Held item - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokmon encyclopedia

Publish date: 2024-09-03

A pile of held items in the anime

A held item (Japanese: 持ち物 held item) is an item that may be carried by a Pokémon.

In the core series games

The capability to hold items was first introduced in Generation II; however, when a Pokémon obtained in Generation I is traded to a Generation II game through the Time Capsule, it may be holding an item, such as a TM09 held by an Abra. Likewise, items held by Pokémon traded to Generation I will not be lost.

The mechanic is absent in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! and Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Held items range from Berries, which can be used in battle for recovery of HP, curing of a status condition, raising of a stat, and other effects; to the Soothe Bell, which boosts friendship gained.

Mechanics

Though most items can be held by a Pokémon, many have no effect while held. Key Items and HMs cannot be held; in Generation IV, only Giratina can hold the Griseous Orb, and Apricorns and Poké Balls made from them cannot be held; from Generation V onward, TMs cannot be held. Any other type of item may be held, but medicine (except Berry Juice), TMs, Evolution stones, Fossils, Repels, escape items, battle items, valuable items, exchangeable items, Mulch, Flutes, and Feathers have no effect apart from changing the effects of the moves and abilities listed below. Poké Balls cannot be flung. Prior to Generation IX, single-use held items used outside of battle facilities and link battles were consumed permanently. In Generation IX, this only applies to Berries.

Wild Pokémon can be encountered holding an item, which the player can obtain by catching the Pokémon or by using certain moves or Abilities. Wild Pokémon can steal the player's Pokémon's items in every generation except Generations III and IV.

List of Abilities and moves affecting held items

Abilities

Name	Effect	Gen.
Compound Eyes	If a Pokémon with this Ability leads the party, it increases the chances of running into a Pokémon with a held item	III
Pickup	May obtain a held item after a battle From Generation V onward, at the end of a turn will obtain an item used by another Pokémon	III
Sticky Hold	Protects the Pokémon from item theft	III
Gluttony	The Pokémon eats held "pinch Berries" after losing at least half of its HP	IV
Unburden	Doubles the Pokémon's speed when its held item is lost	IV
Klutz	Negates the effect of the Pokémon's held item, for most items	IV
Frisk	Reveals the opponent's held item upon entering battle	IV
Multitype	Changes the Pokémon's type to match the Plate or Z-Crystal it holds	IV
Harvest	May restore an eaten Berry at the end of a turn	V
Pickpocket	Steals the held item of a Pokémon that uses a contact move on the possessor (as long as the possessor does not have an item)	V
Unnerve	Prevents the opposing Pokémon from eating Berries	V
Cheek Pouch	The Pokémon heals a third of its HP after eating a Berry	VI
Magician	Steals the held item of a Pokémon that is hit by the Pokémon's move (as long as the possessor does not have an item)	VI
Symbiosis	Transfers the possessor's held item to an ally when that ally consumes its held item	VI
RKS System	Changes the Pokémon's type to match the memory disc it holds	VII
Ripen	Ripens Berries and doubles their effect	VIII
As One	Prevents the opposing Pokémon from eating Berries	VIII
Cud Chew	Reuses an already consumed Berry at the end of the next turn.	IX

Moves

Name	Effect	Gen.
Thief	Steals the target's held item (as long as the user does not have an item)	II
Trick	Swaps the user's and target Pokémon's held items (even if one of them does not have a held item)	III
Knock Off	Disables (Gen III and IV) or removes (Gen V onward) the target's held item for the rest of the battle	III
Covet	Steals the target's held item (as long as the user does not have an item)	III
Recycle	Restores an item consumed by the user	III
Natural Gift	The user draws power to attack by using its held Berry. The Berry determines the move's type and power.	IV
Embargo	Disables any item use on or by the target (including held items)	IV
Fling	Consumes the user's held item and deals damage to the opponent depending on the item flung (some items have added effects)	IV
Switcheroo	Swaps the user's and target Pokémon's held items (even if one of them does not have a held item)	IV
Judgment	This move's type varies depending on the kind of Plate the user is holding	IV
Acrobatics	Doubles power if the user is not holding an item	V
Magic Room	Disables all Pokémon's held items for five turns	V
Bestow	Gives the user's held item to the target	V
Techno Blast	The move’s type changes depending on the Drive the user holds	V
Multi-Attack	The memory held determines the move’s type	VII
Teatime	Each Pokémon eats its held Berry	VIII
Stuff Cheeks	The user eats its held Berry and raises its Defense stat by two stages	VIII
Corrosive Gas	The user renders the target's held item unusable for the rest of the battle (even if switched out)	VIII
Poltergeist	Attacks the target if it is holding an item	VIII

List of held items

Berries

Main article: Berry

Berries have varying effects. Some weaken supereffective moves, and others cure status conditions. Berries also affect the power and strength of the move Natural Gift. All can be used to make Pokéblocks or Poffin.

Colored orbs

Main article: Colored orbs

Starting in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, these items allow Groudon and Kyogre to undergo Primal Reversion when held.

