Contact may paralyze, poison, or cause sleep.
Effect Spore (Japanese: ほうし Spore) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. All Pokémon that have this Ability are Grass types.
When a Pokémon with this Ability is hit by a move that makes contact, there is a 30% chance that the attacking Pokémon will become poisoned, paralyzed or asleep: there is a 9% chance of poison, 10% chance of paralysis, and 11% chance of sleep. This Ability cannot poison Poison-type or Steel-type Pokémon or paralyze Electric-type Pokémon.
Grass-type Pokémon, Pokémon with Overcoat, and Pokémon holding Safety Goggles are now immune to Effect Spore.
Effect Spore has no effect outside of battle.
MDRB Attackers are poisoned, paralyzed, or put to sleep.
MDTD Poisons, paralyzes, or puts to sleep any attacker who lands a direct-contact attack.
MDS Poisons, paralyzes, or causes sleep in attackers who land direct-contact attacks.
SMD When the Pokémon is hit with a contact move like Tackle or Scratch, the attacker is sometimes afflicted with the poisoned, paralysis, or sleep status condition!
Effect Spore played a major role in The Power of Us. Team Rocket attempted to raid Fula City's Pokémon Research Pavilion, but only got away with a solution of Effect Spore made by Toren. They later dropped it on accident, which released a toxic gas that in turn triggered a devastating fire. Both disasters endangered Fula City, but Ash and the citizens worked together to successfully combat both.
Whitley's Foongy is revealed to have Effect Spore as his Ability.
Of the four Abilities that may inflict a non-volatile status condition upon contact, Effect Spore is the only one that has not yet been activated in the Pokémon anime.
Effect Spore is the only Ability that can cause sleep.