Pokemon Sword and Shield are adding a new item called Ability Patch which allows normal Pokemon to have Hidden Abilities. The game will finally allow players to give normal Pokemon a chance to have a Hidden Ability in the forthcoming Crown Tundra expansion. This will be a big improvement in the game’s quality-of-life which will make battles more competitive than before.
In context, the competitive battles in Pokemon Sword and Shield demands players to utilize every feature of their Pokemon. One of the most critical attributes is a Pokemon’s Ability – a passive skill that differs from Pokemon to Pokemon.
Some Pokemon have Hidden Abilities that are usually more useful than their default Abilities. Sadly, Pokemon Go trainers don’t have the power to choose a Pokemon with a Hidden Ability until the luckily encounter one in the wild or until the game chooses to make them available in exclusive events which usually are very rare.
The Crown Tundra expansion will introduce a new item called Ability Patch which can alter a Pokemon’s Ability and turn it to a Hidden Ability. Players who love the rare Shiny Pokemon will especially benefit from this new feature.
If a player breeds a Shiny Pokemon that doesn’t have the Hidden Ability, they can simply give them the Ability Patch. With the upcoming Ability Patch and the recently added Ability Capsule – which allows Pokemon with two regular Abilities switch between them – players will have uncontrollable power over the Abilities that their Pokemon have.
However, Pokemon Go’s official website revealed that this new item will be very difficult to get. Getting the item might be similar to the Max Soup from the Isle of Armor expansion. Players will need to grind for Max Mushrooms and cook it to become Max Soup which immediately allows compatible Pokemon to access their Gigantamax form. If getting Ability Patches will work in the same way, players will need to grind hard and be patient since it will take hours to get the item they need.
This new item will continue one of the best enhancements in Pokemon Sword and Shield since it provides players a way to prepare any Pokemon battle-ready quickly. Players will be able to bring any Pokemon to their maximum potential via Hyper Training, Poke Jobs, Max Soups, and the new addition – Ability Patch.
Some fans are criticizing the addition of the new item as a way to force people to buy the expansion. However, it still unknown if players who don’t have the Crown Tundra DLC can still obtain Ability Patches.
Given that Pokemon Sword and Shield will be relaunched in November with both expansions included, this could be a sales pitch as well. Regardless, Pokemon enthusiasts will now have to spend lesser time stressing about obtaining a Pokemon’s correct abilities once the Crown Tundra expansion releases.
Pokemon Sword and Shield are exclusively available on the Nintendo Switch while the second DLC for the game – The Crown Tundra – will be released on October 22, 2020.
