Reckless (Ability)

Reckless (Japanese: すてみ Life-Risking) is an Ability introduced in Generation IV. Twelve Pokémon can have this Ability. Prior to Generation V, it was the signature Ability of Hitmonlee.

Effect

In battle

Reckless increases the base power of moves which cause recoil or crash damage by 20%.

Outside of battle

Reckless has no effect outside of battle.

Mystery Dungeon

Reckless doubles the base power of any move which is affected.

Affected moves

The Ability affects the following moves:

Move Type Cat. Pokémon learned by* Brave Bird  Flying  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Double-Edge  Normal  Physical **** {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Flare Blitz  Fire  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Head Charge  Normal  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Head Smash  Rock  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Hi Jump Kick  Fighting  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Jump Kick  Fighting  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Submission  Fighting  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Take Down  Normal  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Volt Tackle  Electric  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Wood Hammer  Grass  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Wild Charge  Electric  Physical {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}

Pokémon with Reckless

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0106		Hitmonlee	Fighting		Fighting	Limber	Reckless	Unburden
0111		Rhyhorn	Ground	Rock	Lightning Rod	Rock Head	Reckless
0112		Rhydon	Ground	Rock	Lightning Rod	Rock Head	Reckless
0396		Starly	Normal	Flying	Keen Eye	None	Reckless
0397		Staravia	Normal	Flying	Intimidate	None	Reckless
0398		Staraptor	Normal	Flying	Intimidate	None	Reckless
0464		Rhyperior	Ground	Rock	Lightning Rod	Solid Rock	Reckless
0500		Emboar	Fire	Fighting	Blaze	None	Reckless
0550		Basculin	Water		Water	Reckless	Adaptability	Mold Breaker
0619		Mienfoo	Fighting		Fighting	Inner Focus	Regenerator	Reckless
0620		Mienshao	Fighting		Fighting	Inner Focus	Regenerator	Reckless
0626		Bouffalant	Normal		Normal	Reckless	Sap Sipper	Soundproof
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 addition, Blue-Striped Basculin with Reckless as an Ability can be obtained in the wild in Pokémon Black and White. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, they can only have Rock Head instead.
• In Generation V games, Starly has its first Ability Keen Eye as its Hidden Ability instead of Reckless.

Pokéstar Studios Pokémon with Reckless

Trivia

• Hitmonlee is the only Pokémon that can use all moves affected by Reckless, as it can use them via Mimic. However, Hitmonlee can only have both Mimic and Reckless at the same time if it is taught Mimic as a Tyrogue in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, is then sent to a Generation IV or V game, then evolved into Hitmonlee in that game. This Hitmonlee then has a 50% chance of having Reckless, depending on its personality value.
• Although Submission, Volt Tackle, and Wood Hammer are all affected by Reckless, they cannot be naturally learned by any Pokémon that has this Ability. Therefore, these moves can only be affected by Reckless through a Hitmonlee using Mimic or if a Pokémon used Role Play.
• Emboar may utilize this Ability more than any other Pokémon without using Mimic or Role Play, being able to learn four recoil-dealing moves.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 捨身 Shěshēn French Téméraire German Achtlos Italian Temerarietà Korean 이판사판 Ipansapan Portuguese Imprudência Spanish Audaz

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.