No. 0046 · Generation I · Mushroom Pokémon
パラスParasu · From 'parasite' – the same name as in English, a nod to the mushrooms living off its back
The Mushroom Pokémon · Bug/Grass type · first seen in Pokémon Red & Green (1996)
01Overview
Meet Paras
Everything you need to know about the Mushroom Pokémon — the creature behind the number.
Meet Paras, the Mushroom Pokémon: a small, red-orange bug built like a cicada nymph, with a plump, segmented body and three pairs of legs. The front pair is the biggest and ends in sharp little claws, and its round eyes carry large false pupils that give it a permanently wide-eyed stare. Yet nobody really looks at the bug first – they look at the red-and-yellow mushrooms sprouting from its back.
Those mushrooms are called tochukaso, and they are anything but decoration. A newborn Paras is dusted with spores from its mother's mushrooms, but infants carry no caps at all; the tochukaso only push through as the bug matures. From then on they feed on their host, drawing nutrients from its body – however much Paras eats, its passengers take the lion's share.
“Growing out of the bug's back are mushrooms called tochukaso. The mushrooms grow with the bug host.”
Pokédex · Pokémon Red (Japan), Green (Japan), FireRed & X · 1996
Worse still, the fungi give the orders. It is the tochukaso that send Paras burrowing after tree roots and tapping tree trunks for juice, and the bug has very little say in the matter. It is a strange double life for a creature that usually keeps to dark caves and damp forests, often lurking at the foot of trees. Even its mushrooms have their limits, though: in Alola they never grow quite right, perhaps for want of moisture or nourishment.
People find the arrangement rather useful. The mushrooms can be removed at any time, and collectors prize them, because dried and powdered tochukaso make a medicine said to extend life. The fungus has tastes of its own, too: it loves damp, dark places and hates bright light. Paras, meanwhile, simply carries on, and at level 24 it evolves into Parasect – by which point the mushroom has grown huge and taken complete control of its host.
For many players Paras is a Mt. Moon memory – the odd little crab-like bug skittering through the cave on the road to Cerulean City – and an early lesson in type matchups, with two crushing quadruple weaknesses to Fire and Flying. It was also, for years, something rare: until Breloom arrived in Generation III, Paras and Parasect were the only Pokémon that learnt Spore by levelling up – one of the most reliable sleep moves in the games. Small, strange and a little bit sinister, it remains one of the most memorable bugs in the Kanto Pokédex.
How big is Paras?
At 0.3 m (1′00″) Paras is about as long as a school ruler, and at 5.4 kg (11.9 lb) it weighs about as much as a well-fed house cat – mushrooms included.
Evolution
02In the Pokédex's words
Paras's Pokédex entries
19 different entries across 42 games, from 1996 to 2022. Here is how the Pokédex has described Paras over the years, in the order the games came out.
Generation I
Growing out of the bug's back are mushrooms called tochukaso. The mushrooms grow with the bug host.
Kanto Pokédex
Burrows to suck tree roots. The mushrooms on its back grow by drawing nutrients from the bug host.
Kanto Pokédex
Burrows under the ground to gnaw on tree roots. The mushrooms on its back absorb most of the nutrition.
Kanto Pokédex
Grows by sucking nutrients from the roots of trees. The mushrooms on its back grow by drawing extracts from the bug host.
Kanto Pokédex
Generation II
It is doused with mushroom spores when it is born. As its body grows, mushrooms sprout from its back.
Johto Pokédex
As its body grows large, oriental mushrooms named tochukaso start sprouting out of its back.
Johto Pokédex
The tochukaso growing on this Pokémon's back orders it to extract juice from tree trunks.
Johto Pokédex
As its body grows large, oriental mushrooms called tochukaso start sprouting out of its back.
Kanto Pokédex
Generation III
Paras has parasitic mushrooms growing on its back called tochukaso. They grow large by drawing nutrients from the Bug Pokémon host. They are highly valued as a medicine for extending life.
Hoenn Pokédex
Paras has parasitic mushrooms growing on its back called tochukaso. They grow large by drawing nutrients from this Bug Pokémon host. They are highly valued as a medicine for extending life.
Hoenn Pokédex
Paras has parasitic mushrooms growing on its back called tochukaso. They grow large by drawing nutrients from this Bug/Grass Pokémon host. They are highly valued as a medicine for extending life.
Hoenn Pokédex
A Paras has parasitic tochukaso mushrooms growing on its back. They grow by drawing nutrients from the host. They are valued as a medicine for long life.
Hoenn Pokédex
Generation IV
Mushrooms named tochukaso grow on its back. They grow along with the host Paras.
Sinnoh Pokédex
As its body grows, large mushrooms named tochukaso start sprouting out of its back.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Pokédex
Generation VII
No matter how much it eats, the mushrooms growing on its back steal away most of the nutrients it consumes.
Rotom Pokédex
Mushrooms called tochukaso sprout from its back. They can be dried and powdered to make a medicine used to extend life.
Rotom Pokédex
Whether it's due to a lack of moisture or a lack of nutrients, in Alola the mushrooms on Paras don't grow up quite right.
Rotom Pokédex
The mushrooms, known as tochukaso, are controlling the bug. Even if the bug bugs the mushrooms, they tell it to bug off.
Rotom Pokédex
Generation VIII
Sometimes seen at the foot of trees in humid forests. The mushrooms on its back—called tochukaso—are not present on infant specimens and instead emerge as Paras matures.
Hisui Pokédex
03Stats, moves & where to find it
Paras in the video games
Base stat total 285 · 24 core-series games · 23 spin-offs · every move it learns, generation by generation.
Base stats
Paras's base stats have never changed: 35 HP, 70 Attack, 55 Defense, 45 Sp. Atk, 55 Sp. Def and 25 Speed, a total of 285. In Red, Green, Blue and Yellow it had a single Special stat of 55; when Gold and Silver split Special in two, Sp. Def kept the 55 while Sp. Atk dropped to 45. Its base experience yield was 70 in Generations I–IV and has been 57 since Generation V, and its base friendship was 70 in Generations II–VII before settling at 50.
Abilities
- Effect Sporesince Gen III
Any Pokémon that touches Paras risks being poisoned, paralysed or put to sleep by its spores. - Dry Skinsince Gen IV
Rain and Water-type moves restore its HP, but harsh sunlight drains it and Fire-type moves hurt even more. - DampHidden abilitysince Gen V
Stops every Pokémon on the field from using explosive moves such as Self-Destruct and Explosion.
Type matchups
How hard each attacking type hits a Bug/Grass Pokémon.
Generation I: Poison-type moves were super effective against Bug as well as Grass, so they hit Paras for 4× too – three quadruple weaknesses at once. With the Dry Skin Ability, Water-type moves restore Paras's HP instead of hurting it, while Fire-type moves deal 25% extra damage, effectively 5×. Fairy, added in Generation VI, deals neutral damage.
