Poké Ball (item)
- This article is about the modern incarnation of the standard Poké Ball. For the Poké Ball fromLegends: Arceus, seePoké Ball (Hisui).
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ThePoké Ball (Japanese:モンスターボールMonster Ball) is a type ofPoké Ball introduced inGeneration I. It is the most basic form of Poké Ball, an item used tocatchwild 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 theSuper Smash Bros. series.
In the core series games
All Pokémon caught inGeneration I andGeneration II are stored in standard Poké Balls when transferred to later generations as well as in thePokémon Stadium games, due to the games not keeping track of which Ball a Pokémon was caught in.
Prior to the introduction of theStrange Ball inPokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokémon with unrecognized Poké Ball IDs appear to be in standard Poké Balls. This occurs when Pokémon caught inPokémon Legends: Arceus are transferred toPokémon Sword and Shield, as well as when Pokémon caught withApricorn orSport Balls inPokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are traded to PokémonDiamond, Pearl, andPlatinum.
First partner Pokémon are contained in standard Poké Balls, as are allgift Pokémon prior toPokémon Sword and Shield and all Pokémon obtained throughin-game trades prior toThe Indigo Disk.
Price
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- InPokémon Crystal, during a Rooftop Sale at theGoldenrod Department Store, Poké Balls can be bought for$150 each.
- InPokémon Black, Poké Balls can be bought inBlack City's Marketplace for$10000 each ifRich Boy Pierce is present in the city.
Effect
Manual activation
When used from theBag in awild Pokémon encounter, it will attempt to catch the wild Pokémon with acatch rate modifier of 1×.
If used on anUltra Beast, the catch rate modifier is instead set to 410/4096× (~0.1×).
The Poké Ball cannot be used incertain situations, such as in wild battles with two or more opponents currently present or against atrial Pokémon. If used in a Trainer battle (except if used as aSnag Ball on aShadow Pokémon), the opposing Trainer will deflect it, wasting the ball (inGeneration III and earlier) or only the player's turn (fromGeneration IV onward). If used on theghost Marowak, it will dodge it, wasting the ball.
Held item
Fling fails if the user is holding an Poké Ball.
Outside of battle
FromGeneration IV onwards, if inBag whenNincada evolves intoNinjask, adds aShedinja to the party provided theplayer has room in their team.
Exchange
Generation V
InPokémon Black, White,Black 2, and White 2, onweekends, 20 Poké Balls can be exchanged for aFull Restore atAnville Town.
In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, once per day, a Poké Ball can be exchanged for aGreat Ball with aRoughneck atVirbank Complex.
Generation VI
InPokémon X and Y, once per day, a Poké Ball can be exchanged for aDive Ball inAmbrette Town.
Description
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Acquisition
Distribution
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NPC usage
In the core series games prior toGeneration VII, as well as inPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! andPokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, all NPC Trainers keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls.
Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon
Hau,Professor Kukui,Gladion,Red, andBlue keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls. Additionally,Lillie will keep her Pokémon in standard Poké Balls in theBattle Tree.
The followingTrainer classes will also keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls:
- Backpacker
- Beauty
- Bellhop
- Cook
- Hiker
- Janitor
- Office Worker
- Preschooler
- Sightseer
- Trial Guide
- Trainers who share the same model as any of the above (e.g. theEevee users andTeacher)
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Hop,Morimoto,Klara,Avery, and all the NPC Trainers at theBattle Tower keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls.
The following Trainer classes keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls:
- Backpacker
- Black Belt
- Cabbie
- Café Master
- Cameraman
- Lass
- League Staff
- Macro Cosmos's (excludingRose)
- Office Worker
- Poké Kid
- Police Officer
- Reporter
- Schoolboy
- Schoolgirl
- Worker
- Youngster
- Gym Trainer (Turffield)
- Master Dojo Student
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
All Trainers except for those that are considered "strong" (denoted by a yellow background on their overworld text bubble), theTeam Star Bosses,AI SadaS,AI TuroV,Crispin,Amarys,Lacey, andCyrano keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls.
In the side series games
All NPC Trainers inPokémon Stadium games,Pokémon Colosseum,Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, andPokémon Battle Revolution keep their Pokémon in standard Poké Balls.
Pokémon Stadium 2
InPokémon Stadium 2, Poké Balls appear in the mini-gameFurret's Frolic. They are worth one point each.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Shuffle
Whenever the player defeats an uncaught Pokémon that is not aTrainer'sMega Evolved Pokémon, they get a chance tocatch that Pokémon with a regular Poké Ball provided automatically. If the Pokémon escapes the Poké Ball, players have the option of purchasingGreat Balls to use instead. However, if the player chooses not to use a Great Ball, the Pokémon runs away and the stage concludes.
