Skills (Japanese: スキル Sukiru) are special abilities Yo-kai have that can influence how a battle may go and progress.
There are several varieties of Skills:
- Forward: These abilities are active 100% of the time.
- Activation: These abilities do not become active until their criteria is achieved.
- Continuous: These abilities are active 100%. Unlike Forward Skills, these abilities are static, and are more passive in nature.
- Defensive: These abilities are either activation-based or continuous-based, but are played out in a more defensive manner.
Skills introduced in Yo-kai Watch
| Name | Target | Condition | Effect | Yo-kai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrenaline | Yourself | Activation | Power increases each time it defeats a foe. | Jibanyan |
| Alpha | Yourself | Continuous | With adjacent Omega Yo-kai, SPR increases. | |
| Annoyance (Japanese: むしゃくしゃ Mushakusha) | Allies | Continuous | May attack an ally. | |
| Bladed Body (Japanese: やいばのボディー Yaiba no Bodī) | Yourself | Defensive | Body deals damage to all foes who attack it. | |
| Blazing Spirit (Japanese: もえるとうし Moeru Tōshi) | Yourself | Activation | Power increases when an ally is defeated. | |
| Blocker | Yourself | Continuous; Defensive | Will be guarding when moving to the front. | |
| Bronze Guard | Yourself | Defensive | Lessen Earth and Wind damage. | Castelius III |
| Brothers' Vow (Japanese: 兄弟のちかい Kyōdai no Chikai) | Adjacent Allies | Continuous | Stat boost for adjacent Yo-kai with same Skill. | |
| Careless (Japanese: ぶようじん Buyōjin) | Yourself | Continuous | Prone to be dealt critical attacks. | |
| Caring (Japanese: おせわ Osewa) | Allies | Continuous | Gradually recovers HP of adjacent Yo-kai. | |
| Courageous Spirit (Japanese: ふるえるとうし Furueru Tōshi) | Yourself | Activation | Power increases when an ally is defeated. | Quaken |
| Cursed Skin (Japanese: のろいのおはだ Noroi no o Hada) | Yourself | Activation | All stats will increase when Inspirited by foe | |
| Death Sphere | All | Continuous | All healing Techniques will be weaker. | Nird |
| Dodge | Yourself | Defensive | Will not receive damage from Soultimate Moves. | |
| Dragon Force | Yourself | Activation | Power will increase when in trouble. | |
| Endurance | Yourself | Forward | Will keep 1 HP after a knockout blow once. | |
| Equipment Forbidden! | All | Continuous | Equipment effects on all Yo-kai are negated. | Slitheref |
| Extreme Critical | Yourself | Forward | Power of critical attacks is high. | |
| Eyesight A | Yourself | Forward | Never misses attacks. | Singcada |
| Fire Play (Japanese: 火あそび Hi Asobi) | Yourself | Forward | Increased damage of Fire attacks. | |
| Fire Watchout | Yourself | Defensive | Lessen damage from Fire attacks. | |
| Forgot to Guard (Japanese: まもりわすれ Mamori Wasure) | All | Continuous | No Yo-kai will guard in battle. | |
| Gambler (Japanese: ギャンブラー Gyanburā) | Self and Opponents | Continuous | High chance to give and take critical strikes. | |
| Gassy Sphere | Enemies | Continuous | Decreases accuracy of enemies. | Cheeksqueek |
| Glossy Skin | Yourself | Defensive | Does not get dealt critical damage. | |
| Gold Guard | Yourself | Defensive | Lessen Lightning and Water damage. | |
| Good Fortune | Player | Continuous | Will increase money at the end of a battle. | |
| Greed | Player | Continuous | Foe will be more prone to drop items. | |
| Grip on You | Yourself | Forward | Amount of absorbed HP increased. | |
| Guard Break (Japanese: ガードくずし Gādo Kuzushi) | Enemies | Forward | Ignore foe's guard effect when attacking. | |
| Hanging In (Japanese: おれないハート Orenai Hāto) | Yourself | Activation | Won't get bad effects of enemy Inspirits. | |
| Hard Worker (Japanese: どりょくか Doryokuka) | Yourself | Continuous | Receives more experience points. | |
| Insecure | Yourself & Enemies | Forward | High chance to give and take critical strikes. | |
| Intimidation (Japanese: いあつかん Iatsukan) | All | Continuous | No Yo-kai will Loaf around. | |
| Jar Guard | Yourself | Continuous | Has extremely high chances to guard. | |
| Light Speed (Japanese: いっせん Issen) | Yourself | Forward | High chance to deal critical attacks. | |
| Lightning Play (Japanese: 雪あそび Kaminari Asobi) | Yourself | Forward | Increased damage of Lightning attacks. | |
