Poké Ball

The 26 Poké Ball variants found in the main series

A Poké Ball (Japanese: モンスターボール Monster Ball) is a type of item that is critical to a Trainer's quest, used for catching and storing Pokémon. Both a general term used to describe the various kinds as well as a specific term to refer to the most basic among these variations, Poké Balls are ubiquitous in the modern Pokémon world. Up to six Pokémon can be carried with a Trainer in Poké Balls, while any number of other Poké Balls can be held in the bag for later use. These six Pokémon in the Poké Balls can be attached to the user's belt for carrying them around. Some Pokémon do not like to be carried around in Poké Balls, such as Ash's Pikachu.

The strength of a Poké Ball is determined by how much it raises a wild Pokémon's catch rate, and may in fact vary depending on the conditions of the battle. Poké Balls limit the power of Pokémon contained inside, taming them, though they do not cause the Pokémon inside to always obey the Trainer.

Mechanics and design

A schematic displaying Poké Ball size, storage and mechanics

Though the technology behind a Poké Ball remains unknown and has evolved through the centuries to accommodate the diverse requirements of their creators, the basic mechanics are simple enough to understand and tend to remain constant: in a Pokémon battle, once an opposing wild Pokémon has been weakened, the Pokémon Trainer can throw a Poké Ball at it. When a Poké Ball hits the Pokémon, as long as it is not deflected, the Poké Ball will open, convert the Pokémon to a form of energy, pull it into its center, and close. A Pokémon in this state is given a chance to struggle to attempt to break free from the ball and escape, being instantly re-converted from energy into matter. Should a Pokémon escape a Poké Ball, the device will either be destroyed (in the games and some manga) or will return to the Trainer (anime), who can attempt once again to capture the Pokémon. A Pokémon who does not escape the ball will be caught.

Interior of a Poké Ball from the anime

Poké Balls are specifically constructed for Pokémon capture, transport and training. As well as being physically difficult to escape from (as they seal tightly shut as soon as a Pokémon is taken into them) the environment of a Poké Ball is designed to be attractive to Pokémon also; according to Lucian of the Sinnoh Elite Four, weakened Pokémon instinctively curl up tight in an attempt to heal themselves, an action that the environment of the Poké Ball encourages. Furthermore, while it is not known how a captured Pokémon perceives their time inside their Ball, the device is said to replicate a "Pokémon-friendly" environment that is "designed for comfort". All of these factors strongly discourage Pokémon from escaping their Balls. In the manga, Bugsy refers to his "capture net" as being the net that is supposedly inside a Poké Ball, but visible and already deployed. According to Kurt, this invisible net captures and physically stores a Pokémon.

Poké Balls are not always at full size. Pressing the button on the front will convert it between its full size, about the size of a baseball, to a smaller size, about that of a ping-pong ball, and back again. The larger size makes throwing the ball easier, while the smaller one makes for easier storage on a belt clip, in pockets, and in bags.

As mentioned, the generic Poké Ball design is not constant and has been remodelled and altered innumerable times in order to create new Poké Balls that are adapted for specific conditions. For example, it is seen in several anime episodes such as Gulpin it Down! and Claydol Big and Tall that normal Poké Balls have difficulty catching Pokémon which are extremely large or extremely heavy. In the latter episode, it is revealed that ancient civilizations overcame this issue by constructing immense Poké Balls many times the size of the standard model known today, and made from stone instead. Other civilizations such as Pokémopolis also discovered new technologies that more closely resembled modern Poké Ball technology, such as the Dark Device and the Unearthly Urn, which were also adapted for the capture and storage of massive Pokémon but in small containers. However, devices like these became lost to the ages and their roles were subsequently supplanted by Heavy Balls in the modern world.

Paul releasing Template:AP

When a Pokémon is released from a Poké Ball, it will be accompanied by a bright light as it returns from its energy form, and materialize nearby, often on the ground. This bright light has been shown to vary depending on the type of Ball that the Pokémon is contained in in the games, while it has always been shown to be white in the anime. Pokémon are recalled to their Poké Ball by holding up the Poké Ball with its button pointed at the Pokémon. A beam of red light will shoot from the button, converting the Pokémon back into energy and returning it to the Ball. The beam, however, has a limited range, and can be dodged by the Pokémon. If the beam hits a person, they will be stunned for a moment, but aside from that no ill effects will make themselves apparent. Releasing Pokémon from a Trainer's ownership, unlike normally sending the Pokémon out, will bathe the Pokémon in a blue glow, and the Poké Ball will no longer mark it, making it able to be caught by another Trainer's Poké Ball.

