Adaptability enhances STABSTABmechanicSame-Type Attack Bonus: a move deals ×1.5 damage when its type matches one of the user's types.Click to read more →. Normally, a Pokémon using a move that matches its type deals 1.5× damage. With Adaptability, that bonus becomes 2.0×.
The difference sounds small, but it’s significant. A 2× STAB vs. 1.5× STAB is a 33% damage increase on every matching-type move the Pokémon uses. For high-power STAB moves, that extra third of a multiplier frequently turns 2-hit KOs into 1-hit KOs.
Who uses it
Adaptability is rare — only a handful of Pokémon can have it. The most relevant in competitive VGC:
- Porygon-Z — Normal/Normal typing with Adaptability makes Boomburst (a spread Normal move) hit at 2× STAB for massive damage.
- Crawdaunt — Water/Dark, Adaptability Crabhammer and Aqua Jet.
- Mega GreninjaMega GreninjamegaChanges type to match each move it uses — every move gets STAB, making it nearly impossible to wall.Click to read more → (via Battle Bond/Transform in some formats) — not Reg M-A relevant but historically notable.
In doubles
Adaptability is less commonly seen in Reg M-A than other abilities, but Pokémon that have it are dangerous specifically because their STAB moves are extremely difficult to wall. A Pokémon with a 2× STAB spread move threatens both opponents simultaneously for higher damage than most attackers can achieve with coverage moves.