Poké Ball (item)

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Poké Ball
モンスターボール
Monster Ball
Bag Poké Ball Sprite.png
Poké Ball
Pokémon Global Link artwork
Introduced in Generation I
Pocket
Generation I Bag Items pocket icon.png Items
Generation II Bag Poké Balls pocket icon.png Poké Balls
Generation III Bag Poké Balls pocket icon.png Poké Balls
Generation IV Bag Poké Balls pocket icon.png Poké Balls
Generation V Bag Items pocket icon.png Items (Poké Balls)
Generation VI Bag Items pocket icon.png Items
Generation VII Bag Items pocket icon.png Items (Catching PocketPE)
Generation VIII Bag Poké Balls pocket icon.png Poké Balls

The Poké Ball (Japanese: モンスターボール Monster Ball) is a type of Poké Ball introduced in Generation I. It is the most basic form of Poké Ball, an item used to catch a wild Pokémon.

The eponymous Poké Ball is the most ubiquitous kind of Poké Ball across the entire Pokémon franchise. It is frequently used to represent the Pokémon series as a whole, such as in the Pokémon series' icon in the Super Smash Bros. series.

In the core series games

Price

Games Cost Sell price
RGBY/RBY
GSC
RSEFRLG
DPPtHGSS
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUM
ColoXD
$200 $100
PE $100 $50
SwSh $200 $100

Effect

Manual activation

When used from the Bag in a wild Pokémon encounter, it will attempt to catch the wild Pokémon with a catch rate modifier of 1×.

If used on an Ultra Beast, the catch rate modifier is instead set to 0.1×.

The Poké Ball cannot be used in situations in which Poké Balls cannot be used, such as in wild battles with two or more opponents currently present or against a trial Pokémon. If used in a Trainer battle (except if used as a Snag Ball on a Shadow Pokémon), the opposing Trainer will deflect it, wasting the ball. If used on the ghost Marowak, it will dodge it, wasting the ball.

Held item

Fling fails if the user is holding an Poké Ball.

Outside of battle

From Generation IV onwards, if in Bag when Nincada evolves into Ninjask, adds a Shedinja to the party provided the player has room in their team.

Exchange

Generation V

In Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, on weekends, 20 Poké Balls can be exchanged for a Full Restore at Anville Town.

In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, once per day, a Poké Ball can be exchanged for a Great Ball at with a Roughneck at Virbank Complex.

Generation VI

In Pokémon X and Y, once per day, a Poké Ball can be exchanged for a Dive Ball in Ambrette Town.

Description

Games Description
Stad A Ball thrown at wild Pokémon to catch them.
GSC An item for catching Pokémon.
RSE
ColoXD
A tool for catching wild Pokémon.
FRLG A Ball thrown to catch a wild Pokémon. It is designed in a capsule style.
DPPtHGSS
BWB2W2
A device for catching wild Pokémon. It is thrown like a ball at the target. It is designed as a capsule system.
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
SwSh
A device for catching wild Pokémon. It's thrown like a ball at a Pokémon, comfortably encapsulating its target.

Acquisition

Games Finite methods Repeatable methods
RGBY/RBY Professor Oak's Laboratory, Viridian Forest Viridian, Pewter, Cerulean, and Vermilion Poké Marts
GSC Route 31, New Bark Town Cherrygrove (after the catching tutorial), Violet, Azalea, Ecruteak, and Viridian Poké Marts; Just a Souvenir Shop (before exposing Team Rocket), Goldenrod Department Store, Celadon Department Store
Route 44 (random gift from Fisher Wilton)C
Purchased by the player's Mom
RSE Routes 104, 106, and 110, Littleroot Town, Petalburg Woods, Rusturf Tunnel, Granite Cave, Lilycove City Oldale (after obtaining the Pokédex), Petalburg, Rustboro, Slateport, and Mauville Poké Marts, Lilycove Department Store
FRLG Professor Oak's Laboratory, Viridian Forest Viridian, Pewter, Cerulean, and Vermilion Poké Marts
Colo Outskirt Stand Outskirt Stand
XD Pokémon HQ Lab, Cipher Lab Gateon, Agate, Pyrite, and Phenac Poké Marts, Outskirt Stand
DPPt Routes 202, 203, 205DP, 207, 208DP, 211DP, Oreburgh MinePt, Great Marsh All Poké Marts, Celestic Town shop, Veilstone Department Store
HGSS Routes 29 and 31, Dark Cave, Violet City All Poké Marts (after learning how to catch Pokémon), Just a Souvenir Shop (before exposing Team Rocket), Goldenrod Department Store, Celadon Department Store
PW Town Outskirts (0+ steps)
BW Routes 1 and 2, Accumula Town, Dreamyard All Poké Marts, Shopping Mall Nine, Black City shopB
B2W2 Route 20, Aspertia City, Floccesy Ranch, Virbank City, Accumula Town All Poké Marts, Shopping Mall Nine
Join Avenue (Antique Shop, souvenir)
Hidden Grottoes
XY Routes 2 and 18, Santalune Forest, Couriway Town, Poké Ball Factory All Poké Marts
ORAS Routes 104, 106, and 110, Littleroot Town, Rusturf Tunnel, Granite Cave, Lilycove City All Poké Marts, Lilycove Department Store
PMC Mine Cart Adventure (all levels)
SMUSUM Route 1, Trainers' School, Hau'oli City All Poké Marts, Thrifty Megamart
Festival Plaza (Ball Shop, General Store)
Route 1 (sometimes received from Mom after healing at home)USUM
Altar of the SunneS/Altar of the MooneM (repeatable if the player has no Poké Balls to catch Nebby)
PE Routes 3, 4, 9, 10, and 22, Viridian Forest, Silph Co., Cerulean Cave
Received from Youngsters, Lasses, Bug Catchers, Gentlemen, Sailors, Beauties, Gamers, Super Nerds, Rockers, Hikers, Black Belts, Poké Maniacs, Engineers, Fishermen, Bird Keepers, Punk Guys, Roughnecks, Swimmers, Channelers, Jugglers, Burglars, and Tamers after defeating them (except in Gyms)
Packaged with Pokémon Center 2019 Birthday Chansey
All Poké Marts, Celadon Department Store
Cerulean Cave
SwSh Route 2, Postwick, Motostoke, Energy Plant All Poké Marts (after meeting Leon on Route 2)
Rolling Fields

Cameo appearances

In the core series games prior to Generation VII, as well as in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, all NPC Trainers keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls. The same also applies to the Pokémon Stadium games, Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, and Pokémon Battle Revolution.

Due to games not keeping track of which Poké Ball a Pokémon was caught with prior to Generation III, the player's Pokémon are also always sent out from standard Poké Balls in the Stadium games.

Pokémon Stadium 2

In Pokémon Stadium 2, Poké Balls appear in the mini-game Furret's Frolic. They are worth one point each.

Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

In Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, the following Trainer classes keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls:

Additionally, Hau, Professor Kukui, Red, and Blue keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, the following Trainer classes keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls:

Additionally, Hop, Morimoto, and all the NPC Trainers at the Battle Tower keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls.

Appearance

Artwork

Poke Ball RG.png SugimoriPokeBall.png
Artwork from
Red and Green
Artwork by
Ken Sugimori

Sprites

Poké Ball Love Ball battle II.png Furret Frolic Poké Ball instructions.png Poké Ball III.png Poké Ball summary Colo.png
In-battle sprite in
Generation II
Sprite from
Furret Frolic's
instruction screen in
Stadium 2
In-battle and
Summary sprite from
Generation III
Summary sprite from
Colosseum
Poké Ball summary XD.png Poké Ball summary IV.png Poké Ball battle IV.png Poké Ball battle V.png
Summary sprite from
XD: Gale of Darkness
Summary sprite from
Generations IV and V
In-battle sprite in
Generation IV
In-battle sprite in
Generation V

Models

Stadium Poké Ball.png Stadium 2 Poké Ball.png Furret Frolic Poké Ball.png Poké Ball battle 3DS.png Poké Ball PE.png Poké Ball VIII.png
Model from
Stadium
Model from
Stadium 2
Model from
Furret Frolic in
Stadium 2
In-battle model
X, Y, Omega Ruby,
Alpha Sapphire
, Sun, Moon,
Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon
Model from
Let's Go, Pikachu! and
Let's Go, Eevee!
Model from
Generation VIII

In spin-off games

Pokémon Shuffle

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

Pokémon GO

A Poké Ball in Pokémon GO

Poké Balls can be used during wild Pokémon encounters to attempt to capture a wild Pokémon with a catch rate modifier of 1×.

Description

Games Description
GO A device for catching wild Pokémon. It's thrown like a ball, comfortably encapsulating its target.

Acquisition

The player starts the game with 50 Poké Balls and is awarded additional Poké Balls when they level up to any level from 2 to 11.

