Freeze (status condition)
- Freeze redirects here. For the unexpected freezes which prevent the game from continuing, see game freeze. For the Badge given by Brycen, see Badge → Freeze Badge.
The freeze condition (FRZ) (Japanese: 凍り Ice) causes a Pokémon to be unable to make a move. It is the only status condition that does not have a move that will always cause it, and because of this, it is arguably the most uncommon.
It is associated with the Ice type, as the majority of moves that can freeze are of this type. Ice-type Pokémon are usually immune to being frozen, except from Tri Attack in Generation II. In Generation V, Pokémon glow blue and stop moving when frozen.
Effect
Freezing causes a Pokémon to be unable to make a move for an indeterminate number of moves. The specifics vary between generations.
Generation I
Once frozen, a Pokémon can't be thawed out in battle other than via the use of items such as an Ice Heal, being hit by a damaging Fire-type move, or the opponent using the move Haze. If a frozen Pokémon uses a move with 0 PP on the same turn that it thaws out, the PP of the move will roll over to 63 PP, and full PP Ups will be applied to it.
Generation II onwards
A frozen Pokémon has a 10% chance of being thawed out on each of its turns. On the turn that a Pokémon defrosts, it cannot attack until the next turn, similar to Sleep in Generation I. In addition, some moves can still be used by the frozen Pokémon while frozen (thawing it out in the process). Pokémon can't be frozen in harsh sunlight, but harsh sunlight does not affect when a Pokémon that is already frozen thaws.
Generation III onwards
Same as Generation II, but the thaw chance is now 20% and Pokémon can attack on the turn that they defrost. Animation also shows up on every turn Pokémon is frozen (in contrast to previous generations, where animation showed up only when freeze was inflicted).
Freezing also disables the Ability Flash Fire.
Generation IV onwards
Same as Generation III. A frozen Sky Forme Shaymin will revert to its Land Forme.
Generation V
Pokémon glow blue and have their animation stopped when inflicted with freeze. It no longer stops Flash Fire from working.
Generation VI
Frozen Pokémon no longer glow blue.
Appearance
|
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Gen VI images |
Causes
Moves
Unlike other major status conditions, the freeze status can only be caused by Pokémon moves (rather than by Abilities or items), with those moves rarely causing it. Currently no moves have freeze as a primary effect. The following are the moves that can cause the freeze status:
|
Other causes
Pokémon can be frozen by the Gentleman's Dusclops in the Battle Pike, and by the Battle Arcade.
Prevention and curing
In all generations except Generation I, freeze has a chance to be cured on its own on the frozen Pokémon's turn; it has a 10% chance in Generation II, and 20% chance in all subsequent generations. Consequently, the frozen Pokémon may thaw out on the turn of freezing. Pokémon cannot be frozen in sunny weather, but contrary to popular belief, sunny weather does not cause a quicker thawing.
Safeguard and Misty Terrain (for grounded Pokémon) prevent any status conditions for five turns.
Being frozen can be cured with the use of an Ice Heal or an Aspear Berry (Burnt Berry in Generation II, Pumkin Berry in Generation III). In addition, like all other major status conditions, it can be cured by the items Full Heal, Lava Cookie, Full Restore, Old Gateau, Heal Powder, Lum Berry, Casteliacone, and Sacred Ash. Heal Bell and Aromatherapy also removes it from all Pokémon in the party. A Pokémon with Natural Cure will be cured upon switching out, one with the Hydration Ability will be cured while it is raining, and one with Shed Skin has a 30% chance of being cured every turn.
If a frozen Pokémon is hit by a damaging Fire-type move and takes damage (including Hidden Power, Weather Ball, Natural Gift, Judgment, and Techno Blast if the move's type is Fire), it will be immediately thawed. However, from Generation V onward, Pokémon with the Ability Flash Fire will not be thawed out by Fire-type moves, since they will not be damaged by them (prior to Generation V, Flash Fire cannot be activated while the Pokémon is frozen). In Generation VI, if a frozen Pokémon is hit by Scald or Steam Eruption and takes damage, it will be immediately thawed; since Pokémon with the Ability Water Absorb, Dry Skin, or Storm Drain do not take damage from Scald or Steam Eruption, they cannot be thawed by them.