A Poké Ball can also be broken, which will release it from ownership, and if a Trainer has done so accidentally, it must somehow be fixed before the Pokémon can be recalled.

Poké Balls are able to communicate with a Trainer's Pokédex, as the system updates itself with information on newly-caught Pokémon, and keeps track of how many Pokémon the Trainer has with them. If a Trainer catches a new Pokémon with the full six already with them, the Pokédex will automatically send the newly-caught Pokémon in its Poké Ball to the Pokémon Storage System that the Trainer is using. Poké Balls are able to be decorated to no ill effect.

Capture chances

Main article: Catch rate

Types of Poké Ball

A Double Battle begins in Pokémon Battle Revolution

There have been 26 different varieties of Poké Ball recorded to date, all differing from each other in some effect, whether it be an increased ability to catch a Pokémon from the wild or an effect which occurs only after the Pokémon has been caught.

Introduced in Kanto

These balls were developed by Silph Co., along with the development of the Master Ball.

Poké Ball モンスターボール Monster Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN I		Price: 200 Sell for: 100
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon.			Catch rate: 1×		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Most Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Most Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Most Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Most Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Outskirt Stand Template:Gameabbrev3 Outskirt Stand Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts (after learning how to catch Pokémon) Pokéwalker: Template:Pw (0+ Steps) Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts, Black City shopB Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts
Secondary effect: Exchange twenty with a man in Anville Town for a Full Restore.Template:DotwTemplate:DotwBW Once per day, exchange one with a Roughneck in Virbank Complex for a Great BallB2W2
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball thrown at wild Pokémon to catch them. Template:Gameabbrev3 An item for catching Pokémon. Template:Gameabbrev3 A tool for catching wild Pokémon. Template:Gameabbrev3 A ball thrown to catch a wild Pokémon. It is designed in a capsule style. Template:Gameabbrev3 Template:Gameabbrev3 A device for catching wild Pokémon. It is thrown like a ball at the target. It is designed as a capsule system. Template:Gameabbrev3 A device for catching wild Pokémon. It is thrown like a ball at the target. It is designed as a capsule system.
					This item was featured in the TCG.

Great Ball スーパーボール Super Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN I		Price: 600 Sell for: 300
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon.			Catch rate: 1.5×		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Many Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Many Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Many Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Many Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Outskirt Stand Template:Gameabbrev3 Outskirt Stand Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts after earning 3 Badges Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts after earning 3 Badges Pokéwalker: Template:Pw (750+ Steps) Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts after earning 1 Badge Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts after earning 1 Badge
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball for catching wild Pokémon. More effective than a Poké Ball. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball with a decent success rate. Template:Gameabbrev3 A good ball with a higher catch rate than a Poké Ball. Template:Gameabbrev3 A good, quality Ball that offers a higher Pokémon catch rate than a standard Poké Ball. Template:Gameabbrev3 Template:Gameabbrev3 A good, high-performance Ball that provides a higher Pokémon catch rate than a standard Poké Ball. Template:Gameabbrev3 A good, high-performance Ball that provides a higher Pokémon catch rate than a standard Poké Ball.
					This item was featured in the TCG.

Ultra Ball ハイパーボール Hyper Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN I		Price: 1200 Sell for: 600
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon.			Catch rate: 2×		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Several Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Several Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Several Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Several Poké Marts Template:Gameabbrev3 Outskirt Stand Template:Gameabbrev3 Outskirt Stand Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts after earning 5 Badges, Jubilife TV Pokémon Lottery Corner (1 digit)Pt Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts after earning 5 Badges, Goldenrod Radio Tower Pokémon Lottery Corner (1 digit) Pokéwalker: Template:Pw (2000+ Steps) Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts after earning 5 Badges Template:Gameabbrev3 All Poké Marts after earning 5 Badges
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball for catching wild Pokémon. More effective than a Great Ball. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball with a high rate of success. Template:Gameabbrev3 A better ball with a higher catch rate than a Great Ball. Template:Gameabbrev3 A very high-grade Ball that offers a higher Pokémon catch rate than a Great Ball. Template:Gameabbrev3 Template:Gameabbrev3 An ultra-performance Ball that provides a higher Pokémon catch rate than a Great Ball. Template:Gameabbrev3 An ultra-performance Ball that provides a higher Pokémon catch rate than a Great Ball.
					This item was featured in the TCG.

