Item

An item (Japanese: 道具 tool) is an object in the Pokémon games which the player can pick up, keep in their Bag, and use in some manner. They have various uses, including healing, powering up, helping one to catch Pokémon, or accessing new areas.

In the core series

Obtaining items

An item chest from Pokémon Colosseum

Items are obtained in several different ways. They can be given to the player by characters within the game, be bought at a Poké Mart for money, or found by the player throughout the Pokémon world. The latter form of items are contained within item balls, spherical containers resembling a Poké Ball. To obtain the item, players move next to it and press A while facing it. In Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, many items are found in treasure chests modeled after Poké Balls; in addition, items are often found in bulk from these chests, rather than only singular. Another method introduced in Generation II is picking Berries off a Berry tree. Join Avenue was introduced in Pokémon Black and White 2, allowing players to buy certain items in bulk, as well as Berries and some rare items. Pokémon encountered in the wild will sometimes be holding items, which can be obtained by catching them using a Poké Ball or by using either Trick, Thief, Switcheroo, or Covet. Also, in certain areas in Generation VI, various scenery will appear in the background during some battles. Using specific moves, depending on the kind of scenery, will break the scenery and cause an item to be found at the end of the battle, with the message "<player> found a <item> in the aftermath."

Most items can be obtained at any time, but there are a small number of permanently missable items in some games that become unobtainable after the player has progressed beyond a certain point.

Item ball images

Gen	Spr	Description
I		A standard item ball from Generation I. When played on a Game Boy Color, the color varies depending upon the display palette selected. It has the same design as a Poké Ball.
II		A standard item ball from Generation II. This is the same basic image as Generation I, but with standardized colors to make it look more like a Poké Ball.
III		A standard item ball from Generation III. The image has been further altered, making it clearly look like a Poké Ball.
IV		A standard item ball from Generation IV. The image is close to being exactly the same as Generation III, but with slightly different shading.
V		A standard item ball from Generation V. This image is slightly more compact, with a more vivid coloring than previous generations.
VI		A standard item ball from Generation VI. This image has been upgraded from a sprite into a fully detailed 3D model.
		An item ball from Generation VI containing a TM or HM. The Poké Ball is colored differently to make it stand out.
VII (3DS)		A standard item ball from Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. The black creases are significantly thinner than the Generation VI model.
		An item ball from Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon containing a TM. The Poké Ball is colored differently to make it stand out. The black creases are significantly thinner than the Generation VI model.
VII (NS)		A standard item ball from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! This model is the same model used in capture scenes and battles. TMs are not contained in special item balls in this game.
VIII		A standard item ball from Generation VIII. Unlike Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, a lower-resolution model is used, similar to the 3DS games. The circle in the middle is smaller, making it more closely resemble a standard Poké Ball. In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, TMs are not contained in special item balls.
		An item ball from Generation VIII containing a TM or TR. The Poké Ball is colored differently to make it stand out.

Hidden items

The tuft of grass (highlighted) that gives away some hidden items in FR/LG

Items can also be hidden from view rather than found in an item ball. These items typically aren't visible to the player without the use of an item-finding tool. Many times, a seemingly empty path can lead to a hidden item. In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, some hidden items are revealed by a momentary flash when a player enters a room.

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, some hidden items can be found in visibly different tufts of grass. These are most common in Berry Forest. Additionally, certain hidden items are also recurring items in this game, although their spots are always empty at the beginning of a new save file and do not show up until after game successfully generates one.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, hidden items may regenerate daily.

Recurring items

Main article: Recurring item

Some items may reappear in a location after a certain amount of time has passed. Recurring items were introduced in Generation II and have been a feature of all subsequent generations.

Fake items

A fake item ball in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

In some indoor areas such as the Kanto Power Plant, item balls may in fact turn out to be Voltorb or Electrode, in which case interacting with them will instead initiate a battle with said Pokémon. In Generation V, within forested areas or on Route 10, item balls may be Foongus or Amoonguss. In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, fake item balls are presented upside-down. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Galarian Stunfisk mimics item balls.

Item types

Throughout the Pokémon world, the Bag is used to carry items. Since Generation II, items have been separated into categories to help with overall organization. These categories have varied between games.

Items

The Items pocket contains all items that are not put in another pocket. Some items in the Items pocket are below.

• Escape items provide easy escape from a wild Pokémon.
• Evolution items allow certain species of Pokémon to evolve.
  • Evolution stones are Evolution items that can be used directly on Pokémon.
• Valuable and exchangeable items have no purpose other than to help the player obtain other goods or be sold.
• Flutes can be blown in to produce an effect. They can be used multiple times without being consumed.
• Fossils may be revived into Pokémon.
• Mulch can be used in Berry growth in some games.
• Repels prevent wild Pokémon from appearing. There are several different types, each with a different strength.
• Scents increase a Pokémon's friendship. They only appear in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD.

Held items are items given to a Pokémon to hold onto by its Trainer. Many of these items can be used by the Pokémon holding them.

• Incense influences the Pokémon produced by breeding.
• Gems boost the power of a move of a particular type one time.
• Choice items boost a particular stat, but restrict the Pokémon to only using one move.
• Power items provide Pokémon with additional effort values, but decrease the holder's Speed while held.
• Scarves boost the Pokémon's condition during Pokémon Contests.
• Mega Stones allow Pokémon to Mega Evolve.
• Z-Crystals allow Pokémon to use Z-Moves.
• Plates boost the power of moves of particular types and can change Arceus's form.
• Drives change the type of Genesect's signature move, Techno Blast.
• Memories change the type of Silvally's signature move, Multi-Attack.

Poké Balls

The Poké Balls pocket contains the different types of Poké Balls, used for catching Pokémon.

Poké Balls are stored in the Items pocket in Generation II and from Generation V to VII.

Mail

The Mail pocket contains mail, an item given to a Pokémon to communicate with others.

Mail is stored in the Items pocket in Generations II, III, and V. Mail does not appear from Generation VI onward.

Battle Items

The Battle Items pocket contain battle items, items that increase a Pokémon's stats temporarily in battle. Battle items only have their own pocket in the Generation IV and Generation VIII games.

Medicine

Potion

The Medicine pocket contains various items that can heal various afflictions of a Pokémon. While originally part of the general Items pocket, it has had its own pocket since Generation IV. Some items in the Medicine pocket are below.

• HP-restoring items such as Potions and drinks restore a Pokémon's HP.
• Status condition healing items cure a Pokémon of various status conditions.
• Revives and Max Revives revive a fainted Pokémon. The one-of-a-kind Sacred Ash can revive all fainted Pokémon in the party with full health.
• Ethers, Max Ethers, Elixirs, and Max Elixirs restore a Pokémon's PP.
• Vitamins and feathers can increase a Pokémon's stats.
• Herbal medicine cure various afflictions.
• Ability Capsules change the Ability of a Pokémon.

TMs & HMs

The TMs & HMs pocket contains TMs and HMs, items which when used, teach compatible Pokémon a move, providing a wider movepool for Pokémon to learn from. Some moves will have additional uses outside of battle. HMs cannot be discarded; in Gen V and onward, TMs have this trait as well, as they are reusable. TMs and HMs have had their own pocket since Generation II, except in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, where they are instead stored in the TM Case.

Berries

Oran Berry

The Berries pocket contains Berries, items introduced in Generation II that can be found and cultivated. In many games, they can be used in the production of treats such as Pokéblocks and Poffins and many can be used on a Pokémon or given to a Pokémon. Berries have had their own pocket since Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, except in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, where they are instead stored in the Berry Pouch.

Key Items

The Key Items pocket contains Key Items, items that generally can only be obtained once in gameplay and cannot be traded between games. Often these are items which the player must deliver to a non-player character, but other times they are intended to be kept and either aid the progression of the storyline or traveling. Key Items rarely have anything to do with the player's Pokémon and are mostly specific to the game. They can never be discarded, however, certain items will disappear from the player's Bag during storyline events. Key Items have had their own pocket since Generation II.