| Loiterer | Yourself | Activation | Will recover a little HP when Loafing around. | Chummer |
| Long Lasting (Japanese: ながもち Nagamochi) | All | Continuous | Good Inspirits last longer. | Statiking |
| Matchless Shell | Yourself | Defensive | Does not get Inspirited by enemies. | |
| Mine | Allies & Opponents | Continuous | Will take good Inspirits on allies for itself. | Greesel |
| Miraculous Scales | Yourself | Continuous | Does not get Inspirited by enemies. | |
| Mirror Body (Japanese: ミラーボディー Mirā Bodī) | Yourself | Defensive | Send 1/2 of Technique damage back at foe. | |
| Modest | Yourself | Continuous | Low chance of getting attacked by foes. | |
| Moist Skin | Yourself | Defensive | Lessens damage from Water attacks. | |
| Mutt's Paradise | Yourself and Allies | Continuous | Stat boost for adjacent Yo-kai with same Skill. | |
| Oldness Zone (Japanese: 老いゾーン Oi Zōn) | Enemies | Continuous | No Yo-kai will be able to dodge. | |
| Omega | Yourself | Continuous | With adjacent Alpha Yo-kai, STR increases. | |
| Optimism Power | Adjacent Allies | Continuous | Gradually recovers HP of adjacent Yo-kai. | Chippa |
| Penetrate (Japanese: かんつう Kantsū) | Yourself | Forward | Always deals elemental damage. | |
| Pompadour | Yourself | Continuous | Will dodge enemy headbutt attacks. | Baddinyan |
| Popularity (Japanese: モテモテ Motemote) | Player | Continuous | Makes more foes befriend you. | |
| Prayer | Allies | Continuous | Gradually recovers HP of adjacent Yo-kai. | |
| Prediction (Japanese: みらいよち Miraiyochi) | Enemies | Continuous | Decreases foe's accuracy. | Dummkap |
| Revenge (Japanese: しかえし Shikaeshi) | Yourself | Activation | Reflects some damage back to foe. | |
| Secrecy | Yourself | Continuous | Will not become target of attacks. | |
| Sense of Smell (Japanese: きゅうかく Kyūkaku) | Yourself | Forward | Never miss attacks. | |
| Shark Skin | Yourself | Defensive | Skin deals damage to attacking foes. | Shrook |
| Shining Spirit (Japanese: かがやくとうし Kagayaki Tōshi) | Yourself | Activation | Power increases when an ally is defeated. | Siro |
| Silver Guard | Yourself | Defensive | Lessen Fire and Ice damage. | Castelius II |
| Skilled Loafer | Yourself | Activation | Will recover a little HP when Loafing around. | |
| Snitch | Yourself | Forward | Absorb foe's HP with regular attacks. | Grubsnitch |
| Snow Play (Japanese: 氷あそび Kōri Asobi) | Yourself | Forward | Increased damage of Ice attacks. | |
| Soft Skin (Japanese: もちはだ Mochi Hada) | Yourself | Defensive | Increases Defense if dealt critical damage. | |
| Soothing Rhythm (Japanese: 木魚のリズム Mokugyo no Rizumu) | Opponents | Continuous | All foes will be prone to Loafing around. | |
| Spiky Guard | Yourself | Defensive | Deals damage back to foe while guarding. | |
| Spirit Guard (Japanese: ゆうたいガード Yūtai Gādo) | Yourself | Defensive | No elemental-weakness damage if guarding. | |
| The Stand (Japanese: どひょうぎわ Dohyōgiwa) | Yourself | Activation | Will keep 1 HP after a knockout blow once. | |
| Starver | Allies | Continuous | The effects of food on allies will double. | |
| Stiff Skin | Yourself | Defensive | Lessen damage from Ice attacks. | |
| Strict | Allies | Continuous | All allies will Loaf around less. | Papa Bolt |
| Summon | Player | Continuous | Will make Wisps appear more often. | Pandanoko |
| Suspicion | Yourself | Continuous | May attack an ally. | |
| Sword Hunting (Japanese: かたながり Katana Gari) | Yourself | Activation | Power increase greatly every time you defeat a foe. | |
| Too Afraid | Yourself | Continuous | Loafs around a lot. | Timidevil |
| Too Serious (Japanese: くそまじめ Kuso Majime) | Yourself | Continuous | Will never Loaf. | Beetler |
| Unpopularity (Japanese: モテマテン Motematen) | Player | Continuous | Makes foes less likely to become your friend. | |
| Vampiric | Yourself | Forward | Drains opponents HP on normal attacks. | |
| Water Play (Japanese: 水あそび Mizu Asobi) | Yourself | Forward | Increased damage of Water attacks. | Snotsolong |
| Waterproof | Yourself | Defensive | Lessen damage from Water attacks. | |
| Wavy Body | Yourself | Continuous | Dodges attacks like you wouldn't believe! | |
| Wind Play (Japanese: 風あそび Kaze Asobi) | Yourself | Forward | Increased damage of Wind attacks. | |
