Major status conditions (one at a time)
A Pokémon can have at most one major status active at any time. Trying to apply a second one fails. Only Rest cures a major status applied to yourself.
Burn 🔥
Effect: Halves the Pokémon's Attack stat. Loses 1/16 max HP per turn.
Causes: Will-O-Wisp, Flame Body contact, Scald, Lava Plume, Fire Blast secondary, Flame Orb.
Cures: Burn Heal, Full Heal, Lum Berry, Rawst Berry. Healer ability (Aromatherapy partner).
Immune: Fire-types, Pokémon with Water Veil / Water Bubble.
Paralyze ⚡
Effect: Halves Speed. 25% chance to skip the turn (fully paralyzed).
Causes: Thunder Wave, Body Slam (30%), Glare, Static ability contact.
Cures: Paralyze Heal, Full Heal, Lum Berry, Cheri Berry.
Immune: Electric-types (since Gen 6), Limber ability, Ground-type Pokémon vs. Thunder Wave specifically.
Poison ☠️
Effect (regular): 1/8 max HP per turn.
Effect (Bad / Toxic): 1/16 HP turn 1, 2/16 turn 2, 3/16 turn 3... scales linearly. Resets to 1/16 on switch out.
Causes: Toxic, Poison Sting (10%), Poison Jab (30%), Toxic Spikes, Toxic Orb.
Cures: Antidote, Full Heal, Lum Berry, Pecha Berry.
Immune: Poison-types, Steel-types, Pokémon with Immunity or Magic Guard.
Sleep 😴
Effect: Pokémon cannot move for 1-3 turns (set when sleep is applied). Sleep Talk / Snore work while asleep.
Causes: Sleep Powder, Spore (100% acc), Hypnosis (60%), Yawn (1 turn delay), Rest (self).
Cures: Awakening, Full Heal, Lum Berry, Chesto Berry (pairs with Rest).
Immune: Insomnia, Vital Spirit, Sweet Veil (ally protection), Comatose (Komala is permanently asleep but acts normally).
Freeze ❄️
Effect: Pokémon cannot move. 20% chance per turn to thaw. Can also thaw by using Fire-type moves or being hit by Fire-type moves / Scald / Steam Eruption.
Causes: Ice Beam / Blizzard (10%), Triple Axel (10%), Powder Snow (10%). Cannot freeze in Sun.
Cures: Ice Heal, Full Heal, Lum Berry, Aspear Berry.
Immune: Ice-types, Magma Armor ability. Cannot be applied during Sun weather.
Frostbite ❄️ (Hisuian replacement)
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus only, Frostbite replaces Freeze. Halves SpA and chips 1/16 HP per turn. Returned to standard Freeze in Scarlet/Violet.
Minor status: Confusion
Effect: 33% chance per turn to hit yourself for damage (40 BP physical against own Defense, ignoring type). Lasts 2-5 turns or until switch out.
Causes: Confuse Ray, Swagger (+2 Atk), Flatter (+2 SpA), Outrage end, Petal Dance end.
Cures: Switch out, Persim Berry, Lum Berry. Wears off naturally.
Immune: Own Tempo ability.
Status synergies (the meta)
- Facade — 140 BP physical Normal move that doubles in damage when the user is burned, poisoned, or paralyzed. Pairs with Flame Orb / Toxic Orb / Guts ability (negates burn's Attack drop).
- Guts — Activated when statused. 1.5× Attack. Combined with Flame Orb + Facade = signature Conkeldurr / Ursaluna / Heracross setup.
- Hex — 65 BP Ghost move that doubles to 130 against statused targets. Dragapult, Mismagius, Decidueye use this.
- Toxic stalling — Toxic + Protect cycles. Stall HP off the opponent while you heal yourself. Toxapex, Blissey, Gliscor specialize.