Training & breeding
- Catch rate
- 190
- Base friendship
- 50
- Base experience
- 57
- Growth rate
- Medium Fast
- EV yield
- 1 Attack
- Egg groups
- Bug, Grass
- Egg cycles
- 20
- Colour
- Red
- Gender ratio
- 50% male
- Body shape
- insectoid
Where to find Paras
| Game | Year | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Green | 1996 | Wild in Mt. Moon and the Safari Zone |
| Blue (Japan) | 1996 | Wild in Mt. Moon and the Safari Zone |
| Red & Blue | 1998 | Wild in Mt. Moon and the Safari Zone |
| Yellow | 1998 | Wild in Mt. Moon and the Safari Zone |
| Gold & Silver | 1999 | Wild in Ilex Forest and Kanto's Mt. Moon; also in the National Park's Bug-Catching Contest (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) |
| Crystal | 2000 | Wild in Ilex Forest and Kanto's Mt. Moon; also in the National Park's Bug-Catching Contest (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) |
| Ruby & Sapphire | 2002 | Not found in Hoenn – trade one in |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | 2004 | Wild in Mt. Moon and the Safari Zone |
| Emerald | 2004 | Not found in Hoenn – trade one in |
| Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | Wild in the Great Marsh after obtaining the National PokédexParas moved over from the Game Boy Advance games turn up in the Forest area of Pal Park. |
| Platinum | 2008 | Wild in the Great Marsh after obtaining the National Pokédex |
| HeartGold & SoulSilver | 2009 | Wild in Ilex Forest and Mt. Moon, in the National Park's Bug-Catching Contest (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) and in the Safari Zone (the Swamp's tall grass by morning and day, or the Peak once it has 3 Forest points)It can also be found on the Pokéwalker's Noisy Forest course. |
| Black & White | 2010 | White only: in swarms on Route 11Black players have to trade. Paras could also be met in the Dream Park of the online Pokémon Dream World. |
| Black 2 & White 2 | 2012 | Not found in Unova – trade one in |
| X & Y | 2013 | Bug-type Friend Safari |
| Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire | 2014 | Hidden in Petalburg Woods, found with the DexNav after the Groudon or Kyogre showdown |
| Sun & Moon | 2016 | Wild on Route 11, at Brooklet Hill and in Lush Jungle (daytime) |
| Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon | 2017 | Wild at Brooklet Hill and in Lush Jungle (daytime) |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! | 2018 | Wild in Mt. Moon |
| Sword & Shield | 2019 | Not available |
| Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl | 2021 | After obtaining the National Pokédex: wild in the Great Marsh, and in the Grand Underground (Grassland Cave, Sunlit Cavern, Swampy Cave and Bogsunk Cavern) |
| Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Wild in the Obsidian Fieldlands (Nature's Pantry), all over the Crimson Mirelands, near Windbreak Stand in the Cobalt Coastlands and in the Coronet Highlands (Heavenward Lookout, Wayward Wood)Massive mass outbreaks can also fill the Obsidian Fieldlands and Crimson Mirelands with Paras. |
| Scarlet & Violet | 2022 | Not available |
| Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Not available |
Sprites through the ages
Spin-offs & cameos
Pokémon GO
Paras has been scuttling around Pokémon GO since the game launched in July 2016. Evolving it into Parasect costs 50 Candy, and as a buddy it earns a Candy every 3 km. Shiny hunters had to wait until 20 February 2021, when Shiny Paras arrived with Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto. In battle, Paras pairs Scratch or Bug Bite with Cross Poison, X-Scissor or Seed Bomb.
Paras's Jungle card – Scratch, Spore and all – can be collected and played in the Game Boy version of the card game.
Catch it at Mt. Moon on the Blue Field, or in the Safari Zone on either table.
Paras steps into 3D battle with its own Stadium Pokédex entry about mushrooms drawing extracts from their bug host.
Its Pokédex text depends on the cartridge plugged in: Gold's entry for Red, Silver or Crystal, and Silver's tochukaso entry for Blue, Gold or Yellow.
Paras returns as a card in the Japan-only sequel to the Game Boy card game.
A Shadow Paras lurks in the Cipher Key Lair, waiting to be snagged and purified.
A common piece that turns up in Secret Storage 1 and 10, Endless Level 25 and Mr. Who's Den.
Recruit one deep in Silent Chasm (B7F–B9F) and it settles in Mushroom Forest, cheerfully declaring: 'The mushrooms on my back are my friends!'
Found in Krokka Tunnel, Paras fights capture by slicing through the Capture Line with its front claws. Once befriended, its field move is Cut.
Paras can be recruited in Apple Woods (1F–12F).
Apple Woods is once again the place to find one.
Catch it in Stage 302, Desert Umbra; its Paralyze skill leaves the opponent paralysed.
A polite Paras who asks: 'May I offer one of the mushrooms on my back as a token of friendship?'
A wild regular since launch, evolving into Parasect for 50 Candy; Shiny Paras arrived with Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto in 2021.
Turns up in the Charizard, Snorlax, Bulbasaur and Rayquaza Seas.
During Egg events built around Bug-type Pokémon, Paras could hatch to partner your own player character.
Silent Chasm (6F–9F) is home again, with more Paras in Oddity Cave, Remains Island, Marvelous Sea and Fantasy Strait.
Listed as No. 017 in Pokopia's Pokédex, which borrows Yellow's line about gnawing on tree roots.
Moves
Paras has always fought like a team of two. In Red and Blue it scratched, dusted foes with Stun Spore, nibbled away with Leech Life and, at level 27, unlocked Spore, a 100%-accurate cloud of sleep-inducing spores that is still its calling card. Gold and Silver added Poison Powder and the nourishing Giga Drain, and Ruby and Sapphire brought the calming scent of Aromatherapy. Diamond and Pearl then pulled everything forward, handed out the powders at level 6 and gave the bug its own big finish in X-Scissor.
Black and White slipped in Fury Cutter and Rage Powder, a dusting that pulls opponents' attacks onto Paras, and Sun and Moon swapped its early Leech Life for Absorb once Leech Life grew into an 80-power TM. Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! hand it Sleep Powder at level 2, while Legends: Arceus trims the list to eight moves and adds Venoshock and Energy Ball. Paras skipped Sword and Shield and hasn't yet sprouted in Scarlet, Violet or Legends: Z-A, so Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl hold its latest full learnset.
Signature moves
The mushroom's party trick: a puff of spores that sends the target straight to sleep with 100% accuracy. Paras has learned it in every game since Red and Blue, at 27 back then and at 22 in the main series since Black and White.
Paras's oldest powder, ready at level 13 in Red and Blue and creeping forward to level 6 in the main series since Diamond and Pearl, with Poison Powder arriving alongside it.
The bug's own bite, a level-20 move in Red and Blue. Sun and Moon turned it into an 80-power TM, and Let's Go hands it back by level-up at 23.
A fitting move for a Pokémon whose mushrooms feed on it: a nutrient-sapping drain learned at 43 in Gold and Silver and at 38 in the main series since Black and White.
A soothing waft from Ruby and Sapphire onwards that cures the whole team's status problems, learned at 49 at first, 38 in Diamond and Pearl and 43 from Black and White.
Black and White's gift at level 49: an irritating powder that makes opponents aim their attacks at Paras.
The Bug-type finale since Diamond and Pearl, where it arrives at 43; from Black and White it closes the list at 54.
Complete learnsets
Generation I · Red, Green, Blue & Yellow6 level-up · 17 TM/HM
Paras scuttles around Mt. Moon and the Safari Zone in Red, Blue and Yellow, and all of these games share one six-move level-up list: Scratch from the start, Stun Spore at 13, Leech Life at 20, Spore at 27, Slash at 34 and Growth at 41. Seventeen TMs and HMs round it out, from Swords Dance to SolarBeam, and the moves wear their original spellings (SolarBeam, PoisonPowder). In this era a move's category is set by its type, so Leech Life is a physical attack and Mega Drain a special one. Counter, Light Screen, Psybeam and Screech (Egg Moves from Gold, Silver and Crystal), PoisonPowder and Flash can be carried back to these games through the Time Capsule.
