Curse (move)

Curse のろい Curse/Slow

Battles 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 Affects the user

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 Curse/Slow) is a non-damaging Ghost-type move introduced in Generation II. Before Generation V, it was a ???-type move, and the only move of that type. It was TM03 in Generation II.

Effect

Generations II-IV

Curse is a ???-type move. It acts differently depending on whether it is used by a Ghost-type Pokémon or not. When executing this move, the Ghost type takes priority over other types, so dual-type Ghost-type Pokémon use the Ghost version of the move.

The selection of whether to use the Ghost-type or non-Ghost-type version of this move is decided upon execution, not selection, so if the user changes type before using the move the version of the move used will also change. In a double battle, if the user's type is changed to Ghost before execution, the user will use Curse on the opponent directly opposite if there are still two foes.

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 use Curse if it has less than half of its maximum HP remaining, but will cause itself to faint. The curse will remain until the Pokémon switches out or the battle ends.

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

In the Mystery Dungeon series, the curse will wear off after a few steps.

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 stat-boosting nature, it will fail if there is no target.

Generation V

Curse changes to become a Ghost-type move. Its effects remain the same.

Pokémon Rumble Blast

When used by a non-Ghost-type Pokémon, Curse is same as in Generation V. When used by a Ghost-type Pokémon, Curse deals damage and then drains the opponent's health over time.

Description

Games Description Stad2 Raises Attack and Defense at the expense of Speed. It works differently for the Ghost type. GSC Works differently for ghost-types. RSEColo.XD A move that functions differently for Ghosts. FRLG A move that works differently for the Ghost-type and all the other types. DPPtHGSS A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all the other types. BWB2W2 A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all other types.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V
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	no			no					38	46	4
199		Slowking	Water	Psychic	--			--			--				--
208		Steelix	Steel	Ground	no			no					38	46	4
322		Numel	Fire	Ground	no			no			no					29
323		Camerupt	Fire	Ground	no			no			no					29
324		Torkoal	Fire		Fire	no			7			12				12
353		Shuppet	Ghost		Ghost	no			20			13				13	19
354		Banette	Ghost		Ghost	no			--, 20			--, 13				--, 13	--, 19
355		Duskull	Ghost		Ghost	no			34			30				30
356		Dusclops	Ghost		Ghost	no			34			30				30
377		Regirock	Rock		Rock	no			17			17				17
378		Regice	Ice		Ice	no			17			17				17
379		Registeel	Steel		Steel	no			17			17				17
387		Turtwig	Grass		Grass	no			no			17				17
388		Grotle	Grass		Grass	no			no			17				17
389		Torterra	Grass	Ground	no			no			17				17
399		Bidoof	Normal		Normal	no			no					45	45
400		Bibarel	Normal	Water	no			no					53	53
442		Spiritomb	Ghost	Dark	no			no			--				--
477		Dusknoir	Ghost		Ghost	no			no			30				30
562		Yamask	Ghost		Ghost	no			no			no				29
563		Cofagrigus	Ghost		Ghost	no			no			no				30
564		Tirtouga	Water	Rock	no			no			no				35
565		Carracosta	Water	Rock	no			no			no				35
597		Ferroseed	Grass	Steel	no			no			no				9
598		Ferrothorn	Grass	Steel	no			no			no				--, 9
607		Litwick	Ghost	Fire	no			no			no				43
608		Lampent	Ghost	Fire	no			no			no				45
616		Shelmet	Bug		Bug	no			no			no				13
622		Golett	Ground	Ghost	no			no			no				40
623		Golurk	Ground	Ghost	no			no			no				40
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Type		Father
					I		II		III		IV		V
001		Bulbasaur	Grass	Poison
041		Zubat*	Poison	Flying
074		Geodude	Rock	Ground	no
083		Farfetch'd	Normal	Flying
088		Grimer	Poison		Poison
102		Exeggcute*	Grass	Psychic
108		Lickitung	Normal		Normal
109		Koffing	Poison		Poison	no
111		Rhyhorn	Ground	Rock
131		Lapras	Water	Ice
133		Eevee	Normal		Normal
142		Aerodactyl*	Rock	Flying
143		Snorlax	Normal		Normal
185		Sudowoodo	Rock		Rock	no				no
191		Sunkern*	Grass		Grass
194		Wooper	Water	Ground
200		Misdreavus	Ghost		Ghost	no
206		Dunsparce	Normal		Normal
218		Slugma	Fire		Fire	no
220		Swinub	Ice	Ground	no
222		Corsola	Water	Rock	no
227		Skarmory*	Steel	Flying
241		Miltank	Normal		Normal
246		Larvitar	Rock	Ground
255		Torchic	Fire		Fire	no				no
258		Mudkip	Water		Water
287		Slakoth	Normal		Normal
304		Aron	Steel	Rock	no
309		Electrike	Electric		Electric
316		Gulpin	Poison		Poison	no
320		Wailmer	Water		Water
335		Zangoose	Normal		Normal
345		Lileep*	Rock	Grass	no
347		Anorith*	Rock	Bug	no
357		Tropius	Grass	Flying	no
358		Chimecho	Psychic		Psychic
359		Absol	Dark		Dark
363		Spheal	Ice	Water
408		Cranidos	Rock		Rock	no
410		Shieldon	Rock	Steel	no
422		Shellos	Water		Water	no
433		Chingling	Psychic		Psychic	no
438		Bonsly	Rock		Rock	no				no
446		Munchlax	Normal		Normal	no
449		Hippopotas	Ground		Ground	no
498		Tepig	Fire		Fire	no				no
517		Munna	Psychic		Psychic	no				no
524		Roggenrola	Rock		Rock	no				no
557		Dwebble	Bug	Rock	no				no
568		Trubbish	Poison		Poison	no				no
618		Stunfisk	Ground	Electric	no				no
631		Heatmor	Fire		Fire	no				no
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By TM

