Paras Pokémon: How to catch, Stats, Moves, Strength, Weakness, Trivia, FAQs

Introduced in the original generation one, with the Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green games, Paras is a dual type bug and grass Pokemon. It is the first stage evolution of its two stage evolution line and evolves into Parasect once it reaches the level threshold. Paras is classified by the Pokedex as the “Mushroom Pokemon” which is likely a reference to its general design. This guide will showcase Paras’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Paras.

About Paras

As one of the original 151 Pokemon, Paras first appeared in the Original Series of the anime in the episode The Problem with Paras. In this episode, a scientist named Cassandra needs her Paras to evolve so she can expand her medical research. The Pokedex mentions Paras has parasitic mushrooms on its back that pulls nutrients from the Pokemon itself. These mushrooms are beneficial as medicine.

Paras Base Stats

Appearance

Paras is a small orange Pokemon that resembles a small crab or a cicada. Its body shape is very similar to crabs as it has two claw-like pincers and an armored shell. Most of its body is orange, but there are two red mushrooms growing out of Paras’s back. It has two large blue eyes with black pupils and its mouth is made of four fangs. While it has four pairs of legs, its two claw-like pincers can be used to help it stay upright. Paras is a small Pokemon at only 1 foot, or 0.3 meters, tall.

Behavior

Paras is typically covered in two parasitic mushrooms known as tochukaso. These mushrooms can be removed at any time by Paras, but it will typically try to take good care of the mushrooms. The mushrooms will take some agency over Paras’s body and force Paras to feed on nutrients from tree roots. These mushrooms have many healing benefits and are highly sought after by people in the Pokemon universe. The Pokedex mentions that the mushrooms on Paras’s back will grow along with Paras.

Strengths and Weaknesses

As the base evolution in its evolution line, Paras has yet to become powerful. It has a decent physical attack for a Pokemon this early in the game, but it is too slow to be an offensive Pokemon. While its defensive stats are not too weak at this stage of the game, it has a low health pool which makes it difficult to use it as a defensive Pokemon. As a dual type bug and grass Pokemon, Paras takes 2x damage from poison, rock, bug, and ice type moves while takes 4x damage from flying and fire type moves. It is immune to no types but it is resistant to fighting, ground, water, grass, and electric type moves.

Best Moveset

Paras is typically reserved for a unique format of competitive play. It can be commonly found in the LC (Little Cup) bracket of competitive play thanks to its access to supportive and disruptive moves. You can use its Dry Skin ability to give it more resistances, or use Effect Spore to slow down your opponents. Using an Eviolite, as a held item, can help Paras survive until it can get more of its moves off. Consider running Spore, Knock Off, Bullet Seed/Aromatherapy, and Synthesis. This set is aimed at causing as much disruption to your opponent as possible. Using Spore and Knock Off can help prevent your opponent from getting off the ground. Bullet Seed can help Paras be more aggressive while Aromatherapy can be used to be more defensive. Finally, Synthesis can help keep Paras alive in battle.

How to Catch Paras in Pokemon Go?

If you would like to obtain Paras in Pokemon Go, there are a few different ways of doing so. As the base evolution in its evolution line, Paras spawns more commonly in the wild to encounter than most other Pokemon. You can find Paras in the wild, at a boosted rate, near parks, farms, forests, hiking trails, gardens, and other grassy areas. Paras can also be hatched from 5 km eggs and both Paras and Parasect have appeared as tier one and tier three raid bosses respectively. To evolve Paras into a Parasect you will need 50 candies.

Trivia

1. Paras’s original name in promotional material for Pokemon Red and Blue showcased Paras’s name as Parasyte.
2. The inspiration for Paras’s design is based on a cicada nymph combined with tochukaso, a parasitic mushroom that can affect the behavior of its host.
3. The name Paras is a shortening of the word parasite.

FAQ

Is Paras the mushroom or the bug?

While Paras’s actions can be controlled by the mushrooms on its back, Paras is still a living sentient Pokemon. They seem to have a mutual relationship and can help each other survive. The mushrooms have medicinal benefits and Paras can consume nutrients to help the mushrooms grow.

Are Paras good?

Paras can inflict status effects on your opponent’s Pokemon to slow them down. This is the most beneficial strategy that Paras can offer. It has a weak defensive statline and its offensive capabilities are not that impressive either. You will want to consider using Paras as a supportive Pokemon for Paras to be good.

What are Paras’s attacks?

Most of Paras’s moves are used with supportive or disruptive effects in mind. It has access to Spore which has a high accuracy and a powerful status effect. Paras can also learn Knock Off and Synthesis to slow down your opponents even more.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Mushroom Pokemon”. While Paras is not as powerful as other Pokemon, it can slow down your opponent's Pokemon. This strategy can buy you time and Paras can take over battles. Paras can be a powerful Pokemon if it is used correctly. Reserve a slot on your team for Paras if you want a supportive bug and grass type Pokemon.