What are the Full Odds of Pokerus?
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The full odds of Pokerus are approximately 3 in 65,536, which is equivalent to about 1 in 21,845, making it a rare occurrence in the Pokémon world, even more so than encountering or hatching a Shiny Pokémon. The Pokerus virus is a highly sought-after status effect that can significantly boost a Pokémon’s Effort Value (EV) gain, but its rarity makes it a challenging task to acquire, especially without trading with other players.
Understanding Pokerus and its Effects
To fully grasp the odds of Pokerus, it’s essential to understand what it does and how it works. Pokerus is a virus that, when contracted by a Pokémon, doubles its EV gain from battles. This effect is permanent for the Pokémon that contracts it, even after it has been cured of the virus. However, the ability to spread the virus to other Pokémon is time-limited, typically lasting between 1 to 4 days.
FAQs About Pokerus
1. Is Pokerus Rarer than a Shiny?
Yes, Pokerus is indeed rarer than encountering or hatching a Shiny Pokémon, with odds of approximately 1 in 21,845 compared to the odds of a Shiny Pokémon, which are 1 in 8,192 in most games.
2. How Long Will Pokerus Last?
Pokerus will usually last for about 1 to 4 days before being cured by itself, during which time the Pokémon gains double EVs in battle and can spread the virus to other Pokémon in the party.
3. Can Pokerus be Permanent?
No, Pokerus itself is not permanent, and it will eventually be cured from the Pokémon. However, the beneficial effect of doubled EV gain remains with the Pokémon forever.
4. Is Pokerus Still Rare?
Yes, Pokerus remains a very rare event, with the odds of meeting a wild Pokémon with it being roughly 0.004651%.
5. Can Pokémon Get Pokerus Twice?
No, a Pokémon can only contract Pokerus once. After it has been cured, the Pokémon cannot receive Pokerus again but retains the benefit of doubled EV gain.
6. How Rare is a Pokerus Shiny?
The odds of a Pokerus Shiny are extremely low, calculated as 3/536870912, combining the rarity of Pokerus and a Shiny Pokémon.
7. Has Pokerus Been Removed?
Yes, Pokerus has been removed from the latest Pokémon games, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, as indicated by dataminers who found no assets for the virus in the game.
8. Why Was Pokerus Removed?
The removal of Pokerus might be due to its nature as a virus, which could be seen as insensitive given real-world events, despite its positive effects in the Pokémon universe.
9. Does Pokerus Run Out?
Yes, Pokerus can run out as it is cured from a Pokémon after a certain period, usually between 1 to 4 days, after which the Pokémon cannot spread the virus but still benefits from doubled EV gain.
10. Is Pokerus Infinite?
No, Pokerus is not infinite. Its duration varies and is dependent on a random number, often referred to as the strain of the virus, lasting between 1 to 4 days.
11. Why is Pokerus So Rare?
Pokerus is rare likely because the intention was for players to spread it among themselves, making it a community-driven aspect of the game.
12. Why Isn’t Pokerus Spreading?
Pokerus won’t spread if the infected Pokémon is stored in the PC for too long without being withdrawn. It also doesn’t spread through breeding.
13. Can Pokerus Be Bred?
No, Pokerus cannot be spread through breeding. The only way to spread Pokerus is by having an infected Pokémon in your party and battling with it.
14. What is the Hardest Shiny Pokémon to Get?
Among the hardest Shiny Pokémon to get is Tauros, especially its rarer breeds, due to its low spawn rate and the specificity of its shiny forms.
15. What is the Rarest Shiny?
The rarest Shiny Pokémon can vary, but Unown is often cited as one of the rarest due to its unique characteristics and low encounter rates, followed closely by other Pokémon like Heracross and certain breeds of Tauros.