Infiltrator

Infiltrator allows the Pokemon's moves to bypass protective barriers and similar effects set up by the opponent. Specifically, it ignores Light Screen, Reflect, Aurora Veil, Safeguard, Mist, and — starting in Generation VI — Substitute. This means an Infiltrator user can hit a Pokemon hiding behind a Substitute directly, making it an excellent counter to Substitute-based strategies.

The ability does not bypass Protect, Detect, or similar turn-based protection moves — it specifically targets persistent field-side effects and Substitutes. This distinction is important: Infiltrator punishes defensive setup, not defensive play-by-play. Found on 25 Pokemon including Crobat, Chandelure, Noivern, and Dragapult, Infiltrator is a popular choice in competitive play for offensive Pokemon that want to maintain pressure regardless of the opponent's screens or Substitute stalling. Introduced in Generation V, it has become more valuable over time as Substitute and screen strategies have remained staples of competitive Pokemon.