Poison Heal
Gen IVIf this Pokémon is poisoned, it will heal for 1/8 of its maximum HP after each turn rather than taking damage. This includes bad poison.
Poison Heal in Battle
Poison Heal completely reverses the typical effects of poison status, transforming what would normally be gradual damage into consistent recovery. When a Pokemon with this ability becomes poisoned or badly poisoned, it restores 1/8 of its maximum HP at the end of each turn instead of losing health. This healing occurs regardless of whether the Pokemon is afflicted with regular poison or the more severe badly poisoned condition that would typically deal escalating damage over time.
The ability creates fascinating strategic opportunities, particularly with Gliscor, which has become a premier defensive pivot in competitive play thanks to this unique recovery method. Players often intentionally poison their own Poison Heal Pokemon using moves like Toxic Orb or through opponent's status moves, effectively granting themselves reliable healing every turn. This makes Pokemon with Poison Heal incredibly difficult to wear down through conventional means, as they can potentially outlast opponents in longer battles.
What makes Poison Heal particularly valuable is its unconditional nature - unlike many other recovery abilities that require specific conditions or have limited uses, Poison Heal provides consistent healing as long as the poison status remains active. The ability has remained mechanically unchanged since its introduction in Generation 4, maintaining its role as a powerful defensive tool that can completely shift the momentum of battles when utilized effectively.
Pokemon With Poison Heal (3)
Effect Changes
| Version | Change Description |
|---|---|
| Black White | Poison still damages the Pokémon outside of battle. |