A frozen Pokémon can still use the moves Flame Wheel, Sacred Fire, Flare Blitz, Fusion Flare, Scald, and Steam Eruption while frozen; these moves will thaw the user, then execute normally (the user is thawed regardless of if the move is used successfully). Pokémon with the Magma Armor or Comatose Abilities cannot be frozen. Ice-type Pokémon cannot be frozen except by Tri Attack in Generation II.
Other game effects
In Pokémon Emerald, when the player is inside the Battle Pyramid, the types of Pokémon encountered on each floor follow a set of categories; one of these categories is Pokémon with moves that freeze.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Frozen Pokémon cannot take any action and are immune to all damage except Fire-type and Blast Seed. Pokémon will thaw out after a few turns.
Pokémon Conquest
Frozen Pokémon cannot take any action, but their Warrior can still use Warrior Skills or items on their turn. At the start of each turn there is a chance of a frozen Pokémon thawing, and they may act normally during that turn. Freeze can be inflicted by Abilities and by Ice-type attacks, and Ice types are immune to freezing. Freezing can be cured by certain Warrior Skills, items, or by ending a Pokémon's turn on a status condition-curing tile of the battlefield, such as a Hot Spring or a Water Bucket.
In the anime
|
|
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. |
In the anime, the frozen status is literally the same as in the games; once a Pokémon in frozen it can't move and is open to attacks. In some cases, a referee may call a frozen Pokémon unable to battle.
Freezing is one of the most common status conditions featured in the anime, resulting almost always when a Pokémon gets hit by an Ice-type attack like Ice Beam or Blizzard.
- In Charizard Chills, Ash's Charizard was frozen by an Ice Beam from Tad's Poliwrath, winning its Trainer the match. Ash stayed up all night with Charizard to treat its injuries, winning back its loyalty.
- In Freeze Frame, Jigglypuff was frozen, but thawed by Ash's Cyndaquil.
- In Pace - The Final Frontier!, Ash's Pikachu was frozen by Brandon's Regice's Ice Beam. However, thanks to Ash's brave encouragements, Pikachu was able to break free from the ice with a Thunderbolt.
- In A Pyramiding Rage!, Paul's Lairon is frozen when it is hit by Brandon's Regice's Ice Beam.
- In A Real Rival Rouser, Ash's Pikachu was frozen by Paul's Froslass's Ice Beam, but thawed itself out by using Volt Tackle.
- In Iris and Excadrill Against the Dragon Buster!, Iris's Excadrill was frozen by an Ice Beam in a battle with Georgia's Beartic.
- In Jostling for the Junior Cup!, Iris's Dragonite was frozen by Georgia's Beartic's Ice Beam.
- In Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice, Kyurem froze the three Swords of Justice with Ice Burn* and also froze Keldeo with Freeze Shock*.
- In Eevee and Friends, Glaceon froze Oshawott with Ice Beam when he caused a disruption in its room. He breaks free afterwards.
In the manga
|
|
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. |
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
In Onix is On!, Red's Poli's Ice Beam froze a Pewter Gym Trainer's Graveler.
In Make Way for Magmar!, Giovanni's Cloyster froze and killed two wild Magmar.
In Susceptible to Sceptile, Emerald's Sceptile was frozen by Ruby's Feefee's Blizzard.
Trivia
- Freeze is the only status condition that cannot be automatically caused if a certain move hits.
- Freeze is the only status condition that cannot be caused by an Ability.
In other languages
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| Status conditions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BURN | FREEZE | PARALYSIS | POISON |
| SLEEP | CONFUSION | FLINCH | INFATUATION |
| FAINTING | |||
|
This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |