Curse (move)

Move data

Type Ghost
Category Status  Status
Power
Accuracy
PP 10  (max. 16)
Makes contact? No
Introduced Generation 2

Machine/Record

Gold​/​Silver
Crystal
TM03
Scarlet​/​Violet TM224

Effects

Curse is a unique move that works differently for Ghost-type Pokémon than other Pokémon.

Ghost-type Pokémon use 50% of their maximum HP to place a curse on the target. The cursed Pokémon loses 25% of their maximum HP every turn. If the user has less than 50% HP remaining, they will faint but the curse still takes effect.

For all other Pokémon, Curse raises the user's Attack and Defense by one stage each and lowers Speed by one stage. Stats can be raised to a maximum of +6 stages each, or lowered to a minimum of -6 stages each.

Changes

  • In Generations 2-4, Curse is a ???-type move.

Z-Move effects

When a Pokémon is holding Ghostium Z and uses its Z-Power, Curse turns into Z-Curse and either fully restores the user's HP if it is Ghost type, or raises Attack one stage otherwise, in addition to its usual effect as above.

Move target

Foe
Foe
Foe
User
Ally
Ally

Targets the user.

Other languages

English Curse
Japanese のろい (Noroi)
German Fluch
French Malédiction
Italian Maledizione
Spanish Maldición
Korean 저주
Chinese (Simplified) 咒术
Chinese (Traditional) 詛咒

Game descriptions

Gold​/​Silver
Crystal
Works differently for ghost-types.
Ruby​/​Sapphire
Emerald
A move that functions differently for GHOSTS.
FireRed​/​LeafGreen A move that works differently for the GHOST-type and all the other types.
Diamond​/​Pearl
Platinum
HeartGold​/​SoulSilver
A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all the other types.
Black​/​White
Black 2​/​White 2
A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all other types.
X​/​Y
O.Ruby​/​A.Sapphire
A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all other types.
Sun​/​Moon
Ultra Sun​/​Ultra Moon
A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all other types.
Sword​/​Shield
B.Diamond​/​S.Pearl
A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all other types.
Scarlet​/​Violet A move that has different effects depending on whether the user is a Ghost type or not.

Learnt by level up

These Pokémon learn Curse at the level specified. The numbers given are for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet and may vary in other games; check the respective Pokédex pages for details.

Slowpoke Slowpoke
#0079 / Water · Psychic
Level 1
Galarian Slowpoke Slowpoke
Galarian Slowpoke
#0079 / Psychic
Level 1
Slowbro Slowbro
#0080 / Water · Psychic
Level 1
Galarian Slowbro Slowbro
Galarian Slowbro
#0080 / Poison · Psychic
Level 1
Gastly Gastly
#0092 / Ghost · Poison
Level 20
Haunter Haunter
#0093 / Ghost · Poison
Level 20
Gengar Gengar
#0094 / Ghost · Poison
Level 20
Slowking Slowking
#0199 / Water · Psychic
Level 1
Galarian Slowking Slowking
Galarian Slowking
#0199 / Poison · Psychic
Level 1
Pineco Pineco
#0204 / Bug
Level 23
Forretress Forretress
#0205 / Bug · Steel
Level 23
Numel Numel
#0322 / Fire · Ground
Level 29
Camerupt Camerupt
#0323 / Fire · Ground
Level 29
Torkoal Torkoal
#0324 / Fire
Level 44
Shuppet Shuppet
#0353 / Ghost
Level 26
Banette Banette
#0354 / Ghost
Level 26
Duskull Duskull
#0355 / Ghost
Level 36
Dusclops Dusclops
#0356 / Ghost
Level 36
Regirock Regirock
#0377 / Rock
Level 30
Regice Regice
#0378 / Ice
Level 30
Registeel Registeel
#0379 / Steel
Level 30
Turtwig Turtwig
#0387 / Grass
Level 17
Grotle Grotle
#0388 / Grass
Level 17
Torterra Torterra
#0389 / Grass · Ground
Level 17
Spiritomb Spiritomb
#0442 / Ghost · Dark
Level 40
Dusknoir Dusknoir
#0477 / Ghost
Level 36
Hisuian Zorua Zorua
Hisuian Zorua
#0570 / Normal · Ghost
Level 16
Hisuian Zoroark Zoroark
Hisuian Zoroark
#0571 / Normal · Ghost
Level 16
Litwick Litwick
#0607 / Ghost · Fire
Level 32
Lampent Lampent
#0608 / Ghost · Fire
Level 32
Chandelure Chandelure
#0609 / Ghost · Fire
Level 1
Golett Golett
#0622 / Ground · Ghost
Level 16
Golurk Golurk
#0623 / Ground · Ghost
Level 16
Goomy Goomy
#0704 / Dragon
Level 41
Sliggoo Sliggoo
#0705 / Dragon
Level 43
Hisuian Sliggoo Sliggoo
Hisuian Sliggoo
#0705 / Steel · Dragon
Level 43
Goodra Goodra
#0706 / Dragon
Level 43
Hisuian Goodra Goodra
Hisuian Goodra
#0706 / Steel · Dragon
Level 43
Phantump Phantump
#0708 / Ghost · Grass
Level 32
Trevenant Trevenant
#0709 / Ghost · Grass
Level 32
Bergmite Bergmite
#0712 / Ice
Level 9
Avalugg Avalugg
#0713 / Ice
Level 9
Hisuian Avalugg Avalugg
Hisuian Avalugg
#0713 / Ice · Rock
Level 9
Appletun Appletun
#0842 / Grass · Dragon
Level 4
Polteageist Polteageist
#0855 / Ghost
Level 66
Pincurchin Pincurchin
#0871 / Electric
Level 35
Bramblin Bramblin
#0946 / Grass · Ghost
Level 45
Brambleghast Brambleghast
#0947 / Grass · Ghost
Level 45