By level-up
| RGBY | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 13 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 20 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 27 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 34 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 41 | Growth | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM03 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM08 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| TM09 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| TM10 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM20 | Rage | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| TM21 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM22 | SolarBeam | Grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Mimic | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM33 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM34 | Bide | Normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| TM40 | Skull Bash | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM50 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Counter | Gen II (breeding) |
| Flash | Gen II (HM) |
| Light Screen | Gen II (breeding) |
| PoisonPowder | Gen II (level-up) |
| Psybeam | Gen II (breeding) |
| Screech | Gen II (breeding) |
Generation II · Gold, Silver & Crystal8 level-up · 24 TM/HM · 8 egg · 1 event
Gold, Silver and Crystal keep Paras in Mt. Moon and add Ilex Forest and the Bug-Catching Contest in National Park, held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The old level-up moves all arrive a little sooner (Spore now at 25), PoisonPowder joins at 13 and Giga Drain caps the list off at 43. Breeding brings the first Egg Moves, including Counter from Heracross, Psybeam from the Venonat line and Flail by chain breeding through the Chikorita family; Sweet Scent is an Egg Move in Gold and Silver only, though all three games teach it as TM12. A Synthesis Paras was handed out at the Pokémon Center New York in January 2003. Categories still follow type, Curse is the mysterious ???-type, Hidden Power's category depends on the type it rolls, and there are no move tutors yet.
By level-up
| GSC | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 7 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 13 | PoisonPowder | Poison | Status | — | 75 | 35 |
| 19 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 25 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 31 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 37 | Growth | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| 43 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM03 | Curse | ??? | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM08 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM12 | Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM13 | Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| TM20 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM22 | SolarBeam | Grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM34 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM35 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Physical | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM49 | Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 10 | 95 | 20 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM05 | Flash | Normal | Status | — | 70 | 20 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Heracross |
| False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 | Scyther, Scizor |
| Flail | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium (chain breeding needed) |
| Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Ledyba, Ledian |
| Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Butterfree, Venonat, Venomoth |
| Pursuit | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor |
| Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 | Spinarak, Ariados, Yanma, Gligar |
| Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Bellossom, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Synthesis | Gotta Catch 'Em All Station! at the Pokémon Center New York (January 2003) |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Body Slam | Gen I (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Substitute | Gen I (TM) |
| Swords Dance | Gen I (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
Generation III · Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed & LeafGreen (plus Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness)9 level-up · 21 TM/HM · 8 egg · 11 tutor · 1 event
There are no wild Paras in Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald, but FireRed and LeafGreen bring it back to Mt. Moon and the Safari Zone. Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness has a level-28 Shadow Paras to snag in the Cipher Key Lair, and once purified it knows Refresh, a move Paras can't learn any other way. One level-up list covers all five handheld games, the Gold and Silver list with the soothing Aromatherapy added at 49. Bullet Seed, Aerial Ace, Facade and Secret Power join the TM case, Breloom and Nincada's family become new Egg Move fathers, and the tutors of FireRed and LeafGreen, Emerald and XD teach 11 moves between them. Categories still follow type, so Sludge Bomb is physical while Thief and Pursuit are special.
By level-up
| RSE/FRLG | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 7 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 13 | PoisonPowder | Poison | Status | — | 75 | 35 |
| 19 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 25 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 31 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 37 | Growth | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| 43 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| 49 | Aromatherapy | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM09 | Bullet Seed | Grass | Special | 10 | 100 | 30 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM22 | SolarBeam | Grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Physical | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM05 | Flash | Normal | Status | — | 70 | 20 |
| HM06 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Heracross, Breloom |
| False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 | Scyther, Scizor, Nincada, Ninjask |
| Flail | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo (chain breeding needed) |
| Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Ledyba, Ledian, Dustox |
| Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Butterfree, Venonat, Venomoth, Dustox |
| Pursuit | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor |
| Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 | Yanma, Gligar, Ninjask, Vibrava, Flygon |
| Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Oddish, Gloom, Bellossom, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Surskit, Masquerain, Roselia, Tropius |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | FRLG, Emerald |
| Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 10 | 95 | 20 | Emerald |
| Mimic | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | Emerald |
| Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | Emerald, XD |
| Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | FRLG, Emerald |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Refresh | Shadow Paras in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (Cipher Key Lair) |
Generation IV · Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver10 level-up · 33 TM/HM · 12 egg · 8 tutor
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum hide Paras in the Great Marsh once you have the National Pokédex, while HeartGold and SoulSilver bring back Mt. Moon, Ilex Forest and the Bug-Catching Contest and add the Safari Zone; the Pokéwalker's Noisy Forest route has it too. This is the first generation in which every move has its own physical or special category, so Sludge Bomb becomes special while Thief and Bullet Seed turn physical. The level-up list speeds up, with Stun Spore and PoisonPowder arriving together at 6, Spore at 17 and a brand-new Bug-type finale in X-Scissor at 43. Cross Poison joins the Egg Moves by way of Parasect, Skorupi and Drapion, Agility is an Egg Move in HeartGold and SoulSilver only, and the move tutors teach five moves in Platinum and eight in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
By level-up
| DPPt/HGSS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 6 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 6 | PoisonPowder | Poison | Status | — | 75 | 35 |
| 11 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 17 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 22 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 27 | Growth | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| 33 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| 38 | Aromatherapy | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 43 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM09 | Bullet Seed | Grass | Physical | 10 | 100 | 30 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM22 | SolarBeam | Grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM53 | Energy Ball | Grass | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM54 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM70 | Flash | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM78 | Captivate | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM81 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM83 | Natural Gift | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM86 | Grass Knot | Grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM06 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor, Ledyba, Ledian, Spinarak, Ariados, Surskit, Masquerain, Ninjask |
| Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | Ariados, Pineco, Ninjask, Yanmega |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Heracross, Breloom |
| Cross Poison | Poison | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | Parasect, Skorupi, Drapion |
| False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 | Scyther, Scizor, Nincada |
| Flail | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Bellossom, Tangela, Tangrowth, Pinsir, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo, Trapinch, Vibrava, Flygon (chain breeding needed) |
| Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Ledyba, Ledian, Dustox |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Scizor, Nincada |
| Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Butterfree, Venonat, Venomoth, Dustox |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor, Yanma, Yanmega |
| Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 | Yanma, Yanmega, Gligar, Gliscor, Ninjask, Vibrava, Flygon |
| Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Bellossom, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Surskit, Masquerain, Roselia, Tropius |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | HGSS |
| Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 10 | 95 | 20 | Pt, HGSS |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 | Pt, HGSS |
| Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
| String Shot | Bug | Status | — | 95 | 40 | HGSS |
| Synthesis | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 | Pt, HGSS |
| Worry Seed | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 | HGSS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Body Slam | Gen III (tutor) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Refresh | Gen III (Shadow Paras in Pokémon XD) |
Generation V · Black, White, Black 2 & White 212 level-up · 31 TM/HM · 13 egg · 9 tutor · 2 event
Paras only grows wild in Pokémon White, where it appears in swarms on Route 11; Black, Black 2 and White 2 have no wild Paras at all. The level-up list stretches to 12 moves, with Fury Cutter at 17 and Rage Powder at 49, while Giga Drain climbs to 75 power and X-Scissor slides to 54 as the closing act. Endure, Leech Seed and Natural Gift become Egg Moves, Black 2 and White 2 add nine tutor moves, and the Pokémon Dream World's Dream Park offered Paras with Cross Poison and Synthesis.