Master Ball マスターボール Master Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN I		Cannot be bought Cannot be sold
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon without fail.			Catch rate: 255×		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Silph Co. Template:Gameabbrev3 New Bark Town, Lucky Channel (all digits) Template:Gameabbrev3 Magma HideoutR/Aqua HideoutSE, Lilycove Department Store Pokémon Lottery Corner (all digits) Template:Gameabbrev3 Silph Co. Template:Gameabbrev3 Agate Village Template:Gameabbrev3 Pokémon HQ Lab Template:Gameabbrev3 Team Galactic HQ, Jubilife TV Pokémon Lottery Corner (all digits) Template:Gameabbrev3 New Bark Town, Goldenrod Radio Tower Pokémon Lottery Corner (all digits) Template:Gameabbrev3 Gift from Professor Juniper after obtaining all eight badges, gift from a man wearing black in the Castelia City Pokémon Center after trading with 50 people Template:Gameabbrev3 Gift from Professor Juniper in Mistralton City, receive from Colress after first rebattle on Plasma Frigate (at P2 Laboratory), prize from Join Avenue Raffle Shop
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball that captures any wild Pokémon without fail. Template:Gameabbrev3 The best Ball. It never misses. Template:Gameabbrev3 The best ball that catches a Pokémon without fail. Template:Gameabbrev3 The best Ball with the ultimate performance. It will catch any wild Pokémon without fail. Template:Gameabbrev3 Template:Gameabbrev3 The best Ball with the ultimate level of performance. It will catch any wild Pokémon without fail. Template:Gameabbrev3 The best Ball with the ultimate level of performance. It will catch any wild Pokémon without fail.
					This item was featured in the TCG.
Please see the main article for more information.

Safari Ball サファリボール Safari Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN I		Cannot be bought Cannot be sold
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon in the Safari Zone.			Catch rate: 1.5×		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Safari Zone Template:Gameabbrev3 Safari Zone Template:Gameabbrev3 Safari Zone Template:Gameabbrev3 Great Marsh Template:Gameabbrev3 Safari Zone
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball used in the Safari Zone for catching wild Pokémon. Template:Gameabbrev3 A special ball that is used only in the Safari Zone. Template:Gameabbrev3 A special ball that is used only in the Safari Zone. It is finished with a camouflage pattern. Template:Gameabbrev3 Template:Gameabbrev3 A special Poké Ball that is used only in the Great Marsh. It is decorated in a camouflage pattern. Template:Gameabbrev3 A special Poké Ball that is used only in the Great Marsh. It is decorated in a camouflage pattern.

Introduced in Johto

The following Poké Balls were introduced in the Johto region. Seven of them are made from Apricorns by Kurt, while the only one that is not is seen by some to be a counterpart to the Safari Ball in that it is only used in the Bug-Catching Contest in National Park.

Level Ball レベルボール Level Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN II		Cannot be bought Sell for: 150
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon; works better on Pokémon of levels lower than the Pokémon currently in battle.			Catch rate: 1× if the player's Pokémon is the same level as or a lower level than the wild Pokémon 2× if the player's Pokémon is at a higher level than the wild Pokémon but less than double it 4× if the player's Pokémon is more than double but less than four times the level of the wild Pokémon 8× if the player's Pokémon is of a level four times or more than that of the wild Pokémon		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Red Apricorn) Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Red Apricorn)
Secondary effect: Cannot be held.HGSSBW
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball for lower-level Pokémon. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball for catching Pokémon that are a lower level than your own. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball for catching Pokémon that are a lower level than your own.

Lure Ball ルアーボール Lure Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN II		Cannot be bought Sell for: 150
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon; works better while fishing.			Catch rate: 3× if used on a Pokémon encountered while fishing 1× otherwise		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Kurt after saving Slowpoke Well, Azalea Town (Blu Apricorn) Template:Gameabbrev3 Fisherman in Route 32 Pokémon Center (×2), Azalea Town (Blu Apricorn)
Secondary effect: Cannot be held.HGSSBW
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball for Pokémon hooked by a rod. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball for catching Pokémon hooked by a Rod when fishing. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball for catching Pokémon hooked by a Rod when fishing.
					This item was featured in the TCG.