If a Pokémon escapes a Poké Ball, there is a chance that the Pokémon becomes nervous andSuper Catch Power activates. This greatly increases the Pokémon's catchability, in addition its catchability that was doubled by the Great Ball. However, the player can only use a Great Ball to capture a Pokémon at this point.
Pokémon GO
Poké Balls can be used during wild Pokémon encounters to attempt to capture a wild Pokémon with acatch rate modifier of 1×.
Description
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Acquisition
The player starts the game with 50 Poké Balls and is awarded additional Poké Balls when theylevel up to any level from 2 to 11.
Poké Balls can also be repeatably obtained by:
- SpinningPokéStops orGyms
- Field Research
- Special Research
- Opening aGift
- Timed Research
In addition, the player can purchase Poké Balls withPokéCoins in the Shop at the following rates:
- 20 for
100 - 100 for460
- 200 for800
Finally, Poké Balls can be included in limited-time Box deals.
Pokémon Trading Card Game series
InPokémon Trading Card Game andPokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, there are no Poké Balls. However, thePoké Ball card is available in both games.
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| Poké Ball (GB1) | Poké Ball (GB2) |
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
- Main article:Poké Ball (Promo-A 5)
InPokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, Poké Ball appears as anItem card that allows players to take a randomBasic Pokémon from their deck and put it into their hand.
Pokémon Pinball series
InPokémon Pinball andPokémon 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.
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| Sprite from Pinball | Sprite from Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire |
Pokémon Tetris
InPokémon 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 thePokédex, which the player can use to point at any listed Pokémon.
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| Catching a Pokémon | Pokédex |
Pokémon Frienda
 | This section is missing one or more images. Please feel free to add any missing images to this section. Needed images can beuploaded to the Bulbagarden Archives. |
InPokémon Frienda, after a set number ofmoves have been used and at least one opposing Pokémon has fainted, the player can insert ¥100 for a chance to catch all of the opposing Pokémon. A spinning wheel determines what Poké Balls are used on the Pokémon, with one of the options being a regular Poké Ball.
Super Smash Bros. series
In theSuper 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, inThe 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 inanimation.
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
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!
Pokémon UNITE
InPokémon UNITE, Trainers use Poké Balls to send out their Pokémon at their team's base, after they have beenknocked out in battle. InMer Stadium's Catch 'Em Battles, after acaught Pokémon leaves play through either beingknocked out or having its timer elapse, the Trainer's original Pokémon is sent back into battle at the same position as the caught Pokémon from its Poké Ball.
During the game's tutorial, aPikachu from theAeos Research Institute is sent out from a Poké Ball twice. This happens before Tutorial (Basics 1) and Tutorial (Basics 2).
Gallery
Artwork
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| Artwork from Red and Green | Artwork by Ken Sugimori | Artwork from Global Link | Artwork from Legends: Z-A |
Sprites
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| 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 | Summary sprite from XD: Gale of Darkness |
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| Summary sprite from Generations IV andV | In-battle sprite in Generation IV | Summary sprite from Battle Revolution | In-battle sprite in Generation V |
Models
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| Model from Stadium | Model from Stadium 2 | Model from Furret's 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 |
Game icons
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| Diamond and Pearl | Platinum | HeartGold and SoulSilver |
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| Black and White | Black 2 and White 2 | |
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| X and Y | Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | ORAS Demo |
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| Sun and Moon | Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon | SM Demo |
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| Bank | HOME |
In animation
Pokémon the Series
InPokémon the Series, the basic Poké Ball is the most commonly used of all varieties, with other varieties rarely being used at all, especially prior toPokémon the Series: Sun & Moon. 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 exclusively standard Poké Balls. EvenAsh's Pikachu, the most prominent Pokémon in the series who spends all of his timeoutside with Ash, has a plain Poké Ball that differs from others only by the small yellow lightning bolt symbol on it, as seen inPokémon - I Choose You!. This could be due to thegames not keeping a track of the Poké Ball that a Pokémon wascaught in prior toGeneration III, making the series not showing Pokémon in non-standard Poké Balls concordant with the games.
Pokémon Horizons: The Series
 | This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: missing specific role in Horizons; any similarities/differences to PtS can be listed here |
Pokémon Origins
Poké Balls were seen in every episode ofPokémon Origins, starting with thefirst partner Pokémon's Poké Balls inFile 1: Red. WhenRed started out as aTrainer, he typically caught and stored his Pokémon in Poké Balls. As he, his Pokémon, and the Pokémon around him grew stronger, he eventually started usingGreat Balls andUltra Balls instead.