Item storage

Items that are obtained are stored in different places. Initially, when an item is obtained, it is placed in the player's Bag, and from Generation II onwards, into a specific pocket of that Bag. When a section of the Bag becomes full, players will not be able to pick up any other items of that type. To make space, players must store their items within their PC, accessed at a Pokémon Center as <Player>'s PC. In Generation IV, this problem is eliminated by having no limit on items in the Bag, and the player's PC is used for other purposes. The player also has the ability to toss items away: this will delete them from the Bag. Key Items, HMs, and, starting in Generation V, TMs cannot be tossed.

Held items

Main article: Held item

Since Generation II, certain items have been able to be held by Pokémon to heal or to enhance their power. Healing items can be used in battle without taking up a turn, but must be natural for them to work. Artificial items such as Potions and Full Heals cannot be used by Pokémon during battle. Held items also have other uses, such as an aid to evolve during trading or battle. Mail was also introduced as a hold item, in which players could send customizable messages with their Pokémon upon trading.

Item sprites

Berry sprites

In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, as well as Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, each Berry has a large sprite seen at the "Check Tag" option from the Bag.

Regular sprites

In all core series games starting from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, each item has its own sprite as seen in the player's Bag. Several items were introduced in earlier games with no sprite, but received a sprite once the items were reused in FireRed and LeafGreen or later games.

FireRed and LeafGreen also included sprites for all the items from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, except the e-Reader exclusive Berries (Drash Berry, Eggant Berry, Nutpea Berry, etc.). Some of these items (such as the Acro Bike, Mach Bike, Contest Pass, Go-Goggles, Eon Ticket, etc.) are not legitimately found in FireRed and LeafGreen, so their sprites remained unseen in normal gameplay until they were reused in Pokémon Emerald.

The Secret Medicine (previously known as the Secret Potion) was the only item from earlier games whose sprite was introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Several other Key Items introduced in Generation II (such as the Machine Part, Mystery Egg, Red Scale, SquirtBottle, Pass, etc.) had their sprites introduced in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Some Generation II-exclusive items (including the Brick Piece, Egg Ticket, Gorgeous Box, several Berries and Mail items, etc.) remain with no sprite because they have not been reused in any later games. Likewise, the e-Reader Berries for Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire only have the large sprite as seen in the "Check Tag" option, but they have no regular item sprite because they have not been reused in any later games either.

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, all item sprites have a white outline.

In spin-off games

Pokémon GO

Main article: List of items (GO)

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: List of items (Masters)

Pokémon Conquest

Main article: List of items (Conquest)

PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond

Main article: List of items (PokéPark 2)

Pokémon Battrio

Main article: List of items (Battrio)

Pokémon Pinball series

There are some items in Pokémon Pinball and Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire.

• There are multiple kinds of Poké Ball available, which can be changed with the procedure known as Ball Upgrade.
• The Evolution Items are used to evolve Pokémon.
• The Devon Scope is used to see the invisible Kecleon at the Kecleon Stage in Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire.

In the TCG

Main article: Item card (TCG)

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, items from the games were originally Trainer cards. However, starting with the HeartGold & SoulSilver Collections at the start of the LEGEND era in Japanese, and Black & White in international releases, they are classified in their own category, Item cards.

Trivia

• From Generations III to V, item balls in the overworld can sometimes block the line of sight of other Trainers to the player; if the player picks up an item, it is possible for them to be spotted and approached by a Trainer on the opposite side of it immediately afterwards.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 道具 Douhgeuih Mandarin 道具 Dàojù Dutch Voorwerp* French Canada Article* Europe Objet German Item Italian Strumento Korean 도구 Dogu Norwegian Ting Portuguese Brazil Item Portugal Objeto* Item* Spanish Objeto Vietnamese Vật phẩm

See also

• List of items

References

This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items.