So I just beat Pokemon emerald and thinking to do Pokemon platinum next then I realised I need a good flying type.My options are staraptor crobat togekiss Now I can just get the other 2 with the right ability but I want togekiss mainly because I used staraptor in dimond and crobat in platinum run 1.In this run I want to use togekiss and so I need to know when the ability is determined because if I get hustle its terrible for togekiss and serene grace which is op for togekiss.I want serene grace but don't know when the ability is determined whether it is pre determined or determined when the egg is hatched so please help or else i'll have to go for the other 2.
Every detail about the Pokemon is determined when the egg is received. This includes shininess, ability, nature, IV's, Egg Moves, etc.
Game Freak did this so you have to repeatedly hatch eggs to get the specific Pokemon you want, instead of just soft resetting over one egg. You obviously don't see Shiny Hunters saving before an egg hatches to reset over it, because that is 100% pointless in every way.
Source: experience