| Windshield | Yourself | Defensive | Lessen damage from Wind attacks. |
Skills introduced in Yo-kai Watch 2
| Name | Target | Condition | Effect | Yo-kai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juicy Goodness | Allies | Activation | Heals your allies' Soultimate Gauge when they pass out. | |
| Acrobat | Yourself | Forward | Uses an attack in return when dodging an enemy's attack. | |
| Make Amends | Adjacent Allies | Activation | Heals an adjacent Yo-kai when Loafing | |
| Great Legs | Front row allies | Continuous | When in the back row, front row allies gradually recover HP. | Leggly |
| Got Your Back | Front-row allies | Continuous | When in the back row, gradually recover allies' HP. | Pittapatt |
| Lie-in Wait | Self | Continuous | Will only attack every other turn, except during boss battles. | Lie-in Heart |
| Bony Bond | All | Continuous | All Yo-kai aligned to Bony Spirits have raised DEF. | Faysoff |
| Carnivorous Aura (Japanese: 肉食オーラ Nikushoku Ōra) | All | Continuous | All Yo-kai are more likely to attack. | Carniboy |
| Curse Worsener | All Allies | Continous | Increases effectiveness of all allies' bad Inspirits. | |
| Dark Guard (Japanese: ダークガード Dāku Gādo) | Yourself | Defensive | Will not take damage from Soultimates | Darknyan |
| Demon Slayer (Japanese: 鬼斬り Oni-giri) | Certain enemies | Forward | Inflicts greater damage to Oni-type Yo-kai | |
| EM Field (Japanese: 電磁フィールド Denji Fīrudo) | Yourself | Defensive | Reduces Lightning damage. | Failian |
| Bio-chemistry | All | Forward | All Techniques lose their attribute. | Poofessor |
| Exercise (Japanese: エクササイズ Ekusasaizu) | Central ally | Continuous | Ups the STR of the Yo-kai in the center. | Sergeant Burly |
| Eye See You | Yourself | Forward | Never misses attacks | |
| Filth Licker (Japanese: あかなめ Akaname) | All Allies | Continuous | Chance of purifying allies. | Tublappa |
| Fist of Thunder | Yourself | Forward | ||
| In a Flash | Yourself | Forward | Gets one preemptive attack. | |
| Gust o’ Gusto | Front-row allies | Continuous | When in the back row, raises allies' SPD. | Brokenbrella |
| Gecko's Protection | Continuous | Protects allies from lethal blows by taking the hits. | Uber Geeko | |
| Sludge Grudge | Single enemy | Activation | Deals damage to the foe that defeats it. | Mudmunch |
| Highlander (Japanese: 大将 Taishō) | Yourself | Activation | Power increase greatly every time you defeat a foe. | |
| Future Prediction | Yourself | Continuous | Easily dodges enemy attacks. | |
| Herbivorous Aura (Japanese: 草食オーラ Sōshoku Ōra) | All | Continuous | All Yo-kai are less likely to attack. | Herbiboy |
| Lick it Clean (Japanese: きずなめ Kizuname) | Allies | Activation | Yo-kai gets purified when healing allies. | |
| Magic Smoke (Japanese: 妖気のけむり Yōki no Kemuri) | Adjacent Allies | Continuous | Gradually recovers Soul Meter of adjacent Yo-kai. | |
| Number One! (Japanese: ナンバーワン！ Nanbā Wan!) | Yourself | Activation | Raises SPD sharply when in the center. | |
| Smell of Oden Stew (Japanese: おでんの香り Oden no Kaori) | All | Continuous | Gradually restores Yo-kai on both sides. | Master Oden |
| Soul Eater (Japanese: 魂食い Tama-gui) | Any enemy | Forward | Restores HP after defeating an opponent. | Devourer |
| Sticky Fingers | Enemies | Forward | Chance to steal foe's item with regular attacks. | |
| Washed Out (Japanese: きれいずき Kirei-suki) | Self | Activation | Lower all stats when Inspirited. | |
| Sneaky Snacker | Any enemy | Forward | Restores HP after defeating an opponent. | Demuncher |
Skills introduced in Yo-kai Watch 3
| Name | Target | Condition | Effect | Yo-kai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caltrops (Japanese: まきびし Makibishi) | Opponents | Forward | Attacked foes go on standby. | Nunchucky |
| Kunai (Japanese: クナイ) | Opponents | Forward | Damages foes positioned behind another. | Shurikenny |
| Return Fire (Japanese: えんごしゃげき Engo Shageki) | Opponents | Forward | Ups damage to moving enemies |
Trivia
- Certain Skills have it where they are worded/named differently, but function essentially the same as each other, and may have been reworded to reflect the personality of a Yo-kai. (e.g., the Annoyance and Suspicion Skills, which makes the Yo-kai liable to attack their allies or themselves)