Poké Balls can also be repeatable obtained by

In addition, the player can purchase Poké Balls with PokéCoins in the Shop at the following rates:

  • 20 for PokéCoin.png100
  • 100 for PokéCoin.png460
  • 200 for PokéCoin.png800

Finally, Poké Balls can be included in limited-time Box deals.

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game series

In Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR!, there are no Poké Balls. However, the Poké Ball card is available in both games.

TCG1 A42 Poké Ball.png TCG2 C59 Poké Ball.png
Poké Ball (GB1) Poké Ball (GB2)

In the Pokémon Pinball series

In Pokémon Pinball and Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, the Poké Ball is the normal ball used in Pinball games since the beginning of the game. It has no bonus multiplier, but it can be upgraded into other types of Poké Ball that multiply bonus points.

Pinball Poké Ball.png Pinball RS Poké Ball.png
Sprite from
Pinball
Sprite from
Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire


Pokémon Tetris

In Pokémon Tetris, when the player clears four lines with the same Tetris piece, a Poké Ball quickly catches the Pokémon currently displayed at the right side of the screen. Additionally, a Poké Ball serves as the cursor in the Pokédex, which the player can use to point at any listed Pokémon.

Tetris catch.png Pokédex Mini.png
Catching a Pokémon Pokédex

Super Smash Bros. series

Render from Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In the Super Smash Bros. series, Poké Balls mainly appear as items which a character can pick up and throw to release a random Pokémon. Most Pokémon will perform a direct attack against the characters on the stage, but some may have other effects. Like many other items, the Poké Balls also do damage simply by hitting other characters.

The Poké Ball also features in a couple of other ways in the Super Smash Bros. series. In Brawl, in The Subspace Emissary, Pokémon Trainer is shown to push the button on the Poké Ball to send out his Pokémon, a mechanic that has not been shown in the anime.

Trophy information

Super Smash Bros. Melee

These balls are used to catch and contain wild Pokémon. Most Pokémon must be weakened in some way before they can be caught, but once they're inside a Poké Ball, they enjoy their new home, since Poké Balls contain an environment specially designed for Pokémon comfort. Master Balls are the strongest type.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

"An item used for capturing Pokémon and calling them out into battle. Pokémon live in these items which despite appearances, actually contain a wide, comfortable Pokémon-friendly world inside them. In Super Smash Bros., Pokémon give temporary support to who calls them out. You never know which you will get, but some are devastatingly powerful."

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U
The Poké Ball in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS

NA: An item used to call out different Pokémon. Which Pokémon emerges is a mystery, but it will aid whoever threw the Poké Ball. Some of the Pokémon contained inside are extremely powerful and will really intensify the battle. It's definitely worth beating your opponents to these!

PAL: A ball holding one of any number of Pokémon just waiting to burst out and help you in battle. Which kind will it be? Well, that's a surprise, but whichever one it is, it'll definitely up the intensity of the battle! If you see one, make sure you're the one to grab it!

In the anime

A Poké Ball in the anime

In the main series

In the anime, the basic Poké Ball is the most commonly used of all varieties, with other varieties rarely being used at all, especially prior to the Sun & Moon series. The vast majority of Pokémon are shown to be stored in regular Poké Balls, to the point that large collections of Poké Balls are usually almost exclusively standard Poké Balls. Even Ash's Pikachu, the most prominent Pokémon in the anime which spends all of its time outside with Ash, has a plain Poké Ball that differs from others only by the small yellow lightning bolt symbol on it, as seen in Pokémon - I Choose You!. This could be due to the games not keeping a track of the Poké Ball that a Pokémon was caught in prior to Generation III, making the anime not showing Pokémon in non-standard Poké Balls concordant with the games.

A Poké Ball in Pokémon Origins
A Poké Ball in Pokémon Generations

In Pokémon Origins

Poké Balls were seen in every episode of Pokémon Origins, starting with the starter Pokémon's Poké Balls in File 1: Red. When Red started out as a Trainer, he typically caught and stored his Pokémon in Poké Balls. As he, his Pokémon, and the Pokémon around him grew stronger, he eventually started using Great Balls and Ultra Balls instead.

In Pokémon Generations

Regular Poké Balls were seen several times throughout Pokémon Generations. They first appeared in The Adventure, where Red caught a Pikachu with one.

In the manga

A Poké Ball in The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Poké Balls are numbered on the outside, on the button, so that a Trainer knows which member of their team they are sending into battle. Trainers must obtain a Pokémon Trainer's license before they are legally allowed to purchase Poké Balls.

