Why won't my HA Snivy pass on Contrary to Spinda in USM?

Question

I want a HA Sableye in Ultra Sun, but doing SOS is hard, so I took my HA snivy and a Spinda, trying to get a Hidden Ability on a Spinda (to pass on to a Sableye). According to the breeding guide here, this should have a 80% chance of happening. How come this doesn't work? I did five eggs, and they were all Tangled Feet.

Comments

HA Sableye you say?
Isn’t it’s hidden ability Prankster

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I don't think that's how HAs work. You'd need to actually find a hidden ability Sableye in order to breed Sableye that will have Prankster. You can't use another species of Pokemon to get the other species's HA.

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Also abilities can’t be changed using different species e.g. You can’t get Moxie Gyarados by having one of the parents a Moxie Krookidile

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Oh. Is there any other way to get HA sableye?

Answer 1

Only Females pass down their Abilities (In your case since you are not breeding with Ditto). Since your Snivy is a Male Pokémon, it is impossible for it to pass down its HA to get a HA Spinda. As a result of this, the only way to breed HA's onto offspring is to already have a Pokémon with its HA.

The only ways to get an HA Sableye is through trading, it being called as an ally by Carbink in Ten Carat Hill or in a cave in Vast Poni Canyon.

Sources: https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pokémon_breeding
https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Sableye_(Pokémon)