved last or successfully used a protection move on the previous turn)
Destiny Bond (if the user successfully used Destiny Bond on the previous turn)
Future Sight and Doom Desire (if the target is currently targeted by Future Sight or Doom Desire)
Sleep Talk and Snore (if the user is not asleep)
Fake Out, Mat Block, and First Impression (if it is not the user's first turn)
Follow Me and Rage Powder (if it is a single battle)
Spit Up and Swallow (if the user has no stockpiles)
Stockpile (if the user already has 3 stockpiles)
Fling (if the user has no held item)
Last Resort (if the user hasn't used all of its other moves, knows only Last Resort, or does not know Last Resort and used the move by calling it)
Sucker Punch (if the target has already moved or did not select an attack)
Aurora Veil (if the weather isn't snow)
Burn Up (if the user isn't Fire-type)
Aura Wheel (if the user isn't Morpeko)
Clangorous Soul (if the user doesn't have enough HP to use the move)
No Retreat (if the user has already successfully used No Retreat)
Poltergeist (if the target has no held item)
Steel Roller (if there is no terrain)
Stuff Cheeks (if the user is not holding a berry)

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

Generation IX

Protean only activates once per switch in. If the user Terastallizes, the effects of Protean will be nullified, and Protean has no effect on Terastallized Pokémon.

Pokémon Champions

If a Greninja with Protean that has used it to change its type Mega Evolves, it will get another use of Protean.

Outside of battle

Protean has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Protean

#		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0352	Kecleon	Normal		Normal	Color Change	None	Protean^{Gen VI+}
0656	Froakie	Water		Water	Torrent	None	Protean
0657	Frogadier	Water		Water	Torrent	None	Protean
0658	Greninja	Water	Dark	Torrent	None	Protean
0658	Greninja Mega Greninja	Water	Dark	Protean	None	None
0906	Sprigatito	Grass		Grass	Overgrow	None	Protean
0907	Floragato	Grass		Grass	Overgrow	None	Protean
0908	Meowscarada	Grass	Dark	Overgrow	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.

Trivia

Together with Shell Armor, these are the only Abilities that more than one first partner Pokémon line can have as their Hidden Ability.

In other languages


Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	變幻自如 Binwaahn Jihyùh * 變化萬千 Binfa Maahnchīn * 變幻莫測 Binwaahn Mohkchāk *
Chinese	Mandarin	變幻自如 / 变幻自如 Biànhuàn Zìrú * 千變萬化 Qiānbiàn Wànhuà *
French		Protéen
German		Wandlungskunst
Italian		Mutatipo
Korean		변환자재 Byeonhwan Jajae
Spanish		Mutatipo

Variations of the Ability Protean
Protean • Libero

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.