By level-up
| BW/B2W2 | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 6 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 6 | PoisonPowder | Poison | Status | — | 75 | 35 |
| 11 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 17 | Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 20 | 95 | 20 |
| 22 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 27 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Growth | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| 38 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| 43 | Aromatherapy | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 49 | Rage Powder | Bug | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 54 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Hone Claws | Dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM16 | Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM22 | SolarBeam | Grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM53 | Energy Ball | Grass | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM54 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| TM70 | Flash | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM76 | Struggle Bug | Bug | Special | 30 | 100 | 20 |
| TM81 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM86 | Grass Knot | Grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM94 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor, Ledyba, Ledian, Spinarak, Ariados, Surskit, Ninjask, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Joltik, Galvantula, Accelgor, Durant |
| Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | Caterpie, Weedle, Ariados, Pineco, Forretress, Shuckle, Wurmple, Ninjask, Kricketot, Burmy, Mothim, Combee, Skorupi, Drapion, Yanmega, Sewaddle, Swadloon, Leavanny, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Dwebble, Crustle, Joltik, Galvantula, Durant, Larvesta |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Heracross, Breloom |
| Cross Poison | Poison | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | Parasect, Spinarak, Ariados, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Heracross, Sewaddle, Karrablast |
| Flail | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Sewaddle, Dwebble, Crustle, Karrablast |
| Leech Seed | Grass | Status | — | 90 | 10 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Exeggcute, Hoppip, Skiploom, Jumpluff, Sunkern, Sunflora, Shroomish, Breloom, Roselia, Cacnea, Cacturne, Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra, Cherubi, Cherrim, Snivy, Servine, Serperior, Cottonee, Whimsicott |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Scizor, Nincada, Ferroseed, Ferrothorn, Durant |
| Natural Gift | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Oddish, Gloom, Exeggcute, Tangela, Tangrowth, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Pineco, Forretress, Lotad, Tropius |
| Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Butterfree, Venonat, Venomoth, Dustox, Mothim |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor, Yanma, Yanmega, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede |
| Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 | Yanma, Yanmega, Gligar, Gliscor, Ninjask, Vibrava, Flygon, Kricketune, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Joltik, Galvantula |
| Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Oddish, Gloom, Bellossom, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Surskit, Masquerain, Roselia, Roserade, Tropius, Combee, Carnivine, Maractus, Foongus, Amoonguss |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After You | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | B2W2 |
| Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | B2W2 |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 | B2W2 |
| Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Synthesis | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 | B2W2 |
| Worry Seed | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Cross Poison | Pokémon Dream World (Dream Park) |
| Synthesis | Pokémon Dream World (Dream Park) |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Body Slam | Gen III (tutor) |
| Bullet Seed | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Refresh | Gen III (Shadow Paras in Pokémon XD) |
| Secret Power | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM) |
| String Shot | Gen IV (tutor) |
Generation VI · X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire12 level-up · 36 TM/HM · 16 egg · 8 tutor
In X and Y, Paras is found only in the Bug-type Friend Safari. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire tuck it away in Petalburg Woods as a hidden Pokémon to find with the DexNav, once Groudon or Kyogre has been caught or defeated. Both pairs share the Black and White level-up list, though Fury Cutter now hits for 40. Fell Stinger joins the Egg Moves, alongside Rototiller and Wide Guard, which both need chain breeding. Secret Power returns as TM94 in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, where Rock Smash becomes HM06, and those two games are also the only ones here with move tutors.
By level-up
| XY/ORAS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 6 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 6 | Poison Powder | Poison | Status | — | 75 | 35 |
| 11 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| 17 | Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 40 | 95 | 20 |
| 22 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 27 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Growth | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 38 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| 43 | Aromatherapy | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 49 | Rage Powder | Bug | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 54 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Hone Claws | Dark | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 | |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM16 | Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM22 | Solar Beam | Grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | ||
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM53 | Energy Ball | Grass | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM54 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 | |
| TM70 | Flash | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| TM76 | Struggle Bug | Bug | Special | 50 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM81 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM86 | Grass Knot | Grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM94 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | XY |
| TM94 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
| TM96 | Nature Power | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 | |
| HM06 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor, Ledyba, Ledian, Spinarak, Ariados, Surskit, Ninjask, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Joltik, Galvantula, Accelgor, Durant |
| Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | Caterpie, Weedle, Ariados, Pineco, Forretress, Shuckle, Wurmple, Ninjask, Kricketot, Burmy, Mothim, Combee, Skorupi, Drapion, Yanmega, Sewaddle, Swadloon, Leavanny, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Dwebble, Crustle, Joltik, Galvantula, Durant, Larvesta, Scatterbug |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Heracross, Breloom |
| Cross Poison | Poison | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | Parasect, Spinarak, Ariados, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Heracross, Sewaddle, Karrablast |
| Fell Stinger | Bug | Physical | 30 | 100 | 25 | Beedrill, Ariados, Skorupi, Drapion, Leavanny, Escavalier |
| Flail | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Sewaddle, Dwebble, Crustle, Karrablast |
| Leech Seed | Grass | Status | — | 90 | 10 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Exeggcute, Hoppip, Skiploom, Jumpluff, Sunkern, Sunflora, Shroomish, Breloom, Roselia, Cacnea, Cacturne, Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra, Cherubi, Cherrim, Snivy, Servine, Serperior, Cottonee, Whimsicott, Phantump, Trevenant |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Scizor, Nincada, Ferroseed, Ferrothorn, Durant |
| Natural Gift | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Oddish, Gloom, Exeggcute, Tangela, Tangrowth, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Pineco, Forretress, Lotad, Tropius |
| Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Butterfree, Venonat, Venomoth, Dustox, Mothim, Vivillon |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor, Yanma, Yanmega, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede |
| Rototiller | Ground | Status | — | — | 10 | Cacnea (chain breeding needed) |
| Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 | Yanma, Yanmega, Gligar, Gliscor, Ninjask, Vibrava, Flygon, Kricketune, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Joltik, Galvantula |
| Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Oddish, Gloom, Bellossom, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Surskit, Masquerain, Roselia, Roserade, Tropius, Combee, Carnivine, Maractus, Foongus, Amoonguss |
| Wide Guard | Rock | Status | — | — | 10 | Turtwig (chain breeding needed) |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After You | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | ORAS |
| Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
| Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
| Synthesis | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 | ORAS |
| Worry Seed | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Body Slam | Gen III (tutor) |
| Bullet Seed | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Refresh | Gen III (Shadow Paras in Pokémon XD) |
| String Shot | Gen IV (tutor) |
Generation VII · Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon12 level-up · 29 TM/HM · 17 egg · 8 tutor
Sun and Moon put Paras on Route 11, at Brooklet Hill and in Lush Jungle, and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon keep it at Brooklet Hill and in Lush Jungle. One level-up list covers all four games, and it has one big change: Leech Life became an 80-power attack taught by TM28, so Absorb takes over its old slot at level 11. Dig, Flash, Hone Claws, Rock Smash and Struggle Bug drop out of the TM case and, like Cut and other old favourites, can only be brought in from earlier games. Grassy Terrain is a new Egg Move in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, which are also the only games here with move tutors.
