Flute

Flutes are a type of item in Generations III and IV.

Effects

Although each of the colored flutes has a different effect, they have one thing in common: they don't go away after they are used. The Red, Yellow, and Blue Flutes, heal, respectively, Attraction, Confusion, and Sleep. The Black Flute makes wild Pokémon encounters less common, while the White Flute makes wild Pokémon encounters more common. The Black Flute eventually loses effectiveness.

Location

In Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow

The Poké Flute is a Key item which works like Blue Flute. This obtained from Mr. Fuji as a thanks for saving him from the Team Rocket Grunts (as well as Jessie and James in Yellow) at Pokémon Tower. It actually plays a major part in the game story as it's used to awaken two Snorlax that sleep and block the paths between Vermilion City and Route 12, and Celadon City and Route 16, respectively.

In Snap

See the Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow section.

In Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

To obtain the flutes in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, the player must first receive the Soot Sack from the man in the glass-blowing shop. Then, a specific number of steps must be taken in the ash-covered grass on the route. Once the player has enough ash, he/she can exchange it for one of the flutes.

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, only one flute, the Yellow Flute, is obtainable without trading a Pokémon over from Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald versions holding one. Means of obtaining the Yellow Flute are that the player must have at least 1600 coins in their Coin Case and then the player must go to the Prize Corner of the Rocket Game Corner and trade their 1600 Coins for a Yellow Flute with the woman on the left. Also, see the Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow section for information on the Poké Flute.

Generation IV

The flutes can't be obtained in Generation IV. Therefore, the player can only get one of the flutes by attaching it to a Pokémon in Generation III and transferring it over via Pal Park.

The Azure Flute is a event key item received from an upcoming Nintendo event the the player can use at Spear Pillar to get to Hall of Origin and battle Arceus after the Dialga/Palkia event is cleared.

Trivia

The flutes, along with the Poké Flute, are the only items that can be used in-battle and can be used multiple times.