Pokérus is a beneficial game mechanic in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, not an illness that affects people. A Pokémon with Pokérus earns double effort values (EVs) from battles, which can speed up EV training. You can rarely encounter an infected Pokémon or receive one in a trade; then keep it in your party while battling to give other party members a chance to catch it.
What Pokérus does in Sword and Shield
Pokérus doubles the EVs a Pokémon earns from battles. EVs are a training system that contributes to a Pokémon’s stats, so the bonus can help you reach a chosen training target with fewer battles. It does not double experience points, levels, or every kind of stat training. The Bulbapedia Pokérus reference distinguishes battle-earned EVs from EVs gained through items: vitamins and feathers are not doubled.
For broader Sword and Shield training guidance, Serebii’s training guide includes Pokérus among the available methods.
How to get Pokérus
Receive an infected Pokémon in a trade
The most practical route is to obtain a Pokémon that already has Pokérus from another player. The game guides describe trading as a way to acquire an infected Pokémon; whether another player can provide one depends on finding a willing trading partner.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall#1 Best Overall
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on an all-new adventure in the Galar region
- Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
- Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
- Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles***!
- Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and try catching them***
Wait for a rare spontaneous infection
Pokérus can also appear through gameplay, but the cited references describe spontaneous infection as very rare. They discuss infection after battles and encounters involving infected wild Pokémon as general Pokérus mechanics; they do not establish an official Sword and Shield-specific infection probability or guarantee that a particular wild encounter will infect your Pokémon. See the descriptions in Bulbapedia and Serebii.
How to spread it to your party
-
Put the actively infected Pokémon in your party alongside the Pokémon you want to infect.
Rank #2
Pokemon Shield - Nintendo Switch (European Version)- New entries in the main series of Pokémon RPGs arrive on Nintendo Switch simultaneously in late 2019
- The Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games take place in the newly discovered Galar Region
- Galar is an expansive region with diverse environments - an idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forest and craggy, snow-covered mountains
- Fans will have the opportunity to visit Gyms in the Galar region in their quest to become Champion
- Newly discovered partner Pokémon join in this new iteration of the games - Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble
-
Complete battles with the infected Pokémon still in your party. The references describe party members catching Pokérus after battles; infection is an opportunity, not a guaranteed result after each one.
-
Check the party Pokémon for Pokérus, then keep an actively infected source in reserve if you want to infect more Pokémon later.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #3
![Nintendo Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass (Retail Version) - [Switch Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51l34qxMYhL._SL160_.jpg)
Nintendo Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass (Retail Version) - [Switch Digital Code]- Continue your Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield adventure in The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, two new areas to explore that will be added to the Galar region as part of the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass or Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass
- Redeem your download code in the Nintendo eShop for either the Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass. Upon redeeming the code, you will be prompted to select one Expansion Pass. Only redeemable for one Expansion Pass.
- You'll also see some familiar Pokémon that didn't appear in the Galar region before, a total of over 200 Pokémon
- Part 1: The Isle of Armor is available now; Part 2: The Crown Tundra is scheduled for release during the fall of 2020
- If you purchase the Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass, you'll receive two codes redeemable to get two special uniform sets of in-game apparel as a bonus
According to Bulbapedia’s mechanics reference, putting an actively infected Pokémon in the PC preserves its contagious state. You can therefore store a source Pokémon between training projects rather than risk letting its contagious phase end while it remains outside storage.
What happens when Pokérus is cured?
Once a Pokémon is cured, it can no longer spread Pokérus, but it keeps the benefit: its battle-earned EVs are still doubled. The cited references do not establish a reliable Sword and Shield-specific number of calendar days before cure, so do not rely on a fixed timer. If you want a contagious source for future use, deposit it in the PC while it is still actively infected.
Rank #4
- A new generation of Pokemon is coming to the Nintendo Switch system.
- Become a Pokemon Trainer and embark on a new journey in the new Galar region!
- Choose from one of three new partner Pokemon: Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble.
- In this all new adventure, you'll encounter new and familiar Pokemon as you catch, battle, and trade Pokemon while exploring new areas and uncovering an all-new story.
- Get ready for the next Pokemon adventure in the Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield games.
Pokérus versus other EV-training methods
| Training source | Does Pokérus double the EVs? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Battle-earned EVs | Yes | Pokérus doubles EVs earned through battles. |
| Vitamins and feathers | No | The Bulbapedia Pokérus reference says these item-based EV gains are not doubled. |
Pokérus is useful when you plan to earn EVs through battles. It is not a multiplier for every training source, and having it does not remove the need to choose which stats you want to train.
Sources and scope
Pokérus gameplay details here are drawn from the community game references Bulbapedia and Serebii. Pokémon’s official support information confirms Sword and Shield as game titles and covers services such as Pokémon HOME, but it does not document Pokérus mechanics; it should not be treated as official confirmation of the details above. See Pokémon Support’s Pokémon HOME instructions.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