By level-up
| SM/USUM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 6 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 6 | Poison Powder | Poison | Status | — | 75 | 35 |
| 11 | Absorb | Grass | Special | 20 | 100 | 25 |
| 17 | Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 40 | 95 | 20 |
| 22 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 27 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Growth | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 38 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| 43 | Aromatherapy | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 49 | Rage Powder | Bug | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 54 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM09 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM16 | Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM22 | Solar Beam | Grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM53 | Energy Ball | Grass | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM54 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM81 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM86 | Grass Knot | Grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM96 | Nature Power | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor, Ledyba, Ledian, Spinarak, Ariados, Surskit, Ninjask, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Joltik, Galvantula, Accelgor, Durant, Vikavolt |
| Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | Caterpie, Weedle, Ariados, Pineco, Forretress, Shuckle, Wurmple, Ninjask, Kricketot, Burmy, Mothim, Combee, Skorupi, Drapion, Yanmega, Sewaddle, Swadloon, Leavanny, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Dwebble, Crustle, Joltik, Galvantula, Durant, Larvesta, Scatterbug, Grubbin, Charjabug, Vikavolt, Dewpider, Araquanid, Golisopod |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Heracross, Breloom |
| Cross Poison | Poison | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | Parasect, Spinarak, Ariados, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Heracross, Sewaddle, Karrablast |
| Fell Stinger | Bug | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 | Beedrill, Ariados, Kricketune, Skorupi, Drapion, Leavanny, Escavalier |
| Flail | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Sewaddle, Dwebble, Crustle, Karrablast |
| Grassy Terrain | Grass | Status | — | — | 10 | Oddish, Gloom, Tangela, Roserade, Tangrowth, Comfey |
| Leech Seed | Grass | Status | — | 90 | 10 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Exeggcute, Hoppip, Skiploom, Jumpluff, Sunkern, Sunflora, Shroomish, Breloom, Roselia, Cacnea, Cacturne, Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra, Cherubi, Cherrim, Snivy, Servine, Serperior, Cottonee, Whimsicott, Phantump, Trevenant, Comfey |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Scizor, Nincada, Ferroseed, Ferrothorn, Durant |
| Natural Gift | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Oddish, Gloom, Exeggcute, Tangela, Tangrowth, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Sunkern, Sunflora, Pineco, Forretress, Lotad, Tropius, Comfey |
| Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Butterfree, Venonat, Venomoth, Dustox, Mothim, Vivillon |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor, Yanma, Yanmega, Skorupi, Drapion, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede |
| Rototiller | Ground | Status | — | — | 10 | Paras, Cacnea, Dwebble (chain breeding needed) |
| Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 | Yanma, Yanmega, Gligar, Gliscor, Ninjask, Vibrava, Flygon, Kricketune, Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede, Joltik, Galvantula |
| Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Oddish, Gloom, Bellossom, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Surskit, Masquerain, Roselia, Roserade, Tropius, Combee, Carnivine, Maractus, Foongus, Amoonguss, Cutiefly, Ribombee, Fomantis, Lurantis, Comfey |
| Wide Guard | Rock | Status | — | — | 10 | Araquanid |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After You | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | USUM |
| Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | USUM |
| Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 | USUM |
| Knock Off | Dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 | USUM |
| Seed Bomb | Grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
| Synthesis | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 | USUM |
| Worry Seed | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 | USUM |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Body Slam | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Bullet Seed | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Curse | Gen II (TM) |
| Cut | Gen I (HM), Gen II (HM), Gen V (HM), Gen VI (HM) |
| Dig | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Flash | Gen II (HM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Hone Claws | Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Mega Drain | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM) |
| Refresh | Gen III (Shadow Paras in Pokémon XD) |
| Rock Smash | Gen II (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM, HM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| String Shot | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Struggle Bug | Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!11 level-up · 14 TM/HM
Paras lives in Mt. Moon in both Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. These games use their own pared-down movesets: 11 level-up moves, with Sleep Powder at level 2 and Fury Swipes at 15 (the only games where Paras learns either by levelling up), Leech Life back on the list at 23 and Spore at 27, plus 14 TMs. Values are as in these games, so Absorb hits for 40, Mega Drain for 75 and Solar Beam for 200. There is no breeding and no move tutor.
By level-up
| LGPE | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 2 | Sleep Powder | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 15 |
| 4 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 6 | Poison Powder | Poison | Status | — | 75 | 35 |
| 9 | Absorb | Grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| 12 | Growth | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 15 | Fury Swipes | Normal | Physical | 18 | 80 | 15 |
| 19 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 23 | Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| 27 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 31 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM05 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM06 | Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM07 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM08 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM09 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM10 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM12 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM13 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM24 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM27 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM45 | Solar Beam | Grass | Special | 200 | 100 | 10 |
| TM52 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM53 | Mega Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
Generation VIII · Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl12 level-up · 26 TM/HM · 13 egg
Paras doesn't appear in Sword and Shield at all, not even in their Expansion Pass, so its Generation VIII home is Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: the Great Marsh and the Grassland, Sunlit, Swampy and Bogsunk caves of the Grand Underground, all once you have the National Pokédex. The level-up list is the same as in Sun and Moon, with Absorb at 11 and X-Scissor to finish at 54. The TM list runs to 26 moves, with Cut and Rock Smash as TM93 and TM98, Giga Drain back as TM19 and Bullet Seed as TM09. Pursuit, Natural Gift and Rototiller drop off the Egg Move list (Endure is TM58 now), and Wide Guard can only come from a Paras or Parasect partner found in the Grand Underground. There are no move tutors.
By level-up
| BDSP | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 6 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 75 | 30 |
| 6 | Poison Powder | Poison | Status | — | 75 | 35 |
| 11 | Absorb | Grass | Special | 20 | 100 | 25 |
| 17 | Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 40 | 95 | 20 |
| 22 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 27 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Growth | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 38 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| 43 | Aromatherapy | Grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| 49 | Rage Powder | Bug | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 54 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM09 | Bullet Seed | Grass | Physical | 25 | 100 | 30 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM16 | Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| TM22 | Solar Beam | Grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| TM54 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM70 | Flash | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM81 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM86 | Grass Knot | Grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM93 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| TM98 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 | Beedrill, Scyther, Scizor, Ledyba, Ledian, Spinarak, Ariados, Surskit, Masquerain, Ninjask |
| Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | Caterpie, Butterfree, Weedle, Beedrill, Pinsir, Ariados, Pineco, Forretress, Shuckle, Wurmple, Beautifly, Dustox, Ninjask, Kricketot, Kricketune, Burmy, Mothim, Combee, Skorupi, Drapion, Yanmega |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Heracross, Breloom |
| Cross Poison | Poison | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | Parasect, Spinarak, Ariados, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Fell Stinger | Bug | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 | Beedrill, Ariados, Kricketune, Skorupi, Drapion |
| Flail | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo |
| Grassy Terrain | Grass | Status | — | — | 10 | Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Bellossom, Tangela, Tangrowth, Roserade |
| Leech Seed | Grass | Status | — | 90 | 10 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Exeggcute, Exeggutor, Hoppip, Skiploom, Jumpluff, Sunkern, Sunflora, Shroomish, Breloom, Roselia, Roserade, Cacnea, Cacturne, Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra, Cherubi, Cherrim |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Scizor, Nincada, Ninjask |
| Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 | 100 | 20 | Butterfree, Venonat, Venomoth, Dustox, Mothim |
| Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 | Yanma, Yanmega, Gligar, Gliscor, Ninjask, Vibrava, Flygon, Kricketune |
| Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Bellossom, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Surskit, Masquerain, Roselia, Roserade, Tropius, Combee, Carnivine |
| Wide Guard | Rock | Status | — | — | 10 | Paras, Parasect (a partner from the Grand Underground) |
Pokémon Legends: Arceus8 level-up · 8 tutor
In Legends: Arceus, Paras turns up in the Obsidian Fieldlands (Nature's Pantry and massive mass outbreaks), across the Crimson Mirelands, near Windbreak Stand in the Cobalt Coastlands and around Heavenward Lookout and Wayward Wood in the Coronet Highlands. Moves work differently here: each has a level at which it is learned and a higher level at which it is mastered, after which it can be used in strong or agile style, and PP totals are lower. The eight-move list opens with Absorb, adds Venoshock at 15 and closes with Energy Ball at 47, the only time Paras learns it by levelling up. There are no TMs or breeding; the move tutor teaches eight moves, Leech Life among them. Power is listed for normal, strong and agile style, and accuracy for normal and strong style.