Moon Ball ムーンボール Moon Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN II		Cannot be bought Sell for: 150
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon; works better on Pokémon that evolve with a Moon Stone.			Catch rate: 4× if used on a Pokémon belonging to the Nidoran♂, Nidoran♀, Clefairy, Jigglypuff, or Skitty families; otherwise 1×HGSS 1× due to a glitchGSC		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Ylw Apricorn) Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Ylw Apricorn)
Secondary effect: Cannot be held.HGSSBW
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball for Moon Stone evolvers. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball for catching Pokémon that evolve using the Moon Stone. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball for catching Pokémon that evolve using the Moon Stone.

Friend Ball フレンドボール Friend Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN II		Cannot be bought Sell for: 150
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon.			Catch rate: 1×		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Grn Apricorn) Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Grn Apricorn)
Secondary effect: Sets caught Pokémon's friendship to 200. Cannot be held.HGSSBW
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball that makes Pokémon friendly. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball that makes caught Pokémon more friendly. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball that makes caught Pokémon more friendly.
					This item was featured in the TCG.

Love Ball ラブラブボール Love Love Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN II		Cannot be bought Sell for: 150
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon; works better on Pokémon of the opposite gender of, but same species as the player's Pokémon.			Catch rate: 8× if used on a Pokémon of the same species and gender of, the player's PokémonGSC 8× if used on a Pokémon of the same species as, but opposite gender of, the player's PokémonHGSS 1× otherwise		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Pnk Apricorn) Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Pnk Apricorn)
Secondary effect: Cannot be held.HGSSBW
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 For catching the opposite gender. Template:Gameabbrev3 Poké Ball for catching Pokémon that are the opposite gender of your Pokémon. Template:Gameabbrev3 Poké Ball for catching Pokémon that are the opposite gender of your Pokémon.

Heavy Ball ヘビーボール Heavy Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN II		Cannot be bought Sell for: 150
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon; works better on heavier Pokémon.			Catch rate: -20 if used on Pokémon weighing less than 220.6lbsGSC/451.5 lbsHGSS No modifier if used on Pokémon weight between 220.6lbs and 441.0 lbsGSC +20 if used on Pokémon weighing between 451.5 lbs and 677.3 lbs +30 if used on Pokémon weighing more than 661.5 lbsGSC +30 if used on Pokémon weighing between 677.3 lbs and 903.0 lbsHGSS +40 if used on Pokémon weighing more than 903.0 lbsHGSS		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Blk Apricorn) Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Blk Apricorn)
Secondary effect: Cannot be held.HGSSBW
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball for catching heavy Pokémon. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball for catching very heavy Pokémon. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball for catching very heavy Pokémon.
					This item was featured in the TCG.

Fast Ball スピードボール Speed Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN II		Cannot be bought Sell for: 150
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon; works better on fast PokémonHGSS or Pokémon able to flee from battleGSC.			Catch rate: 4× if used on a Pokémon that run from battle or roaming PokémonGSC 4× if used on a Pokémon with a base Speed of at least 100HGSS 1× otherwise		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 Azalea Town (Wht Apricorn) Template:Gameabbrev3 Kurt (after saving Slowpoke Well), Azalea Town (Wht Apricorn)
Secondary effect: Cannot be held.HGSSBW
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 A Ball for catching fast Pokémon. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball that makes it easier to catch fast Pokémon. Template:Gameabbrev3 A Poké Ball that makes it easier to catch Pokémon which are quick to run away.
					This item was featured in the TCG.

Sport Ball コンペボール Compé Ball   POKÉ BALLS pocket					INTRODUCED IN GEN II		Cannot be bought Cannot be sold
Effect: Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon in the Bug-Catching Contest.			Catch rate: 1.5×		Locations Template:Gameabbrev3 National Park Template:Gameabbrev3 National Park
Description Template:Gameabbrev3 The Bug-Catching Contest Ball. Template:Gameabbrev3 A special Poké Ball for the Bug-Catching Contest. Template:Gameabbrev3 A special Poké Ball for the Bug-Catching Contest.
Note: Known as the Park Ball (パークボール) during Generation II.