Defiant triggers whenever the Pokémon has any stat lowered by an opponent’s move or ability: its Attack rises by 2 stages (+2) automatically. The stat drop still happens, but the Attack surge more than compensates.
The most common trigger: IntimidateIntimidateabilityWhen this Pokémon enters the battlefield, the opposing Pokémon's Attack stat drops by one stage.Click to read more →. When IncineroarIncineroarpokemonThe most-used Pokémon in Reg M-A. Defines doubles tempo with Fake Out, Intimidate on every switch, and Parting Shot pivots.Click to read more → or Landorus-Therian switches in and activates Intimidate (lowering Attack by 1), a Defiant Pokémon responds by raising its Attack by 2 — resulting in a net +1 Attack even after the Intimidate drop.
Why it flips the Intimidate dynamic
Intimidate is one of the most common abilities in doubles. Entire teams are built around cycling Incineroar in and out to repeatedly drop the opposing team’s Attack. Defiant completely reverses this strategy: instead of weakening the Defiant Pokémon, the Intimidate player is actually powering it up.
Experienced players playing against Defiant users deliberately avoid switching in their Intimidate Pokémon while the Defiant Pokémon is active.
Common Defiant users
- Bisharp (and Kingambit’s pre-evolution) — Dark/Steel, Defiant turns it into a sweeping threat immediately
- Braviary — Flying/Normal
- Thundurus — Electric/Flying, Defiant variant turns Intimidate into a +2 Special Attack via the Attack proxy
- Palafin — when not Hero form
Distinction from Competitive
CompetitiveCompetitiveabilityRaises Special Attack by 2 stages whenever any of the Pokémon's stats are lowered — including by Intimidate.Click to read more → is the Special Attack equivalent of Defiant — it raises Special Attack by 2 when any stat is lowered. The abilities are otherwise identical in how they function.