By level-up
| Learn | Master | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. normal / strong / agile |
Acc. normal / strong |
PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Absorb | Grass | Special | 30 / 40 / 20 | 100 | 20 |
| 5 | 14 | Stun Spore | Grass | Status | — | 80 / 100 | 20 |
| 9 | 18 | Poison Powder | Poison | Status | — | 80 / 100 | 20 |
| 15 | 25 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 / 80 / 50 | 100 | 15 |
| 21 | 31 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 / 85 / 55 | 100 | 15 |
| 29 | 40 | Spore | Grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 37 | 48 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 |
| 47 | 59 | Energy Ball | Grass | Special | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. normal / strong / agile |
Acc. normal / strong |
PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 / 75 / 45 | — | 20 | ||
| Energy Ball | Grass | Special | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 | |
| False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 / 50 / 30 | 100 | 30 | |
| Leech Life | Bug | Physical | 75 / 90 / 60 | 100 | 10 | |
| Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 / 50 / 30 | 100 | 20 | |
| Sludge Bomb | Poison | Special | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 | |
| X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 / 100 / 60 | 100 | 10 |
Generation IX · Scarlet & Violet, Legends: Z-A
Paras cannot be obtained in Scarlet and Violet or in Legends: Z-A, so it has no Generation IX learnset. Its most recent moves are the Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Legends: Arceus lists above.
04On screen
Paras in the anime
Debut EP006Clefairy and the Moon Stone · First major role EP044The Problem with Paras · Its appearances on screen, and 4 other trainers who raised one.
Paras has been creeping around the anime's caves, forests and gardens since the very first season. It made its debut in Mt. Moon, where Seymour pointed to wild Paras pulling the mushrooms off their own backs as a sign that Team Rocket's glaring lights were tormenting the cave's Pokémon (EP006). Its big moment arrived in The Problem with Paras (EP044): Cassandra needed her hopelessly timid Paras to evolve so she could brew medicine from Parasect's mushroom, and it took Ash going easy, Team Rocket rigging fights and one wild, eyes-shut jab at a rampaging Charmeleon before it finally evolved.
Ash has never caught one, but Paras keep turning up wherever Pokémon gather. One is among Melanie's patients in the Hidden Village, others roam the grounds of Professor Oak's Laboratory, come in orange on Valencia Island and pink on Pinkan Island, and even help light up Necrozma in Alola. In Pokémon Journeys Goh bagged a Paras and a Parasect in one go in Vermilion Forest (JN006), and in Pokémon Horizons Dot caught one for Professor Willow's Field Research (HZ150).
Other trainers’ Paras
First seen: EP044The Problem with Paras
Evolved: EP044The Problem with Paras
Cassandra helps her grandmother Lacy run a medicine shop in Mossgreen Village, and her Paras was the key to her big plan: once it evolved, the mushroom on Parasect's back would let her brew a miracle medicine. The snag was that this Paras was a hopeless coward. Ash agreed to hold back, yet Pikachu and Squirtle still knocked it out with their gentlest attacks, and Charmeleon ignored orders, blasted it with a full-power Flamethrower and sent it fleeing in tears. Team Rocket's lovestruck Meowth then rigged a pair of 'victories' over Arbok and Weezing to build its confidence, and in the rematch Paras shut its eyes and jabbed the rampaging Charmeleon in the stomach with its pincer, felling it and evolving on the spot. The brand-new Parasect promptly put Charmeleon to sleep with Spore (EP044).
- EP044The Problem with Paras · vs Pikachu Lost
- EP044The Problem with Paras · vs Squirtle Lost
- EP044The Problem with Paras · vs Charmeleon Lost
- EP044The Problem with Paras · vs Jessie's Arbok and James's Weezing Won
- EP044The Problem with Paras · vs Pikachu Won
- EP044The Problem with Paras · vs Charmeleon Won
First seen: JN006Working My Way Back to Mew!
Goh's quest to catch every Pokémon on the road to Mew really took off in Vermilion Forest, where he ended up catching every Bug type native to Kanto in a single outing. Along the way he spotted a Paras and a Parasect climbing a pair of trees and caught both of them at the same time with hardly any trouble, a double catch the Japanese version rates as 'Great' (JN006). Neither has battled or used a move on screen since, but both stayed in his ever-growing collection, and they are still among his Pokémon when he leaves most of them with Professor Cerise and sets off on his next adventure (JN136).
First seen: HZ150The Expanding World, I'll GO with You! (Japanese title, translated)
Dot caught a Paras when Professor Willow, the professor from Pokémon GO, took the Rising Volt Tacklers to a PokéStop and sent them into the woods and along the beach to collect Pokémon for his Field Research. Like the rest of the team's catches that day, it was handed straight over to the professor, so her time as its Trainer was short and sweet (HZ150).
First seen: EP010Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village
Melanie runs the Hidden Village, a secret refuge where abandoned and injured Pokémon can rest and recover, guarded by her fiercely protective Bulbasaur. A Paras was among the Pokémon in her care when Ash, Misty and Brock stumbled into the village (EP010), and it pops up again in a flashback to the village in Bulbasaur… the Ambassador! (EP225).
Ash & Paras
Ash has never caught a Paras, but he once worked harder than anyone to help one grow up. In The Problem with Paras he agreed to go easy on Cassandra's timid Paras so it could finally win a battle, only for Pikachu and Squirtle to knock it out anyway and for Charmeleon to ignore him completely, the start of its long rebellious streak (EP044). Two decades later he was right there in Vermilion Forest when Goh caught a Paras and a Parasect in one go (JN006).
Featured episodes
- EP006Clefairy and the Moon StoneIn the caves of Mt. Moon, wild Paras are pulling the mushrooms off their backs. Seymour blames the bright lights strung through the caves, which turn out to be Team Rocket's doing, for upsetting the Pokémon that live there.
- EP178The Grass RouteA Trainer's Paras enters the Grass Tournament, but it is one of the Pokémon knocked out by Ephraim's Skiploom, Skippy, on its way to the final against Ash's Bulbasaur.
More appearances
- EP028Pokémon Fashion Flash A Paras is out on Scissor Street.
- EP065Showdown at the Po-ké Corral Several Paras live in the grounds of Professor Oak's Laboratory.
- EP083Pokéball Peril Two Paras sporting the unusual orange colouring of Valencia Island's Pokémon appear there.
- EP088In the Pink A pink Paras lives on Pinkan Island.
- EP097Tracey Gets Bugged A Paras is seen on Murcott Island.
