Curse (move)

Curse
のろい Noroi
Type  Ghost
Category  Status
PP  10 (max. 16)
Power  —
Accuracy  —%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
  • Does not make contact
  • Not affected by Protect
  • Not affected by Magic Coat
  • Not affected by Snatch
  • Not affected by King's Rock
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
May affect any foe, but not allies
Availability
Introduced  Generation II
Condition  Tough
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jam  0  
The next appeal can be made later next turn.
Condition  Tough
Appeal  0  
Earn a higher score the later the Pokémon performs.
Condition  Tough
Appeal  0  
Jamming  0  

Curse (Japanese: のろい Noroi) is a non-damaging Template:Type2 move introduced in Generation II. Before Generation V, it was a Template:Type2 move, and the only move of that type.

Effect

Generations II-IV

Curse is a Template:Type2 move. When executing this move, the Ghost type takes priority over other types, so dual-typed Ghost-type Pokémon use the Ghost version of the move.

Ghost-type Pokémon

The user will lose half of its maximum HP and put a curse on the target. A cursed Pokémon will lose ¼ of its maximum HP at the end of each turn. The user can cause itself to faint.

Also, in Generation II, defeating the opponent will prevent the Pokémon it is used on taking damage from Curse on that turn.

Non-Ghost-type Pokémon

The user's Speed stat will drop by one stage and its Attack stat and Defense stat will rise by one stage each. Despite the move's stats boosting nature, it will fail if there is no target.

Generation V

Curse is a Template:Type2 move. Its effects remain the same.

Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Type Level
I II III IV V VI
079   Slowpoke Water Psychic -- -- -- -- '
080   Slowbro Water Psychic -- -- -- -- '
092   Gastly Ghost Poison 16 16 13 12 12 '
093   Haunter Ghost Poison 16 16 13 12 12 '
094   Gengar Ghost Poison 16 16 13 12 12 '
095   Onix Rock Ground       38 46 '
199   Slowking Water Psychic -- -- -- -- '
208   Steelix Steel Ground       38 46 '
324   Torkoal Fire Fire   7 12 12 '
353   Shuppet Ghost Ghost   20 13 13 '
354   Banette Ghost Ghost   --, 20 --, 13 --, 13 '
355   Duskull Ghost Ghost   34 30 30 '
356   Dusclops Ghost Ghost   34 30 30 '
377   Regirock Rock Rock   17 17 17 '
378   Regice Ice Ice   17 17 17 '
379   Registeel Steel Steel   17 17 17 '
387   Turtwig Grass Grass     17 17 '
388   Grotle Grass Grass     17 17 '
389   Torterra Grass Ground     17 17 '
399   Bidoof Normal Normal       45 45 '
400   Bibarel Normal Water       53 53 '
442   Spiritomb Ghost Dark     -- -- '
477   Dusknoir Ghost Ghost     30 30 '
562   Yamask Ghost Ghost       29 '
563   Cofagrigus Ghost Ghost       30 '
564   Tirtouga Water Rock       35 '
565   Carracosta Water Rock       35 '
597   Ferroseed Grass Steel       9 '
598   Ferrothorn Grass Steel       --, 9 '
607   Litwick Ghost Fire       43 '
608   Lampent Ghost Fire       45 '
616   Shelmet Bug Bug       13 '
622   Golett Ground Ghost       40 '
623   Golurk Ground Ghost       40 '
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By TM

# Pokémon Type Machine
I
--
II
TM03
III
--
IV
--
V
--
VI
TM08
All Pokémon that can learn TMs in Generation II can learn Curse.
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By breeding

# Pokémon Type Father
II III IV V VI
001   Bulbasaur Grass Poison                  
041   Zubat Poison Flying      
074   Geodude Rock Ground              
083   Farfetch'd Normal Flying            
088   Grimer Poison Poison                                 
102   Exeggcute Grass Psychic          
108   Lickitung Normal Normal                  
109   Koffing Poison Poison                           
111   Rhyhorn Ground Rock                                 
131   Lapras Water Ice                    
133   Eevee Normal Normal            
142   Aerodactyl Rock Flying      
143   Snorlax Normal Normal                  
185   Sudowoodo Rock Rock           
191   Sunkern Grass Grass          
194   Wooper Water Ground                           
200   Misdreavus Ghost Ghost                           
206   Dunsparce Normal Normal            
218   Slugma Fire Fire                           
220   Swinub Ice Ground            
222   Corsola Water Rock                
227   Skarmory Steel Flying      
241   Miltank Normal Normal            
246   Larvitar Rock Ground                  
255   Torchic Fire Fire        
258   Mudkip Water Water                    
287   Slakoth Normal Normal            
304   Aron Steel Rock                
309   Electrike Electric Electric            
316   Gulpin Poison Poison                           
320   Wailmer Water Water              
335   Zangoose Normal Normal            
345   Lileep Rock Grass         
347   Anorith Rock Bug         
357   Tropius Grass Flying                 
358   Chimecho Psychic Psychic                                 
359   Absol Dark Dark             
363   Spheal Ice Water                           
408   Cranidos Rock Rock                  
410   Shieldon Rock Steel                  
422   Shellos Water Water                                                    
433   Chingling Psychic Psychic                           
438   Bonsly Rock Rock           
446   Munchlax Normal Normal                
449   Hippopotas Ground Ground            
498   Tepig Fire Fire        
517   Munna Psychic Psychic        
524   Roggenrola Rock Rock           
557   Dwebble Bug Rock            
568   Trubbish Poison Poison           
618   Stunfisk Ground Electric                          
631   Heatmor Fire Fire        
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By event

Generation V

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with
0241   Miltank Normal Dream World - Pleasant Forest
Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move.
Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB
from this move.


Trivia

  • In Japanese, the word のろい Noroi can mean either "curse" (呪い) or "dull/slow" (鈍い), depending on the kanji used. This is fitting with its nature in the games, being an actual curse if used by Ghost-type Pokémon, but instead lowering the Speed of a non-Ghost-type Pokémon. This is likely also why the Slowpoke family is just as well known for the move as Ghost-type Pokémon are.
  • In Generation II, three Pokémon could legitimately use both effects of the move by using Conversion or Conversion 2 to alter its own type to and from the Ghost type: Porygon, Porygon2, and Smeargle. Many Pokémon can make use of Skill Swap or Role Play to copy the ability Color Change and become a Ghost-type to pull off the strategy as well.
  • Curse is one of five moves to change type between Generations, along with Bite, Gust, Karate Chop and Sand-Attack.
  • In Generation II, TM03 is given away by a strange man telling a weird story:

"Let me recount a terrifying tale... Once upon a time, there was a little boy who was given a new Bicycle... He wanted to try it right away... He was having so much fun that he didn't notice the sun had set... While riding home in the pitch-black night, the bike suddenly slowed! The pedals became heavy! When he stopped pedaling, the bike began slipping backwards! It was as if the bike were cursed and trying to drag him into oblivion! ... ... Shrieeeek! The boy had been riding uphill on Cycling Road! ... Ba-dum ba-dum! For listening so patiently, you may take this—TM03! TM03 is Curse. It's a terrifying move that slowly whittles down the victim's HP." It should be noted that the TM can only be obtained from him at night.

In other languages

Language Title
  French Malédiction
  German Fluch
  Greek Κατάρα
  Italian Maledizione
  Korean 저주 Jeoju
  Serbian Kletva
  Spanish Maldición


Generation II TMs
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26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation II HMs
01020304050607


  This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.