Pokemon Sun and Moon
Pokemon Sun and Moon

Status Conditions

Master status conditions like Burn and Paralysis in Pokemon Sun and Moon. Learn how to inflict, cure, and prevent these debilitating effects for Alolan Champio.

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Status Conditions

Status conditions are debilitating effects that can turn the tide of battle in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Understanding how to inflict them, cure them, and prevent them is crucial for any aspiring Alolan Champion. This detailed guide will walk you through each major status condition, offering actionable strategies and item recommendations.

Major Status Conditions (Persistent)

These conditions remain on your Pokémon even after battle, requiring specific cures or a visit to a Pokémon Center.

  • Burn (BRN):
    • Effect: Reduces the Pokémon's Attack stat by 50% and deals 1/16 of its maximum HP in damage each turn. Fire-type Pokémon cannot be burned.
    • Infliction Strategy: Moves like Will-O-Wisp (TM61, found in Malie Garden) are excellent for inflicting Burn with high accuracy. Pokémon with the ability Flame Body (e.g., Magmar, Magby) can also burn attackers upon contact.
    • Cure: Use a Burn Heal (available at any Poké Mart for 250 Pokedollars) or a Full Heal (found throughout Alola, often as hidden items or purchased later). The move Refresh can also cure this.
    • Prevention: Equipping a Pokémon with a Lum Berry (found on Route 1, Route 5, and other berry piles) will automatically cure any status condition once per battle.
  • Freeze (FRZ):
    • Effect: The Pokémon is completely unable to move. This is the rarest status condition to inflict. Ice-type Pokémon cannot be frozen.
    • Infliction Strategy: Only certain Ice-type moves have a chance to freeze, such as Ice Beam (TM13, found in the Seafolk Village Pokémon Center for 10,000 Pokedollars) or Blizzard. The chance is very low.
    • Cure: Use an Ice Heal (Poké Mart, 250 Pokedollars) or a Full Heal. Being hit by a Fire-type move will also thaw a frozen Pokémon.
    • Prevention: A Lum Berry is your best bet.
  • Paralysis (PAR):
    • Effect: Reduces the Pokémon's Speed stat by 50% and gives it a 25% chance of being unable to move each turn. Electric-type Pokémon cannot be paralyzed.
    • Infliction Strategy: Moves like Thunder Wave (TM73, found on Route 7) are highly accurate. Pokémon with the ability Static (e.g., Elekid, Pichu) can paralyze attackers.
    • Cure: Use an Paralyze Heal (Poké Mart, 250 Pokedollars) or a Full Heal.
    • Prevention: A Lum Berry or a Pokémon with the ability Limber (e.g., Hawlucha, Persian) will prevent paralysis.
  • Poison (PSN) / Badly Poisoned (TOX):
    • Effect: Deals damage each turn. Regular Poison deals 1/8 of max HP per turn. Badly Poisoned (inflicted by moves like Toxic) starts at 1/16 of max HP and increases by 1/16 each turn, making it increasingly dangerous. Steel and Poison-type Pokémon cannot be poisoned.
    • Infliction Strategy: Toxic (TM06, found in the Aether House on Ula'ula Island) is the go-to for Badly Poisoned. Moves like Poison Jab or abilities like Poison Point (e.g., Nidoqueen, Roserade) can inflict regular Poison.
    • Cure: Use an Antidote (Poké Mart, 250 Pokedollars) or a Full Heal. For Badly Poisoned, a Pecha Berry (found in various berry piles) is a specific and early-game solution.
    • Prevention: Lum Berry, or a Pokémon with the ability Immunity (e.g., Snorlax) or Poison Heal (e.g., Breloom, Gliscor, which actually recovers HP when poisoned).
  • Sleep (SLP):
    • Effect: The Pokémon is unable to move for 1-3 turns.
    • Infliction Strategy: Moves like Spore (100% accurate, learned by some Grass-types like Parasect) or Sleep Powder (TM09, found in Lush Jungle) are effective. Abilities like Compound Eyes (e.g., Butterfree, Vivillon) boost the accuracy of sleep-inducing moves.
    • Cure: Use an Awakening (Poké Mart, 250 Pokedollars) or a Full Heal.
    • Prevention: Lum Berry, or a Pokémon with the ability Insomnia (e.g., Honchkrow, Noctowl) or Vital Spirit (e.g., Vigoroth, Electabuzz).

Minor Status Conditions (Temporary / In-Battle Only)

These conditions typically wear off after a few turns or when the Pokémon switches out, and do not persist outside of battle.

  • Confusion:
    • Effect: The Pokémon has a 33% chance of hitting itself in confusion instead of using its chosen move. Lasts for 1-4 turns.
    • Infliction Strategy: Moves like Confuse Ray or Supersonic are common.
    • Cure: Switching out the Pokémon immediately cures confusion. Using a Persim Berry (found in berry piles) will also cure it.
  • Infatuation:
    • Effect: If the opposing Pokémon is of the opposite gender, the infatuated Pokémon has a 50% chance of being unable to attack. Lasts as long as the infatuated Pokémon and the inflictor are both in battle.
    • Infliction Strategy: The move Attract is the primary way to inflict this.
    • Cure: Switching out the Pokémon, or if the inflictor is knocked out or switched out.
  • Flinching:
    • Effect: The Pokémon is unable to move for that turn.
    • Infliction Strategy: Some moves have a chance to flinch (e.g., Fake Out, Headbutt). The item King's Rock or Razor Fang can also add a flinch chance to certain moves.
    • Cure: Flinching only lasts for one turn, so no specific cure is needed.
  • Leach Seed:
    • Effect: The Pokémon loses 1/8 of its maximum HP each turn, and that HP is restored to the Pokémon that used Leech Seed. Grass-type Pokémon are immune.
    • Infliction Strategy: The move Leech Seed.
    • Cure: Switching out the Pokémon.
  • Nightmare:
    • Effect: A sleeping Pokémon loses 1/4 of its maximum HP each turn.
    • Infliction Strategy: The move Nightmare can only be used on a sleeping target.
    • Cure: Waking up the Pokémon.
  • Perish Song:
    • Effect: All Pokémon on the field (including the user) that hear the song will faint after three turns, unless they switch out.
    • Infliction Strategy: The move Perish Song.
    • Cure: Switching out the Pokémon.

General Tips for Managing Status Conditions

  • Carry several Cures: Always keep a stock of Full Heals, Full Restores (which also heal HP), and specific status-healing items in your bag. You can purchase these at any Poké Mart.
  • use Berries: Lum Berries are invaluable for their one-time status cure. Chesto Berries instantly wake up a sleeping Pokémon, and Pecha Berries cure poison. Plant these in the Pelago to grow more!
  • Pokémon Center Visits: The easiest and cheapest way to cure all status conditions and restore HP is to visit any Pokémon Center. They are conveniently located in every major town and city.
  • Ability Awareness: Pay attention to your Pokémon's abilities. Some, like Synchronize (transfers status to the opponent), Natural Cure (cures status upon switching out), or Magic Guard (immune to indirect damage), can drastically change how you approach status conditions.
  • Move Selection: Consider teaching your Pokémon moves like Safeguard (prevents status for 5 turns) or Heal Bell / Aromatherapy (cures all status conditions for the entire party) for crucial battles.