It is also possible for a Pokémon to be placed inside a Poké Ball without it being owned by a Trainer. In Days of Gloom and Glory, Meowzie steals a Poké Ball from a shop and puts her kitten in it so that it will not be hurt by a flood affecting the city.

A Poké Ball in Pokémon Adventures

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Poké Balls have been seen in Pokémon Adventures since the very beginning, first appearing in A Glimpse of the Glow. Like other Poké Balls in Pokémon Adventures, regular Poké Balls are semi-transparent from the top, allowing the Pokémon inside to be seen. Like in the anime, most Trainers keep their Pokémon in regular Poké Balls, although its variations have been seen more commonly in it than in the anime.

A Poké Ball in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

In Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All, Poké Balls are depicted as solid, with no visual identification as to which Poké Ball is which. In Special Chapter - Get Pikachu!, it is revealed that when Shu met Pikachu, Pikachu's Poké Ball had been abandoned in a forest because it was defective and it was causing Pikachu's electricity to be released throughout the surrounding area.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Poké Balls are often shown as transparent to identify when a Pokémon is inside. They usually have their typical appearance from far away, suggesting that they may not always be transparent, or are only see-through from up close. Pokémon appear to be able to see the world outside of their Poké Balls, as shown in Bring Down the Powerful Opponent Onix!!, when Clefairy sees Pikachu inside his Poké Ball, and they talk to each other. In Introducing the Pokémon Clefairy!!, when Green is choosing Charmander as his starter Pokémon, he is shown to be able to pick up and lift Charmander directly from the Poké Ball without throwing it first.

Gallery

In the TCG

Main article: Poké Ball (Jungle 64)

The Poké Ball was introduced as an Trainer card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English Original Series (the Japanese Original Era). First released in the Jungle expansion, it was reprinted in the Japanese Hanada City Gym and Kuchiba City Gym Theme Decks. It was later reprinted in the EX Ruby & Sapphire expansion, with new artwork by K. Hoshiba and an updated effect. This print was used until the release of EX Unseen Forces, which featured new artwork by Shin-ichi Yoshikawa. This print was used throughout the rest EX Series, and the first part of the Diamond & Pearl Series, up until the release of Majestic Dawn expansion. This print featured new artwork by Ryo Ueda.

It was later reclassified in Japan as an Item card during the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series, though the English prints did not adopt this naming convention until the release of the Black & White expansion. The HeartGold & SoulSilver print featured new artwork by Hideaki Hakozaki, and the Japanese Battle Starter Decks featured yet another new illustration by Noriko Hotta. This card was released again in the Black & White expansion with new artwork by Yuri Umemura. This print was later released in the Boundaries Crossed expansion. This card was reprinted again during the XY Series in the English Kalos Starter Set with new artwork by 5ban Graphics. This print was later reprinted in the English XY Trainer Kit, and in the Generations expansion.

Poké Ball was reprinted again during the Sun & Moon Series as part of the Sun & Moon expansion with new artwork by Ryo Ueda. As of this print, when the player plays it, they flip a coin. If the coin shows heads, they may search their deck for a Pokémon, reveal it, and put it into their hand, shuffling their deck afterwards.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 精靈球 Jīnglìhng Kàuh
Mandarin 精靈球 / 精灵球 Jīnglíng Qiú *
寶貝球 / 宝贝球 Bǎobèi Qiú *
Denmark Flag.png Danish Pokéball
Finland Flag.png Finnish Poképallo
France Flag.png French Poké Ball
Germany Flag.png German Pokéball
Israel Flag.png Hebrew פוקדור Pokadur
Hungary Flag.png Hungarian Pokélabda
Italy Flag.png Italian Poké Ball
South Korea Flag.png Korean 몬스터볼 Monster Ball
Malaysia Flag.png Malaysian Pokéball
Poland Flag.png Polish Pokéball
Portuguese Brazil Flag.png Brazil Poké Bola *
Poké bola *
Poké Ball *
Pokébola *
Portugal Flag.png Portugal Pokébola
Romania Flag.png Romanian Poké-minge
Russia Flag.png Russian Поке-Болл Poké-Boll *
Покешар Pokéshar *
Spanish CELAC Flag.png Latin America Pokébola
Spain Flag.png Spain Poké Ball
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Poké Ball
Pokéboll
Pokéklot*
Poké-klot*
Turkey Flag.png Turkish Poké Topu
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Bóng chứa Pokémon



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