- EP157The Fortune Hunters Butch and Cassidy steal a Trainer's Paras.
- EP161The Bug Stops Here A Paras gives Misty a fright, so she chases it away.
- EP207Got Miltank? A Paras lives in an oasis set aside for Pokémon only.
- AG191Once More With Reeling! A Coordinator's Paras takes part in the Terracotta Contest.
- SM008Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge! A Paras plays in the garden of Lillie's home; it is back there in The Ol' Raise and Switch! (SM030).
- SM042Alola, Kanto! Paras are still among the many Pokémon living at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
- SM090Securing the Future! Three Paras, two with Trainers and one wild, join the rest of Alola in shining their light on Necrozma so it can return to its true form.
- SM131The Battlefield of Truth and Love! A Paras watches Bewear and Stufful's performance at their hot springs.
Anime gallery
Anime trivia
- The Problem with Paras (EP044) was the first episode to acknowledge both types of a dual-type Pokémon, with Ash's Pokédex explaining that Paras has qualities of both Bug and Grass Pokémon. Its Japanese title is simply 'Paras and Parasect'.
- Ash's Charizard appears only as a Charmeleon in EP044, the episode where its disobedience begins, and it ends up floored by the jab of a terrified Paras.
- EP044 is the first time Ash deliberately tries to lose a battle. The next time came years later, with Burmy in DP030.
- Misty's famous fear of Bug types didn't stretch to Cassandra's Paras (EP044), but a Paras did give her a fright in The Bug Stops Here, and she chased it away (EP161).
- Paras on Valencia Island are coloured orange in Pokéball Peril (EP083), yet the Paras seen there in The Power of One has its usual colouring.
- In the first Italian dub of its debut episode, Clefairy and the Moon Stone (EP006), Paras was renamed 'Parasaur' for reasons that have never been explained.
- Paras is the Who's That Pokémon? in the English version of Volcanic Panic (EP059), replacing the Magmar used in Japan.
- In Japan, Paras was the subject of Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture in Shell Shock! (EP089), complete with a senryū about the mushrooms raised on its back, and the Professor's Big Pokémon Examination quiz in Another One Gabites the Dust! (DP114).
“Paras, the Mushroom Pokémon. Rare mushrooms grow on its back.”
Ash's Pokédex (Dexter) · EP044
05On the big screen
Paras in the movies
2 films featuring Paras.
Paras has never had a film of its own, but it has a couple of big-screen moments worth looking out for. The best is a gag in The Power of One (1999): Brock, out of the main cast for the first time, gets just one scene, hurrying across Professor Ivy's lab with a Nidorina and a Paras in his arms – and eagle-eyed fans noticed that this Valencia Island Paras has its ordinary colours. Eighteen years later it bedded down in a rainy cave beside Entei in I Choose You! (2017), on the stormy night Ash and Verity nursed an abandoned Charmander back to health.
Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One
M02 · 1999
A Paras carried by Brock at Professor Ivy's lab; a Paras that senses the trouble Lawrence III is causing
Paras's first feature film gives it a cameo inside a cameo. The Power of One is the first film without Brock as one of its heroes, and his only appearance is a quick dash across the background of Professor Ivy's lab with a Nidorina and a Paras in his arms. Sharp-eyed fans spotted a slip: this Paras has its normal colouring, although the Pokémon of Valencia Island usually look different, as the Paras seen there in Poké Ball Peril did. Later, as Lawrence III's hunt for the legendary birds throws the weather into chaos, a Paras is among the Pokémon that sense something is badly wrong.
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
M20 · 2017
A wild Paras sheltering from the rain with Entei
On a stormy night, Ash and Verity carry the Charmander that Cross abandoned into a cave, where Sorrel and his Lucario are already sheltering, and nurse it back to health. Entei and a handful of other Pokémon come in out of the rain to sleep there too, and a Paras is one of them. Not many Pokémon can say they've shared a bedroom with a legendary.
06Trading Card Game · every card
Paras in the Pokémon TCG
22 cards since 1999, oldest first. Tap any card to see it full size.
Paras first scuttled onto cardboard in Japan's Jungle expansion in March 1997, reaching English players in June 1999 with Ken Sugimori art and a Spore attack that sends opponents off to sleep. It has stayed a humble Common Basic ever since, with no ex, V or other rule-box card to its name. What it does have is mushrooms: the fungus on its back powers Sleep Spore, Poison Spore, Toxic Spore, Spore Ball and Aquapolis's Spore Evolution, which lets it evolve straight out of the deck, while Absorb, Blot and Leech Life nod to the way its tochukaso soak up nutrients. Erika's Paras in Gym Challenge gave it a famous partner, and Japan alone got a Mitsuhiro Arita vending-machine card in 1998.
Eighteen different pictures of Paras have been printed in English, by sixteen artists. Ken Sugimori leads with three, and the line-up runs from Kagemaru Himeno and Miki Tanaka to modern names such as Mizue and Yoriyuki Ikegami. Later artists like to set it in a wider world: Midori Harada placed it by the shrine in Ilex Forest, Kouki Saitou made it one ninth of Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery panorama, and Ayako Ozaki painted it into a six-card scene that stretches across Journey Together and Destined Rivals. TCG Pocket brought Naoyo Kimura's Team Up picture back for Genetic Apex in 2024.
Cards to know
- Jungle 59/64 — Where it all began: Ken Sugimori's Paras, whose Spore sends the Defending Pokémon straight off to sleep.
- Gym Challenge 71/132 (Erika's Paras) — Erika's own Paras, with a Poison Spore that poisons the Defending Pokémon and peppers the whole enemy Bench on a lucky flip.
- Aquapolis 99/147 — Spore Evolution lets Paras evolve straight out of the deck, and its e-Reader strip holds a piece of the Harvest Time mini-game.
- HeartGold & SoulSilver 76/123 — Midori Harada set this Paras in Ilex Forest, right beside the forest's little shrine.
- Crown Zenith GG32/GG70 — One ninth of a giant Galarian Gallery panorama by Kouki Saitou. In Asia, all nine cards came together in one very rare pack.
- Journey Together 004/159 — Ayako Ozaki's Paras is one piece of a six-card scene that stretches across Journey Together and Destined Rivals.
Every English-language card
Promo cards
Japan-exclusive cards
Pokémon TCG Pocket
Digital card games
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy Color): Paras (Jungle 59 art, Ken Sugimori), card C07, in the Mystery booster pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Paras (Jungle 59 art, Ken Sugimori), card D10, in the Psychic Battle pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Paras (Expansion Sheet 1 art, Mitsuhiro Arita), card B08, in the Legendary Power pack.
The artists behind the cards
- Ken Sugimori — 3 artworks (Jungle 59, also reprinted in Base Set 2; Erika's Paras in Gym Challenge; Mysterious Treasures 92)
- Naoyo Kimura — 1 (Team Up 6, also in Japan's Tag All Stars), reused for TCG Pocket's Genetic Apex 014
- Yuka Morii — 1 (EX FireRed & LeafGreen 72), reprinted in Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic
- Mitsuhiro Arita — 1 (Expansion Sheet 1 vending-machine card, Japan only)
- One artwork each: Kagemaru Himeno (Neo Revelation), Miki Tanaka (Aquapolis), Yukiko Baba (Supreme Victors), Midori Harada (HeartGold & SoulSilver), Hajime Kusajima (BREAKthrough), Aya Kusube (Generations), Ayaka Yoshida (Sun & Moon), OOYAMA (Hidden Fates), Atsuko Nishida (Darkness Ablaze), Mizue (Lost Origin), Kouki Saitou (Crown Zenith), Yoriyuki Ikegami (151), Ayako Ozaki (Journey Together)
07On the page & beyond
Paras in manga, books & other media
From the earliest manga to story books and songs.
