Curse (move)

Curse (Japanese: のろい ) is a non-damaging move introduced in Generation II. Prior to Generation V, it was a move, and the only move of that type. It was TM03 in Generation II, and is TM224 in Generation IX.
==Effect==
In all generations, Curse acts differently depending on whether the user has the type or not.
Curse is only affected by the Pokémon's current typing, not its original typing. Thus, if the user's type has changed (such as gaining the Ghost type from , losing this type by becoming a pure from , changing species by using , or stallizing into the Ghost Tera Type), the move will consider its current typing rather than its previous one. For example, a Terastallized Water Tera Type would have the non-Ghost-type version of Curse upon using the move.
===Ghost-type Pokémon===
The user will lose half of its maximum HP (rounded down) and put a curse on the target. If this causes the user's HP to drop to 0, the move will execute fully but cause the user to faint. A cursed Pokémon will lose ¼ of its maximum HP at the end of each turn. The curse will remain until the Pokémon switches out or the battle ends. However, if a Pokémon switches out with , it will be transferred to the Pokémon switched in. This move is not blocked by , , or , but is blocked by .
The user does not lose HP if Curse misses (due to a move with a semi-invulnerable turn), fails (due to the target already being affected by Curse), or is blocked by Crafty Shield.
If powered up by a Ghostium Z into Z-Curse, the user restores all of its HP.
===Non-Ghost-type Pokémon===
The user's stat will drop by one stage and its stat and stat will rise by one stage each. Despite being an effect acting on the user, this move will fail if there are no opponents on the field.
If powered up by a Ghostium Z into Z-Curse, the user's Attack stat raises another stage.
===In different generations===
====Generation II====
Curse is a move.
If used by a non- Pokémon, Curse will fail if the user's Attack and Defense stats both are at +6 stages, even if its Speed stat is not at -6 stages.
If a cursed Pokémon defeats its opponent, it will not take curse damage on that turn.
Curse cannot hit through a .
====Generation III====
If used by a non- Pokémon, Curse can now reduce the user's Speed stat even if its Attack and Defense stats both are at +6 stages. (However, Curse will still fail if the user's Attack and Defense stats both are at +6 stages, and its Speed stat is at -6 stages.)
If a cursed Pokémon defeats its opponent, it now takes curse damage on that turn.
If the user changes type before using Curse, Curse will obey the user's type at the time of the move's execution. In a Double Battle, if the user gains the Ghost type before Curse executes, Curse will prioritize the opponent directly opposite the user as its target.
Curse can be used as the first move of a Pokémon Contest combination, causing , , , and to score double the normal appeal if used in the next turn.
===Generation IV===
In this generation only, due to an oversight, if a Pokémon afflicted by Curse has used and then selects a different move, it will be freed from the curse, but its rage will still be building.
====Generation V====
Curse is now a Ghost-type move.
Curse can now hit through a substitute.
In a Triple Battle, if the user gains the Ghost type before Curse executes, Curse will prioritize the opponent directly opposite the user as its target.
====Generation VI====
In a Single Battle, if the user is not already Ghost-type and becomes Ghost-type before executing Curse (due to Mega Evolution, , or ), Curse will execute as it does for all Ghost types, hurting the user and inflicting the curse.
In a Triple Battle or Horde Encounter, if the user is not already Ghost-type and becomes Ghost-type before executing Curse (due to Mega Evolution, Color Change, or Trick-or-Treat), Curse will now target a random adjacent opponent.
Due to a glitch, Curse can have an unusual behavior in some situations when the user has its type changed right before using the move.
In a Double Battle, if the user is not already Ghost-type and becomes Ghost-type before executing Curse (due to Mega Evolution, Color Change, or Trick-or-Treat), Curse may target a different Pokémon depending on the user's position. If the user is on the right side (from its Trainer's perspective), Curse will target the user's ally (or fail if there is none). If the user is on the left side (from its Trainer's perspective) Curse will target a random opponent. and will still redirect Curse as normal.