Drives

Main article: Drive

Drives change the type of the holder's Techno Blast.

Power items

Main article: Power item

These items, when held by a Pokémon, promote EV gain in several different ways.

Evolution-inducing held items

Main article: Evolution item

These items, when held by a Pokémon, can cause it to undergo evolution when it meets its other requirements to evolve, such as gaining a level or being traded.

Experience-affecting items

Main article: Experience-affecting item

These items, when held by a Pokémon, affect the amount of experience that a Pokémon gains in battle.

Gems

Main article: Gem

Gems increase the power of a specific type of move by 30% (50% in Generation V) and are consumed after use. They are found in dust clouds.

Incense

Main article: Incense

These items, when held by a Pokémon in the day-care, will cause it to produce an Egg that will hatch into a baby Pokémon introduced after Generation II. They will also affect the holder in various ways during battle.

Mega Stones

Main article: Mega Stone

These items, when held by their respective Pokémon, will allow the holder to undergo Mega Evolution during battle.

Memories

Main article: Memory

Equipping a memory to Silvally with RKS System will cause both it and its Multi-Attack to change type to that of the memory held.

Plates

Main article: Plate

Plates are ancient stone tablets engraved with text that increase the power of moves of a specific type. There is one for each type except Normal. Equipping a Plate to Arceus with Multitype will cause it to change type to that of the Plate held. The type of Judgment changes to match the type of the Pokémon's held Plate.

Stat-enhancing items

Main article: Stat-enhancing item

These items, when held, will increase certain stats of Pokémon. Some can only be used by specific Pokémon.

Type-enhancing items

Main article: Type-enhancing item

Type-enhancing items increase the power of a used move of the enhanced type by 20% (10% prior to Generation IV). Some are given out by the Week Siblings.

Z-Crystals

Main article: Z-Crystal

Z-Crystals are required to be held for performing Z-Moves. There is one for each type. Additionally, there are also specific Z-Crystals that, when held by specific Pokémon, will enable them to use their exclusive Z-Moves.

In-battle effect items

Main article: Category:In-battle effect items

These items will take effect during battle to either aid or hinder the Pokémon holding them or an opponent.

Out-of-battle effect items

Main article: Category:Out-of-battle effect items

These items will only take effect outside battle, in the overworld.

Mail

Main article: Mail

Mail allows players to send messages to each other by attaching it to a Pokémon that is to be traded.

Scarves

Main article: Scarf

Scarves up the Contest condition of the Pokémon that is holding it without the Pokémon being fed Pokéblocks or Poffins.

Gallery

Held item icons

In the side series games

Pokémon Stadium 2

Pokémon Stadium 2 may connect to Generation I or Generation II core series games via the Transfer Pak, and is compatible with held items. While Generation I games don't use held items, Pokémon Stadium 2 is equally able to use held items from the connected games of both generations.

For instance, the player's Pikachu from Pokémon Yellow initially holds a Light Ball, which is usable if that game is connected to Pokémon Stadium 2. Additionally, the PC in the Pokémon Lab from Pokémon Stadium 2 may be used to add or remove held items from the Pokémon in the connected Generation I and II games.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Glasses

Main article: Glasses

These items increase the user's stats, prevent status conditions, or reveal hidden items when held.

Scarves

Main article: Scarf (Mystery Dungeon)

These items increase the user's stats or prevent status conditions when held. Some are also needed for evolution.

Recruitment-affecting items

Main article: Recruitment → Recruitment-affecting items

These items increase the recruit rate when held.

Miracle and Wonder Chest

Main article: Experience-affecting item → In side games

These items increase the holder's experience gain.

Seven Treasures

Main article: Seven Treasures

These items raise the recruit rates of certain types when held.

Space Globe

Main article: Space Globe

The Space Globe doubles the power of all of the holder's moves.

IQ Booster

Main article: IQ Booster

The IQ Booster increases the IQ gained by the holder as it travels between floors.

Flags

Main article: Flag

These items are exclusive to Gates to Infinity; when held, they have various effects on the user and teammates around it.

Looplets

Main article: Looplet

Introduced in Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, these items may raise the holder's stats or give the holder other benefits and can be enhanced by attaching emeras to them.

In the TCG

Held items were eventually introduced in the TCG as well, first as Pokémon Tools, then later on as Pokémon cards with held items to mimic Pokémon that hold an item when found in the wild.

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Held item - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokmon encyclopedia

In the core series games

Mechanics

List of Abilities and moves affecting held items

Abilities

Moves

List of held items

Berries

Colored orbs

Drives

Power items

Evolution-inducing held items

Experience-affecting items

Gems

Incense

Mega Stones

Memories

Plates

Stat-enhancing items

Type-enhancing items

Z-Crystals

In-battle effect items

Out-of-battle effect items

Mail

Scarves

Gallery

Held item icons

In the side series games

Pokémon Stadium 2

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Glasses

Scarves

Recruitment-affecting items

Miracle and Wonder Chest

Seven Treasures

Space Globe

IQ Booster

Flags

Looplets

In the TCG

In other languages

See also