Curse (move)

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Curse
のろい Curse/Slow
Curse Ghost.png
Curse other.png
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
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 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. 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 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 Pokémon, Curse is same as in Generation V. When used by a Ghost 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.
RSEColoXD 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.
BW 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 VI
079 Slowpoke Slowpoke Water Psychic -- -- -- -- '
080 Slowbro Slowbro Water Psychic -- -- -- -- '
092 Gastly Gastly Ghost Poison 16 16 13 12 12 '
093 Haunter Haunter Ghost Poison 16 16 13 12 12 '
094 Gengar Gengar Ghost Poison 16 16 13 12 12 '
095 Onix Onix Rock Ground       38 46 4 '
199 Slowking Slowking Water Psychic -- -- -- -- '
208 Steelix Steelix Steel Ground       38 46 4 '
322 Numel Numel Fire Fire         29 '
323 Camerupt Camerupt Fire Fire         29 '
324 Torkoal Torkoal Fire Fire   7 12 12 '
353 Shuppet Shuppet Ghost Ghost   20 13 13 19 '
354 Banette Banette Ghost Ghost   --, 20 --, 13 --, 13 --, 19 '
355 Duskull Duskull Ghost Ghost   34 30 30 '
356 Dusclops Dusclops Ghost Ghost   34 30 30 '
377 Regirock Regirock Rock Rock   17 17 17 '
378 Regice Regice Ice Ice   17 17 17 '
379 Registeel Registeel Steel Steel   17 17 17 '
387 Turtwig Turtwig Grass Grass     17 17 '
388 Grotle Grotle Grass Grass     17 17 '
389 Torterra Torterra Grass Ground     17 17 '
399 Bidoof Bidoof Normal Normal       45 45 '
400 Bibarel Bibarel Normal Water       53 53 '
442 Spiritomb Spiritomb Ghost Dark     -- -- '
477 Dusknoir Dusknoir Ghost Ghost     30 30 '
562 Yamask Yamask Ghost Ghost       29 '
563 Cofagrigus Cofagrigus Ghost Ghost       30 '
564 Tirtouga Tirtouga Water Rock       35 '
565 Carracosta Carracosta Water Rock       35 '
597 Ferroseed Ferroseed Grass Steel       9 '
598 Ferrothorn Ferrothorn Grass Steel       --, 9 '
607 Litwick Litwick Ghost Fire       43 '
608 Lampent Lampent Ghost Fire       45 '
616 Shelmet Shelmet Bug Bug       13 '
622 Golett Golett Ground Ghost       40 '
623 Golurk 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 who 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.
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 Bulbasaur Grass Poison SlowpokeSlowbroSlowking SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra
041 Zubat Zubat Poison Flying Farfetch'd Farfetch'd Farfetch'd
074 Geodude Geodude Rock Ground     OnixSteelix OnixSteelixYamaskCofagrigusFerroseedFerrothorn
083 Farfetch'd Farfetch'd Normal Flying Torkoal Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
088 Grimer Grimer Poison Poison GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclops GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritomb GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritombYamaskCofagrigusLitwickLampent
102 Exeggcute Exeggcute Grass Psychic Bulbasaur TurtwigGrotleTorterra TurtwigGrotleTorterra
108 Lickitung Lickitung Normal Normal SlowpokeSlowbroSlowking SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra
109 Koffing Koffing Poison Poison   GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritomb GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritombYamaskCofagrigusLitwickLampent
111 Rhyhorn Rhyhorn Ground Rock SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoal SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoalTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoalTurtwigGrotleTorterraBidoofBibarel SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoalTurtwigGrotleTorterraBidoofBibarel SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingNumelCameruptTorkoalTurtwigGrotleTorterraBidoofBibarel
131 Lapras Lapras Water Ice SlowpokeSlowbroSlowking SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterraBidoofBibarel SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterraBidoofBibarelTirtougaCarracosta
133 Eevee Eevee Normal Normal Torkoal Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
142 Aerodactyl Aerodactyl Rock Flying Farfetch'd Farfetch'd Farfetch'd
143 Snorlax Snorlax Normal Normal SlowpokeSlowbroSlowking SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra
185 Sudowoodo Sudowoodo Rock Rock     OnixSteelixYamaskCofagrigusFerroseedFerrothorn
191 Sunkern Sunkern Grass Grass Bulbasaur TurtwigGrotleTorterra TurtwigGrotleTorterra
194 Wooper Wooper Water Ground SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoal SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoal SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoalBidoofBibarel SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoalBidoofBibarelTirtougaCarracosta SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingNumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarelTirtougaCarracosta
200 Misdreavus Misdreavus Ghost Ghost   GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritomb GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritombYamaskCofagrigusLitwickLampent
206 Dunsparce Dunsparce Normal Normal Torkoal Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
218 Slugma Slugma Fire Fire   GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritomb GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritombYamaskCofagrigusLitwickLampent
220 Swinub Swinub Ice Ground   Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
