Defense Curl (move)

Defense Curl
まるくなる Curl Up
Defense Curl IX.png
[[File:|300px|center]]
Type  Normal
Category  Status
PP  40 (max. 64)
Power  —
Accuracy  —%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
  • Does not make contact
  • Not affected by Protect
  • Not affected by Magic Coat
  • Affected by Snatch
  • Not affected by Mirror Move
  • Not affected by King's Rock
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
Affects the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation I
Condition  Cute
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  0  
Can avoid being startled by others once.
Condition  Cute
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Prevents the Voltage from going up in the same turn.
Condition  Cute
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jamming  0  
Prevents the user from being startled one time this turn.

Defense Curl (Japanese: まるくなる Curl Up) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM40 in Generation II.

Effect

Defense Curl increases the user's Defense by 1 stage.

Defense Curl also doubles the power of the user's Rollout and Ice Ball as long as the user remains in battle. This effect does not stack with itself and cannot be Baton Passed.

Defense Curl can be used as the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing Rollout and Tackle to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn. It can also be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, causing Ice Ball and Rollout to give the user an extra three appeal points if they are used in the next turn.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Defense Curl, the user's accuracy is raised by one stage.

Description

Games Description
StadStad2 Raises the user's Defense. Can normally be used up to six times in a row.
GSC Heightens the user's Defense.
RSEColo.XD Curls up to conceal weak spots and raise Defense.
FRLG The user curls up to conceal weak spots and raise its Defense stat.
DPPtHGSSPBR
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
SwShBDSPLA
The user curls up to conceal weak spots and raise its Defense stat.
SV The user curls up and boosts its Defense stat.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0027     Field Field 6 6 3 3BW
1B2W2
1 1 1 1 1 1
0027  
Sandshrew
Alolan Form
 
 
Field Field 1 1 1 1
0028     Field Field 1, 6 1, 6 1, 3 1, 3BW
1B2W2
1 1 1 1 1 1
0028  
Sandslash
Alolan Form
 
 
Field Field 1 1 1 Rem.
0035     Fairy Fairy 39 26 25 13 13 13 13 4 1 1 1
0036     Fairy Fairy 1 1 1 Rem.
0039    
 
Fairy Fairy 19 4 4 5 5 5XY
3ORAS
3 6 1 1 1
0040    
 
Fairy Fairy 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0074    
 
Mineral Mineral 11 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0074  
Geodude
Alolan Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral 1 1 1
0075    
 
Mineral Mineral 1, 11 1, 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0075  
Graveler
Alolan Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral 1 1 1
0076    
 
Mineral Mineral 1, 11 1, 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0076  
Golem
Alolan Form
 
 
Mineral Mineral 1 1 1
0108     Monster Monster 23 13 12 9 9 9 9 1 1
0113     Fairy Fairy 44 41 41 31 1 1 1 4 1 1 1
0143     Monster Monster 15 10RSE
9FRLG
4 4 4 4 6 1 1 1
0155     Field Field 22 22 22 22 22 22
0156     Field Field 24 24 24 24 24 24
0157     Field Field 24 24 24 24 24 24
0157  
Typhlosion
Hisuian Form
 
 
Field Field 24
0161     Field Field 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
0162     Field Field 1, 5 1, 4 1, 4 1, 4 1, 4 1, 4 1, 4 1
0174    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 4 4 5 5 5XY
3ORAS
3 4 4 4
0183    
 
Water 1 Fairy 3 3 2 2BW
10B2W2
10 10 1 1 1
0184    
 
Water 1 Fairy 1, 3 1, 3 1, 2 1, 2BW
10B2W2
10 10 1 1 1
0206     Field Field 5 4 5 4BW
1B2W2
1 1 1 1 1
0231     Field Field 9 9 1 1 1 1 1 1
0232     Field Field 9 9 1 1 1 1 1 1
0233     Mineral Mineral 24 24 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0241     Field Field 8 8 5 5 5 5 10 10
0242     Fairy Fairy 33 33 31 1 1 1 1 1 1
0363    
 
Water 1 Field 1FRLG 1 1 1 1 1 1
0364    
 
Water 1 Field 1FRLG 1ORAS 1 1 1
0365    
 
Water 1 Field 1FRLG 1ORAS 1 1 1
0399     Water 1 Field 9 9 9 5 5
0400    
 
Water 1 Field 9 9 9 5 5
0427     Field Human-Like 1 1 1 1 4 4
0428     Field Human-Like 1 1 1 1 1 1
0440     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 4 4 4
0446     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
0463     Monster Monster 9 9 9 9 1 1
0474     Mineral Mineral 1 1 1
0492  
Shaymin
Land Forme
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1DP
0498     Field Field 13 13 13 13
0499    
 
