Vitamin

A vitamin is a type of item from the Pokémon games. They are used to boost the stats of a trainer's Pokémon.

In Generation I and Generation II games, vitamins increased a stat by a single point, with a maximum of ten of each vitamin which could be given to a Pokémon. However, in Generation III, stats were calculated with a system of effort values, and so instead vitamins give a Pokémon 10 EV points to a stat, and a Pokémon can have vitamins until the EV value reaches 100.

The two PP-raising vitamins do not work in the same way, since instead of raising a stat they raise the PP value of one of the Pokémon's moves. Rare Candy is also an exception to this, since it instead raises the Pokémon's level by one. Also, all three cannot be bought at Poké Marts and must be found instead. However, all three are still considered vitamins.

Most are named after real minerals and organic compounds important to a body's health.

Types of vitamins

File:HPUpSprite.png HP Up

HP Up raises the HP stat. It is available at the Celadon Department Store, Goldenrod Department Store, Lilycove Department Store, Veilstone Department Store, and at the Vitamin Guru's stand in Slateport City for File:Pokébuck sign.gif9800. Sometimes, the Vitamin Guru will have a sale and reduce the HP Up's price to File:Pokébuck sign.gif4900. It can also be purchased at the Battle Frontier for 1 BP.

File:ProteinSprite.png Protein

Protein raises the Attack stat. It is available at the Celadon Department Store, Goldenrod Department Store, Lilycove Department Store, and at the Vitamin Guru's stand in Slateport City for File:Pokébuck sign.gif9800. Sometimes, the Vitamin Guru will have a sale and reduce the Protein's price to File:Pokébuck sign.gif4900. It can also be purchased at the Battle Frontier for 1 BP.

In the real world, protein is important for the strength and development of muscles. The stronger muscles are probably what increases the Pokémon's Attack.

File:IronSprite.png Iron

Iron raises the Defense stat. It is available at the Celadon Department Store, Goldenrod Department Store, Lilycove Department Store, and at the Vitamin Guru's stand in Slateport City for File:Pokébuck sign.gif9800. Sometimes, the Vitamin Guru will have a sale and reduce the Iron's price to File:Pokébuck sign.gif4900. It can also be purchased at the Battle Frontier for 1 BP.

In the real world, iron is mostly used to create several important proteins. It was probably chosen because iron is a hard metal, and thus easy to associate with Defense, much like Steel-type Pokémon.

File:CalciumSprite.png Calcium

Calcium raises the Special Attack stat in Generation III, both Special Attack and Special Defense in Generation II or just the Special stat in Generation I. It is available at the Celadon Department Store, Goldenrod Department Store, Lilycove Department Store, and at the Vitamin Guru's stand in Slateport City for File:Pokébuck sign.gif9800. Sometimes, the Vitamin Guru will have a sale and reduce the Calcium's price to File:Pokébuck sign.gif4900. It can also be purchased at the Battle Frontier for 1 BP.

In the real world, calcium is important for the strength and development of bones and teeth.

File:ZincSprite.png Zinc

Zinc raises the Special Defense stat. It was introduced in Generation III when the stat was finally split off from the Special Attack stat; prior to that, Calcium would raise both Special Attack and Special Defense. It is available at the Celadon Department Store, Lilycove Department Store, and at the Vitamin Guru's stand in Slateport City for File:Pokébuck sign.gif9800. Sometimes, the Vitamin Guru will have a sale and reduce the Zinc's price to File:Pokébuck sign.gif4900. It can also be purchased at the Battle Frontier for 1 BP.

In the real world, zinc is used to create a large number of important proteins, helping the body survive and function, which is probably why it raises Special Defense.

File:CarbosSprite.png Carbos

Carbos raises the Speed stat. It is available at the Celadon Department Store, Goldenrod Department Store, Lilycove Department Store, and at the Vitamin Guru's stand in Slateport City for File:Pokébuck sign.gif9800. Sometimes, the Vitamin Guru will have a sale and reduce the Carbos's price to File:Pokébuck sign.gif4900. It can also be purchased at the Battle Frontier for 1 BP.

In the real world, carbohydrates are used as energy in the body. The increased amount of energy is probably what boosts the Pokémon's Speed.

File:PPUpSprite.png PP Up

One PP Up will raise a move's PP by 1/5 of the move's base PP. Up to three PP Ups can be used on a single move on a Pokémon.

File:PPMaxSprite.png PP Max

One PP Max has the same effect as three PP Ups.

File:RareCandySprite.png Rare Candy

A Rare Candy is packed with so many nutrients that it will raise a Pokémon's level by one. A Pokémon can have any number of these until it reaches level 100, with the exception of glitch Pokémon like Missingno. Due to its effect and overall rarity, Rare Candy is often the subject of item duplication cheats. In fact, the most common item duplication cheat is called the Rare Candy cheat.

Unlike a normal level up, a level up by Rare Candy does not factor in EVs when calculating the new stats, resulting in weaker stats for that level. Therefore, it is usually considered best to use a Rare Candy only after the Pokémon has maxed out its EVs.

In the real world, candy is almost entirely composed of sugar, a very quickly burning energy source. Therefore, when a Pokémon eats a Rare Candy, it is possible that the fast energy rush allows the Pokémon to have a brief growth spurt without gaining as much strength as it could.

In Generation II, a player could create Rare Candies by attaching a plain Berry to Shuckle. Over time, the berry would become Berry Juice. If left attached to Shuckle even longer, it would become a Rare Candy.

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