Curse (move)

Curse のろい Noroi

A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all the other types.

Battles Type  ??? 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 BrightPowder Not affected by King's Rock

Target Foe Foe Self Ally May affect either foe, but not the ally

Availability Introduced  Generation II TM03 in Generation II

Contests Category  Tough Appeal  3 ♥♥♥ Jam  0 The next appeal can be made later next turn.

Super Contests Category  Tough Appeal  0 Earn a higher score the later the Pokémon performs.

Curse on Legendary Pokémon MoveDex Curse on Eevee's Movedex

Curse (Japanese: のろい Noroi) is a non-damaging ???-type move introduced in Generation II. Notably, it is the only move of its type.

Effect

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.

Learnset

Generation II

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic -- 080 Slowbro Water Psychic -- 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 16 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 16 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 16 199 Slowking Water Psychic -- Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By TM03

All Pokémon that can learn TMs in Generation II can learn Curse.

Generation III

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic -- 080 Slowbro Water Psychic -- 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 16RSE 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 13FRLG 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 16RSE 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 13FRLG 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 16RSE 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 13FRLG 199 Slowking Water Psychic -- 324 Torkoal Fire 7 353 Shuppet Ghost 20 354 Banette Ghost --,20 355 Duskull Ghost 34 356 Dusclops Ghost 34 377 Regirock Rock 17 378 Regice Ice 17 379 Registeel Steel 17 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By breeding

#   Pokémon Type Father 001 Bulbasaur Grass Poison Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking 041 Zubat Poison Flying Farfetch'd Aerodactyl Skarmory 083 Farfetch'd Normal Flying Torkoal 088 Grimer Poison Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Spiritomb 102 Exeggcute Grass Psychic Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 108 Lickitung Normal Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Snorlax Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Torkoal Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 131 Lapras Water Ice Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 133 Eevee Normal Torkoal 142 Aerodactyl Rock Flying Zubat, Golbat, Crobat Farfetch'd Skarmory 143 Snorlax Normal Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking 191 Sunkern Grass Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur Exeggcute, Exeggutor 194 Wooper Water Ground Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Farfetch'd Rhyhorn, Rhydon Eevee Dunsparce Swinub, Piloswine Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Electrike, Manectric Wailmer, Wailord Torkoal Zangoose Absol Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein 206 Dunsparce Normal Torkoal 227 Skarmory Steel Flying Zubat, Golbat, Crobat Farfetch'd Aerodactyl 241 Miltank Normal Torkoal 246 Larvitar Rock Ground Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking 258 Mudkip Water Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking 287 Slakoth Normal Torkoal 309 Electrike Electric Torkoal 320 Wailmer Water Torkoal 335 Zangoose Normal Farfetch'd Rhyhorn, Rhydon Eevee Wooper, Quagsire Dunsparce Swinub, Piloswine Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Electrike, Manectric Wailmer, Wailord Torkoal Absol Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein 358 Chimecho Psychic Grimer, Muk Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Koffing, Weezing Misdreavus Slugma, Magcargo Gulpin, Swalot Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops 359 Absol Dark Farfetch'd Rhyhorn, Rhydon Eevee Wooper, Quagsire Dunsparce Swinub, Piloswine Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Electrike, Manectric Wailmer, Wailord Torkoal Zangoose Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein 363 Spheal Ice Water Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Farfetch'd Rhyhorn, Rhydon Eevee Wooper, Quagsire Dunsparce Swinub, Piloswine Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Electrike, Manectric Wailmer, Wailord Torkoal Zangoose Absol Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution gets STAB from this move. *Indicates Pokémon that can only learn the move through chain breeding.

Generation IV

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 079 Slowpoke Water Psychic -- 080 Slowbro Water Psychic -- 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 12 093 Haunter Ghost Poison 13 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 13 095 Onix Rock Ground 38PtHGSS 199 Slowking Water Psychic -- 208 Steelix Steel Ground 38PtHGSS 324 Torkoal Fire 12 353 Shuppet Ghost 13 354 Banette Ghost -- 354 Banette Ghost 13 355 Duskull Ghost 30 356 Dusclops Ghost 30 377 Regirock Rock 17 378 Regice Ice 17 379 Registeel Steel 17 387 Turtwig Grass 17 388 Grotle Grass 17 389 Torterra Grass Ground 17 399 Bidoof Normal 45PtHGSS 400 Bibarel Normal Water 53PtHGSS 442 Spiritomb Ghost Dark -- 477 Dusknoir Ghost 30 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By breeding