Paras's finest hour on paper belongs to a villain. In Pokémon Adventures, the Super Nerd Miles turns its spores into a weapon, dusting his Marowak's bone so every Bonemerang carries Spore, Stun Spore or Poison Powder, and the chapter that follows is even called 'Paras Sight'. Crystal catches one too, Magical Pokémon Journey sends a lovestruck Bulbasaur chasing a Paras through the rain, sure that the mushroom on its back is the secret ingredient for a love potion, and Japan's Film Comic retold its starring episode under the title 'Paras and Parasect'.
That mushroom steals the show in song as well. A Japanese song about Bug Pokémon, with lyrics credited to Satoshi Tajiri, sings about it growing as Paras grows, and Paras gets a line of its own in the English Pokérap beside Kabuto, Persian and Horsea and in Japan's Pokémon Ieru Kana?. Goh's Paras even sneaks into the animation of Pokémon Journeys' first Japanese opening.
Manga
Books
Other media
More from the page
08Did you know?
Paras trivia
Name origins, design secrets and the facts that make Paras such a fan favourite.
What’s in a name?
Paras keeps it short and to the point: the name comes from 'parasite', a nod to the mushrooms living off its back. It is the same in Japan – パラス, Parasu – and in French, German, Spanish and Italian, while Korean and Chinese simply transcribe the Japanese. Early English plans for Red and Green spelled the idea out even more bluntly with 'Parasyte'. A few translations went their own way: older Hong Kong media called it 蘑菇蟲, 'mushroom bug', and the Icelandic subtitles of Pikachu's Rescue Adventure named it Sníkill – Icelandic for 'parasite'.
Design origins
Paras borrows from one of nature's creepiest partnerships. The bug underneath is a cicada nymph, while its mushrooms are tochukaso – the Japanese name for the caterpillar fungus, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, a parasite that grows inside an insect host, replaces its tissue, can change how it behaves and finally sprouts from its body, and which is prized in traditional Chinese medicine. The mind-control angle may also owe something to the fungi that hijack ants and burst from their heads or backs, and to Massospora, a genus of fungi that specifically infects cicadas. Development left a curious footnote too: the Spaceworld '97 demo of Gold and Silver includes Para (パラ), a larva-like pre-evolution emerging from a mushroom, which never made it into the finished games.
Names around the world
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | パラス Parasu | From parasite |
| French | Paras | Same as the English and Japanese name |
| German | Paras | Same as the English and Japanese name |
| Spanish | Paras | Same as the English and Japanese name |
| Italian | Paras | Same as the English and Japanese name |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Paras | Same as the English and Japanese name |
| Korean | 파라스 Paras | Transcription of the Japanese name |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 派拉斯 Pàilāsī | Transcription of the Japanese name |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 派拉斯 Pāailāaisī | Transcription of the Japanese name (games) |
| Chinese (Cantonese, pre-Gen VII media) | 蘑菇蟲 Mòhgūchùhng | From 蘑菇 mòhgū (mushroom) and 蟲 chùhng (bug) |
| Hebrew | פרס Paras | Transcription of the English name |
| Hindi | पैरस Paras | Transcription of the English name |
| Russian | Парас Paras | Transcription of the English name |
| Thai | พารัส Pharat | Transcription of the Japanese name |
| Lithuanian | Paras | Same as the English name |
| Icelandic (subtitles of Pikachu's Rescue Adventure) | Sníkill | From sníkill (parasite) |
Did you know?
- Paras and Parasect share the Mushroom Pokémon category with Shroomish, Breloom, Foongus and Amoonguss – and all six can learn Spore and have the Effect Spore Ability.
- Until Breloom arrived in Generation III, Paras and Parasect were the only Pokémon that learnt Spore by levelling up.
- In Generation I, Poison-type moves were super effective against Bug types, so Paras and Parasect had three quadruple weaknesses at once – Fire, Flying and Poison – something no other Pokémon has ever had.
- With the Dry Skin Ability, Paras takes five times the normal damage from Fire-type moves.
- No other Pokémon shares its Egg Group combination: Paras and Parasect are the only Bug types in the Grass Egg Group.
- Paras started a fungal tradition in odd-numbered generations, followed by Shroomish (III), Foongus (V), Morelull (VII), and Toedscool and the Paradox Pokémon Brute Bonnet (IX).
- Paras and Morelull are near mirror images: fungus-based Grass types that evolve at level 24, with a base stat total of 285, the same Defense, Medium Fast growth and a base experience yield of 57.
- In Sun and Moon, Paras comes out during the day while its fungal counterpart Morelull appears at night.
- Ultra Moon's entry is a pun in both languages. Japanese plays on mushi, meaning both 'insect' (虫) and 'ignore' (無視) – the mushroom ignores the insect's wishes – while English has the bug bugging its mushrooms.
- In the Spaceworld '97 demo of Gold and Silver, Paras had a pre-evolution called Para – a larva-like creature emerging from a mushroom that was cut from the finished games.
- During the development of Red and Green, Paras's planned English name was 'Parasyte'.
- From FireRed and LeafGreen onwards, half of all wild Paras hold a Tiny Mushroom and one in twenty a Big Mushroom. In Black and White, those found in dark grass can even carry a rare Balm Mushroom.
- In Legends: Arceus, Paras can drop Springy Mushrooms and Balls of Mud.
- From 3 to 9 January 2003, the US 'Gotta Catch 'Em All Station!' distribution handed out level 5 Paras for Gold, Silver and Crystal that knew Synthesis.
09Quizzes, archive & further reading
More Paras
Test yourself
Professor Oak's Kanto Quiz: BeginnerProfessor Oak has a few questions before you set foot in the tall grass. How well do you know the region where it all began?Take the quiz →
Who's That Pokémon? Kanto: BeginnerIt's the classic challenge! Can you name these original 151 Pokémon from their silhouettes alone?Take the quiz →
Indigo League Anime: IntermediateGrab your cap and set off on Ash's very first adventure. How much do you remember from the Indigo League days?Take the quiz →
Pokémon Horizons Anime: BeginnerAll aboard for a brand-new adventure! See how well you know Liko, Roy and the crew of Pokémon Horizons: The Series.Take the quiz →
Pokémon Movies: IntermediateFrom a mysterious island showdown to a city where people and Pokémon live side by side, how well do you know Pokémon on the big screen?Take the quiz →
Pokémon TCG: IntermediateShuffle up and draw! From the very first booster packs to the digital age, how well do you know the Pokémon Trading Card Game?Take the quiz →From the archive: Gengar’s Online Pokédex
Before this page, Pokémon Dungeon was home to Gengar’s Online Pokédex, the classic fan Pokédex for Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver & Crystal by Curtis Alumbaugh (Gengar) with Ian Alumbaugh (Haunter). Its Paras entry is preserved in full, with its original art, moves and locations.
Further reading
Pokémon and all related names, artwork, sprites, screenshots and card images are © Nintendo, Creatures Inc., GAME FREAK inc. and The Pokémon Company, used here for fan commentary. Images via the Bulbagarden Archives. Page updated 28 October 2026.