What is Gastrodon's hidden power?

Gastrodon's hidden ability, often a key strategic element in battle, is Sand Force. While the term "hidden power" can sometimes colloquially refer to a Pokémon's special attribute, in the context of official game mechanics, it specifically points to a "Hidden Ability."

What is a Hidden Ability?

A Hidden Ability is a special ability that a Pokémon might possess, distinct from its two standard abilities. These abilities are typically rarer to find and can significantly alter a Pokémon's combat effectiveness and strategic role. They are usually acquired through specific methods like special in-game events, Pokémon Dens, or breeding with a parent that has the hidden ability.

Gastrodon's Hidden Ability: Sand Force

Gastrodon's hidden ability is Sand Force. This ability provides several advantages during a sandstorm:

• Move Power Boost: It increases the power of the user's Ground-, Rock-, and Steel-type moves by 30%. Given Gastrodon's Ground/Water typing, this directly benefits its Ground-type attacks like Earthquake.
• Sandstorm Immunity: Pokémon with Sand Force are immune to the residual damage inflicted by a sandstorm, allowing them to stay on the field without taking chip damage.

Strategic Implications of Sand Force

Utilizing Sand Force effectively often involves pairing Gastrodon with Pokémon that can initiate a sandstorm, such as:

• Tyranitar: Known for its "Sand Stream" ability, which automatically summons a sandstorm upon entering battle.
• Hippowdon: Another Pokémon with "Sand Stream," providing consistent sandstorm support.

Under a sandstorm, Gastrodon with Sand Force can become a potent offensive threat with its boosted Ground-type moves, while simultaneously shrugging off the weather's negative effects.

Gastrodon's Standard Abilities

For comparison, Gastrodon also has two standard abilities:

• Storm Drain: This ability draws in all Water-type moves, nullifies their damage, and raises Gastrodon's Special Attack stat by one stage. This is a highly popular ability for Gastrodon due to its excellent defensive utility and ability to punish Water-type attacks.
• Sticky Hold: This ability prevents the Pokémon's held item from being removed by opposing moves like Thief, Knock Off, or Trick.

"Hidden Power" (The Move) Explained

It's important to distinguish Gastrodon's "hidden ability" from the move "Hidden Power." Hidden Power is a specific special attack move in the Pokémon games whose type varies based on the individual values (IVs) of the Pokémon using it.

For example, a Gastrodon might have:

• Hidden Power (Fire): If its IVs lead to a Fire typing for the move.
• Hidden Power (Ice): If its IVs result in an Ice typing.
• Hidden Power (Grass): Often used for type coverage against specific threats.

There isn't one fixed "Hidden Power" type for all Gastrodon; it depends entirely on the unique IVs of each individual Pokémon. The move Hidden Power is typically used to provide a Pokémon with coverage against types it might otherwise struggle against.

Summary of Gastrodon's Abilities and "Hidden Power"

Here's a quick overview of Gastrodon's capabilities:

In conclusion, when discussing Gastrodon's "hidden power," the most accurate interpretation in the context of its unique characteristics points to its hidden ability, Sand Force.