#	Pokémon		Type		Machine
					I --		II TM03		III --		IV --		V --
All Pokémon that can learn TMs 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.

By event

Generation V

#   Pokémon Type Obtained in 241 Miltank Normal Dream World - Pleasant Forest 525 Boldore Rock Dream World - Icy Cave 618 Stunfisk Ground Electric Dream World - Sparkling Sea Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

	Gastly
The user cuts its own health in order to lay a curse on the opponent.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Gastly	Gastly's opponent starts suffering from an intense pain and becomes unable to move.
The Masked Man's Gastly	The Last Battle V		Debut

In other generations

Ghost-type Pokémon

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	FRLG	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battle Revolution (alternative animation)	Battrio	Mystery Dungeon	PMD: Red and Blue	PMD: Time, Darkness, Sky	Rumble	Rumble Blast

Non-Ghost-type Pokémon

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	FRLG	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battle Revolution (alternative animation)	Battrio	Mystery Dungeon	PMD: Red and Blue	PMD: Time, Darkness, Sky	Rumble	Rumble Blast

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	FRLG	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battle Revolution (alternative animation)	Battrio	Mystery Dungeon	PMD: Red and Blue	PMD: Time, Darkness, Sky	Rumble	Rumble Blast

Trivia

• Curse's differing effects are a play on its Japanese name, のろい Noroi, which can mean either "curse" (呪い) or "dull/slow" (鈍い), depending on the kanji used. This is why it bestows an actual curse when used by Ghost-type Pokémon but lowers Speed when used by non-Ghost-type Pokémon.
• 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. Technically speaking, any Pokémon that can change its type in battle (e.g. via Color Change or Reflect Type) can use of both of Curse's effects. Similarly, if a Ghost-type Pokémon uses Curse while under the effect of Soak, the non-Ghost version will be used.
• Curse is one of five moves to change type between generations, along with Bite, Gust, Karate Chop and Sand-Attack. Of these five, it is the only one that did not originate in Generation I and was not originally a Normal-type move; and like Sand-Attack, the change in typing has no effects on the move itself.
• In Generation II, TM03, which contains Curse, is given away only at night by a man telling the following 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."

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 咒語 Zhòuyǔ Dutch Vloek French Malédiction German Fluch Greek Κατάρα Italian Maledizione Korean 저주 Jeoju Brazilian Portuguese Maldição Serbian Kletva Spanish Maldición

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.