Using & Playing Around Status Conditions — Paralysis, Burn, Poison, Sleep
Status conditions punch above their weight in stats. How to use each one, when to use them, and how to protect against them with berries and typing. (updated: 2026-07-22)
Status conditions are strength that doesn't show up in the numbers
Status conditions don't appear in base stats or move power, but they can completely flip the outcome of a matchup. Shutting one Pokémon down, or chipping it away every turn, can do more work than raw power ever could when used well.
Each condition and how to use it
- Paralysis (Thunder Wave, etc.): sharply lowers Speed and has a chance to fully prevent action. The standard tool for a speed reversal, letting you outpace something that was originally faster.
- Burn (Will-O-Wisp, etc.): halves physical attack damage and chips HP every turn. A defensive trump card for shutting down physical attackers.
- Poison / Toxic: chips HP every turn. Toxic's damage increases the longer it's active, making it brutal against bulky Pokémon and in prolonged, defensive matches.
- Sleep: prevents action for several turns — one of the strongest disruption tools in the game. Often used to force a setup opportunity, and can swing a match entirely on its own if it lands.
- Freeze / Confusion: involve some luck, but can create a big advantage when they land.
Using status offensively vs. defensively
Status conditions play different roles depending on how you use them.
- As an offensive setup tool: paralyze to steal Speed, then push through a stat-boosting move. Or put one threat to sleep and use the opening to gain a favorable matchup elsewhere.
- As a defensive damage source: apply burn or poison for steady residual damage and grind the opponent down through a defensive cycle. It's one of the few damage sources available to a wall that lacks strong attacks.
Protecting yourself when it happens to you
The opponent will be trying to inflict status on you too — attackers especially are vulnerable to getting shut down by paralysis or burn. Know your defensive item options:
- Lum Berry: cures any status condition once. A solid pick for an ace that's likely to be targeted by burn or paralysis.
- Chesto Berry: cures sleep. The classic "Rest + Chesto Berry" combo for a full heal without losing a turn to sleep.
- Type immunities: Poison-types can't be poisoned, Fire-types can't be burned, Electric-types can't be paralyzed. Switching in a Pokémon with the right typing is another way to shrug off a status move entirely.
For the full picture on item choices, see how to choose held items. You can also check what status moves an opposing ace is likely to carry on its own counter page.