Curses are hindering effects applied to the player by certain monsters. These are the same types of Curses used by the Necromancer.
Oblivion Knights and the most notable casters of curses, but they are also used by Succubi and Baal.
Curses and Shrine bonuses will overrule each other, this can be annoying when facing hordes of Oblivion Knights right after activating a shrine.
Damaging Skills
Fire — Fire Arrow • Fireball • Fire Bolt • Fire Hit • Firestorm • Fire Wall • Flame Circle • Hydra • Incineration Nova • Inferno • Meteor
Ice — Arctic Blast • Blizzard • Cold Touch • Fire Hit (Cold) • Freezing Charge • Glacial Spike • Hoarfrost
Poison — Poison Bolt • Poison Breath • Poison Cloud • Poison Spit • Poison Spray • Poison Sting • Poison Strike
Lightning — Lightning • Lightning Arrow • Lightning Globe • Red Lightning Hose • Shocking Hit • Spark Defense
Physical — Blow Dart • Charge • Corpse Cannon • Destructive Strike • Ground Tentacle • Leap • Leech-life Ball • Quill Dart • Slam
Magic — Bone Spirit • Hellish Projectile • Unholy Bolt
Non-damaging Skills
Indirect Attack — Blood Mana • Curses • Mana Rift • Minion Frenzy • Putrify • Spin Web • Stun
Spawning — Bone Prison • Festering Appendages • Lay Egg • Revive • Summon Minion
Self-effect — Bone Armor • Burrow • Fly • Frenzy • Heal • Teleport • Vile Effigy