Vs. Seeker
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The Vs. Seeker (Japanese: バトルサーチャー Battle Searcher, named without a period in Generation III as VS Seeker) is a Key Item that appears in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl. It is used to battle Trainers that the player has battled previously.
In the core series games
Red and Leaf, in their Generation III designs, wear the Vs. Seeker on their bag straps. Red's Vs. Seeker still appears on his Generation IV and Generation V sprites.
In the official artwork, as well as their in-game sprites Red's Vs. Seeker is blue and Leaf's is pink. However, standalone artwork depicts it as blue by default, and the in-game bag sprite is blue even when playing as Leaf.
Effect
All games
When used, the Vs. Seeker sends out a signal that allows the player to find other Trainers who want a rematch. This signal affects all Trainers that are on-screen. Once used on Trainers that can be rematched, the device cannot be used again until it is charged. The player does this by walking a total of 100 steps. The effect on the Trainers wears off if they are battled, the player leaves the area, or the player walks 100 steps. If the player attempts to use the Vs. Seeker when it is not fully charged, the player will be told how many steps remain until it is. After the player uses the Vs. Seeker, some Trainers may have their team changed from their first battle. This is typically accompanied by a change in the Trainer's dialogue and is triggered by the player reaching a certain location, earning a certain Badge, or entering the Hall of Fame. The Vs. Seeker cannot be used in indoor locations, including forests and caves, even where previously battled Trainers are present.
Generation III
The indication of a rematch is initially a speech bubble above the Trainers' heads with a black double exclamation mark (!!). After that, the Trainers jump up and down or raise their hands to remind the player post-battle of who wanted a re-match. Trainers that have not been battled previously by the player display a single red exclamation mark (!), and do not jump up and down. Trainers that do not wish to battle do not do anything and display a blue bubble containing a white X.
Generation IV
The indication of a rematch in Generation IV is similar to that of Generation III. The initial reaction is a speech bubble containing a double red exclamation mark (!!), and the Trainers rotate in place afterwards. If the Trainer has previously not been challenged, a single red exclamation mark (!) will appear instead. If a Trainer does not want to battle, they will do nothing and no bubble will appear. In Pokémon Platinum, after the player obtains the Vs. Seeker, Trainers can be found around various Sinnoh Pokémon Centers.
Generation VIII
The indication of a rematch in Generation VIII is similar to that of Generation IV. The initial reaction is a speech bubble containing a double orange exclamation mark (!!). If the Trainer has previously not been challenged, a single red exclamation mark (!) will appear instead. If a Trainer does not want to battle, they will do nothing and no bubble will appear. Unlike Generation IV, the overall range of the Vs. Seeker is smaller and cannot affect the overall screen, to where the player must be closer to the Trainer for a chance of a rematch, otherwise a message will state that no Trainers are in range in the player is too far away from that Trainer.
Description
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Acquisition
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In the spin-off games
Pokémon Masters EX
In Pokémon Masters EX, Red has a blue Vs. Seeker and Leaf has a pink one, both attached to the strap of their Bag in their models based on Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. However, both characters also have a variety of other models with no Vs. Seeker. This does not affect the gameplay.
Super Smash Bros. series
In the Super Smash Bros. series, both the male and female versions of the Pokémon Trainer have a Vs. Seeker attached to the strap of their Bag, as their designs are respectively based on Red and Leaf from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. This does not affect the gameplay.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Ultimate, the male Pokémon Trainer has a blue Vs. Seeker as part of his main costume and all his alternate costumes.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the female Pokémon Trainer has a purple Vs. Seeker as part of her main costume, although Leaf uses a pink Vs. Seeker in the core series games. The female Pokémon Trainer's alternate costumes include a green, pink, or orange Vs. Seeker due to the fact that those costumes use color schemes based on May, Hilda, or Selene, respectively.
| Game | Image |
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| Brawl | 
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| Ultimate | 
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In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
In Pokémon Adventures, the Vs. Seeker works by sensing the fighting spirit of Trainers willing to battle within a certain radius and then pointing a beam of light towards them.
FireRed & LeafGreen arc
The Vs. Seeker was introduced in My, My, My Mimic as one Bill's latest inventions. He gave one of these devices to Red, Blue, and Green each. In Red, Green, Blue and Mewtwo Too, the three Pokédex holders' Vs. Seekers activated when they approached Trainer Tower, revealing that Team Rocket was present at the tower and using it as their base.
In the TCG
- Main article: VS Seeker (EX FireRed & LeafGreen 100)
VS Seeker was introduced as Trainer card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English EX Series (the Japanese ADV Era). First released in the Japanese Flight of Legends expansion, it later debuted in English in the EX FireRed & LeafGreen expansion, with both prints featuring an illustration by K. Utsunomiya. This card was reprinted in the Japanese Beat of the Frontier expansion and the English Supreme Victors expansion, with a new illustration by Wataru Kawahara. VS Seeker allows the player to take a Supporter card from their discard pile and add it to their hand after showing it to their opponent.
In the TFG
In the Pokémon Trading Figure Game, the three figures Red, Green, and Yellow are based on Red's design from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, which includes a Vs. Seeker fixed on his Bag strap. This does not affect the gameplay.
Trivia
- The PokéNav and Vs. Seeker resemble each other somewhat in appearance, and both serve the purpose of allowing players to rechallenge Trainers they previously battled.
- In FireRed and LeafGreen, the Team Rocket Grunts at both Five Isle Meadow and Outcast Island are the only Trainers that remain in an area where the Vs. Seeker can be used after the player defeats them but cannot be rematched.
- In the Sinnoh-based games, if the player uses the Vs. Seeker on a certain area of the Cycling Road part of Route 206, it is possible to catch the attention of a Hiker below the road. However, it is impossible to fight him without using the Vs. Seeker again, as there is a gate on the way.
- In Platinum, using the Vs. Seeker will not lower the volume of any music being played on the Piano in the Villa.
- While not used, the Vs. Seeker bag sprite appears in the coding for Generation V games, along with all other items seen only in Generation III and IV.
In other languages
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See also
- List of Key Items in Generation III
- List of Key Items in Generation IV
- List of Key Items in Generation VIII
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This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items. |