Pokémon Generations
Poké Balls were seen several times throughoutPokémon Generations. They first appeared inThe Adventure, whereRed caught aPikachu with one.
Pokémon Evolutions
Poké Balls appeared in most episodes ofPokémon Evolutions, first being seen inThe Champion.
Gallery
A Poké Ball inPokémon Origins
A Poké Ball inPokémon Generations
A Poké Ball inPokémon Evolutions
In the manga
Like inanimation, standard Poké Balls are the most commonly seen Poké Balls in the variousmanga that feature them.
Pokémon Adventures
Poké Balls have been seen inPokémon Adventures since the very beginning, first appearing inA 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 animation, most Trainers keep their Pokémon in regular Poké Balls, although its variations have been seen more commonly in it than in animation.
Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!
InPokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!, Poké Balls are depicted as solid, with no visual identification as to which Poké Ball is which.
Gallery
A Poké Ball inAsh & Pikachu
A Poké Ball inBe the Best! Pokémon B+W
A Poké Ball inThe Electric Tale of Pikachu
A Poké Ball inHow I Became a Pokémon Card
A Poké Ball inPokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
A Poké Ball inPokémon Journeys
A Poké Ball inPokémon Pocket Monsters
A Poké Ball inPokémon Zensho
A Poké Ball in amovie adaptation
In the TCG
- Main article:Poké Ball (Jungle 64)
Poké Ball was introduced as anTrainer card in thePokémon Trading Card Game during the English Original Series (the Japanese Original Era). First released in theJungle expansion, it was reprinted in the JapaneseHanada City Gym andKuchiba City Gym Theme Decks. It was later reprinted in theEX Ruby & Sapphire expansion, with new artwork byK. Hoshiba and an updated effect. This print was used until the release ofEX Unseen Forces, which featured new artwork byShin-ichi Yoshikawa. This print was used throughout the rest EX Series, and the first part of the Diamond & Pearl Series, up until the release ofMajestic Dawn expansion. This print featured new artwork byRyo Ueda.
It was later reclassified in Japan as anItem card during the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series, though the English prints did not adopt this naming convention until the release of theBlack & White expansion. TheHeartGold & SoulSilver print featured new artwork byHideaki Hakozaki, and the JapaneseBattle Starter Decks featured yet another new illustration byNoriko Hotta. This card was released again in theBlack & White expansion with new artwork byYuri Umemura. This print was later released in theBoundaries Crossed expansion. This card was reprinted again during the XY Series in the EnglishKalos Starter Set with new artwork by5ban Graphics. This print was later reprinted in the EnglishXY Trainer Kit, and in theGenerations expansion.
Poké Ball was reprinted again during the Sun & Moon Series as part of theSun & Moon expansion with new artwork byRyo 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. It also appeared in the Sword & Shield Series in theRebel Clash expansion with new artwork byStudio Bora Inc., and as one of theSWSH Black Star Promos, with special25th Anniversary artwork by 5ban Graphics. During the Scarlet & Violet Series it was included in theScarlet & Violet expansion with artwork by Studio Bora Inc.
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Catalan | Poké Ball | |
| Chinese | Cantonese | 精靈球Jīnglìhng Kàuh |
| Mandarin | 精靈球 / 精灵球Jīnglíng Qiú* 寶貝球 / 宝贝球Bǎobèi Qiú* | |
| Czech | Pokébal | |
| Danish | Pokéball | |
| Finnish | Poképallo | |
| French | Poké Ball | |
| German | Pokéball | |
| Hebrew | פוקדורPokadur | |
| Hungarian | Pokélabda | |
| Indonesian | Bola Monster Bola Poké Bola Pokémon Poké Ball | |
| Italian | Poké Ball Sfera Poké* | |
| Korean | 몬스터볼Monster Ball | |
| Malaysian | Pokéball | |
| Polish | Pokéball | |
| Portuguese | Brazil | Poké Bola* Poké bola* Poké Ball* Pokébola* |
| Portugal | Pokébola | |
| Romanian | Poké-minge | |
| Russian | Поке-БоллPoké-Boll* ПокешарPokéshar* | |
| Spanish | Latin America | Pokébola |
| Spain | Poké Ball | |
| Swedish | Poké Ball Pokéboll Pokéklot* Poké-klot* | |
| Thai | มอนสเตอร์บอลMonster Ball โปเกบอลPoké Ball* | |
| Turkish | Poké Topu | |
| Vietnamese | Bóng chứa Pokémon | |
Related articles
 | This item article is part ofProject ItemDex, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on allitems. |
