Simple (Ability)

Simple (Japanese: たんじゅん Simple) is an Ability introduced in Generation IV. Five Pokémon have this Ability, all of which are in the Field Egg Group.

Effect

In Battle

Generation IV

Simple doubles the effectiveness of stat modifiers. For example, if Defense Curl is used, the user's Defense stat will increase by one stage, but the effect of that stage is equal to the change of two stages. Similarly, if Tail Whip is used against this Pokémon, its Defense stat will fall one stage, but be treated as two.

However, stat modifiers are still effectively capped at six stages; a Simple Pokémon with +3 or -3 in a stat can still increase or decrease the stage of that stat, but those changes will have no effect on the actual stats of the Pokémon.

A Pokémon that uses Psych Up on a target with Simple only copies the actual (not effective) stage changes.

Generation V

Simple now doubles the number of stages in a stat change rather than doubling the effectiveness of each boost. This means that moves like Defense Curl can only be used three times before failing (unlike Generation IV, where it could be used six times, but only have effect up to the third). That also means that flavor text will change, e.g. Calm Mind will say that stats rose sharply, instead of saying that they just rose.

As the effective stat change is now the same as the actual number of stages a stat is changed, using Psych Up on a target with Simple behaves as expected, copying twice the number of stat boosts compared to if the Psych Up user had used the stat boosting moves themselves. This also means that using Baton Pass with a Simple Pokémon as the recipient will no longer effectively double the stat changes that are transferred.

The move Simple Beam can change the target Pokémon's Ability to Simple. Pokémon that receive Simple will not have pre-existing stat changes doubled.

Outside of battle

Simple has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Simple

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0322		Numel	Fire	Ground	Oblivious	Simple	Own Tempo
0399		Bidoof	Normal		Normal	Simple	Unaware	Moody
0400		Bibarel	Normal	Water	Simple	Unaware	Moody
0527		Woobat	Psychic	Flying	Unaware	Klutz	Simple
0528		Swoobat	Psychic	Flying	Unaware	Klutz	Simple
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 Mandarin Chinese 單純 Dānchún French Simple German Wankelmut Italian Disinvoltura Korean 단순 Dansun Portuguese Simplificar Spanish Simple

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.