Abilities are traits that increase the strength of the pathogen. Most abilities are the same for every plague, but every plague also has its own unique abilities.
List of general Abilities[]
Climate Abilities[]
The Climate abilities affect how good the disease is in that type of climate.
| Ability | Description | Base Cost | Effects |
| Cold Resistance 1 | Pathogen evolves to withstand cold temperatures and climate | 7 | Cold Country Effectiveness +0.3 |
| Cold Resistance 2 | Lower intracellular water volume prevents freezing. Increased effectiveness in cold climates | 12 | Cold Country Effectiveness +0.6 |
| Heat Resistance 1 | Pathogen evolves to withstand hot temperatures and climates | 11 | Hot Country Effectiveness +0.3 |
| Heat Resistance 2 | Pathogen avoids cellular breakdown in high temperatures. Increased effectiveness in hot climates | 22 | Hot Country Effectiveness +0.6 |
| Environmental Hardening | Pathogen develops hardened coating-becoming highly weather resistant and extremely comfortable in both hot and cold climates | 30 | Hot Country Effectiveness +1
Cold Country Effectiveness +1 |
Medical Abilities[]
Drug Resistance will increase the effectiveness in richer countries. Cure resistance abilities will help slow down/decrease the percentage of the cure.
| Ability | Description | Base Cost | Effects |
| Drug Resistance 1 | Pathogen develops resistance to class 1 and 2 antibiotics. Increases effectiveness in wealthy countries | 11 | Wealthy Country Effectiveness +0.3 |
| Drug Resistance 2 | Pathogen develops resistance to class 3 and 4 antibiotics. Increases effectiveness in wealthy countries | 25 | Wealthy Country Effectiveness +0.7 |
| Genetic Hardening 1 | Pathogen becomes harder to analyze in the lab. Decreases future research speed | 7 | Change to Research Efficiency +0.1 |
| Genetic Hardening 2- | The pathogen does not reproduce in lab conditions. Decreases future research speed | 22 | Change to Research Efficiency +0.3 |
| Genetic ReShuffle 1 | Pathogen DNA strands reassembled. More work needed to develop a cure | 17 | Change to Cure Requirement +0.25 |
| Genetic ReShuffle 2 | A new strain of the pathogen now exists, increasing the work needed to develop a cure | 21 | Change to Cure Requirement +0.25 |
| Genetic ReShuffle 3 | Multiple strains of the pathogen now exist, increasing the work needed to develop a cure | 25 | Change to Cure Requirement +0.25 |