What Resists Spore in Pokémon? A Comprehensive Guide

The Spore move in Pokémon is infamous for its 100% accuracy in inducing sleep, making it a potent tool in battles. However, not all Pokémon are susceptible to this debilitating move. Understanding which Pokémon and conditions resist Spore is crucial for strategic gameplay.

Essentially, Spore is resisted by Pokémon with specific abilities, types, or held items that grant them immunity to sleep or powder-based moves. These resistances are essential in countering strategies that heavily rely on putting opponents to sleep. Let’s delve deeper into the various factors that contribute to Spore resistance.

Types and Abilities That Resist Spore

Grass-Type Pokémon

Starting from Generation VI onwards, Grass-type Pokémon gained immunity to powder-based moves, which includes Spore. This makes them a direct counter to Pokémon that utilize Spore as a primary strategy. Grass-types like Venusaur, Decidueye, and Leafeon are naturally immune to being put to sleep by Spore.

Abilities that Grant Sleep Immunity

Several Pokémon abilities provide immunity to sleep, making them effective counters against Spore users. These abilities include:

• Insomnia: Pokémon with the Insomnia ability cannot be put to sleep. Examples include Murkrow, Honchkrow, and Noctowl.
• Vital Spirit: Similar to Insomnia, the Vital Spirit ability also prevents the Pokémon from falling asleep. Primeape, Electabuzz, and Entei are among the Pokémon that possess this ability.
• Magic Bounce: This powerful ability, notably possessed by Espeon and Hatterene, reflects status moves back at the user. If a Spore user targets a Pokémon with Magic Bounce, the Spore will be reflected back and the original user will fall asleep, making this a strong deterrent against Spore.

Held Items

• Safety Goggles: Pokémon holding Safety Goggles are entirely immune to the effects of powder-based moves, making them safe from Spore. This held item is a reliable counter, particularly against Pokémon that utilize multiple powder moves.

Other Status Immunities

While not specifically focused on Spore, immunity to all status conditions, such as from Abilities like Comatose, makes the Pokémon immune to Spore’s sleep effect.

Actions That Can Prevent Spore

• Using Uproar: While a Pokémon is using the move Uproar, any Pokémon on the field will not be able to fall asleep. This is a less common counter but can be strategically deployed to neutralize Spore attempts.

• Taunt: The move Taunt prevents the targeted Pokémon from using status moves, which include Spore. By using Taunt on a Spore user, it will be unable to use its Spore move for the next few turns.

• Substitute: A Pokémon can use Substitute to create a doll that absorbs status moves, including Spore. If the Substitute is in place, the sleep effect from Spore will not affect the user.

Spore Users and Their Vulnerabilities

Most Pokémon that learn Spore are slow, with Breloom being the fastest at base 70 speed. Speed is a crucial factor, and a faster Pokémon can often either defeat a Spore user before it acts or use a strategy such as Taunt to block the use of Spore. Furthermore, using moves that hit multiple times can quickly defeat the low-defense Pokémon that use Spore.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Spore Resistance

1. Are Electric-type Pokémon immune to Spore?

No, Electric-type Pokémon are not immune to Spore. They are immune to paralysis from moves like Stun Spore, but this immunity doesn’t extend to sleep-inducing powder moves like Spore.

2. Can Pokémon with the Ability Overcoat resist Spore?

No, the ability Overcoat does not provide immunity to Spore. Overcoat only provides immunity from damage from weather conditions and the effect of the move Powder and other powder based moves.

3. Does Spore work against a Pokémon with the ability Soundproof?

No, the ability Soundproof does not stop Spore. Soundproof blocks moves that are classified as “sound” moves. Spore is not a sound-based move.

4. Is it possible to reflect Spore back at the user?

Yes, Pokémon with the Magic Bounce ability can reflect status moves like Spore back at the user. This can be a devastating counter, instantly putting the Spore user to sleep.

5. If a Pokémon is already afflicted with a status condition, can Spore affect it?

Yes, if a Pokemon is already afflicted by a status condition, Spore can overwrite that status with Sleep. For example, a paralyzed Pokémon can still be put to sleep with Spore.

6. Can you use a move like Sleep Talk to counter Spore?

No, Sleep Talk will not directly counter Spore. While Sleep Talk allows a sleeping Pokémon to use a random move, it doesn’t make a Pokémon immune to the initial sleep effect of Spore.

7. How does the move Aromatherapy interact with Spore?

Aromatherapy removes status conditions from all Pokemon on your team, including Sleep. This move would allow you to wake up any Pokemon put to sleep by Spore, however, it does not prevent the use of Spore.

8. Can a Pokémon with a move like Heal Bell be used to counter Spore?

Yes, much like Aromatherapy, Heal Bell can cure status ailments, including sleep. While it doesn’t prevent Spore’s effects initially, it can remove the sleep condition after it is applied.

9. If a Pokémon has the ability Early Bird, can it wake up faster from Spore?

Yes, the Early Bird ability allows the Pokémon to wake up quicker from sleep. While it won’t stop the initial sleep, it will lessen the duration of sleep caused by Spore.

10. Is a Pokémon that uses Safeguard protected from Spore?

Yes, Safeguard will prevent Spore from affecting your Pokemon team for 5 turns. After these turns are over, Spore will work as normal.

11. Are there any specific items other than Safety Goggles that can block Spore?

No, Safety Goggles are the only held item that directly blocks Spore. Other items that prevent status conditions don’t block the initial application of sleep.

12. Can a Pokémon with the ability Limber resist Spore?

No, the Limber ability does not block Spore. Limber prevents paralysis, not sleep.

13. How do multi-hit moves fare against Spore?

Multi-hit moves are effective against Pokémon that use Spore due to most Spore users being frail. Moves that hit multiple times can quickly defeat Spore users before they can use Spore.

14. Why is Spore considered a good move?

Spore is considered a strong move due to its 100% accuracy in inflicting sleep, unlike other sleep-inducing moves. This makes it incredibly reliable for disabling opponents.

15. Are there any Pokémon that are completely immune to all status moves, including Spore?

Yes, Pokemon with abilities that provide full status immunity, such as Comatose, are immune to all status moves, including Spore. While these are rare, they provide full status protection against all moves of this type.

By understanding these resistance factors, players can create strategies to effectively counter Spore and other status moves, giving them a significant advantage in battles.