Multitype (Ability)

Multitype	マルチタイプ
	Multitype
Flavor text Generation III Currently unknown Generation IV Changes type to match the held Plate. Generation V Changes type to match the held Plate. Generation VI Changes the Pokémon's type to match the Plate it holds. Generation VII Changes the Pokémon's type to match the Plate or Z-Crystal it holds.

Multitype (Japanese: マルチタイプ Multitype) is an Ability introduced in Generation IV. It is the signature Ability of Arceus.

Effect

In battle

Generation IV

Multitype changes the form and type of a Pokémon with this Ability depending on the Plate attached. The item-removing effects of Thief, Covet, Trick, Switcheroo, and Knock Off will not work on a Pokémon with Multitype, regardless of what item it is holding.

When a Pokémon transforms into Arceus, it becomes the same form and type as the target Arceus. If the transformed Pokémon is holding a Plate that is different from the target's held Plate, it then immediately changes to the form and type corresponding to that Plate; if it is not holding a Plate, it immediately changes to Normal Arceus (unless it transformed into Normal Arceus).

Role Play, Gastro Acid, and Worry Seed fail if the target has the Ability Multitype. Skill Swap fails if either Pokémon has Multitype. Multitype cannot be copied by Trace.

Generation V-VI

If a Pokémon transforms into Arceus, the Pokémon will now be in the same form as the target Arceus, regardless of its own held item.

Multitype no longer has an effect on items; instead, item-manipulating effects cannot affect Arceus if they would cause it to hold a Plate or take a Plate it already holds.

Simple Beam and Entrainment fail if the target has the Ability Multitype. Multitype cannot be replaced by Mummy.

Generation VII

Multitype will also change Arceus's type and form if it holds a type-specific Z-Crystal.

Multitype cannot be copied by Power of Alchemy or Receiver. Multitype cannot be suppressed by Core Enforcer.

Outside of battle

Multitype has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Multitype

#	Pokémon	Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
	Arceus	Normal		Normal	Multitype	None	None
Please note that this is only 100% accurate to Generation VII games. For Generation III games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation IV or later and Hidden Abilities. For Generation IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities. For Generation V games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation VI or later. For Generation VI games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation VII.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Super Mystery Dungeon, a Pokémon with Multitype and all of its teammates' moves deal additional damage as if they had the same-type attack bonus. Type-effectiveness for the moves still apply normally.

Description

Games Description BSL The type changes depending on the situation. MDGtI Unavailable SMD Even when the Pokémon uses a move with a type different from its own, the move will do more damage as if it did match its type! It has the same effect on its teammates!

In the anime

Arceus	Arceus (Spooky Plate)	Arceus (Flame Plate)
The Pokémon changes its type depending on what Plate it held.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
Arceus	The non-white parts of Arceus's body glow white. It then changes its color freely to match that of the type it is changing into. A yellow ripple then forms throughout its body when it wants to change back to normal and its body goes back to its original colors.
Arceus (M12)	Arceus and the Jewel of Life		Debut

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

	Arceus
The Pokémon changes its type depending on what Plate is used on it.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Arceus	Arceus's body changes color depending on the Plate used on it. Upon doing so, its type changes and gives Arceus control over the type that the Plate represents.
Arceus (Adventures)	All About Arceus IV		Debut

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 多屬性 Dō-Suhksing 多元系 Dōyùhn-Haih * Mandarin 多屬性 / 多属性 Duō-Shǔxìng * 多元系 Duōyuán-xì * French Multitype German Variabilität Italian Multitipo Korean 멀티타입 Multi-Type Portuguese Multitipo Spanish Multitipo Turkish Çok Türlü Vietnamese Đa Hệ

Variations of the Ability Multitype
Multitype • RKS System

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.