Field Field 13 13 13 13
0500    
 
Field Field 13 13 13 13
0517     Field Field 1 1 1 1
0518     Field Field 1 1 1 1
0543    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1
0544    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1
0545    
 
Bug Bug 1 1 1 1
0622    
 
Mineral Mineral 1 1 1 4 4
0623    
 
Mineral Mineral 1 1 1 1 1
0767    
 
Bug Water 3 1
0768    
 
Bug Water 3 1
0774  
Minior
All forms
 
 
Mineral Mineral 3 3
0775     Field Field 1 1
0777    
 
Field Fairy 5 5
0801  
Magearna
All forms
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1 6 6
0831     Field Field 4
0832     Field Field 1
0946    
 
Grass Grass 1
0947    
 
Grass Grass 1
0953     Bug Bug 1
0954    
 
Bug Bug 1
0982  
Dudunsparce
All forms
  Field Field 1
0984    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1
0990    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 1
1025    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered Rem.
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 Types Egg Groups Egg Move
0095    
 
Mineral Mineral
0213    
 
Bug Bug
0320     Field Water 2
0322    
 
Field Field
0371     Dragon Dragon
0399     Water 1 Field
0417     Field Fairy
0420     Fairy Grass
0438     Mineral Mineral
0590    
 
Grass Grass
0650     Field Field
0659     Field Field
0672     Field Field
0759    
 
Field Field
0819     Field Field
0840    
 
Grass Dragon
0850    
 
Bug Bug
0878     Field Mineral
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/Move Tutor

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Compatibility
0001    
 
Monster Grass
0002    
 
Monster Grass
0003    
 
Monster Grass
0004     Monster Dragon
0005     Monster Dragon
0006    
 
Monster Dragon
0007     Monster Water 1
0008     Monster Water 1
0009     Monster Water 1
0019     Field Field
0020     Field Field
0025     Field Fairy
0026     Field Fairy
0027     Field Field
0028     Field Field
0029     Monster Field
0030     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0031    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0032     Monster Field
0033     Monster Field
0034    
 
Monster Field
0035     Fairy Fairy
0036     Fairy Fairy
0039    
 
Fairy Fairy
0040    
 
Fairy Fairy
0052     Field Field
0053     Field Field
0056     Field Field
0057     Field Field
0060     Water 1 Water 1
0061     Water 1 Water 1
0062    
 
Water 1 Water 1
0074    
 
Mineral Mineral
0075    
 
Mineral Mineral
0076    
 
Mineral Mineral
0108     Monster Monster
0113     Fairy Fairy
0143     Monster Monster
0151     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0155     Field Field
0156     Field Field
0157     Field Field
0161     Field Field
0162     Field Field
0172     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0173     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0174    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0175     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0176    
 
Flying Fairy
0179     Monster Field
0180     Monster Field
0181     Monster Field
0183    
 
Water 1 Fairy
0184    
 
Water 1 Fairy
0185     Mineral Mineral
0186     Water 1 Water 1
0187    
 
Fairy Grass
0188    
 
Fairy Grass
0189    
 
Fairy Grass
0190     Field Field
0194    
 
Water 1 Field
0195    
 
Water 1 Field
0200     Amorphous Amorphous
0204     Bug Bug
0205    
 
Bug Bug
0206     Field Field
0208    
 
Mineral Mineral
0209     Field Fairy
0210     Field Fairy
0211    
 
Water 2 Water 2
0213    
 
Bug Bug
0215    
 
Field Field
0216     Field Field
0217     Field Field
0218     Amorphous Amorphous
0219    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0220    
 
Field Field
0221    
 
Field Field
0222    
 
Water 1 Water 3
0223     Water 1 Water 2
0224     Water 1 Water 2
0231     Field Field
0232     Field Field
0233     Mineral Mineral
0241     Field Field
0242     Fairy Fairy
0251    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0258     Monster Water 1
0259    
 
Monster Water 1
0260    
 
Monster Water 1
0263     Field Field
0264     Field Field
0273     Field Grass
0274    
 
Field Grass
0275    
 
Field Grass
0280    
 
Human-Like Amorphous
0281    
 
Human-Like Amorphous
0282    
 
Human-Like Amorphous
0293     Monster Field
0294     Monster Field
0295     Monster Field
0298    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0299     Mineral Mineral
0300     Field Fairy
0301     Field Fairy
0304    
 
Monster Monster
0305    
 
Monster Monster
0306    
 
Monster Monster
0311     Fairy Fairy
0312     Fairy Fairy
0316     Amorphous Amorphous
0317     Amorphous Amorphous
0320     Field Water 2
0321     Field Water 2
0322    
 
Field Field
0323    
 
Field Field
0327     Field Human-Like
0335     Field Field
0337    
 
Mineral Mineral
0338    
 
Mineral Mineral
0351     Fairy Amorphous
0352     Field Field
0358     Amorphous Amorphous
0362     Fairy Mineral
0363    
 
Water 1 Field
0364    
 
Water 1 Field
0365    
 
Water 1 Field
0372     Dragon Dragon
0373    
 
Dragon Dragon
0375    
 
Mineral Mineral
0376    
 
Mineral Mineral
0377     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0378     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0379     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0382     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0383     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0385    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
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.


