Pokerus is a beneficial virus in the Pokémon games that affects Pokémon and can increase their Effort Value (EV) gains. It was first introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver.
What Does Pokerus Do?
- Increases EV Gains: When a Pokémon is infected with Pokerus, its EV gain is doubled. This means that a Pokémon with Pokerus will earn twice as many EVs for each battle it participates in.
- Infectious: Pokerus is contagious and can spread to other Pokémon in the player's party.
- Temporary: Pokerus is a temporary condition that typically lasts for four days in-game. After that, the Pokémon will become immune to the virus but retain the doubled EV gain benefit.
Why Is Pokerus Beneficial?
Effort Values play a crucial role in a Pokémon's stats. Higher EVs in certain stats make a Pokémon stronger in those areas. Because Pokerus doubles EV gains, it significantly reduces the time needed to maximize a Pokémon's stats. This makes Pokerus a highly sought-after condition for competitive battling.
How Can You Tell if a Pokémon Has Pokerus?
You can tell if a Pokémon has Pokerus by checking its status screen. A small "pkRS" tab will appear next to the Pokémon's status icons if it is infected.
How to Get Pokerus
Pokerus is a random occurrence and cannot be obtained through any specific method. It has a chance of appearing when a Pokémon battles another Pokémon.
