diff --git a/src/field/pokemon.ts b/src/field/pokemon.ts
index d18874794df..8fccea815bc 100644
--- a/src/field/pokemon.ts
+++ b/src/field/pokemon.ts
@@ -2680,12 +2680,13 @@ export default abstract class Pokemon extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
    * Applies the results of a move to this pokemon
    * @param source The {@linkcode Pokemon} using the move
    * @param move The {@linkcode Move} being used
-   * @param moveCategory the {@linkcode MoveCategory} of the move used
    * @returns The {@linkcode HitResult} of the attack
    */
-  apply(source: Pokemon, move: Move, moveCategory: MoveCategory): HitResult {
+  apply(source: Pokemon, move: Move): HitResult {
     const defendingSide = this.isPlayer() ? ArenaTagSide.PLAYER : ArenaTagSide.ENEMY;
-    if (moveCategory === MoveCategory.STATUS) {
+    const moveCategory = new Utils.NumberHolder(move.category);
+    applyMoveAttrs(VariableMoveCategoryAttr, source, this, move, moveCategory);
+    if (moveCategory.value === MoveCategory.STATUS) {
       const cancelled = new Utils.BooleanHolder(false);
       const typeMultiplier = this.getMoveEffectiveness(source, move, false, false, cancelled);
 
diff --git a/src/phases/move-effect-phase.ts b/src/phases/move-effect-phase.ts
index 34e03605bff..b2d429a4313 100644
--- a/src/phases/move-effect-phase.ts
+++ b/src/phases/move-effect-phase.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { applyPreAttackAbAttrs, AddSecondStrikeAbAttr, IgnoreMoveEffectsAbAttr,
 import { ArenaTagSide, ConditionalProtectTag } from "#app/data/arena-tag";
 import { MoveAnim } from "#app/data/battle-anims";
 import { BattlerTagLapseType, DamageProtectedTag, ProtectedTag, SemiInvulnerableTag, SubstituteTag } from "#app/data/battler-tags";
-import { MoveTarget, applyMoveAttrs, OverrideMoveEffectAttr, MultiHitAttr, AttackMove, FixedDamageAttr, VariableTargetAttr, MissEffectAttr, MoveFlags, applyFilteredMoveAttrs, MoveAttr, MoveEffectAttr, MoveEffectTrigger, ChargeAttr, MoveCategory, NoEffectAttr, HitsTagAttr, ToxicAccuracyAttr, VariableMoveCategoryAttr } from "#app/data/move";
+import { MoveTarget, applyMoveAttrs, OverrideMoveEffectAttr, MultiHitAttr, AttackMove, FixedDamageAttr, VariableTargetAttr, MissEffectAttr, MoveFlags, applyFilteredMoveAttrs, MoveAttr, MoveEffectAttr, MoveEffectTrigger, ChargeAttr, MoveCategory, NoEffectAttr, HitsTagAttr, ToxicAccuracyAttr } from "#app/data/move";
 import { SpeciesFormChangePostMoveTrigger } from "#app/data/pokemon-forms";
 import { BattlerTagType } from "#app/enums/battler-tag-type";
 import { Moves } from "#app/enums/moves";
@@ -192,9 +192,7 @@ export class MoveEffectPhase extends PokemonPhase {
              * made visible to the user until the resulting {@linkcode DamagePhase}
              * is invoked.
              */
-          const moveCategory = new Utils.NumberHolder(move.category);
-          applyMoveAttrs(VariableMoveCategoryAttr, user, target, move, moveCategory);
-          const hitResult = !isProtected ? target.apply(user, move, moveCategory.value) : HitResult.NO_EFFECT;
+          const hitResult = !isProtected ? target.apply(user, move) : HitResult.NO_EFFECT;
 
           /** Does {@linkcode hitResult} indicate that damage was dealt to the target? */
           const dealsDamage = [
diff --git a/src/test/abilities/sheer_force.test.ts b/src/test/abilities/sheer_force.test.ts
index 8c6556b9d78..a3add0a9964 100644
--- a/src/test/abilities/sheer_force.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/abilities/sheer_force.test.ts
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ describe("Abilities - Sheer Force", () => {
 
     applyAbAttrs(MoveEffectChanceMultiplierAbAttr, user, null, false, chance, move, target, false);
     applyPreAttackAbAttrs(MovePowerBoostAbAttr, user, target, move, false, power);
-    applyPostDefendAbAttrs(PostDefendTypeChangeAbAttr, target, user, move, target.apply(user, move, move.category));
+    applyPostDefendAbAttrs(PostDefendTypeChangeAbAttr, target, user, move, target.apply(user, move));
 
     expect(chance.value).toBe(0);
     expect(power.value).toBe(move.power * 5461 / 4096);