Special move

Generation VIII

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0801    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered HOME National Pokédex Completion Magearna
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.


In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Defense Curl raises the user's Defense by one stage. The power of Rollout and Ice Ball will be doubled if Defense Curl was the user's most recently used move.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB - - 27 - —% - User User -
MDTDS - - 16 - —% - User User -
BSL - - 16 - —% - User User -
MDGtI - - 17 50 —% - User User -
SMD - - 17 40 —% - User User -
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including Defense Curl could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Defense Curl could be seen as a move used by Boss Geodude.

  Defense Curl
Charge time 2.1 seconds
Range type Circular (self)
Target Self
Additional effect Raises the user's Defense

Pokémon UNITE

In Pokémon UNITE, Defense Curl is Wigglytuff's and Greedent's first move.

Wigglytuff starts with the move as Jigglypuff. The user gains a shield for 25% max HP and rolls forward a short distance, throwing enemies hit in the air for .5s. Hitting an obstacle while rolling will change the direction Wigglytuff is moving and reset the cooldown of Pound, Double Slap, or Dazzling Gleam. Upon evolving at level 4, it is replaced by either Rollout or Sing.

Greedent starts with the move as Skwovet. The move grants the user a shield (15% max HP) for a short time. In addition, an Oran Berry will drop in front of the user. Upon evolving at level 5, it is replaced by either Stuff Cheeks or Covet.

Description

Games Description
MDRB Boosts the user's Defense by one level.
MDTDS Boosts the user's Defense by 1 level.
BSL じぶんの ぼうぎょを 1だんかいあげる
MDGtI It boosts your Defense. (The stat change returns to normal when you go to the next floor or step on a  Wonder Tile.)
SMD It boosts your Defense. The stat returns to normal when you go to the next floor or step on a  Wonder Tile.


In the anime

Main series

 
Sentret
 
Phanpy
 
Golem
 
Donphan
The user curls up to conceal weak spots.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Sandshrew curls itself into a ball.
A.J.'s Sandshrew Path to the Pokémon League Debut
Sandshrew could not legally learn Defense Curl at the time
  Golem pulls its arms and legs into its shell, and hides its head, making itself into a ball.
Chopper's Golem The Bridge Bike Gang None
A wild Golem Hour of the Houndour None
  Sentret rolls itself up into a ball.
A wild Sentret Tanks a Lot! None
  Graveler pulls its arms and legs in and curls itself into a ball.
Rory's Graveler Spring Fever None
  Phanpy curls itself into a ball and becomes outlined in yellow or blue energy, protecting it from attacks.
Ash's Phanpy Entei at Your Own Risk None
  Poliwag pulls in its legs and wraps its tail around itself to make itself into a ball.
A Poliwag Max borrowed from the Pokémon Trainer's School Gonna Rule the School! None
  Donphan curls itself into a ball, protecting itself from attacks.
Ash's Donphan Queen of the Serpentine! None


Pokémon: Twilight Wings

  • In Buddy, Hop mentioned that his Wooloo knows Defense Curl, but it hasn't been seen using the move.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures


Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!


Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All


Pokémon Pocket Monsters


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 變圓 Binyùhn *
Mandarin 變圓 / 变圆 Biànyuán *
防衛捲 / 防卫卷 Fángwèijuǎn *
  Czech Obranné klubíčko
  Danish Forsvarsrul
  Dutch Verdediging
  Finnish Torjuntakierre (EP267)
Suojakilpi (AG015)
Puolustuskihara (AG140)
  French Boul'Armure
  German Einigler
  Greek Αμυντική Περιέλιξη Amyntikí Periélixi
  Hindi बचाओ पैतरा "Bachao paintra"
  Italian Ricciolscudo
  Korean 웅크리기 Ungkeurigi
  Polish Obronny Lok*
Portuguese   Brazil Espiral de Defesa (games, TCG, manga)
Defesa Fechada (anime)
Enrolar (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Defesa de Enrolar (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Enrolamento de Defesa (The Official Pokémon Handbook)
  Portugal Espiral de Defesa
  Serbian Sklupčavanje
Spanish   Latin America Rizo de Defensa
Defensa de Giro (AG140)
Defensa Curva (AG158)
  Spain Rizo Defensa
  Swedish Försvarsboll
Försvarsrull*
  Vietnamese Cuộn Tròn



Variations of the move Defense Curl
  Defense CurlHardenMeditateSharpenWithdraw
Formerly a variation
  Howl


Generation II TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
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.