222 Corsola Corsola Water Rock     SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingBidoofBibarel SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingBidoofBibarel
227 Skarmory Skarmory Steel Flying Farfetch'd Farfetch'd Farfetch'd
241 Miltank Miltank Normal Normal Torkoal Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
246 Larvitar Larvitar Rock Ground SlowpokeSlowbroSlowking SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra
255 Torchic Torchic Fire Fire     TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
258 Mudkip Mudkip Water Water SlowpokeSlowbroSlowking SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterraBidoofBibarel SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterraBidoofBibarelTirtougaCarracosta
287 Slakoth Slakoth Normal Normal Torkoal Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
304 Aron Aron Steel Rock   SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra
309 Electrike Electrike Electric Electric Torkoal Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
316 Gulpin Gulpin Poison Poison   GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritomb GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritombYamaskCofagrigusLitwickLampent
320 Wailmer Wailmer Water Water Torkoal Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel
335 Zangoose Zangoose Normal Normal Torkoal Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
345 Lileep Lileep Rock Grass     Corsola TirtougaCarracosta
347 Anorith Anorith Rock Bug     Corsola TirtougaCarracosta
357 Tropius Tropius Grass Flying   SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra
358 Chimecho Chimecho Psychic Psychic GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclops GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritomb GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritombYamaskCofagrigusLitwickLampent
359 Absol Absol Dark Dark Torkoal Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
363 Spheal Spheal Ice Water SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoal SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoal SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoalBidoofBibarel SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTorkoalBidoofBibarelTirtougaCarracosta SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingNumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarelTirtougaCarracosta
408 Cranidos Cranidos Rock Rock     SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra
410 Shieldon Shieldon Rock Steel   SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra
422 Shellos Shellos Water Water   SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingGastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritomb SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingGastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteBidoofBibarelDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritomb SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingGastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteBidoofBibarelDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritombYamaskCofagrigusTirtougaCarracostaLitwickLampent
433 Chingling Chingling Psychic Psychic   GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritomb GastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritombYamaskCofagrigusLitwickLampent
438 Bonsly Bonsly Rock Rock     OnixSteelixYamaskCofagrigusFerroseedFerrothorn
446 Munchlax Munchlax Normal Normal   SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingTurtwigGrotleTorterra
449 Hippopotas Hippopotas Ground Ground   Torkoal TorkoalBidoofBibarel TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
498 Tepig Tepig Fire Fire     TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
517 Munna Munna Psychic Psychic     TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
524 Roggenrola Roggenrola Rock Rock     OnixSteelixYamaskCofagrigusFerroseedFerrothorn
557 Dwebble Dwebble Bug Rock     OnixSteelixYamaskCofagrigusFerroseedFerrothornShelmet
568 Trubbish Trubbish Poison Poison     OnixSteelixYamaskCofagrigusFerroseedFerrothorn
618 Stunfisk Stunfisk Ground Electric     SlowpokeSlowbroSlowkingGastlyHaunterGengarShuppetBanetteBidoofBibarelDuskullDusclopsDusknoirSpiritombYamaskCofagrigusTirtougaCarracostaLitwickLampent
631 Heatmor Heatmor Fire Fire     TorkoalBidoofBibarel NumelCameruptTorkoalBidoofBibarel
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 241 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.


In other generations

Ghost-type Pokémon

Non-Ghost-type Pokémon

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. Ghost-type Pokémon can also use the non-Ghost-type version while under the effects of Soak.
  • Curse is one of five moves to change type between generations, along with Bite, Gust, Karate Chop and Sand-Attack.
  • In Generation II, TM03, which contains Curse, is given away only at night by a man telling a strange 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
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Vloek
France Flag.png French Malédiction
Germany Flag.png German Fluch
Greece Flag.png Greek Κατάρα
Italy Flag.png Italian Maledizione
South Korea Flag.png Korean 저주 Jeoju
Serbia Flag.png Serbian Kletva
Spain Flag.png Spanish Maldición


Generation II TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation II HMs
01020304050607


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