#   Pokémon Type Father 001 Bulbasaur Grass Poison Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 041 Zubat* Poison Flying Farfetch'd Aerodactyl Skarmory 074 Geodude Rock Ground Onix, SteelixHGSS 083 Farfetch'd Normal Flying Torkoal 088 Grimer Poison Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops Gastly, Haunter, Gengar 102 Exeggcute Grass Psychic Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur Sunkern, Sunflora 108 Lickitung Normal Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 109 Koffing Poison Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Spiritomb 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Torkoal Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 131 Lapras Water Ice Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 133 Eevee Normal Torkoal 142 Aerodactyl* Rock Flying Zubat, Golbat, Crobat Farfetch'd Skarmory 143 Snorlax Normal Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 191 Sunkern Grass Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 194 Wooper Water Ground Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Farfetch'd Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Eevee Dunsparce Swinub, Piloswine, Mamoswine Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Electrike, Manectric Wailmer, Wailord Torkoal Zangoose Absol Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein Hippopotas, Hippowdon 200 Misdreavus Ghost Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir Spiritomb 206 Dunsparce Normal Torkoal 218 Slugma Fire Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir Spiritomb 220 Swinub Ice Ground Farfetch'd Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Eevee Wooper, Quagsire Dunsparce Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Electrike, Manectric Wailmer, Wailord Torkoal Zangoose Absol Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein Hippopotas, Hippowdon 222 Corsola Water Ground Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Bidoof, BibarelHGSS 227 Skarmory Steel Flying Zubat, Golbat, Crobat Farfetch'd Aerodactyl 241 Miltank Normal Torkoal 246 Larvitar Rock Ground Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 258 Mudkip Water Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 287 Slakoth Normal Torkoal 304 Aron Steel Rock Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 309 Electrike Electric Torkoal 316 Gulpin Poison Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir Spiritomb 320 Wailmer Water Torkoal 335 Zangoose Normal Farfetch'd Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Eevee Wooper, Quagsire Dunsparce Swinub, Piloswine, Mamoswine Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Electrike, Manectric Wailmer, Wailord Torkoal Absol Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein Hippopotas, Hippowdon 345 Lileep* Rock Grass CorsolaHGSS 347 Anorith* Rock Bug CorsolaHGSS 357 Tropius Grass Flying Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Lickitung, Lickilicky Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Lapras Snorlax Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert Aron, Lairon, Aggron Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra Shieldon, Bastiodon 358 Chimecho Psychic Grimer, Muk Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Koffing, Weezing Misdreavus, Mismagius Slugma, Magcargo Gulpin, Swalot Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir Shellos, Gastrodon Spiritomb 359 Absol Dark Farfetch'd Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Eevee Wooper, Quagsire Dunsparce Swinub, Piloswine, Mamoswine Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Electrike, Manectric Wailmer, Wailord Torkoal Zangoose Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein Hippopotas, Hippowdon 363 Spheal Ice Water Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Farfetch'd Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Eevee Wooper, Quagsire Dunsparce Swinub, Piloswine, Mamoswine Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Electrike, Manectric Wailmer, Wailord Torkoal Zangoose Absol Hippopotas, Hippowdon 408 Cranidos Rock Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Turtwig, Grotle, TorterraHGSS 410 Shieldon Rock Steel Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Lickitung, Lickilicky Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Lapras Snorlax Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert Aron, Lairon, Aggron Tropius Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra 422 Shellos West Sea Water Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Grimer, Muk Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Koffing, Weezing Lapras Wooper, Quagsire Misdreavus, Mismagius Slugma, Magcargo Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert Gulpin, Swalot Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir Chimecho Spiritomb 422 Shellos East Sea Water Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Grimer, Muk Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Koffing, Weezing Lapras Wooper, Quagsire Misdreavus, Mismagius Slugma, Magcargo Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert Gulpin, Swalot Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir Chimecho Spiritomb 433 Chingling Psychic Grimer, Muk Gastly, Haunter, Gengar Koffing, Weezing Misdreavus, Mismagius Slugma, Magcargo Gulpin, Swalot Shuppet, Banette Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir Shellos, Gastrodon Spiritomb 446 Munchlax Normal Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking Lickitung, Lickilicky Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Lapras Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert Aron, Lairon, Aggron Tropius Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra Shieldon, Bastiodon 449 Hippopotas Ground Torkoal Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution gets STAB from this move. *Indicates Pokémon that can only learn the move through chain breeding.

Trivia

• 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. Of those three, only Smeargle can continue to legally do this in subsequent generations; additionally, Smeargle and several others can make use of Skill Swap or Role Play to copy the ability Color Change and become a Ghost-type that way to pull off the strategy as well.
• 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-types, but instead lowering the Speed of a non-Ghost. This is likely also why the Slowpoke family is just as well known for the move as Ghost-types are.

In other languages

• German: Fluch
• French: Malédiction
• Italian: Maledizione
• Spanish: Maldición

This move article is part of Project MoveDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each move.