Learn the meaning of Pokerus, its effects and how to spread it to your Pokemon. Read this guide to answer your questions about Pokerus in the game Pokemon Sword and Shield.
List of Contents
Pokerus, short for Pokemon Virus, is a rare microscopic life form that attaches to Pokemon and increases the amount of EVs your Pokemon gains.
Despite the name, Pokerus has no negative effects. It is actually good to have your Pokemon infected with it because of its powerful effects.
You will be notified that a Pokemon in your party is infected with Pokerus when you have your party healed at the Pokemon Center.
You can also check the stats of your Pokemon; there will be a label that your Pokemon is infected by Pokerus. An icon for Pokerus will be visible on the Pokemon's 'Check summary' screen, on the Box screen, or in Pokemon HOME.
The label will remain even after your Pokemon has healed from it. The label will change slightly, from the image of a 'spreading virus' to a more inert-looking virus, to show that the virus is no longer contagious.
What does Pokerus do? It doubles the number of EVs an afflicted Pokemon obtains from battle.
Even if your Pokemon has healed from Pokerus, the effect stays. This is useful for training your Pokemon.
How to EV Train Fast and Reset EVs
Along with Power Items, Pokerus will allow your Pokemon to acquire more EVs than normal when you send them in Poke Jobs, specifically seminars!
Boosts Applied | EVs acquired per 1 hour |
Time needed to reach 252 EVs |
---|---|---|
None | +4 | 63 hours |
Pokerus | +8 | 31.5 hours |
Power Item | +12 | 21 hours |
Power Item and Pokerus | +24 | 10.5 hours |
A Pokemon rarely gets Pokerus from battle, with a 3/65536 probability.
As it is difficult to obtain Pokerus on your own, trading online for a Pokemon with Pokerus is the quickest way to obtain it.
How to Trade With Friends Locally and Online
Pokerus will spread to other Pokemon in your party as long as you have the Pokerus-infected Pokemon in your party when you go to battles.
Pokemon with Pokerus will heal from one to four days in the game. However, the effect of gaining double the EVs will still remain.
Once your Pokemon has been cured, it will not be able to infect other Pokemon and will be immune to Pokerus in the future.
A Zamazenta with Pokerus in Pokemon HOME.
You can prevent your Pokerus-infected Pokemon from healing by storing them in Pokemon Boxes or Pokemon HOME.
Note that Pokerus does not spread inside Pokemon Boxes or Pokemon HOME.
IVs | |
---|---|
How to Check Your Pokemon's IVs | How to Increase IVs |
Natures & Abilities | |
How to Change a Pokemon's Nature | How to Get Hidden Abilities |
Eggs & Breeding | |
How to Learn Egg Moves | How to Breed & Hatch Strong Pokemon |
EVs, Pokerus, & Leveling Up | |
How to EV Train Fast and Reset EVs | Pokerus Effects and How to Infect Your Pokemon |
How to Level Up Fast | |
Building Good Teams | |
How to Build a Defensive Team |
Pokerus Effects and How to Infect Your Pokemon
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