Is Pokérus Bad? Decoding Pokémon’s Most Beneficial Virus

Absolutely not! Pokérus is not bad at all. In fact, it’s arguably one of the best things that can happen to your Pokémon in the main series games. While the name might sound alarming, and the initial notification in-game might cause some confusion, Pokérus is a beneficial status condition that doubles the Effort Values (EVs) your Pokémon earn in battle. EVs are crucial for shaping your Pokémon’s stats, and Pokérus significantly speeds up the training process. Think of it as a supercharged gym membership for your digital critters!

The Curious Case of Pokérus

For those unfamiliar, Pokérus (short for Pokémon Virus) is an incredibly rare condition that a Pokémon can contract after battling in the wild. It’s more rare to encounter than a shiny Pokemon. Once infected, the Pokémon can then spread it to other Pokémon in your party, making it a valuable asset for any serious trainer. But why is something called a virus actually a good thing? Let’s delve deeper.

Understanding Effort Values (EVs)

Before we fully appreciate the wonders of Pokérus, it’s important to understand Effort Values (EVs). EVs are hidden stat modifiers that determine how much a particular stat (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed) will grow as a Pokémon levels up. Each Pokémon you defeat in battle yields specific EVs. By strategically battling certain Pokémon, you can tailor your Pokémon’s stats to fit a particular role on your team.

How Pokérus Supercharges EV Training

This is where Pokérus shines! Pokérus doubles the amount of EVs your Pokémon receive after each battle. So, if a Pokémon normally yields 1 Attack EV, a Pokémon with Pokérus will receive 2. This dramatically reduces the amount of time and effort required to fully EV train a Pokémon. Consider it like a turbo button for stat optimization.

Dispelling the Myths: Pokérus Misconceptions

Because of its name, many players initially fear that Pokérus is a detrimental status effect. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are absolutely no negative side effects associated with Pokérus. It doesn’t weaken your Pokémon, it doesn’t cause any status ailments, and it doesn’t lead to any undesirable outcomes. It’s purely beneficial. The Games Learning Society would agree that misconceptions are a great thing to address, as this helps people improve their thinking. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

Duration and Spread: How Pokérus Works

The active stage of Pokérus lasts for a limited time, typically 1-4 days. During this time, the infected Pokémon can spread the virus to other Pokémon in your party. To spread Pokérus, simply keep the infected Pokémon in your party during battles. After each battle, there’s a chance that adjacent Pokémon in your party will become infected.

“Cured” But Still Powerful: The Aftermath of Pokérus

After the active phase, the Pokémon is considered “cured” of Pokérus. This means it can no longer spread the virus to other Pokémon. However, and this is crucial: the doubled EV gains remain permanently. The cured Pokemon will still gain double EVs forever. So, even after the infection has subsided, your Pokémon will continue to reap the benefits of the virus.

Maximizing Pokérus: Tips and Tricks

To make the most of Pokérus, consider the following strategies:

• Spread the love: As soon as a Pokémon contracts Pokérus, prioritize spreading it to as many other Pokémon as possible. Fill your party with Pokémon you plan to EV train in the future.

• Strategic storage: Pokémon stored in the PC Box do not progress the Pokérus timer. This is crucial! You can store Pokémon with active Pokérus in the box to effectively pause the countdown and preserve their ability to spread the virus indefinitely.

• Combine with items: For even faster EV training, combine Pokérus with Power Items (items that grant additional EVs per battle) and the Macho Brace. These combinations can dramatically accelerate the EV training process.

• Nicknaming: Nickname a Pokemon with active Pokerus as “Pokerus” or something similar so you remember not to lose it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pokérus

1. Is Pokérus contagious to humans or other real-world animals?

No, Pokérus is exclusively a Pokémon phenomenon. It only affects Pokémon within the game world.

2. How rare is Pokérus, really?

Pokérus is incredibly rare. The odds of encountering it vary slightly depending on the game, but it’s generally accepted to be rarer than encountering a shiny Pokémon. Some estimate the odds to be around 1 in 21,845, or 3 in 65,536.

3. Can Pokémon be born with Pokérus?

No, Pokérus cannot be passed down through breeding. A Pokémon must contract it through battling.

4. What happens if I release a Pokémon with Pokérus?

If you release a Pokémon with Pokérus, you permanently lose that instance of the virus. Consider trading it to a friend first, so they can benefit from it.

5. Does Pokérus affect all stats equally?

No, Pokérus only doubles the EVs earned after a battle. It doesn’t change the type or distribution of EVs earned. You still need to strategically battle specific Pokémon to train specific stats.

6. Can a Pokémon contract Pokérus more than once?

No, a Pokémon can only contract Pokérus once in its lifetime. After being “cured,” it becomes immune to the virus.

7. Does Pokérus affect shiny Pokémon differently?

No, Pokérus affects shiny Pokémon in the exact same way as non-shiny Pokémon. There’s no special interaction between the two.

8. What’s the best way to find a Pokémon with Pokérus?

The best way to find a Pokémon with Pokérus is typically through trading with other players. Check online forums, trading communities, and social media groups.

9. If my Pokemon is on a long trip in Pokejobs will it get cured from Pokerus?

Yes, a Pokemon on a long trip in Pokejobs will get cured from Pokerus.

10. Will I lose my progress if my Pokémon is cured of Pokérus?

Absolutely not. You will never lose the progress you made with Pokérus. When it disappears they still have all the benefits of the extra effort values gained while they were infected.

11. Can I control which Pokémon in my party gets infected with Pokérus?

You cannot directly control which Pokémon gets infected. However, placing the infected Pokémon in the first slot of your party increases the chances of spreading it to adjacent Pokémon.

12. Is there any way to remove Pokérus?

No, there is no way to remove Pokérus once a Pokémon has contracted it. However, as mentioned earlier, there’s no reason to want to remove it.

13. Does Pokérus affect experience points (EXP)?

No, Pokérus only affects Effort Values (EVs). It has no impact on the amount of experience points your Pokémon earn.

14. Is Pokérus a glitch or an intended game mechanic?

Pokérus is an intended game mechanic. It was designed to be a rare and beneficial status effect that aids in EV training.

15. Why was Pokérus removed?

The point is though, Pokérus is a virus, and was likely removed if only because it might hit too close to home for a lot of people. Especially since Poker’s is a positive thing in these games. Others don’t get to dictate what’s normal and what isn’t. It’s something we decide for ourselves.