Learnt by TM

Bulbasaur Bulbasaur
#0001 / Grass · Poison
Ivysaur Ivysaur
#0002 / Grass · Poison
Venusaur Venusaur
#0003 / Grass · Poison
Seel Seel
#0086 / Water
Dewgong Dewgong
#0087 / Water · Ice
Exeggcute Exeggcute
#0102 / Grass · Psychic
Exeggutor Exeggutor
#0103 / Grass · Psychic
Alolan Exeggutor Exeggutor
Alolan Exeggutor
#0103 / Grass · Dragon
Rhyhorn Rhyhorn
#0111 / Ground · Rock
Rhydon Rhydon
#0112 / Ground · Rock
Magmar Magmar
#0126 / Fire
Lapras Lapras
#0131 / Water · Ice
Chikorita Chikorita
#0152 / Grass
Bayleef Bayleef
#0153 / Grass
Meganium Meganium
#0154 / Grass
Totodile Totodile
#0158 / Water
Croconaw Croconaw
#0159 / Water
Feraligatr Feraligatr
#0160 / Water
Chinchou Chinchou
#0170 / Water · Electric
Lanturn Lanturn
#0171 / Water · Electric
Snubbull Snubbull
#0209 / Fairy
Granbull Granbull
#0210 / Fairy
Skarmory Skarmory
#0227 / Steel · Flying
Magby Magby
#0240 / Fire
Lugia Lugia
#0249 / Psychic · Flying
Torchic Torchic
#0255 / Fire
Combusken Combusken
#0256 / Fire · Fighting
Blaziken Blaziken
#0257 / Fire · Fighting
Mudkip Mudkip
#0258 / Water
Marshtomp Marshtomp
#0259 / Water · Ground
Swampert Swampert
#0260 / Water · Ground
Regirock Regirock
#0377 / Rock
Regice Regice
#0378 / Ice
Registeel Registeel
#0379 / Steel
Cranidos Cranidos
#0408 / Rock
Rampardos Rampardos
#0409 / Rock
Shieldon Shieldon
#0410 / Rock · Steel
Bastiodon Bastiodon
#0411 / Rock · Steel
Rhyperior Rhyperior
#0464 / Ground · Rock
Magmortar Magmortar
#0467 / Fire
Tepig Tepig
#0498 / Fire
Pignite Pignite
#0499 / Fire · Fighting
Emboar Emboar
#0500 / Fire · Fighting
Drilbur Drilbur
#0529 / Ground
Excadrill Excadrill
#0530 / Ground · Steel
Scraggy Scraggy
#0559 / Dark · Fighting
Scrafty Scrafty
#0560 / Dark · Fighting
Golett Golett
#0622 / Ground · Ghost
Golurk Golurk
#0623 / Ground · Ghost
Hydrapple Hydrapple
#1019 / Grass · Dragon
Pecharunt Pecharunt
#1025 / Poison · Ghost

Learnt by breeding

These Pokémon can learn Curse as an egg move. Their breeding groups are also shown for reference.

Alolan Sandshrew Sandshrew
Alolan Sandshrew
#0027 / Ice · Steel
Field
Galarian Meowth Meowth
Galarian Meowth
#0052 / Steel
Field
Alolan Geodude Geodude
Alolan Geodude
#0074 / Rock · Electric
Mineral
Tauros (Combat Breed) Tauros
Combat Breed
#0128 / Fighting
Field
Tauros (Blaze Breed) Tauros
Blaze Breed
#0128 / Fighting · Fire
Field
Tauros (Aqua Breed) Tauros
Aqua Breed
#0128 / Fighting · Water
Field
Eevee Eevee
#0133 / Normal
Field
Flareon Flareon
#0136 / Fire
Field
Quilava Quilava
#0156 / Fire
Field
Hisuian Typhlosion Typhlosion
Hisuian Typhlosion
#0157 / Fire · Ghost
Field
Paldean Wooper Wooper
Paldean Wooper
#0194 / Poison · Ground
Field, Water 1
Umbreon Umbreon
#0197 / Dark
Field
Swinub Swinub
#0220 / Ice · Ground
Field
Glaceon Glaceon
#0471 / Ice
Field
Fuecoco Fuecoco
#0909 / Fire
Field
Nacli Nacli
#0932 / Rock
Mineral
Dudunsparce (Two-Segment Form) Dudunsparce
Two-Segment Form
#0982 / Normal
Field
Dudunsparce (Three-Segment Form) Dudunsparce
Three-Segment Form
#0982 / Normal
Field