If the user is not already Ghost-type and becomes Ghost-type due to upon executing Curse, the user will use the Ghost-type Curse on itself (regardless of or ). This cannot be blocked by .
====Generation VII====
In a Double Battle, if the user is not already Ghost-type and becomes Ghost-type before executing Curse (due to Mega Evolution, Color Change, or Trick-or-Treat), Curse will now target a random opponent.
====Generation VIII====
A Dynamax Pokémon can be cursed; however, it only takes damage equal to 1/4 of its pre-Dynamax maximum HP, which will be between 1/6 and 1/8 of its Dynamax HP, or as little as 1/12 for the boss in a Max Raid Battle.
Ghost-type Pokémon are no longer able to choose targets for Curse in a Double Battle, and will always attempt to inflict the curse on a random opponent.
==Description==
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==Learnset==
===By leveling up===
===By TM===
===By ===
===Special move===
====Generation III====
====Generation V====
====Generation VIII====
====Generation IX====
===By ===
====Generation IV====
==In other games==
===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series===
When Curse is used by a Pokémon that is not a , the user's Attack and Defense is raised by one stage, and their Travel Speed is lowered by one stage. When used by a Ghost-type, Curse will inflict the status condition. This status causes the inflicted Pokémon to lose 1/4 of its maximum HP at the end of the next turn and every 10 turns thereafter, or at the end of every turn. This lasts for 4-5 / 2 turns.
Curse is classified as a Ghost-type move from Gates to Infinity (being classed as a prior to this).
===Pokémon Rumble Blast===
When used by a non-Ghost-type Pokémon, Curse is the same as in Generation V. When used by a Ghost-type Pokémon, Curse deals damage and then drains the opponent's health over time.
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In , all status moves including Curse could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Curse could be seen as a move used by Boss .
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In Pokémon UNITE, Curse is 's first move. It is obtained by evolving at level 5 and upgrading into it instead of . The user creates a cursed zone in exchange for 4% max HP per second for 6 seconds, dealing damage over time to enemies in the area of effect every .5s for 6s and decreasing their movement speed. The lower the user's HP is, the greater the decrease in movement speed. While using this move, the user builds up curse power every time it deals or receives damage. Releasing this built-up power will deal additional damage to enemies in the area of effect. If the curse power is at maximum when it's released, the cooldowns of Branch Poke, Horn Leech, and Pain Split are reset. At level 11, the move's radius increases.
===Description===
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==In the manga==
===Pokémon Adventures===
==In other generations==
===Core series games===
====Ghost-type Pokémon====
====Non-Ghost-type Pokémon====
===Side series games===
====Ghost-type Pokémon====
====Non-Ghost-type Pokémon====
===Spin-off series games===
====Ghost-type Pokémon====
====Non-Ghost-type Pokémon====
==Trivia==
* Curse and Z-Curse are the only moves with effects that vary depending on the type of the user.
** 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 or to alter its own type to and from the type: , , and . Technically speaking, any Pokémon that can change its type in battle (e.g. via , or ) can use of both of Curse's effects. Similarly, if a Ghost-type Pokémon uses Curse while under the effect of or , the non-Ghost version will be used.
* Curse is one of the four moves from Generation II to have its in a later generation, the others being , , and . Of these four, it is the only one to not change in Generation VI, the only move of the four that is a Ghost-type move, and the only move not change into a move.
** Of the moves that have changed their type, Curse is the only one that wasn't originally a move.
* This move was 's in the set of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, before it was introduced in the Generation II games.
* 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==
Category:???-type moves
Category:Moves that can raise the user's Attack
Category:Moves that can raise the user's Defense
Category:Moves that can lower the user's Speed
Category:Moves that have had their type changed
Category:Moves that cost HP to use
Category:Moves usable in Pokémon Sword and Shield
Category:Moves usable in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Category:Moves usable in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
de:Fluch
es:Maldición
fr:Malédiction
it:Maledizione
ja:のろい
zh:诅咒（招式）